Hanoi(VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi will switch off public and advertisinglighting systems in some public areas and streets from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 25 aspart of its response to the global Earth Hour campaign.
Under a plan of actionwhich was issued by the municipal People’s Committee, a range of activities will beorganised on that day to raise awareness and responsibility of the community on the efficient use of energy, responding to climate change and environmentalprotection.
The activities include a dissemination campaign on the Earth Hour campaign in communes and wards through socio-politicalorganisations as well as communication work on using power more efficiently via media outlets.
The event is intendedto encourage society to join the campaign by turning off lights and other unnecessarydevices in their homes and at their workplaces.
Started in 2007 by the WorldWildlife Fund (WWF) and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney toraise awareness of climate change, the Earth Hour is now one of the world's largestgrassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturdayof March, the Earth Hour engages supporters in more than 190 countries andterritories, all taking action to ensure a brighter future for people and theplanet.
Vietnam first joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009. Last year, the countrysaved 309,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to 576.1 million VND (about 24,310USD)./.