What’s the easiest thing you can do this year to show your environmental support, no digging deep into soil or pockets required? Earth Hour. It’s simple: you simply turn off your lights for one hour.

What: Earth Hour (sponsored by the WWF) started in Sydney two years ago and has now spread across the globe. Last year, 50 million people switched off, and so did normally illuminated landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum in Rome. The goal this year is to have one billion people participate-over 1,000 cities and towns have already pledged to flip the switch.

Why: If you want to vote for nature and not with her opponent, global warming, Earth Hour is a way to cast that ballot. It’s a bunch of people and communities taking a simple action to turn off their own energy use and turn on a message to policy makers about where the public’s priorities lie.

When: Saturday, March 28th, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., wherever you are.

See how Alanis Morissette is supporting the world’s biggest “turn off” on YouTube.

And guess who did the posters? That’s right, Shepard Fairey (who is a busy guy right now).

Finally, if you think it’s a useless idea in the first place, you might be right, but Bryan Walsh’s article from TIME Magazine explores how while a symbol like Earth Hour may not make much of a real difference in terms of carbon emissions, it may speak louder than words to help shift environmental policy.

Find out how to vote earth now, on March 28th and beyond at http://www.voteearth2009.org/home/. And stay in the know about Earth Hour L.A. at http://www.earthhourus.org/losangeles/losangeles.php (you won’t see any lights on at the Capitol Records building, the Santa Monica pier ferris wheel or Griffith Observatory Saturday night).

If you want to get involved locally you’ve definitely got a few options.  The largest event by far is the free Earth Hour Event taking place at L.A. Live at the Nokia Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles.  The event will be hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and includes a “surprise guest.”

If you’re on the west side, The Whole 9 Gallery is taking part of a Global Block Party with ProgressivePulse.com.  They are throwing parties in New York and San Francisco too.

Lastly if you’re looking to celebrate in a more casual way, visit opentables.com to see what local restaurants are turning off their lights and dinning by candle light.

Tags: earth hour, earth hour 2009, earth hour los angeles, earth hour us, Environmental Action, Green LA, Green Living In L.A., turning off lights, world wildlife fund