Earth Hour 2011 | Bangkok Post: learning

Saving the environment

It's so easy to participate in Earth Hour 2010. Just turn off your lights and unnecesssary electrical equipment for an hour between 8:30-9:30pm.

Click button to listen to Earth hour and rightclick to download

Switch off, please!

Tonight, people in 4,616 cities in 128 countries will join the Earth Hour 2011 campaign.

Unnecessary lights should be turned off for an hour between 8:30-9:30pm, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which is coordinating the campaign locally.

The BMA has joined the WWF's Earth Hour campaign for the last three years. During the first year of the campaign here in 2008, electricity consumption during the one-hour switch-off period was 74 megawatts less than the same period the previous year, resulting in a reduction of carbon emissions of 46 tonnes.

The result of the second campaign in 2009 was very impressive. The switch-off campaign helped reduce the use of electricity by 1,423 megawatts and cut the amount of carbon emission by 894 tonnes.

Last year, more people participated in the campaign and that reduced the amount of power consumption by 1,620 megawatts and slashed carbon emissions by 1,003 tonnes. The total savings rose from 200,000 baht in 2008 to 4.8 million baht last year.

The BMA expects more people, businesses and organisations in the capital to join the Earth Hour 2011 campaign.

Lights may also go out for an hour in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and other towns. Businesses including Movenpick Hotels and Resorts worldwide, and Dusit International's hotels in Bangkok, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates will set air conditioner temperature at 27 degrees Celsius and hold candlelight ceremonies.

In Bangkok, Central World will be involved in the campaign.

The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and every continent, including the world's most recognised man-made marvels and natural wonders.

campaign – a series of actions intended to produce political or social change การรณรงค์
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
coordinate – to organise the different parts of a job or plan so that the people involved work together effectively ประสานงานกัน
locally – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ในท้องถิ่น, ในประเทศ
consumption – using, eating or drinking something การบริโภค
reduction – the process or result of making something smaller or less in amount, size, importance etc การลดลง
impressive – something that people admire because it is very good, very large or shows great skill ซึ่งน่าประทับใจ
emissions – gases going into the air การปล่อยก๊าซเสียสู่ท้องฟ้า
participate – to take part in or become involved in an activity มีส่วน
slash –to cut, especially by a large amount ตัด
involved – taking part or having a role in something เกี่ยวข้อง
voluntary – done because you choose to do it rather than because you have to ด้วยความสมัครใจ
witnessed – seen; happened
continent – one of the seven large land masses on the Earth's surface, surrounded, or mainly surrounded, by sea and usually consisting of various countries (adjective form is continental) ทวีป
recognised – to be thought of as very good or important by people in general  เป็นที่ยอมรับ
marvel – a wonderful and surprising thing or person สิ่งที่น่าพิศวง
wonder – a marvel; something that fills you with surprise and admiration  สิ่งที่ทำให้ประหลาดใจ

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