Romania will once again join the yearly Earth Hour movement on March 26, between 20.30 and 21.30 hours in the evening, by turning off the lights, part of the global climate change initiative. Several hotels in Bucharest, as well as institutions, such as the Romanian Government and the Parliament will stay in the dark for one hour on Saturday evening. Lights will also go off in over 51 cities in Romania.

Cultural institutions such as the Bucharest National Opera and the "George Enescu" Philharmonic, dozens of city halls in the country and other institutions, companies and organizations including the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Palace of Parliament, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, National University of Theatre and Cinema will support the campaign. Bucharest hotels such as Marriott, Howard Johnson and Hilton will also celebrate the event by turning off the lights and using candles and other décor in their restaurants.

In Bucharest, a series of activities have been scheduled for Saturday evening, during Earth Hour. Young people will gather in Herastrau Park to draw a candle globe and Romania's map, while EcoXtrem Mountain Club members will play the guitar.

Romania joined the campaign through www.orapamantului.ro, being the first country in the world to create a dedicated site for this event. In 2010, three years from its debut in Australia, the campaign reached about 1.3 billion participants from all around the planet. More about Earth Hour worldwide here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo: Lights out at the Parliament Palace © WWF/Stefan Angelescu)