SalvaEco

In the new Europe’s administrative capital of Brussels in Belgium, all 65 European Union buildings institutions went dark, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, Social and Economic Committee and the Committee of the Regions buildings.

The world-famous Atomium in Brussels, considered an architectural and design masterpiece, also went dark during Earth Hour. The building was designed to represent Belgium at the Universal Exhibition in 1958 in Brussels, and was intended to last only for the six months of the exposition. Fifty years later, it is now one of the world’s best-known and most visited buildings.

According to WWF Belgium, 500,000 households turned off in 193 cities, towns and municipalities in the country – about one in three households in the country. Some 329 companies also registered their support for Earth Hour. A major radio station went off air for the hour and several youth clubs organized candlelight parties across the country.

Paris headed a list of 28 French cities and towns joining the world’s visual vote for decisive action on climate change during Earth Hour. They included France’s second and third largest cities of Marseille and Lyon, as well as the major centres of Nantes, Le Mans, Bordeaux, Montpellier, St Etienne, Gap and Grenoble and Strasbourg.

An estimated eight million people in around 200 cities, towns and communes participated in Earth Hour, a WWF-France spokesperson said.

Many famous landmarks in the world’s most visited country also turned off their lights for the occasion, with the list in Paris alone including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Louvre. As part of the celebrations, more than two hundred roller-bladers took to the streets in an hour-long tour of the city of dimmed lights by night – aiming to visit all the darkened monuments.

Speaking from the Trocadero as the Eiffel Tower across the Seine abruptly went dark at 8.30 pm, WWF Director General James Leape said “Earth Hour has already proved a resounding success.

“Hundreds of millions of people in four thousand towns and cities are demanding action on climate change.”

Mr Leape was joined for the big switch-off at the Trocadero by French Minister of State Jean-Yves Borloo, Environment Minister Chantal Jouanno, and WWF-France CEO Serge Orru.

In Bonn, Germany, where delegates from around the world are gathered for preparatory negotiations for the new climate change deal to be settled in December in Copenhagen, some of most important buildings turned off for Earth Hour. One of them – the Deutsche Post (German Post) – is the tallest building in the former capital of West Germany. It is visible from the venue where crucial negotiations will take place.

“Millions of people are showing their support for action against climate change and delegates here must do the same,” said Kim Karstensen, leader of WWF’s climate team at a candlelit WWF cocktail party for delegates.

“Tonight is a great success but we are not there yet. Now we all must show action.”

A group of German scouts will tomorrow deliver a ballot box, a symbol of the global vote, to Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is hosting the Bonn talks. Members of the 28 million strong worldwide Scout movement were among the earliest and most enthusiastic supporters of the 2009 Earth Hour.

The very best of “Made in Italy”- luminaries of Italian art, fashion, soccer and food –also mobilised to do their part for Earth Hour – along with 160 cities and towns through the country.

Football star Francesco Totti switched off the lights at the Rome’s Coliseum while over the Tiber, the Dome of St Peter’s also went dark. Other Italian monuments to participate included the Rialto Bridge in Venice and the leaning Tower of Pisa.

“Sometimes we need darkness to see clearly,” said Italian celebrity stylist Giorgio Armani said.

“In the Hour when the Earth, its people and nature share a common message that will travel the world, let us switch off our lights for one hour, and switch on to a new way of thinking.”

An estimated 15 to 20 percent of Spain’s total population of 40 million – or between 6 and 8 million people – switched off their lights for Earth Hour, according to WWF Spain.

More than 200 cities, towns and municipalities took part in the global effort, and the lights went dark at 100 landmarks.

Historic treasures such as the famous Alhambra fortress and palace in Granada – a UNESCO World Heritage Site -and the Royal Palace and the Spanish Parliament in Madrid turned off lights for Earth Hour.

Church bells rang out across Sweden as the lights were turned off while in Finland, the lights dimmed on the Ice Palace in Helsinki’s Market Square. In Copenhagen, where it is imperative that an effective and equitable new global deal is agreed to in December, restaurants laid out candles and lanterns for diners while the light dimmed on royal and other monuments.

www.earthhour.org