Lights out tonight for Earth Hour 2012

A sample poster Environmental group WWF is asking people around the world to turn off their lights at 8.30pm for an hour on March 31 and celebrate Earth Hour, the annual event that aims to highlight the need to take action against climate change.   In Greece, the organisation is focusing its campaign on the need to continue environmental efforts despite the deep economic crisis affecting the country. The organisation says it wants Earth Hour to serve as an antidote to depression.   “Greece’s unique natural environment is where we should be looking for a valuable antidote to this deep crisis. Greece’s natural beauty and cultural heritage are the driving forces of our tourism industry which accounts for nearly a fifth of what we produce,” says Yiorgos Vellidis, WWF Hellas' head of communications.   “Environmental protection is not a luxury, it is a necessity. We can save Greek nature and whatever it gives back to us. We can save 'the escape', 'olive oil', 'the big blue' and 'Greek pride'," he adds.   “We can save ...” is the slogan of this year’s campaign which calls on citizens to use their own words to complete the slogan, highlight what they hold dear and share it along with their own photos with the world.   For this reason the organisation has created a Facebook application, accessible via its page, that allows users to create their very own message and post it along with a photograph on their wall.