"Earth Hour" in Formal Mode

On Saturday, March 28 as part of the worldwide environmental campaign "Earth Hour", Azerbaijan, at least formally, took part in it.

As foreseen, 60 minutes from 20.30 to 21.30 exterior lights of the Government House and the facade of the hotel Marriott, Heydar Aliyev Center, SOCAR, Maiden's Tower, Palace of the Shirvan Shahs, University of ADA, etc. were switched off. In Azadlig Square the action members lit lanterns and candles.

Earth Hour is an annual international event held by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Held on the last Saturday of March, it encourages everyone - individuals, organizations, schools, municipalities, commercial establishments – to turn off the lights and other electrical appliances that are not vital (except elevators) for one hour, to stimulate interest in climate change and energy unification of mankind.

One of the important tasks of the action is to save energy and thus reduce costs of natural resources used to produce it.

The coordinator of the action in Azerbaijan - Public Association International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA) - says nothing about its results.

For example, according to the Moscow authorities, the action saved 399 megawatts of electricity, of which only 15 MW accounted for architectural and artistic illumination of more than 800 buildings. In the Philippines, 291 megawatts were saved and only one Indian city of Bangalore saved 43 megawatts. By the way, to produce 1 megawatt 300 kg of fuel in the form of gas, coal and fuel oil is consumed.

The Baku mayor's office also reports nothing on saving energy. By the way, city officials, unlike their counterparts in Moscow, did not appear in the ranks of the participants of the capital environmental biking that took place by 10 pm. -0-