Saving the Planet

Tonight, all French citizens are being asked to spare just five minutes to help save our planet. As organized by an alliance for French environmental groups, everyone is to simply turn off their lights for five minutes between 7:55 PM and 8 PM to draw attention from other world citizens, the media, and decision makers to just how much energy is being wasted. The alliance says its goal is “to allow citizens to express their concern and their determination to urgently stop energy waste.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is currently holding meetings in Paris and the panel is expected to release a report on Friday laying out proposals for governments based on the latest research on global warning. This five-minute action, hopefully, will show the French presidential candidates (they have an upcoming election) that climate change is a subject that must rank high in the political debate. Even the Eiffel Tower is switching off its 20,000 flashing light bulbs during that time (I believe the stationary bulbs will remain lit). They flash hourly for 10 minutes beginning at 6 PM in the winter. I doubt that they will shut down the light beam at the top but you never know. The beam, which comes from four searchlights that were re-installed in 2000, turns around the tower at a slow pace and is visible for 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. I haven’t heard if any other Paris landmarks will turn off their lights but I bet that they do.

Somewhere, Al Gore is smiling...