People, governments, companies, and organizations observed Earth Hour 2011 as 134 countries switched off lights worldwide Saturday, March 26, at 8:30 p.m. The movement to raise awareness about energy consumption took on added relevance with a Japanese nuclear power station crippled after the earthquake and resulting tsunami there. Gathered here are a series of before-and-after photographs from this year.
This two-picture combo shows an aerial view of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue before and after the lights that illuminate the statue are switched off to observe an hour of voluntary darkness for the global "Earth Hour" campaign, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday March 26, 2011.
This combination picture shows Rio de Janeiro's landmark, Lapa Arches, before (top) and during (bottom) the Earth Hour celebration on March 26, 2011 in Brazil.
This combination of images shows the Puente de la Mujer (Woman's Bridge) seconds before (up) and after (bottom) the lights were switched off for Earth Hour in Buenos Aires, on March 26, 2011.
his two-picture combo shows the Monument of the Revolution before and after the lights that illuminate the plaza are switched off to observe an hour of voluntary darkness for the global "Earth Hour" campaign, in Mexico City, Mexico, Saturday March 26, 2011.
This combo shows the lights around Sydney's Harbour and the iconic Opera House (L) taken on March 23, 2011 (top photo) and on March 26, 2011 as the city switches off its lights to mark "Earth Hour". Australia's Opera House was the first of many global landmarks to go dark on March 26 as "Earth Hour" got underway with hundreds of millions of people around the world set to switch off their lights.
This combo taken on March 26, 2011 shows before (top) and after (bottom) photos of the buildings in Beijing as the city marks "Earth Hour".
This combination picture shows before and after the lights at the buildings at the main business district are turned off during Earth Hour in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March, 26, 2011.
These two combo photos show, below, Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers, right, and KL Tower, left, being turned off the lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, March 26, 2011.
These combo photos show a general view of commercial buildings before, top, and after, bottom, turning off lights at Hong Kong's central district Saturday, March 26, 2011 to mark the annual Earth Hour.
This combination photo shows Moscow's hotel "Ukraine" illuminated (Bottom) and with its lights dimmed (Top) during Earth Hour on March 26, 2011.
This combination picture shows the lights around Budapest downtown with the oldest Hungarian bridge 'The Chain Bridge' and Buda Palace on March 26, 2011 Before (Top) and after (Bottom) the city switched off its lights to mark "Earth Hour".
This two-picture combo shows an aerial view of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue before and after the lights that illuminate the statue are switched off to observe an hour of voluntary darkness for the global "Earth Hour" campaign, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday March 26, 2011.
This combination picture shows Rio de Janeiro's landmark, Lapa Arches, before (top) and during (bottom) the Earth Hour celebration on March 26, 2011 in Brazil.
This combination of images shows the Puente de la Mujer (Woman's Bridge) seconds before (up) and after (bottom) the lights were switched off for Earth Hour in Buenos Aires, on March 26, 2011.
his two-picture combo shows the Monument of the Revolution before and after the lights that illuminate the plaza are switched off to observe an hour of voluntary darkness for the global "Earth Hour" campaign, in Mexico City, Mexico, Saturday March 26, 2011.
This combo shows the lights around Sydney's Harbour and the iconic Opera House (L) taken on March 23, 2011 (top photo) and on March 26, 2011 as the city switches off its lights to mark "Earth Hour". Australia's Opera House was the first of many global landmarks to go dark on March 26 as "Earth Hour" got underway with hundreds of millions of people around the world set to switch off their lights.
This combo taken on March 26, 2011 shows before (top) and after (bottom) photos of the buildings in Beijing as the city marks "Earth Hour".
This combination picture shows before and after the lights at the buildings at the main business district are turned off during Earth Hour in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March, 26, 2011.
These two combo photos show, below, Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers, right, and KL Tower, left, being turned off the lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, March 26, 2011.
These combo photos show a general view of commercial buildings before, top, and after, bottom, turning off lights at Hong Kong's central district Saturday, March 26, 2011 to mark the annual Earth Hour.
This combination photo shows Moscow's hotel "Ukraine" illuminated (Bottom) and with its lights dimmed (Top) during Earth Hour on March 26, 2011.
This combination picture shows the lights around Budapest downtown with the oldest Hungarian bridge 'The Chain Bridge' and Buda Palace on March 26, 2011 Before (Top) and after (Bottom) the city switched off its lights to mark "Earth Hour".
