Saudi Arabia to go dark for an hour

By LAURA BASHRAHEEL | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is switching off its power for a whole hour on March 27.

The country is taking part in Earth Hour for the first time since the event debuted in 2007.

Lights are expected to be switched off in major cities including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam from 8.30 to 9.30 in the evening. A number of government departments and private sector companies are also taking part.

Earth Hour aims to encourage people around the world to reduce emissions and be more aware of climate change.

Saudi Arabia is participating alongside 92 countries, where lights will be turned off in almost 2,500 cities.

The event in the Kingdom is sponsored by Saudi Wildlife, which hopes to encourage as many people as possible to participate. 

Earth Hour started three years ago as an Australian initiative, which aimed to draw the attention of people, organizations and government agencies to the importance of easing the pressure on the earth’s resources and reducing the impact on the climate from industrial development.

The event was created in Sydney two years ago by environmentalists keen to cut energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Two million Australians participated in 2007. In 2008 the event went international with 400 cities joining in.

Dubai, Bangkok and New Zealand’s Christchurch recorded falls in power consumption during the hour, ranging from two to 13 percent.

Places such as the Sydney Opera House, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Pyramids in Cairo, and the Empire State Building in New York are among the buildings that will go dark.

Comments

AHSAN ZAFAR

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Hey Pakistanis are the greenest people in the world we celebrate 3 earth hours EVERYDAY.

GHULAM RABBANI

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While appreciating our enthusiastic participation in the " Earth Hour ", watch out that this advance information may facilitate the criminals to plan out their activities during this dark hour as 1 long hour is surely a pretty reasonable time to rob an atm, get into a house, a shop, mug someone, etc.

I sincerely request our police department to be extra alert during this period especially in remote areas famous for such criminal activities.

Thanks
Rabbani

HAROON RASHEED

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We must do to reduce the emission not only for one hour I think every month we have to do. This will change our life style and saving plan for future.

IRFAN

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switching off the lights for an hour, to me seem to be absolutely funny, no reason, especially in a country like Saudi Arabia. better to use in this country is the solar power, due to plenty of sun available! No need of power cuts for an hour in order to save energy.. and the power we get here in Saudi Arabia is offcourse neither hydal, not thermal, infact its the generator supplied, then there is no need for this shut down or blackout...

HAMEED QURASHI

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What about the Medical grounds., Medical equipment., ICU, OT ., Emergency, how it work one hour without electricity one hour . I know there is Generators are there but still.
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