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Cities Dim Lights for Earth

Australian brainstorm becomes global phenomenon

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 29, 2008 8:04 PM CDT

(Newser) – Cities around the world dimmed their lights for an hour tonight to draw attention to global warming, the AP reports. Sydney, Australia, the city where Earth Hour began a year ago, helped get things started, followed by municipalities around the world at 8 pm. in their time zones. Chicago and San Francisco were among the bigger cities in the US that participated. Even Wrigley Field's marquee went dark.

"What's amazing is that it's transcending political boundaries and happening in places like China, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea," said the director of the Earth Hour group in Australia. "It really seems to have resonated with anybody and everybody." The Google home page also got in on the act—it turned its color to black for the day.

Fireworks explode near the Sydney Opera House at the conclusion of Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, March 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

A building is seen with most of its lights turned off, Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, March 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

This combo picture shows the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House illuminated by lights top, then seen with the lights turned off Saturday, March 29, 2008, in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Few lights are reflected on the water after officials shut down street lights at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)

Some office towers begin to dim their lights as seen from the CN Tower in Toronto during Earth Hour, Saturday, March 29, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press. J.P. Moczulski)

The Sears Tower, second from left, leads the way by dimming the tower lights during the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour event in Chicago, Saturday, March 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Chicago skyline during the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour event in Chicago, Saturday, March 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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'Earth Hour' Is a Joke

We need real green solutions, not just 'feel-good' movements: Bjorn Lomborg

World Will Dim Lights Tomorrow for Earth Hour

Cities will power off to call attention to global warming

Cities Ready Protest Blackout

World 'Earth Hour' aims to raise awareness about global warming

CO2 Emissions 'Will Defer Ice Age'

Carbon dioxide levels creating long 'interglacial' period

Canada Slammed for Kyoto Pullout

Canada gov't says fines huge, no real environmental help

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

climate change • Sydney • Earth Hour • carbon emissions

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Earth Hour' Is a Joke

We need real green solutions, not just 'feel-good' movements: Bjorn Lomborg

World Will Dim Lights Tomorrow for Earth Hour

Cities will power off to call attention to global warming

Cities Ready Protest Blackout

World 'Earth Hour' aims to raise awareness about global warming

CO2 Emissions 'Will Defer Ice Age'

Carbon dioxide levels creating long 'interglacial' period

Canada Slammed for Kyoto Pullout

Canada gov't says fines huge, no real environmental help

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?