Break out the candles. You'll need them if you plan to participate in Earth Hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, by turning off all your lights for an hour.

The Earth Hour movement began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their power for an hour. In 2008, the message had grown internationally, with participation by 50 million people worldwide. Iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the billboards in Times Square all stood in darkness to recognize Earth Hour.

This year, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) hopes to expand the program even further, setting an ambitious goal of one billion people "voting for the Earth" by switching off their lights for the hour.

As of mid-March, 1,189 cities and towns across 80 countries had committed to participate in the energy-saving hour, with "more coming on board every day" according to the Web site.

In a videotaped address, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that Earth Hour promises to be "the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted."

Earth Hour Executive Director Andy Ridley is encouraging people to participate in whatever way they choose and to think beyond the hour.

"There are no hard and fast rules surrounding participation in Earth Hour. We only ask that you flick that switch and have fun doing whatever you choose to do during that time," he said.

"Whether it's joining your community in a town square to watch the city lights go dark or hosting a lights-out party in your own home, I encourage everybody across the world to be a part of this historic occasion," said Ridley. "Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth."

To find out more about Earth Hour, visit the official Web site at www.earthhour.org.

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