March 29, 2008
Bangkok - Bangkok accepted Sydney mayor’s invitation to join the Earth Hour activity which twenty four cities worldwide will turn off lights for one hour to raise awareness about global warming.
The "Earth Hour" initiative started in Sydney last year when 2.2 million people flicked the switch.
Bangkok is one of the eight latest cities to join "Earth Hour" campaign apart from Atlanta, San Francisco and Phoenix in the US; Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada and Dublin in Ireland.
Mrs. Bansopit Mekwichai, Deputy Bangkok Governor, met with 43 delegates from the WWF, Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand, Education Ministry, department stores and the owners of high-rise buildings last month to discuss the issue.
Street lights will be turned off on March 29, from 8-9 pm at the Central World Plaza.
Normally, Bangkok will consume five million kilowatts per hour of electricity on Saturday.
About one million kilowatts per hour or 25% of electricity consumption will be reduced during the Earth Hour, which means up to two million baht per hour of power cost will be cut.
New Phetchburi, Rajadamri, Silom, Yaowaraj, Ratchada and Kao Sarn Road are included in the Earth Hour campaign.
