ID :
52605
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 08:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/52605
The shortlink copeid
Earth Hour gets closer to global target
More than 80 countries will this year participate in the Earth Hour climate change
campaign, that began in Australia in 2007 with just over two million people taking
part.
More than 2,800 cities and towns across the globe have signed on to switch off -
edging organisers even closer to their ambitious target of one billion participants.
Two years ago, the campaign began at Sydney's Opera House.
This year Egypt's Great Pyramids at Giza will be plunged into darkness alongside
another 828 global landmarks, including New York's Empire State Building, the
Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the famed Coca-Cola
sign in London's Piccadilly Circus.
Earth Hour organisers say that by turning off the lights for one hour from 8.30pm
local time on Saturday, people can send a powerful collective message on the
importance of action on climate change.
World leaders are due to meet in the Danish capital of Copenhagen in December to
design a new global strategy to fight global warming.
Scientists say a strong agreement must come out of that meeting if the world is to
avoid the worst effects of global warming.
The Earth Hour gesture also serves as a reminder to people to think about the way
they consume energy and to modify their daily habits to cut down on power
consumption.
More than 70 public events have registered to be part of the campaign in Australia
this year.
As well as sending a message on climate change, Swinburne University astronomer
Michael Murphy said the event would return the full beauty of the night sky to
Australians, at least for an hour.
"The night sky is one of the last great nature reserves, but most people in
Australia can't see it because of the city lights," he said.
The event's also a good excuse to indulge in some good old-fashioned romance.
Candle-lit speed dating will be held in most capital cities, while a 700 candle
message of "lights off" will be laid out on Sydney's Coogee Beach.
A list of Earth Hour activities in Australia can be found on the website of the
conservation group WWF, which founded the event.
campaign, that began in Australia in 2007 with just over two million people taking
part.
More than 2,800 cities and towns across the globe have signed on to switch off -
edging organisers even closer to their ambitious target of one billion participants.
Two years ago, the campaign began at Sydney's Opera House.
This year Egypt's Great Pyramids at Giza will be plunged into darkness alongside
another 828 global landmarks, including New York's Empire State Building, the
Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the famed Coca-Cola
sign in London's Piccadilly Circus.
Earth Hour organisers say that by turning off the lights for one hour from 8.30pm
local time on Saturday, people can send a powerful collective message on the
importance of action on climate change.
World leaders are due to meet in the Danish capital of Copenhagen in December to
design a new global strategy to fight global warming.
Scientists say a strong agreement must come out of that meeting if the world is to
avoid the worst effects of global warming.
The Earth Hour gesture also serves as a reminder to people to think about the way
they consume energy and to modify their daily habits to cut down on power
consumption.
More than 70 public events have registered to be part of the campaign in Australia
this year.
As well as sending a message on climate change, Swinburne University astronomer
Michael Murphy said the event would return the full beauty of the night sky to
Australians, at least for an hour.
"The night sky is one of the last great nature reserves, but most people in
Australia can't see it because of the city lights," he said.
The event's also a good excuse to indulge in some good old-fashioned romance.
Candle-lit speed dating will be held in most capital cities, while a 700 candle
message of "lights off" will be laid out on Sydney's Coogee Beach.
A list of Earth Hour activities in Australia can be found on the website of the
conservation group WWF, which founded the event.
