Only 12 days to Earth Hour!

You can join people all over the globe showing that we appreciate our Earth. Just turn out the lights! For one hour, Saturday, March 27, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., local time. Last year, 80 million Americans flipped the switch. Even the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark.

Sign up as an individual or organization or business at The Official US Site for Earth Hour. Find out more ways you can get involved -- have a party, buy a t-shirt, get stuff for kids and more. On the site from now through March 27 you'll be able to see videos and slides of other countries in the Earth Hour news.

Two schools in South Carolina are participating so far, along with 7 organizations, including a Homeowners Association, and 8 businesses. In North Carolina, cities signing up so far are Dillsboro, City of Winston-Salem, Carrboro, and Fayetteville. There are also 18 schools, 8 universities, and 32 businesses. Seven organizations have signed up, including the United States Marine Corps, a Cub Scout Pack, and the NC Zoo Society.

Georgia is an official Earth Hour State and will turn off the lights for an hour at the State Capitol. There are 23 states making the commitment, including Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Maryland. We would love to see the Carolinas on the list. Okay, let's tell our governors and other elected officials that we want to join the party!