Many of Bahrain's landmarks will be plunged into darkness tonight as the Kingdom joins 'Earth Hour,' one of the world's largest campaigns to raise awareness about global warming.

The annual Earth Hour event features more than one billion people in cities across the globe turning off their lights for one hour in a bid to urge authorities to find a solution to the threats of global warming.

It is being spearheaded by World Wildlife Fund and will be marked in Bahrain at 8.30pm.

The World Trade Centre (WTC) and Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) will disappear from Bahrain's skyline as they switch off all their lights for one designated hour alongside some of the world's most iconic landmarks including Big Ben in London, Eiffel Tower in Paris, Christ The Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Acropolis in Greece and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Others taking part in the initiative include Movenpick Hotel in Muharraq, Yateem Centre in Manama, Dragon Hotel and Resort in Amwaj Islands and four hotels of the Elite Hospitality Group.

"All strip lights, outside lights, external floodlights, and landscape lights, except aviation lights, stairs and car park lights, will be turned off for Earth Hour," said a WTC spokeswoman.

A spokeswoman for BFH also confirmed that all outside lights would be switched off to participate in the cause.

The Yateem Centre will go one step further with the shutting down of its entire system, excluding emergency lightings, confirmed general manager Andrew Petty.

"All public lighting and air-conditioning will be switched off and effectively we will shut down the whole system apart from emergency lights," he said. "It all contributes to the cause."

Hotels across the country will also go dark as they help raise awareness about the dangers of not tackling global warming.

"As of 8.30pm the hotel will switch off the outside lights...," said Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain officials.

Candlelit dinners are on the agenda at the Dragon Hotel and Resort in Amwaj Islands as the outside and restaurant lights at Muju and Yamin Jana will be switched off for one hour, a hotel spokeswoman confirmed.

This will also apply to the Marriott Executive Apartments in Juffair.

"All balcony lights and restaurant lights will be switched off, with candlelit dinners at the Sky Walk restaurant," said a Marriott Executive Apartments spokesman.

"We will also be sending letters to guests to inform them of the initiative, should they wish to turn off the lights in their apartment and support the cause."

All non-essential lights will also be turned off at Elite Hospitality Group buildings and in-house guests, residents and staff are being urged to join the campaign, said Elite Hospitality Group human resources manager Zamir Abbasi.

These include Elite Crystal in Juffair, Elite Grande, Elite Seef Residence and Hotel in Seef and Elite Resort and Spa in Muharraq.

"All properties and hotels of Elite Hospitality located in Muharraq, Seef and Juffair will turn off power for one hour in support of Earth Hour 2012 along with the hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world to support the largest environmental event in history," said Abbasi.

"Employees of Elite properties will also encourage in-house guests and residents to switch off lights in their rooms and join in the festivities.

"Posters have been circulated in all guest rooms and public areas promoting the awareness campaign."

Earth Hour was first started in Sydney in 2007 and 134 countries will take part in the initiative this year.

Saudi Arabia joined the cause for the first time in 2010 to be alongside other Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service