Earth hour happened this weekend – where people from around the world were invited to switch off their lights for one hour – and some of the pictures from the event are phenomenal. Below are some of the best – I’ve tried to give credit to the sources but if I’ve missed anything please let me know. 

Earth Hour started in Australia and here is their capital, Canberra: 

(http://blog.enterpriseitplanet.com/green/blog/2008/04/canberra-takes-earth-hour-crown.html)

and Sydney:

(http://timblair.net/ee/images/uploads/shieldyoureyes.jpg)

Some of the world’s most famous monuments took part, such as the pyramids in Egypt:

(http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/29/earth-hour-032909/)

… the Burj El Arab in Dubai:

(http://transracial.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/get-ready-for-earth-hour-2009/)

and the CN Tower:

(http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/04/02/global-citizens-love-the-earth-for-an-hour/comment-page-1/)

Even Google got in on the act:

Cheryl, Alesha and Kimberley: Three of the Kilimanjaro fundraisers

Since 1985, Comic Relief has had an annual spot on our television screens and this year’s fundraising effort has seen almost £60m donated to the charity.

Comic Relief is famed as one of the biggest charities and each year it gets help from comedians and celebrities to help raise money for worthwhile causes in the UK and abroad. Donations on the night as well as red nose sales and fundraising events across Great Britain prior to Red Nose Day.

One of the main events this year was a celebrity team of climbers ascended Kilimanjaro, raising more than £1.5m in the process. The team consisted of singers Cheryl Cole, Alesha Dixon and Kimberley Walsh as well as TV and radio presenters, Ronan Keating and Gary Barlow.

Every year sees a band record a charity single and the 2009 Comic Relief song was the Saturdays’ cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. The song charted at number two and although it was the first Comic Relief single since 1994 not to top the charts the second Comic Relief single – ‘(Barry) Islands in the Stream’

The money raised goes to help young people across the world, specifically those affected by alcohol, conflict, homelessness, mental health problems, and prostitution. Work is funded in the UK as well as in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In total 79 countries this year will receive financial help and education as part of the Red Nose Campaign.

Comic Relief brings out the charitable in everyone and some people have been getting up to their own special fundraising ideas – from unicycling 40 kilometres to schoolchildren throwing pies in the face of their teacher