Bangkok turns lights out to highlight global warming

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2007

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's capital turned the lights out Wednesday in an effort to raise awareness of global warming, with six Bangkok neighbourhoods plunged into partial darkness for 15 minutes.

Officials urged two million of the city's residents to join businesses and government offices in switching off non-essential lights at 7:00 pm (1200 GMT) to alert Thais to the ill-effects of climate change.

At downtown shopping mall Central World Plaza, Thais put away their credit cards for a moment to ponder their energy consumption, as neon billboards and garishly-lit shop windows were dimmed.

"I consume a lot of energy at home, for example I turn my television on while spending two hours on the Internet," said 18-year-old student Sarita Phumvichit. "From now on,...