24 stunning photos of cities around the world turning their lights off to make a point.

On March 19, dozens of countries around the world observed the 10th annual "Earth Hour."

Famous landmarks around the world — and millions of private citizens — turned off their lights for 60 minutes at night to create stunning, rarely seen images of their cities.

1. Here's the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, with its lights on...

The Parthenon, lights on. Photo by Panagiotis Tzamaros/Getty Images.

2. ...and off.

The Parthenon, lights off. Photo by Panagiotis Tzamaros/Getty Images.

3. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, look plenty majestic all lit up.

Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers, lights on. Photo by Mohd Rafsan/Getty Images.

4. And young-adult-novel-dystopia eerie in the dark.

Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers, lights off. Photo by Mohd Rafsan/Getty Images.

5. The lights on Big Ben and Britain's Houses of Parliament were also switched off for Earth Hour.

London's Big Ben and Parliament buildings, lights on. Photo by Niklas Halle'n/Getty Images.

6. Which made the complex look not unlike it had been overrun by dark wizards.

London's Big Ben and Parliament buildings, lights off. Photo by Niklas Halle'n/Getty Images.

7. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia...

The Sydney Opera House, lights on. Photo by William West/Getty Images.

8. ...in order to bring attention to the threat of global climate change...

The Sydney Opera House, lights off. Photo by William West/Getty Images.

9. ...and convince the world to heed the warnings about imminent global catastrophe from scientists, activists, and religious groups — notably the Vatican.

The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica, lights on. Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/Getty Images.

10. Pope Francis has said, of climate change, "Any harm done to the environment ... is harm done to humanity.”

The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica, lights off. Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/Getty Images.

11. In the nine years since the first Earth Hour, the event has expanded to include iconic landmarks around the world, like this — the famous "Chain Bridge" in Budapest, Hungary.

Budapest's Chain Bridge, lights on. Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/Getty Images.

12. Though it's been frustratingly slow at times, some actual, real-life headway on climate change has been made since then.

Budapest's Chain Bridge, lights off. Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/Getty Images.

13. Especially in Paris, where a historic climate pact was signed in December.

Paris' Eiffel Tower, lights on. Photo by Ludovic Marin/Getty Images.

14. 195 countries reached the landmark agreement together...

Paris' Eiffel Tower, lights off. Photo by Ludovic Marin/Getty Images.

15. ...including top polluters the United States and China. Shanghai (pictured below) was a 2016 Earth Hour participant.

Shanghai, China, lights on. Photo by Johannes Eisele/Getty Images.

16. The agreement commits the nations that signed to take immediate action in order to limit total global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.

Shanghai, China, lights off. Photo by Johannes Eisele/Getty Images.

17. Critics of Earth Hour have knocked the annual event for being more symbol than substance. After all, what does it matter if the Wat Arun in Bangkok, (below) turns off its lights for a few minutes?

Bangkok's Wat Arun, lights on. Photo by Christophe Archambault/Getty Images.

18. After the lights go back on, polluters will still pollute, politicians will still stall and delay, and nothing will change. At least not right away.

Bangkok's Wat Arun, lights off. Photo by Christophe Archambault/Getty Images.

19. But when young people gathered around the Trevi Fountain in Rome...

The Trevi Fountain, Rome, lights on. Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/Getty Images.

20. ...which really shows its age in the dark...

The Trevi Fountain, Rome, lights off. Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/Getty Images.

21. ...and business people in downtown Jakarta, Indonesia, see the lights go out and...

Downtown Jakarta, lights on. Photo by Bay Ismoyo/Getty Images.

22. ...we're all thinking about are how our actions and the fate of the planet we all have no choice but to keep living on are connected...

Downtown Jakarta, lights off. Photo by Bay Ismoyo/Getty Images.

23. ...it's enough to give you hope that the world is maybe, finally, getting it. Yes, it is only a small symbolic gesture. But seeing the National Stadium in Beijing (below) go dark for an hour isn't nothing.

Beijing's National Stadium, lights on. Photo by Wang Zhao/Getty Images.

24. It's progress. And if we can coordinate something like Earth Hour at a dozen of the world’s most famous landmarks, then surely we can coordinate more meaningful change too.

Beijing's National Stadium, lights off. Photo by Wang Zhao/Getty Images.

Prudential

Meet the 18-year-old advocating for teen mental health, one inspiring podcast at a time

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

True

A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

See on Instagram

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.

From Your Site Articles

heroes

Joy

An 8-year-old snuck his handwritten book onto a library shelf. Now it has a 56-person waiting list.

Dillon Helbig's 81-page graphic novel— written by "Dillon His Self"—captured the hearts of his local librarians and their patrons.

KTVB/YouTube

Dillon Helbig's 81-page graphic novel captured the hearts of his local librarians.

Writing a book is no easy task, even for adult professional writers. Many would-be authors dream of a day when their work can be found on library shelves, unsure if it will ever come.

But for 8-year-old Dillon Helbig, that day has already arrived—in truly unconventional fashion—thanks to his own determination to make it happen.

Dillon wrote his 81-page graphic novel, "The Adventures of Dillon Helbig's Crismis" (written by "Dillon His Self") in a hardcover journal with colored pencils over the course of a few days. He even put a label on the back of the book that reads "Made in Idho" [sic] and put an illustrated spine label on it as well. Then, without telling anyone, he brought it to his local library in Boise, Idaho, and slipped it in among the books in the children's section.

Keep ReadingShow less

family

Identity

An open letter to men who will have sex with me but won't date me

"It's one thing if you're not into fat women — everyone has their preferences — but if you want to have sex with us without being seen in public with us, that's emotionally abusive."

This article originally appeared on 06.29.18

Many years before I got together with my boyfriend, I had a sex thing with this guy that I thought was relationship material.

He not only had an amazing body but a great personality as well. I was honest when I met him that I was looking for something more than just sex, and he led me to believe that was what he wanted, too.

Between mind-blowing sex sessions, we ordered in, played video games, and watched movies — couple things but without the label. But when I tried to get him to go to a show or out to dinner with me, he refused. My frustration grew as the months went on, and one day I confronted him.