SMART Communications Inc. (Smart) is supporting Earth Hour 2009, the worldwide event calling for action on climate change, led by global conservation organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In the country, WWF-Philippines is collaborating with the Department of Energy, The Green Army, and the Switch Movement for the campaign.

Panagbenga 2009 blog

“By supporting the WWF-Philippines’ call to participate in Earth Hour, Smart is joining a global effort to mobilize more people in the fight against global warming and climate change,” said Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando B. Vea.

“WWF is pleased that Smart is taking part in Earth Hour 2009,” said Lory Tan, WWF-Philippines chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board. “We thank our partners for coming together as a nation. This global event is a call to all Filipinos to take a stand against climate change by switching off their lights. It is a statement that we’re not going down without a fight.”

Smart will be turning off the lights on its billboards and building facilities located in various parts of the country in support of Earth Hour, beginning at 8:30 pm local time on March 28. To send out a stronger message on the need to take action on global warming and climate change, Smart will keep the billboard lights turned off for the entire evening.

Smart Wireless Centers will also be joining the call to turn off lights for an hour.

To urge employees and their families to take part in Earth Hour 2009, Smart launched an internal campaign for the event.

The internal campaign includes daily eco-friendly tips via email for the whole of March, online promos in partnership with Philips Lighting Philippines, a talk on energy-efficiency for employees and a “switch” campaign which aims to get employees to shift to compact flourescent lamps at home. (PR)