It’s a very rare occurrence when Las Vegas Strip neon marquees intentionally go dark. The odds are better for hitting a Megabucks jackpot. But on a usually bustling Saturday night, March 28, at 8:30 p.m. local time, running for one hour, Las Vegas casinos, businesses, and residents are being asked and urged to turn off their lights and join 240 cities in 70 countries in support of a global call for action on climate change.
The event marks one of the few times Strip lights have been darkened for specific occasions, such as the deaths of presidents and entertainers. The last time was for the funeral of iconic entertainer and Las Vegas resident Robert Goulet on November 9, 2007.
The World Wildlife Fund is asking all businesses, government agencies, and individuals to dim or turn off lights for their Earth Hour event. Las Vegas has been designated as a flagship city. Earth Hour will begin in Fiji, in the Southwest Pacific, and will move across our planet, culminating on the West Coast of the United States.