Matawan will turn out lights for Earth Hour Worldwidemovement March 29 demonstrates energy conservation BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer On March 29, Matawan residents will find themselves in the dark, but for a good cause. By a resolution of the Borough Council approved at the March 3 meeting, the borough will be a participant in the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour. Aworldwide event, Earth Hour will consist of municipalities and individuals turning off unnecessary power sources and lights in homes and buildings, beginning at 8 p.m., in an effort to reduce the effects of climate change. World Wildlife Fund member Kris Bradley, an Aberdeen resident and mother of three, first found out about Earth Hour through a simple e-mail, and decided to take it one step further. "I forwarded the information to both mayors of Matawan and Aberdeen, just hoping someone would promote it to the residents," Bradley said. "When I heard back from Mayor [Paul] Buccellato, I was a little surprised, but very pleased that they were interested in doing this. I am really glad that someone is taking this seriously." "I was so impressed with her enthusiasm for the event," said Matawan Mayor Paul Buccellato. "After reading the information about the event, I just felt that it is an event people should participate in." According to the World Wildlife Fund's Web site, the initiative first began in Sydney, Australia, on March 31, 2007. The city, its residents and businesses agreed to shut off lights for a full 60 minutes, reducing Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2 percent. "People in Sydney replaced their electric lights with the use of candles and flashlights," Bradley explained. "We can do the same. Instead of watching television with your family on March 29, get together with neighbors by candlelight or use flashlights and go camping in your backyard." "When I spoke to the council members in Matawan about this, they enthusiastically responded and voted in favor of the town officially participating in the event," Buccellato said. "I encourage the residents in Matawan and other municipalities to participate in this one-hour event on March 29." According to the ordinance, the World Wildlife Fund International is organizing this year's event with participating cities to include Copenhagen, Denmark; Melbourne, Australia; Tel Aviv, Israel; Toronto; and Chicago. According to the Web site, the impetus for Earth Hour was to raise awareness about the greatest threat the planet has ever faced: climate change. Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming, it states. Bradley's community activism and advocacy at the local government level isn't limited to environmental awareness. Her son, Joe, 11, is autistic and she continues to work to raise awareness of autism within the community. Bradley is also a 4-H leader and a member of The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community. She has written to Matawan and Aberdeen in hopes of the municipalities officially recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month. "I hope that the school district could get involved as a result," Bradley said.