Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for North Thanet (Margate, Herne Bay & The Villages)
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Roger Gale with Cole Barnard at the door of Number Ten
Roger Gale calls on North Thanet to switch off for WWF’s Earth Hour
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March 11th 2009
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Roger Gale took time out on Wednesday 11 March to support WWF’s Earth Hour by turning off a giant light switch.
“Climate change is the biggest single issue facing the planet” says Roger “and if we are to bequeath to our children and our grandchildren anything other than a critically damaged environment then we have to get the message across now. I believe that as politicians we also have to remember that we are custodians, not owners. We have to think and act for the long term and we have to do it today”.
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Earth Hour is a huge global switch off for one hour on the 28th March to draw attention to the urgent need for action on climate change at the UN conference in Copenhagen this year. WWF’s Earth Hour aims to inspire a billion people in 1,000 cities to show global support for action on climate change. So far more than 1000 cities in 84 countries have signed up including London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast in the UK.
Many iconic landmarks will be switching off their lights such as Nelson’s Column in London, the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Sydney Opera House and Paris’ Eiffel Tower. Former Spice Girl Mel C, Cate Blanchett and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have all lent their voices to Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change.
Earth Hour campaign
WWF is encouraging Thanet and Canterbury to join the big switch off by dimming and switching off lights of civic buildings and iconic landmarks. Restaurants and bars are asked to get involved by holding candlelit dinners on the night and members of the public can also hold their own events such as lights out parties. People can sign up to support WWF’s Earth Hour by visiting wwf.org.uk/earthhour or by texting Earth to 84880
Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said: "We are delighted that Roger is backing WWF’s Earth Hour. Negotiations for a global deal to tackle climate change are going on right now and it is essential that politicians demand the UK Government takes a strong leadership position.
“We want to create a groundswell of support and this is a chance for the people of North Thanet to be part of a global action on climate change. Global leaders meet at the UN conference in Copenhagen later this year to determine how the world will work together to tackle climate change in future. A billion people across the globe turning off their lights sends a loud and clear message to politicians that they must make it happen.”
Sign up and spread the word about WWF's Earth Hour with downloadable posters, light switch covers, Earth Hour toolkits and more at: wwf.org.uk/earthhour
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