Japan nuclear crisis gives Earth Hour more poignancy

Singapore: Lights started going off around the world yesterday in a show of support for renewable energy, given added poignancy by Japan's nuclear disaster, which raises doubts about nuclear power.

Landmarks in thousands of cities, from Sydney Harbour Bridge to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, will turn off the power for Earth Hour, the fifth such event promoting a sustainable future.

"I think it's going to be the biggest one, but would also say it's very much up to the people," Andy Ridley, co-founder of Earth Hour, said in Sydney. "There is no one telling you that you have to do it."

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) initiative, along with governments, business and individuals, will cross the globe, with the first lights dimmed across Fiji and New Zealand at 8.30pm, to lights being turned on again in Samoa 24 hours later.

Some promoting sustainable energy have seen nuclear power as a solution. But the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, sending radioactive material into the atmosphere, have made many think twice.

"We did hesitate a bit because there are many without electricity in disaster-hit areas," said Naoyuki Yamagishi, WWF's climate change programme leader in Japan.

"But we thought by calling out for energy conservation nationwide it would actually boost support for those living in evacuation shelters."