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14 »Warirk oo‘ CHRONICLE » Wednesda}. Marct 26, #068 ,:-ja'a'l'om'e'-’A'-'&'v-‘v'-'o't'fl'.’l'e'l""x"c't'o’m PVCSY\Yer, e City of Waterloo is asking resiâ€" I dents to join in a global environâ€" mental movement by turning off their lights on March 29 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. â€" Earth Hour. This event, which began in Australia in 2007 and subsequently spread around the world, is designed to raise awareness about energy consumption and its effects on the environment. "The importance of this is that it‘s to bring awareness to all of us on how important it is to conserve energy," said Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran. "It just shouldn‘t be a oneâ€"day, oneâ€" hour initiative. This should be an iniâ€" tiative that every single person in this community embraces and takes on as a way they can make a significant impact on climate change and global warming." Many people assume that they‘re just one person, so it doesn‘t matter if they turn the lights off or not. But Halâ€" loran is hoping to dispel that belief. "I want people to start thinking about the big picture globally," she said, adding if Waterloo‘s 135,000 resiâ€" dents collectively do something to reduce energy consumption it will have a significant impact. An hour without power "So if everyone stops running water while they brush their teeth, think of how much water we would save," she The city will be doing its part as well. "Where we can we will be shutting off lights in cityâ€"owned facilities," said Jean Starchuk, a city project manager in the asset management department. The city, meanwhile, tries to reduce its energy consumption on a daily basis with initiatives such as installing solar panels and a green roof, and creâ€" ating an energy management plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. "I want people to start thinking about the big picture globally." â€"Brenda Halloran Mayor of Waterloo By Jenntrer OrMstON _ Chronicle Staff _ e WU[UUS FLOORIN O the #% Cappgpgngll FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME fi Thurs.â€"Fri. 9â€"9 Saturday 9â€"5 Senday 12â€"4 www.endoftheroll.com lean Starchuk, a City of Waterloo project manager, is encouraging the public to turn off the lights during Earth Hour on March 29 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Taking part in Earth Hour was a natâ€" ural choice for Waterloo, Starchuk said. In the past, it has participated in the Voluntary Blackout held to commemoâ€" rate the blackout of 2003. "Through Earth Hour you can really start to get people thinking about how they can make minor modifications in their life that will truly help out in the end," she said. Local businesses will also be stepâ€" ping up to meet the Earth Hour chalâ€" lenge. For instance, Words Worth Books and the Waterloo public library have agreed to participate. "If the people see that businesses are turning off their lights, the visual impact of that is huge," Starchuk said. "You don‘t see the bright signs in the night." Although consumption went down by 10 per cent in Sydney, Australia, during its first Earth Hour, the city is taking a waitâ€"andâ€"see approach to this _ Waterloo North Hydro will attempt to measure.the energy change during Earth Hour. * Carpet * Berbers + Laminate + Ceramic * Hardwood LIFESTYLE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME The Area‘s LARGEST Selection of Runners ... Not Just End Rol year‘s event. But judging from the response durâ€" ing the 2006 and 2007 Voluntary Blackâ€" outs â€" the first of which saw energy consumption go down by 4.2 per cent â€" Karen Moyer, a city environmental project manager, is optimistic Waterloo will do well with this challenge. "The community is actually what drives the entire environmental moveâ€" ment for the City of Waterloo," Moyer "With the Voluntary Blackout chalâ€" lenge, none of it would have been a success if the residents hadn‘t particiâ€" pated." _ Halloran encourages the public to have fun with Earth Hour, and to approach it in an innovative way. â€" "Think about 150 years ago, people didn‘t have energy like we have and how did they survive?" she said. "So we can certainly live without energy for an hour." More information is available on the city‘s website at www.waterloo.ca or at www.earthhour.org. HRON JENNIFER ORMSTON PHIOTO 1y 80000 5.08 0 B 00 10.0.0,0,0,%0,T oin the Food Bank of Waterloo Region for ICanstruction. a foodâ€"raising event that brings together teams of engineers, designers, architects and students as they compete to design and build intricate sculptures from thousands of cans of food. It runs March 29 to April 4 at Conestoga Mail. These giant works of art are spectacular to view and the building materials will be donated to the food bank to support its spring food drive. Bring a canned food or financial donation to vote on your favourite. £0 Students and women at various levels of governâ€" ment will participate in the panel discussion on women in politics. It takes place March 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the great hall of the student life centre on the UW campus. A reception will follow the event. For more information, email canstruction@theâ€" foodbank.ca or go to www.thefoodbank.ca. AUniversity of Waterloo public event this week will explore the challenges and opportunities facing women politicians in Canada. _ _ Confirmed speakers include Albina Guarnieri, MP for Mississaugaâ€"East Cooksville and a former veteran affairs minister, Fatima Ahmed, a UW peace and conflict studies student who was a viceâ€"presiâ€" dential candidate in the recent election of the UW federation of students, and others. The women in politics panel has been organized by students involved with the One Waterloo camâ€" The campaign, a partnership between the federaâ€" tion of students and UW, envisions a campus in which such differences as ethnicity, sexual orientaâ€" tion, creed, race and gender are not just identified, but also celebrated. The panel discussion follows up on campus events for the recent International Women‘s Week. For more information, visit www.onewaterloo.uwaâ€" terloo.ca. The concerts are March 29 at St. George‘s Angliâ€" can Church in Kitchener at 8 p.m., and March 30 at Trinity Anglican in Galt at 3 p.m. _ â€" â€" The Renaissance Singers present All At Sea with guest conductor Brian Emery. This concert will fill your jib with music that just sails by as the group celebrates its maritime heritage. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and stuâ€" dents and $5 for children 12 and under. Canstruction at the mall University event looks at women in politics Renaissance Singers celebrate heritage