It's hard to believe, but yes, it's already time to plan for Earth Hour 2009. This year it will take place at 8:30 pm on Saturday March 28, 2009.

For the third year in a row, individuals, businesses and governments all over the world have agreed to turn off their lights for one hour. Every year it's been getting bigger, and 2009 is on track to be the biggest event yet.

In the U.S., Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco have committed to going dark for the hour. Around the globe other cities participating include Auckland, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Oslo, Rome, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto.

Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, the idea behind Earth Hour is to show how even a small conservation effort -- like giving up just 60 minutes of lights -- can have a big impact when a lot of people do it.

The "official" action is to shut off your lights, and it stands to reason that you should also shut off your t.v., laptop and cell phone, and really live for an hour without electricity. Give your brain a break, along with the planet.

You can pledge to participate on the Earth Hour site, either as an individual or as part of a group.