February 12, 2009: Shepard Fairey, the artist who created the iconic imagery for Barack Obama in the recent US Presidential Election, has agreed to create artwork for WWF’s 2009 Earth Hour.

Advertising agency Leo Burnett and WWF have developed a campaign, called ‘Vote Earth’, to run across all markets to raise awareness of Earth Hour, a global initiative inviting people worldwide to switch off their lights on 28 March at 8.30pm to show their support for action on climate change. To help give this idea global impact, Leo Burnett commissioned Shepard Fairey to be part of the team in developing the iconic artwork.

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Shepard Fairey said he is keen to be part of the campaign and to help tackle the important global issue of climate change.

“Of all the crises we’re facing right now, I think the environmental one is the biggest – bigger than the economy, bigger than terrorism. It’s serious, but I’m hopeful about it, because I feel like every single person can make a difference and be part of the greater solution.

“If I can use my art in any way to have a positive impact, I’m glad to do it,” he said.

CEO of Leo Burnett’s Sydney Todd Sampson said ‘Vote Earth’ is a campaign designed to unite the world as one people in the world's first global election - where your light switch is your vote.

“Switching off your lights for Earth Hour is a vote for earth, while conversely, leaving them on is a vote for global warming,” said Sampson.

Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley, said the messages inherent in Shepard’s work fit very well with the Earth Hour brand. “Earth Hour has proved it can bring together and give voice to millions of people around the world on climate change.

“By its very nature, Earth Hour is the essence of grassroots action for positive change, which is a theme that Shepard Fairey was able to evoke so successfully through his ‘Change, Progress, Hope’ artwork for the recent Obama campaign,” Mr Ridley said.

What it is?
Earth Hour 2009 is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to take responsibility and to get involved in working towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to The Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world will turn off their lights and join together in creating the vital conversation about the future of our precious planet.

Why do it?
The effects of climate change caused by carbon emissions pose the greatest threat to life on Earth. Only by changing the world’s collective attitude towards the use of carbon-emitting energy sources can we alleviate this threat.

Participating in Earth Hour is a contribution to a united global message to individuals, businesses, politicians and governments around the world that climate change affects and is the responsibility of the global community.

What will it achieve?
The objective of Earth Hour 2009 is to get as many individuals, households and businesses around the world to turn off their lights and electrical appliances for one hour.

Earth Hour aims to educate the global community about the threat of climate change and how easy it is for individuals and businesses to make small changes to the way they live and operate - small changes that will make a big difference.

Earth Hour 2009 hopes to deliver a global mandate for environmental reform to world leaders attending the UN Conference for Climate Change in Copenhagen, December 2009, to strike up a new global climate deal to usurp Kyoto.

History of Earth Hour
The inaugural Earth Hour took place in Sydney on 31 March 2007, when over two million people and two thousand businesses across the city turned off their lights and appliances for one hour. From its relative humble beginnings, the Earth Hour message has swept the planet.

In 2008, 50 million people across 35 countries turned off their lights in support of Earth Hour, sending a message across the globe that the collective actions of individuals really can change the world.

Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach 1 billion people in 1,000 cities globally.