With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries, Earth Hour – organized by WWF – has quickly become one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations.

Just one year after its launch in Sydney, Australia, about 50 million people in 35 countries turned their lights off for Earth Hour 2008.

The official Earth Hour website calls the event, “A global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future.”

Last year, more than 285 cities and municipalities from every Canadian province and territory participated – including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax and Edmonton. Over 2,500 Canadian businesses shut down the lights for an hour, including big-name companies like Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, MacDonald’s and Winners.

Though the campaign has good intentions, few carry the conservation mentality past the allotted 60-minute period devoted to “saving the Earth” every year.  We at the Et Cetera believe it is important that Earth Hour becomes an initiative that is carried out by everyone on an daily basis.

The Earth Hour website warns of the perils of continuing on the wasteful pathway we are on. “New economic modeling indicates the world has just five years to initiate a low carbon industrial revolution before runaway climate change becomes almost inevitable,” it said.

With two massive threats to the future of our planet as a result of pollution – climate change and global warming – people need to “go green” every day.

Schools, business and households should implement energy efficient practices every day – use fluorescent light bulbs, avoid using your car and turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

If you plan to participate this Earth Hour – and we hope you do – once the 60 minutes are up think twice before you leave your TV on when you leave the room or you drive your car to the corner store when you could walk.

One hour one day of the year won’t put an end to pollution or excessive waste. As a society, we have to paint our city green 24 hours a day – 365 days a year.