Big switch-off illuminates green mind of supporters

Dubai: Hundreds of people gathered in Dubai to show their support for Earth Hour on Saturday evening despite the wet weather.

Excited youngsters took part in an art workshop and started chanting in anticipation of the big switch-off amid a backdrop of Arabic music and brightly lit candles, which spelled out "Earth Hour" in English and Arabic.

Mustafa Kamaludin, a 36-year-old production manager from Malaysia, said Earth Hour was "an extremely worthwhile initiative that unites us as a planet".

He said: "It is events such as this that help us realise climate change is a global problem and people in countries across the world all have to play their part. My wife and children attended a similar event in Kuala Lumpur a few hours earlier and now I'm here showing my support for Earth Hour in Dubai."

Ramesh Ladwa, a 47-year-old business development manager of British-Asian descent, said even if Earth Hour only made one or two people change their habits on a daily basis it is still a success.

He said: "I've come down here with my wife and three children and they're all having a great time. We've all heard a lot about Earth Hour and we just wanted to see what would happen; A lot of people don't understand terms such as 'carbon footprint' so anything that helps raise awareness is a good thing."

But some people, including Nicola Turner, a 28-year-old doctor from the UK, think Earth Hour is just a gimmick.

She said: "I don't think turning the lights off for one hour will really make much of a difference."

Taking action: More than a gesture

Earth Hour means much more to them than being a symbolic gesture, said Abu Dhabi residents. Speaking to Gulf News, Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF, said that Earth Hour for her is like a global election for the planet against global warming.

"Earth Hour is a fantastic platform with an important message about taking action against climate change, the gravest environmental threat facing our planet. It is a global election for planet earth and against global warming. Of course, action to tackle climate needs to go beyond the one hour that is Earth Hour", she said.

"It is a truly global initiative, with a huge reach, voicing a collective concern about climate change. As such it is certainly represent a considerable coalition of public support to tackle climate change. The results of this participatory event will be presented to decision makers at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen 2009."

Being the local partner of WWF, who initiated Earth Hour worldwide, Al Mubarak said that climate change is an issue of critical concern to the UAE, "where we are predicted to face some of the harshest impacts." "Our nation has the highest per capita Ecological Footprint on earth, the majority of which is related to carbon dioxide emissions."

More information online at www.heroesoftheuae.ae.

- Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter