Lights Out for 5 minutes tonight at 18.55

[SquillosMum]

I don't know if anyone is aware of this action, but it's very easy to do tonight along with lots of others round the world:

Take a stand against climate change!!!

Lights out around the world for 5 minutes - Feb 1 - February 1st,
2007

The 1st of February 2007:

Participate in the biggest mobilization of Citizens Against Global
Warming!

The Alliance for the Planet [a group of environmental associations]
is calling on all citizens to create 5 minutes of electrical rest for
the planet. www.lalliance.fr

People all over the world should turn off their lights and electrical
appliances on the first of February 2007, between 1.55 pm and 2.00 pm
in New York, 18.55 for London, and 19.55 for Paris, Bruxelles, and
Italy. 1.55pm in Ottawa, 10.55am on the Pacific Coast of North
America.

This is not just about saving 5 minutes worth of electricity; this is
about getting attention.

Five minutes of electrical down time for the planet: this does not
take long, and costs nothing, and will show leaders that global
warming is an issue that needs to come first and foremost.

Why February 1? This is the day when the new UN report on global
climate change will come out in Paris.

[JackieNo]

Might try to do this - difficult timing with kids though - but at the same time a good chance to explain to those that are old enough about energy saving etc . Thanks, SquillosMum.

[SquillosMum]

Just before bedtime for us - I think we'll light some candles and read a story together for 5 mins. My ds is only 2 so won't understand what it's all about.

[Callisto]

I'll do it if I remember. I'll try and find a post-it note...

[NotAnOtter]

if i remember...

[fennel]

I guess it should be computers off too?

[Iklboo]

I'll try to remember but it's DS's bedtime.

I'm all for greener living and energy saving, but I can't help wondering how much the thousands of megatons of nuclear testing from the 40s onwards has contributed to global warming?

[fairyjay]

But surely the cost (in terms of money and environment) will be far greater by re-starting all of the lights, than the five minutes energy saving?

I think we should all try and do our bit, I'm just a bit concerned that this might have the opposite effect!

[JackieNo]

Fairyjay - I'm not sure that it works like that any more - I think the advice is that turning off saves money, and it doesn't cause any sort of extra power 'drain' when lights are turned on again (although I guess everyone doing it at the same time would cause a drain). It certainly used to be the case that fluorescent lights used to work like that, but the more modern ones apparently don't. (am prepared to be corrected if wron).

[littlefrog]

fairyjay, if i could remember where I'd seen it, I read a really good article showing that this is a myth - apart from in the case of certain v old florescent lights. In energy saving terms, tungsten bulbs should ALWAYS be turned off, even if you're leaving a room for a minute. Low energy is a little longer, but less than 5 minutes.

[worldgonewild]

It was started by Friends of the Earth in Paris. Some emails spreading the word have got the date of the IPCC report release in Paris wrong; it's tomorrow.

Never mind. Lights off!