As I write this post, Earth Hour 2010 gets underway off the coast of  New Zealand, when the diesel generators on the Chatham Islands are turned off, as the first of 125 countries and territories sets in motion a 24-hour wave of hope and positive action on climate change that the organizers hope will sweep the world for Earth Hour.

As the video explains, Earth Hour is designed to focus attention on climate change and the environment:

[…] Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is 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. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour 2010 is organized by the WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Its mission is “to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.”

Why not do your bit, perhaps something as simple as switching off your Twitter avatar for an hour? That’s what I’m doing at 8.30pm UK time today and it will happen automatically as I chose to let Earth Hour make the change. If I want to do it manually, I can too and won’t forget thanks to O2 which will send an SMS to remind me.

It’s easy to get involved!

Related: AdAge.com has a series of interviews that provides some great additional perspective on Earth Hour and understanding why some organizations have got involved:

1. Q&A: Leo Burnett Australia’s Todd Sampson on Creating a Worldwide Event
2. Q&A: Mindshare Worldwide’s Alan Weetch on Why This Movement Matters
3. Q&A: Starcom MediaVest Australia’s John Sintras on Earth Hour’s Future