London Landmarks' lights were switched off on 26th at 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

People around the world, including Sheffield, switched off their lights over the weekend to mark Earth Hour.

Homes, businesses and landmarks in more than 134 countries took part in the campaign on Saturday evening as part of a global climate change campaign.

This action started in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Iconic landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, New York’s Empire State building and the Eiffel Tower in Paris turned off their lights.

Andy Ridley, Earth Hour co-founder and executive director, told AFP from the group’s Sydney office:”Earth Hour is like New Year’s Eve.”

Sheffield support

In the UK, iconic structures such as Big Ben, the BT Tower, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, Stormont in Northern Ireland and Cardiff’s Millennium Centre, usually lit up at night, were also blacked out for an hour.

In Sheffield student Aiaxue Zhong was one of those who took part, switching off lights in the management department.

She said: “We should focus more on the little things around us.”

“Not only should we turn off our lights for 60 minutes once a year, but we should save power every day. For example, do not keep the laptop in the sleep mode if you do not use it for a long time; turn it off.”

The Sheffield is My Planet website estimates that if everyone in Sheffield stopped using standby, around 3000 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be saved and £8m would be cut from Sheffielders’ annual domestic energy bills.

The website says that city businesses and organisations including John Lewis, Department for Work and Pensions, NHS Sheffield, Sheffield City Council, both Universities, and Sheffield Theatres have all signed up to take part in a week of challenges to cut their energy consumption.

Prime Minister David Cameron gave his support to the international Earth Hour campaign.

“Earth Hour is about millions of people all over the world coming together to switch off their lights, tackle climate change and protect our natural world,” he said.

“It is a huge symbol of global solidarity, an inspiring display of international commitment. I urge everyone to take part, and I really do believe this is another small step to the big prize we all want to see – our planet protected from climate change.”

Support for Japan

This year, Earth Hour also marked Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

In Paris, there was a minute’s silence for Japan as the city of light went dark, with illuminations switched off at the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and many other landmarks.

“It’s a bit different this year because of the Japan stuff — but it’s meant to be about hope and the future.” Mr. Ridley said.

Beyond the hour

Earth Hour aims to raise awareness of sustainability issues. It’s all about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year.

This year, Earth Hour wants people to go beyond the hour, to think about what else people can do to make a difference when the lights turn back on.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It is organized by environment charity WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Now it has become a global sustainability movement.

The Anti-Valentine's craft event

Roses? Chocolates? A candlelight dinner? These are the traditional treats for your loved one on Valentine’s Day. But one Sheffield business is using  ‘Anti – Valentine’ as a marketing strategy to attract the attention of single people.

This weekend  a special craft workshop took place at the ‘Jam Jar Beads’, in Sheffield City centre. Its theme was “Anti – Valentine’s Day” and it attracted nearly 10 customers, a higher number than in the regular weekends. For the price of £15, the participants were able to make themselves necklaces, bags or hair bobbles.

Lucia Kempsey, the tutor of the craft workshop, talked about the way she found the idea of this theme:

“On Valentine’s Day, everywhere is full of roses and chocolate. If you are still single in the Valentine’s Day, why not join our workshop and make a gift for yourself instead of feeling lonely?”

Colourful fabrics

Although not all the customers who took part in the workshop were single lacking love, most of them enjoyed the arts and crafts at  ’Jam Jar Beads’.

“It is very nice. A variety of people come in and there are nice and easy things we can make.” one customer said. She came to  the workshop to make herself a colourful necklace using fabric and other materials.

Normally there are five or six people in one workshop, but in some special weekends, the number of people hits 10, as it happens in the Christmas period. The ‘Jam Jar Beads’ usually has a good business before main events such as Valentine’s Day.

“To be honest, I cannot image that they are coming because of the Anti – Valentine,” Ms Kempsey said. “They just come here to make a gift for themselves and then take it home. This workshop will be closed on Valentine’s Day.”

The workshop tries to make Valentine’s Day an enjoyable day also to single people, and not only to the lovers. The significant presence of customers at the workshop proves that more single people like to treat themselves with Valentine’s gifts.