7 Mar : India will observe "Earth Hour" by switching off all lights and electrical appliances for an hour to save energy on 28th March.India will join the rest of the world and turn off lights for an hour from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
"Earth Hour" was observed in 35 countries last year in an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint, the World Wide Fund for Nature (India) Education officer Dr Goldin Quadros said.
This year India, especially Delhi and Mumbai will participate, he said adding that WWF was getting support from the government and corporate houses.
Lights would be switched off or dimmed at 11 PVR cinemas in Delhi and Mumbai and corporate offices.
According to WWF, 50 lakh citizens of 377 cities in 74 nations are participating in the initiative this year.The campaign began two years ago when people in Sydney switched off lights for one hour.
Kick-starting the "Earth Hour" campaign at the green technology festival of the Chemical Engineering department at IIT, Mumbai Mayor Dr Shubha Raul said it was important to cut down carbon level and the municipality is keen to help in the endeavour.
She has called a meeting of all the corporators to brief them about the ‘Earth hour’ on Monday and WWF will have a video show for them.The city mayor also started a signature drive in support of "Earth Hour".
Raul also said any new green technology developed by chemical engineers will have to be widely promoted in the city.Raul addressed the issues of global warming, the importance of saving energy and WWF’s Earth Hour initiative to create awareness amongst people about global warming and conservation of the environment and natural resources.
WWF is also organising a human chain at Marine Drive. From Monday onwards, the WWF will also start a campaign in schools and colleges."Since exams are on, we have drawn up plans for only 100 schools," Quadros said.
In India, Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan will support the campaign by promoting Earth Hour on his blog and Youtube, Quadros said.He said that in Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dixit was committed to the cause.
Among the corporate houses, WIPRO, HP, Google, Taj Group of hotels, ITC-welcome would support the initiative.Earth hour is not a quantitative measure to save electricity but is a powerful symbol for the fact that its possible to take action against climate change, Quadros said.