globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work
together in building a healthier, stronger society that
works for all.
Earth Hour
World Citizens Switch Off the Lights March 27
Now in its fourth year, Earth Hour 2010 is calling upon us all to symbolically
cast our vote for Earth by turning off our lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m. local
time. Last year, nearly a billion world citizens voted this way in 4,000 cities
in 87 countries on seven continents. The event sponsor, World Wildlife Fund
(WWF), notes that this year, iconic U.S. landmarks, too, will dim their lights as
Multiple Faiths
part of the largest call for action on climate change in history. Many Americans Mix
American landmarks hitting the switch range from the Golden Gate Bridge Western, Eastern, New Age
and Las Vegas strip to Mount Rushmore, joined by local monuments in or near
Beliefs
Seattle, Flagstaff, Indianapolis and Atlanta. Cities, schools, The latest poll by the Pew Research
businesses and organizations in all 50 states are expected to Center’s Forum on Religion &
participate. Public Life finds that one-third of
“Climate change is impacting our water resources, Americans attend religious services
energy supplies, transportation, agriculture and health, putting at more than one place, while a
our livelihoods and economic future at risk in every part of quarter of us sometimes attend
the country,” explains WWF Climate Director Keya Chat- religious services of a faith differ-
terjee. “Americans will not only be sending a signal that they ent from our own. Sixty percent
want solutions to the climate crisis, they’ll be helping to turn attend at churches or houses of
the lights out on our nation’s dangerous dependency on foreign worship; other locations include
oil and an unsustainable economic future.” houses, schools, restaurants, hotels,
parks and campgrounds. Some 38
Find information and event tools at MyEarthHour.org; also see percent attend at least once a week
EarthHourKids.org. and 34 percent once or twice a
month or a few times a year; 27
percent say they seldom or never
attend religious services.
Although the United States
is an overwhelmingly Christian
country, between 23 and 26 per-
cent of the adults polled also say
they believe in a tenet of Eastern or
New Age spirituality: reincarnation;
yoga as a spiritual practice; spiritual
energy located in physical things;
or astrology. Nearly three in 10 say
they have felt in touch with some-
one who has died.
In 2009, half of Americans
polled said they have had “a reli-
gious or mystical experience, that
is a moment of religious or spiritual
awakening.” In 1962, only 22 per-
cent reported having had such an
experience.
Source: PewForum.org
12 Phoenix
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