World landmarks go dark for Earth Hour
US: The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the
Kremlin -- along with a slew of other landmarks around the world -- went
dark Saturday to draw attention to climate change.
In a symbolic show of support for the planet, people across the
continents switched off their lights for 60 minutes -- all at 8:30 pm
local time -- to make “Earth Hour.” In bustling New York, that's exactly
what happened when the Empire State Building pulled the plug on its
nighttime brilliance.
Only obligatory security lights remained aglow on the Ferris Wheel at
the Santa Monica pier several hours later as dozens of California
communities joined in.
The pylons at Los Angeles International Airport displayed solid green
while lights were turned off or dimmed for an hour at venues in the
city, including the STAPLES Center and the Nokia Theatre.
“This program allows us and other high profile venues to show
awareness and that we are committed to energy efficiency and
sustainability in everything that we do as a sports and live
entertainment district,” Lee Zeidman, general manager of these
establishments, said in a statement.
Further south in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue
took the plunge into temporary darkness, along with the city's famous
Ipanema Beach.
In Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, the city's Obelisk, planetarium
and other monuments and public buildings did the same.
In Paris, the city of light, the Eiffel Tower turned off its
illumination -- but only for five minutes due to security reasons.
Moscow's Kremlin meanwhile went dark for a full hour for the first
time, following a decision by President Vladimir Putin.
Saint Mark's Square in the heart of Venice switched off its lighting,
turning to candles instead.
In the Serbian capital Belgrade, the national parliament, the
national museum and all five bridges were among the landmarks that went
without illumination.
In neighboring Bosnia, the lights went out at Sarajevo cathedral and
at the Old Bridge in the southwestern town of Mostar, which dates back
to the Ottoman Empire.
Earlier, Sydney had kicked off the event to cheers and applause from
a small crowd that had gathered to see the skyline dim and Sydney Opera
House turn a deep green to symbolize renewable energy.
“It's been a very inspiring night because it's all about hope and
change,” said Jessica Bellamy, one of the spectators.
Japan switched off soon after Australia, with the illumination on the
landmark Tokyo Tower dimming down as visitors were given the chance to
pedal bicycles to generate power to illuminate an egg-shaped artwork.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site
in the country's west, also sat in darkness.
In the Chinese capital Beijing, lights went out at the former Olympic
stadium, the “Bird's Nest,” while in the commercial hub of Shanghai
buildings along the famed riverfront Bund took part.
Hong Kong's iconic skyline appeared to vanish into the night as the
neon lights and advertising boards that usually brighten the sky were
turned off, leaving the harbor in darkness.
In Singapore, a crowd of almost 1,000 people watched from a floating
platform as landmarks on the skyline dimmed, before a pulsating musical
performance had people dancing in the dark ahead of a film screening.
AFP |