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Antarctic To Pyramids - Lights Dim For Earth Hour
CHICAGO (AP) - From an Antarctic research base and the Great Pyramids of Egypt
to the Empire State Building in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago, illuminated
patches of the globe went dark for Earth Hour, a campaign to highlight the threat
of climate change.
Time zone by time zone, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries joined
the event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to dim nonessential lights from
8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The campaign began in Australia in 2007 and last year grew
to 400 cities worldwide.
Organizers initially worried enthusiasm this year would wane with the world
focused on the global economic crisis, said Earth Hour executive director Andy
Ridley.
But he said it apparently had the opposite effect.
“
Earth Hour has always been a positive campaign; it’s always around street
parties, not street protests, it’s the idea of hope, not despair. And I
think that’s something that’s been incredibly important this year
because there is so much despair around,” he said.
Crowds in Times Square watched as many of the massive billboards, including
the giant Coca-Cola display, darkened. Steps away, the Majestic Theater marquee
at
the home of “The Phantom of the Opera” went dark, along with the
marquees at other Broadway shows.
Mikel Rouse, 52, a composer who lives and works nearby came to watch what
he called “the center of the universe” dim its lights.
“
C’mon, is it really necessary? .. All this ridiculous advertising ... all
this corporate advertising taking up all that energy seems to be a waste,” Rouse
said.
In Chicago, one of 10 U.S. Earth Hour flagship cities, a small crowd braved
a cold rain to count down as Gov. Pat Quinn flipped a 4-foot-tall mock light
switch
that organizers had to brace against high winds. A second later, the buildings
behind him went dark.
“
I don’t see why people shouldn’t always turn off the lights,” pondered
15-year-old Chicagoan Tyler Oria, who was among those gathered.
More than 200 buildings pledged to go dark in the city, including shops along
the Magnificent Mile.
“
No matter what your individual beliefs are about climate change, energy efficiency
is something everyone can understand in this economic environment,” was
WWF managing director Darron Collins, who helped Chicago officials organize
for the night.
The Smithsonian Castle, World Bank, National Cathedral and Howard University
were among several buildings that went dark for an hour in the nation’s
capital.
“
This was the first year that Washington D.C., became an official Earth Hour city,” said
Leslie Aun, WWF spokeswoman.
In the Chilean capital of Santiago, lights were turned off at banks, the
city’s
communications tower and several government buildings, including the Presidential
Palace where President Michelle Bachelet hosted a dinner for U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden.
In Mexico City, the city government and business owners turned off all “nonessential” lights
at more than 100 buildings, including 31 city buildings and monuments and 17
hotels.
In San Francisco, some of the city’s best-known landmarks went dark,
including Coit Tower, the TransAmerica building and the Golden Gate Bridge.
U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon called Earth Hour “a way for the citizens
of the world to send a clear message: They want action on climate change.”
“
People want politicians to take action and solve the problem,” said Kim
Carstensen, director of the global climate initiative for WWF, speaking in
a piano bar bathed by candlelight and lounge music.
China participated for the first time, cutting the lights at Beijing’s
Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube, the most prominent 2008 Olympic venues.
In Bangkok, the prime minister switched off the lights on Khao San Road, a
haven for budget travelers packed with bars and outdoor cafes.
Earth Hour organizers say there’s no uniform way to measure how much
energy is saved worldwide.
Earth Hour 2009 has garnered support from global corporations, nonprofit
groups, schools, scientists and celebrities - including Oscar-winning Cate
Blanchett.
In the Chicago suburb of Blue Island, Eli Rodriguez, owner of a Mexican restaurant
called Tenochtitlan switched off not only the lights but also the television,
which was playing an NCAA tournament basketball game.
But after a few seconds, he turned the game back on.
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