What do a glow-in-the-dark table tennis tournament, candle-lit walk and a competition to create art from scrap materials have in common? The answer: they are just a sample of some of the fun events happening around the emirates on Saturday March 23 to mark Earth Hour 2013.

As all seven emirates show their commitment to Earth Hour once again this year, there are an increasing number of community events appearing to mark this global environmental movement. The table tennis tournament will be held at Jumeirah Rotana, where players will use glow-in-the-dark balls for their chance to win the tournament title. Meanwhile residents will drum their support at Abu Dhabi Corniche while the Archive in Dubai’s Safa Park will host an art from scrap competition. Dubai residents once again will join hands and celebrate Earth Hour at the base of the world tallest Tower in an event organised by DEWA and Emaar.

Despite a large number of UAE organizations, schools and individuals already committing to Earth Hour this year, with just two days to go until the global switch-off, Emirates Wildlife Society –WWF (EWS-WWF) is urging those members of the UAE community and organisations who have not committed yet, to unite for Earth Hour at 8.30pm to help plunge the country into darkness.

Communications Manager and Earth Hour Project Manager at EWS-WWF, Reem Al Thawadi: “Earth Hour is a global movement that shows that real change is possible and can happen when we unite our actions. A sustainable future for our planet is something that we all aspire to, and we hope that UAE residents and organizations take the opportunity of Earth Hour not only to join the global switch off on March 23, but also to pledge for sustained action for planet that goes beyond the Hour. ”

To mark the occasion, a number of iconic landmarks across the emirates will go dark for Earth Hour including the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab in Dubai and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. These icons will join a number of global landmarks including:

- The Sydney Opera House in Australia
- The Petronas Towers in Malaysia
- The Bird’s Nest in Beijing
- The Gateway of India
- The Ancient Citadel of Erbil in Kurdistan
- Table Mountain in South Africa
- The Eiffel Tower in France

Want to be part of something meaningful on 23 March, 2013 at 8:30 pm?

1. Register your participation in Earth Hour at www.ewswwf.ae/earthhour
2. Join the hundreds of millions switching off for a brighter future by joining one of the community events listed below:

DUBAI
- Earth Hour celebrations at Burj Plaza will start at 5pm, including a number of activities, a candle-lit walk and will witness for the switch of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
- The Archive in Safa Park (gate 5) will be home to Emirates Diving Association’s celebration, from 8pm – 10pm with drumming workshops, environmental poster exhibition plus a video booth to record your I Will If You Will challenge.
- Jumeriah Rotata will be hosting an Earth Hour Table Tennis Tournament on March 23 using glow-in-the-dark balls.
- Radisson Blu Residence (Dubai Marina) will be offering a special Earth Hour event for children (ages 5-12)
- Dubai Silicon Oasis Cedre Villa Community Centre is hosting an "Art From Scrap" competition between 7pm to 8pm.

ABU DHABI
- In a joint effort from different organizations in Abu Dhabi, including EWS-WWF, ADMAF and Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi residents will gather at the city’s Corniche from 6.45 until after 8.30pm. There will be acandle-lit walk to the sound of African drum beats, capoeira dance performances, countdown to landmark switch-offs, face-painting as well as other fun activities for the family.

SHARJAH
- Environment and Protected Areas Authority is hosting an Earth Hour event in Al Majaz Waterfront between 7pm and 9.30pm with a speech by Her Excellency Hana Suwaidi, T-shirts and glowing wrist bands for the public, energy saving workshops as well as aeriel photography of the emirate of Sharjah before and during Earth Hour