03-08-2009, 07:49 PM
Mumbia, March 8: India will switch off lights on March 28 to observe Earth Hour. The lights will be switched off an indication that India too is committed to save energy and is ready to take steps to save the world environment.
The lights out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots action that has captured the attention of the citizens of the world. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change.
WWF Secretary General & CEO, Mr. Ravi Singh, said Earth Hour is a step in the world's efforts to combat the threat of Climate Change and it holds tremendous potential to influence sound policy and people's participation on the issue. He said that Earth Hour is an unprecedented communication initiative to make people understand what they must.
The list of cities confirming their participation in Earth Hour 2009 includes 37 national capitals and some of the great cities of the world, including London, Paris, Beijing, Rome, Moscow, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Athens, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Sydney, Mexico City, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Manila, Las Vegas, Brussels, Cape Town, Helsinki, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Along with the great metropolises of the world, Earth Hour 2009 will also see the lights go out on some of the most recognised landmarks on the planet, including Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Merlion in Singapore, Sydney Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the world’s tallest constructed building Taipei 101.
Kick-starting the 'Earth Hour'campaign at the at green technology festival of the Chemical Engineering department at IIT `Azeotropy' , Mumbai Mayor Dr Shubha Raul said it was important to cut down carbon level and the municipality will be keen to help in the endeavour.
Earth Hour was observed in 35 countries last year in an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint, the education officer of World Wide Fund for Nature (India), Goldin Quadros, said today.
Dr Goldin Quadros of WWF said, “When the organisers of the festival from IITB approached us with the idea of tying up with the campaign, we were a bit skeptical because chemical engineering and pollution go hand in hand. But then we also thought that the fest, whose theme this year is ‘We mean Green’, could be a good platform to inform young students about the need for green technologies and also to spread across awareness about the campaign to other regions of the country.”
A host of high profile ambassadors across the world have also lent their support to the campaign, most notably Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett. In India, noted Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan would lend his support to the campaign. ‘ Climate Change is undoubtedly and regrettably, the biggest immediate long-term environmental challenge we face. A failure to come to sound policy outcomes on climate change will not only have a negative environmental impact but also social and economic consequences for all of us' he said.
The lights out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots action that has captured the attention of the citizens of the world. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change.
WWF Secretary General & CEO, Mr. Ravi Singh, said Earth Hour is a step in the world's efforts to combat the threat of Climate Change and it holds tremendous potential to influence sound policy and people's participation on the issue. He said that Earth Hour is an unprecedented communication initiative to make people understand what they must.
The list of cities confirming their participation in Earth Hour 2009 includes 37 national capitals and some of the great cities of the world, including London, Paris, Beijing, Rome, Moscow, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Athens, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Sydney, Mexico City, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Manila, Las Vegas, Brussels, Cape Town, Helsinki, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Along with the great metropolises of the world, Earth Hour 2009 will also see the lights go out on some of the most recognised landmarks on the planet, including Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Merlion in Singapore, Sydney Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the world’s tallest constructed building Taipei 101.
Kick-starting the 'Earth Hour'campaign at the at green technology festival of the Chemical Engineering department at IIT `Azeotropy' , Mumbai Mayor Dr Shubha Raul said it was important to cut down carbon level and the municipality will be keen to help in the endeavour.
Earth Hour was observed in 35 countries last year in an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint, the education officer of World Wide Fund for Nature (India), Goldin Quadros, said today.
Dr Goldin Quadros of WWF said, “When the organisers of the festival from IITB approached us with the idea of tying up with the campaign, we were a bit skeptical because chemical engineering and pollution go hand in hand. But then we also thought that the fest, whose theme this year is ‘We mean Green’, could be a good platform to inform young students about the need for green technologies and also to spread across awareness about the campaign to other regions of the country.”
A host of high profile ambassadors across the world have also lent their support to the campaign, most notably Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett. In India, noted Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan would lend his support to the campaign. ‘ Climate Change is undoubtedly and regrettably, the biggest immediate long-term environmental challenge we face. A failure to come to sound policy outcomes on climate change will not only have a negative environmental impact but also social and economic consequences for all of us' he said.
