Earth hour traces its origin back to Sydney Australia in 2007 (Earth Hour already happened there by the time you read this!) when businesses and residents turned off their lights for one hour to make a statement about energy use and global warming. Today is your chance to vote for Earth by shutting down your lights between 8:30pm and 9:30pm your local time.

All around the globe major landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Coliseum in Rome, Coca Cola sign in Times Square, and the Sydney Opera House have gotten in the habit of shutting down non-essential safety lighting in the name of sustainability. Here are some great before and after photos of landmarks participating in Earth Hour in a few of the world's greatest cities over the last four years. (Photo credits: WWF/Earth Hour Global)

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates before and during Earth Hour:

The Bird's Nest in Beijing before and during Earth Hour:

Buckingham Palace in London before and during Earth Hour:

St. Louis Arch before and during Earth Hour:

Bosphorous Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey before and during Earth Hour:

Sphinx and Pyramids in Egypt before and during Earth Hour:

Sydney Harbor before and during Earth Hour:

Big Ben in London before and during Earth Hour:

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