On March 29, between 8-9pm, Vancouver will demonstrate our commitment to action on climate change to the world by powering down for Earth Hour. Already, people and businesses are getting excited about this opportunity and participation in the city is growing by the day.

All City of Vancouver, BC Hydro, and Vancity buildings have already committed to powering down for Earth Hour.

BC Hydro will measure the drop of the collective electricity use during the event.

Here in Canada, Earth Hour is part of an effort that lasts more than one hour. WWF-Canada has launched The Good Life (wwf.ca), a community of concerned Canadians who want to start taking personal action today to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. When you join The Good Life, you are able to track actions you are taking for the planet and see how your actions add up to help fight climate change.

WWF-Canada, City of Vancouver, and The Vancouver Sun are the Earth Hour partners that have brought Earth Hour to Vancouver.

All Vancouverites and Canadians are encouraged to participate in Earth Hour and The Good Life and to be part of this united, global message about the need for action on climate change.

Participation is easy: sign up at wwf.ca and commit to fighting climate change and turning off your lights at 8 p.m. on March 29.

Are you joining the cause?

I know it might surprise some people who know me as a supporter of the WWF, but I am not. I will be posting my reasons for not joining in, on my blog on Saturday. If you are or are not joining in, I would love to hear your reasons either way.

Welcome to Spring 2008.

Every year in Spring there is the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (March 25 to April 20). This time of the year our city gets covered in PINK. As a child I remember collecting endless bunches of cherry blooms and being covered in pink pedals. I find it so beautiful.

Tree Talk Walk will be held March 29, 2008 1:00pm to 2:30pm @ Queen Elizabeth Park or March 30, 2008 1:00pm to 2:30pm @ Stanley Park or April 12th, 10:00am to 11:30am @ UBC.

There is a Pink Tie Affair, for $75 a ticket held on April 2, 2008 featuring The Cherry Blossom Martini.

There are also Trolley Tours every Sunday from 10:00 am – 12 pm for $25 or $20 for seniors.

This year the event partnered with Slow Food Vancouver to create the Slow cycle tour event, Bike the Blossoms during the 4 week long festival. SATURDAY APRIL 19, 2008 9 am – 4 pm (this is not a race – start & finish when you like) (prior online registration recommended) START PLACE: VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN, 5251 Oak St. west parking lot (parking on Oak & 37th streets only) FREE TO ALL.

[ Image from the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival web site. ]

Further information and lovely pictures can be seen on their web site. Enjoy Spril 2008 and the pink.