Earth Hour and Girl Scouts team up to honor the planet

Partnership encourages environmental education, conservation Girl Scouts around the world are learning about saving energy this month through Girl Scouts Forever Green. This "100th Anniversary Take Action Project" was created after Girl Scout research found that an overwhelming number of girls consider protecting the environment a top priority. Girls taking part in Girl Scouts Forever Green--Earth Hour are replacing incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR®-qualified (or other energy-efficient) light bulbs and urging their friends and family members to do the same. In addition, girls across the country will participate in Earth Hour by turning off lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. "Earth Hour and Girl Scouts of the USA have a common purpose: to create a better environment for future generations," said Andy Ridley, co-founder and executive director of Earth Hour. "Girl Scouts of the USA's participation in Earth Hour illustrates without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action." Earth Hour is the largest-ever voluntary action for the environment, and Earth Hour 2011 was the biggest year in the campaign's five-year history, taking place in a record 5,251 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories in all seven continents. It had an estimated reach of 1.8 billion people across the globe. In addition to this, the campaign's digital footprint grew to 91 million. Across the United States, countless Girl Scouts will be participating in Earth Hour 2012. Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) will be introducing a "watt watchers" project to the girl members that participate on their property site teams. They will identify the wattage each cabin uses when lights are left on and convert that to a monetary value to make users aware of the resulting waste. In addition, Girl Scout Troop 2407 of Galway, New York, asked members of the community to participate in Earth Hour while at the same time exchanging incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient varieties. Further, Girl Scouts of Colorado will host two Earth Hour events in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, sharing environmental messages and discussing ways to sustain our natural resources. A light bulb exchange will also take place. "By participating in the Girl Scouts Forever Green Earth Hour project, girls are making a significant environmental statement, saving energy both here in the U.S. and globally with Girl Scouts around the world," said Sue Williams, national operational volunteer, Girl Scouts Forever Green. "This has been a true test of the power of Girl Scout leadership and our enduring commitment to protecting the environment." In February, Earth Hour launched its 2012 campaign, "I Will If You Will," with the intention of engaging its growing global community to "go beyond the hour." Using a dedicated YouTube platform ( www.youtube.com/earthhour ), IWIYW asks Earth Hour's digital community to inspire people from all corners of the globe to take sustainability actions, and to share their commitment to the environment with their own social media networks. Girl Scouts Forever Green also seeks a broad reach, encouraging everyone to take the online Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The pledge supports resource conservation activities and the measurement of their impact. About Girl Scouts Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U or visit www.girlscouts.org . About Girl Scouts Forever Green Girl Scouts Forever Green, Girl Scouts of the USA's 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, is a global effort to improve the environment and protect natural resources. Girl Scouts Forever Green coincides with Girl Scouts' latest Leadership Journey, It's Your Planet--Love It!, a collection of six books which tackles issues like conservation, pollution, and renewable and reusable resources while challenging girls to take the lead in protecting the planet. To register your participation in Girl Scouts Forever Green--Earth Hour and to take the Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge, visit http://www.girlscouts.org/gsforevergreen . About Earth Hour Hundreds of millions of people, businesses, and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history: Earth Hour. More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era, with members "going beyond the hour" to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it's shown how great things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.