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Voice of America, Sydney Turns Off Lights for 'Earth Hour'

Sydney Turns Off Lights for 'Earth Hour'

Sydney was not completely blacked out Saturday evening, but organizers of "Earth Hour" say they are delighted with the response. Lights on the city's iconic Harbor Bridge were switched off for the hour along with most of those on the famous Sydney Opera House. Tens of thousands of suburban homes joined in. So did hundreds of businesses. Many tower blocks have spent the evening in almost total darkness.

The event has had high-profile support to raise awareness about how to combat global warming. Australian actress Cate Blanchett says Earth Hour shows small changes can make a big difference in climate change.

"It's massive [climate change]. It's very difficult to grasp in all its magnitude and complexities. So I think that the potency of tonight is that it's about a very simple beginning, you know, turning off a switch." Every day millions of lights and computers are left on in deserted offices, apartments and houses.

Environmental activists say that simply switching them off could cut Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by five percent over the next year.

Per capita, Australia is one of the world's largest producers of carbon dioxide and other gases that many scientists believe are helping to warm the Earth's atmosphere, causing climate upset.

This Australian, observing Earth Hour in Sydney, says he hopes the event will spur the national government into greater action.

"We're one of the worst, if not the worst, for carbon emissions and it's good to see this effort tonight. So hopefully the government will see it and make some changes." Prime Minister John Howard has refused to sign the international Kyoto Protocol to halt global warming, saying it does not address key issues between developed and developing nations and hurts Australia's coal-driven economy. But he argues Australia is meeting its international emissions obligations in other ways.

A long-standing drought and serious water shortages in Australia have focused much attention on climate change in this election year. Some experts warn higher temperatures could leave this nation of 20 million people at the mercy of more severe droughts and devastating tropical cyclones.


Sydney Turns Off Lights for 'Earth Hour' Sydney éteint les lumières pour "Earth Hour"

Sydney was not completely blacked out Saturday evening, but organizers of "Earth Hour" say they are delighted with the response. Sydney n'était pas totalement dans le noir samedi soir, mais les organisateurs de "Earth Hour" se disent ravis de la réponse. Lights on the city’s iconic Harbor Bridge were switched off for the hour along with most of those on the famous Sydney Opera House. Tens of thousands of suburban homes joined in. Des dizaines de milliers de maisons de banlieue se sont jointes. So did hundreds of businesses. Many tower blocks have spent the evening in almost total darkness.

The event has had high-profile support to raise awareness about how to combat global warming. L'événement a bénéficié d'un soutien de haut niveau pour sensibiliser à la manière de lutter contre le réchauffement climatique. Australian actress Cate Blanchett says Earth Hour shows small changes can make a big difference in climate change. L'actrice australienne Cate Blanchett dit que Earth Hour montre que de petits changements peuvent faire une grande différence dans le changement climatique.

"It’s massive [climate change]. It’s very difficult to grasp in all its magnitude and complexities. So I think that the potency of tonight is that it’s about a very simple beginning, you know, turning off a switch." Je pense donc que la puissance de ce soir est qu'il s'agit d'un début très simple, vous savez, éteindre un interrupteur." Every day millions of lights and computers are left on in deserted offices, apartments and houses. Chaque jour, des millions de lumières et d'ordinateurs restent allumés dans des bureaux, des appartements et des maisons déserts.

Environmental activists say that simply switching them off could cut Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions by five percent over the next year.

Per capita, Australia is one of the world’s largest producers of carbon dioxide and other gases that many scientists believe are helping to warm the Earth’s atmosphere, causing climate upset.

This Australian, observing Earth Hour in Sydney, says he hopes the event will spur the national government into greater action. Cet Australien, observant Earth Hour à Sydney, dit qu'il espère que l'événement incitera le gouvernement national à agir davantage.

"We’re one of the worst, if not the worst, for carbon emissions and it’s good to see this effort tonight. So hopefully the government will see it and make some changes." Prime Minister John Howard has refused to sign the international Kyoto Protocol to halt global warming, saying it does not address key issues between developed and developing nations and hurts Australia’s coal-driven economy. Le Premier ministre John Howard a refusé de signer le protocole international de Kyoto pour stopper le réchauffement climatique, affirmant qu'il ne résout pas les problèmes clés entre les pays développés et les pays en développement et nuit à l'économie australienne basée sur le charbon. But he argues Australia is meeting its international emissions obligations in other ways. Mais il soutient que l'Australie respecte ses obligations internationales en matière d'émissions par d'autres moyens.

A long-standing drought and serious water shortages in Australia have focused much attention on climate change in this election year. Une sécheresse de longue date et de graves pénuries d'eau en Australie ont attiré l'attention sur le changement climatique en cette année électorale. Some experts warn higher temperatures could leave this nation of 20 million people at the mercy of more severe droughts and devastating tropical cyclones.