The official countdown to Earth Hour has begun. With only three days left, if you haven't given much thought to your participation, now's the time to start. On March 29, beginning at 8 p.m. local time, participants are asked to shut off their lights until 9 p.m.. Last year over two million people in Australia participated in the event that was started to raise awareness about climate change. This year organizers hope the hour will have a global impact, with participation from all over the world.

It's definitely not too late for you to become involved with the initiative. If you aren't sure where to begin, the Earth Hour website has some ideas to get your started.

- Sign up on the Earth Hour website to receive tips and tools for the event.

- Tell your friends about Earth Hour and encourage them to join the millions of others who will shut off their lights, television sets and all-important games of Guitar Hero. Email your family, friends and co-workers the link to the Earth Hour website for more information.

- Even though there are only a couple of days remaining until lights-out, you can still organize an event in your community or with your friends. Host a candlelit dinner and serve cold or raw foods, have a neightborhood "block party" with "in-the-dark" games or activities, or ask local business to become involved by shutting off their lights for the full hour, or even 15 minutes in recognition Earth Hour.

- If you plan to involve your business in Earth Hour, advertise it! You can register as a business at the site and show your support for the event.

- Contact the WWF to learn about more support opportunities if you'd like to take on a more significant role for Earth Hour.

You can hit the jump to find more information about Earth Hour including learning how your country ranks in terms of

» Earth Hour (Official Site)