Atlanta turns out the lights for Earth Hour
Saturday, March 28, 2009By SHANE BLATT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, March 28, 2009
With the flip of a switch Saturday night, Atlanta joined thousands of cities worldwide in casting itself into darkness for 60 minutes in a gesture of environmental responsibility.
At precisely 8:30 p.m., Mayor Shirley Franklin threw a large mock light switch inside the World of Coca-Cola downtown to usher in the second annual Earth Hour in Atlanta.
The event’s purpose was to support global action on climate change. About 540 metro Atlanta buildings agreed to turn off their lights, including the Bank of America, the Fox Theatre and the Varsity.
“It’s important for us to demonstrate that an individual action can have an impact on Atlanta,” Franklin said.
Among those joining Franklin was Suzanne Apple, vice president of the World Wildlife Fund. She called Earth Hour “a profound event, and one we expect a billion people to participate in.”
Mark Pettit, Atlanta’s Earth Hour co-chairman, said the city’s participation was “a symbolic gesture, but a worldwide statement. Atlanta is playing a critical role leading 4,000 cities worldwide.”
Cities in 88 countries joined the event to dim nonessential lights. Even world icons participated, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Acropolis of Athens, and the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
