Organisers of Lincoln’s Earth hour got a BIG boost today as the city’s business improvement group lent its support to the initiative that is encouraging Lincoln to turn off its non-essential electrical items between 8.30 and 9.30pm on Saturday 28 March.
Optima Graphic Design Consultants, which works with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is driving forward the WWFs campaign to get as many people as possible to spend 60 minutes in the dark or by candle light later this month.
Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG) today wrote to all its 600 levy payers asking them to join in the global campaign, which intends to raise awareness of the need to reduce unnecessary energy use.
Simon Shaw, Director of Optima, which works with the WWF on a number of projects, is delighted that Lincoln BIG has backed the initiative: “As a client of ours, we approached Lincoln BIG to see if they’d support us and the WWF. We’re delighted that they’ve decided to write to all their levy payers. We are hoping Earth Hour is on the verge of making a real difference, not only in Lincoln but around the world.”
Earth Hour began in 2007 Sydney, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square, New York all stood in darkness.
In Lincoln, Optima has since secured the support of the City of Lincoln Council which will turn off the lights illuminating the Cathedral for the weekend of 28th March; the County Council which will plunge Lincoln Castle, The Collection and Usher Art Gallery into darkness the Terrace?
“When we heard about Earth Hour and Optima’s campaign to turn Lincoln’s lights off we were only too pleased to get involved,” says Matt Corrigan, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive. “It’s going to be a great spectacle, visually stunning and I can’t wait to see all of the city’s non-essential lighting being turned off. It will be quite a spectacle and will really help the environment. I hope our levy papers get behind the campaign.”
To join the WWFs campaign visit www.optimadesign.co.uk/earthhour and follow the links. For further information about Earth Hour and links to buy the T-shirts and candles visit www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of Optima by Lava. For further information contact Matt or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
1. The mission of WWF is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
• conserving the world’s biological diversity
• ensuring that the use of renewable resources is sustainable, and
• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
2. Optima Graphic Design Consultants Ltd was established in 1995 and currently employs 15 members of staff at its central Lincoln studios. The company’s client list includes The University of Lincoln, The Lincolnshire Showground, Liverpool University, The World Wide Fund for Nature, Branston, The KBSA, Denby, Ecole Internationale de Geneve, Lincolnshire County Council, City of Lincoln Council and British Gypsum. Optima are currently working on the launch of the new innovation centre in Lincoln – The Think Tank.
3. Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG) is dedicated to raising the quality of experience throughout Lincoln city centre for businesses, residents and visitors. Our basic philosophy is that by improving people’s experience of the city centre, they will stay longer, visit more often and it will make the city centre a better place to do business. This aim is delivered through a programme of investment around six main activities:
• Access
• Evening Economy
• Events and Promotions
• Lincoln in Bloom
• Security Group
• Street Management
