Today at 8:30 PM - SATURDAY :-)
By Peter Townson/Staff Reporter
(Today evening at 8:30pm local time) This news was posted yesterday
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Tomorrow evening at 8.30 local time, companies, households and other locations around the world will turn out their lights in a co-ordinated effort to make a public statement of concern about the environment and climate change.
Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, when 2mn households and businesses switched off their lights for sixty minutes.
Last year, the number around the world increased to more than 50mn in some 35 countries. And this year, the event aims to reach a billion people in 1,000 cities across the globe.
Many businesses and individuals in Qatar have already committed their support to the cause.
A number of hotels will be dimming or turning off their lights tomorrow evening, with the Marriott, Sheraton and the Six Senses Spa at Al Sharq Village and Spa among those that are participating.
A spokesperson explained that the Doha Marriott will be turning off or dimming all non-essential lighting, and in the lobby, executive lounge and restaurant gallery, candles will replace electrical light where possible.
General manager of Doha Marriott, Saeid Heidari said: “This is a unique opportunity to show that Marriott has not retreated from its commitment to be an environmentally-friendly company dedicated to addressing climate change.”
The Sheraton Doha also announced that it will be turning off its lights in certain parts of the hotel, such as the Health and Recreation Centre, Pirate’s Cove and the swimming pool restaurant.
“Being part of a sublime act for every citizen around the globe is a way for the Sheraton family to express concerns and care for our environment,” explained the hotel’s general manager, Gerhard Foltin.
Director of the Six Senses Spa at Al Sharq, Marteyne van Well echoed his sentiments saying: “Six Senses is committed to sustainable practice and environmental responsibility, from our use of locally sourced water and produce, environmentally-conscious suppliers and encouragement of the reduction, reuse and recycle of consumable items within the spa.
“Earth Hour is an important opportunity to generate awareness amongst our guests, hosts and the general public when it comes to committing to reducing our carbon footprint on this planet,” she added.
However, it is not only hotels who are participating in the global event, with a number of banking institutions and other companies committing their support for the awareness-raising hour.
Standard Chartered Bank announced their participation earlier this week, and they will also be joined by others such as HSBC, who stated that all lights will be switched off in their branches and offices, with staff being urged to do the same at home.
Another group doing their bit for the environment is Regency Group, which contains more than 29 businesses, and took part in the event last year as well.
“Regency Group is committed to responsible environmental behaviour and will be a part of this global activity,” said Regency Travel and Tours CEO Tareq Abdullatif Taha.
“Our commitment is not time-bound. We carried out this initiative last year, we plan to do it even better this year and will continue to be part of it every year”, said director of human resources for Regency Group, Sameer Mazhar.
And besides the efforts of the companies, many individuals have also pledged their support, joining the more than 3,000 facebook users that have confirmed their participation at the event.
“I hope this can send a message that we are all concerned about the environment and the impact of global warming,” said a resident of Qatar.”
“I hope this can send a message that we are all concerned about the environment and the impact of global warming”
Source: Gulf-times.com
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(Notfromhere - Thank you for correction in date)
Speed Comments:
Mr. Qatari please shutdown QL for 1 hours from 8:30PM - 9:30PM, by doing this you will not only save electricity but you will be giving 1 hr official rest to 1000's of Qlers ;-)
Ofcourse we will be switching off our house lights for 1 hrs to join hands "with companies, households and other locations around the world will turn out their lights in a co-ordinated effort to make a public statement of concern about the environment and climate change."
