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| World cities begin big switch-off | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Millions of people worldwide are being urged to switch off lights for an hour, in what is described as the biggest climate change protest ever attempted. | Millions of people worldwide are being urged to switch off lights for an hour, in what is described as the biggest climate change protest ever attempted. |
| The initiative, Earth Hour, began in Sydney two years ago by green campaigners keen to cut energy use. | |
| Correspondents say the aim is to create a huge wave of public pressure to influence a meeting in Copenhagen later this year to seek a new climate treaty. | Correspondents say the aim is to create a huge wave of public pressure to influence a meeting in Copenhagen later this year to seek a new climate treaty. |
| Critics describe the event as a symbolic and meaningless gesture. | Critics describe the event as a symbolic and meaningless gesture. |
| The switch-off is expected to take place in more than 3,400 towns and cities across 88 countries, at 2030 in each local time zone. | The switch-off is expected to take place in more than 3,400 towns and cities across 88 countries, at 2030 in each local time zone. |
| Earth Hour was launched in 2007 as a solo event in Sydney, Australia, with more than two million people involved. Last year's event claimed the participation of 370 cities. | Earth Hour was launched in 2007 as a solo event in Sydney, Australia, with more than two million people involved. Last year's event claimed the participation of 370 cities. |
| This time Sydney was one of the first places to switch off. The BBC's Nick Bryant described a city where skyscrapers were hard to make out against the night sky. | |
| Locations taking part this time include Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing and the Egyptian Pyramids. | |
| Fast-food giant MacDonald's has pledged to dim its "golden arches" at 500 locations, while celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have promised support. | Fast-food giant MacDonald's has pledged to dim its "golden arches" at 500 locations, while celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have promised support. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon backed the initiative in a video posted this month on the event's YouTube channel. | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon backed the initiative in a video posted this month on the event's YouTube channel. |
| "Earth Hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message," he said. "They want action on climate change." | "Earth Hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message," he said. "They want action on climate change." |
| People are invited to provide blogs and short video clips on how they spend their time. | People are invited to provide blogs and short video clips on how they spend their time. |