Saturday Night 'dark' As Bangkok Joins 'earth Hour'

[george]

Saturday Night 'Dark' as Bangkok joins 'Earth Hour'

BANGKOK: -- Saturday night in Bangkok is normally a lively and busy time for the public and tourists, all over the city. On this night, however, the lights went out as Bangkok joined 23 other cities across the globe in switching off their electric lights to observe Earth Hour, a World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) event to raise awareness about climate change, for one hour from 8-9 pm.

Participants in Earth Hour will show their commitment to conservation by turning off lights and non-necessary electrical appliances to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin earlier urged the public to join the activity by switching off the lights at their homes for one hour, with the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent.

The event is intended to symbolise that by working together the people of the world can make a difference in the fight against climate change.

Last year's Earth Hour Campaign in Sydney was the first-ever, according to Dr. William Schaedla, country director of WWF Thailand.

Some 2.2 million Sydney residents and 2,000 businesses took a giant a step towards reducing the city's greenhouse gas pollution by turning off lights and appliances for one hour.

This massive collective effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2 per cent over the hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year, he said.

Cities involved in the campaign this year include: Atlanta, Bangkok, San Francisco, Phoenix, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Dublin, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Manila, Suva, Chicago, Tel Aviv, Toronto and Christchurch.

The Bangkok governor said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had coordinated with 40 public and private organisations to participate in the event.

Streetlighting of eight major roads in Bangkok -- New Phetchburi, Yaowaraj, Ratchadapisek, Khao San, Rajdamri, Rajdamneon, Sukhumvit and Silom -- will be turned off for one hour on that night, he said.

WWF and the BMA have asked the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) to help calculate the results of the hour when lights are off and inform the public about the energy savings.

Bangkok could cut its green house gas emissions by 20-30 per cent, said the governor.

Before the lights went out Saturday night, City Hall and the World Wildlife Fund cooperated in a special round-table discussion and exhibition from 6-8 pm at Central World Plaza. The event was aimed to raise awareness on global warming, with inputs from climate specialists, government officials, and private sector specialists. It is expected 3,000 people will participate in this session.

Earth Hour is intended to bring together a diverse group of community, municipal, corporate and non-governmental organisations to heighten awareness about climate change and to inspire consumers and businesses to take practical action to reduce their own carbon footprints.

--TNA 2008-03-29

[stattointhailand]

I thought it was 400 cities worldwide.

Udon has been doing their bit for years, everytime we have a big storm or someone digs up the road, the power goes off for anything from 1 to 8 hours!!

[peter991]

It is just a 'feel-good' exercise. Unfortunately, the power station turbines are still spinning as it is impossible to shut down a power station for 'just an hour' at a time like this and then have to cope with a 'spoke' as people turn their lights on all together at the end of that hour.

Thailand could do a great deal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions - starting with Bangkok traffic and putting those polluting trucks and tuk-tuks off the road. Is there such a thing as vehicle emission specifications for Thai vehicles?

Peter

[Seneque]

In Chiangmai, it is a permanent thing ... everytime there is a bit of wind, power goes off !!! well done