- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia marks Earth Hour
- Date: 30th March 2014
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MARCH 29, 2014) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF KINGDOM CENTRE WITH LIGHTS FLASHING THREE MEN TAKING PHOTOS OF KINGDOM CENTRE SECONDS BEFORE LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED OFF COLOURED LIGHTS ON KINGDOM CENTRE LIGHTS BEING SWITCHED OFF KINGDOM CENTRE IN DARKNESS VARIOUS OF THREE MEN TAKING PHOTOS OF KINGDOM CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RIYADH RESIDENT, MOHAMMAD AL-AMAR, SAYING: "We consider Earth Hour as a very important environmental phenomenon, and we will see some lights going out, including the Kingdom Centre." PEOPLE HAVING PICTURES TAKEN IN FRONT OF KINGDOM CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RIYADH RESIDENT, ABDULLAH AL-ADEL, SAYING: "It is an hour that comes each year. I was walking here by chance and I decided to see how the tower would switch off." PEOPLE HAVING PICTURES TAKEN IN FRONT OF KINGDOM CENTRE VARIOUS OF ILLUMINATED FOUNTAINS AT KING ABDULLAH PARK FOUNTAIN LIGHTS SWITCHED OFF VARIOUS OF WORDS SPELT OUT USING PLASTIC CUPS (English): 'SAUDI EARTH HOUR' VARIOUS OF VISITORS AT EARTH HOUR GALLERY IN KING ABDULLAH PARK POSTER SHOWING EARTH BEING HELD IN TWO PEOPLE'S HANDS VISITORS AT EARTH HOUR GALLERY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RIYADH RESIDENT, EMAD AL-MOTAIRY, SAYING: "I learnt that we must conserve energy for ourselves and for future generations so that it doesn't impact the environment." VARIOUS OF PICTURES OF ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI CITIZEN, SULTAN AL AJLAN, SAYING: "In the past, I had no awareness of how to preserve the environment and energy. But now, after this Earth Hour event, I have became more aware. And I will educate my colleagues and make them aware of how to preserve the planet." BANNER READING (Arabic): "OUR ENVIRONMENT IS OUR HOME. LET US PROTECT IT." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SAUDI EARTH HOUR EVENT, AJLAN AL-AJLAN, SAYING : "Saudi Arabia is part of this world and the whole world is concerned about protecting the environment because this planet is home to all of us. So what would happen if we didn't care about our home? Where would we go? This is a noble message which we are sending from Saudi Arabia, which is taking part for the fifth time in a row in this global event, Earth Hour." VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF EARTH HOUR CAMPAIGN SHOUTING (Arabic) 'EARTH HOUR, LET'S MAKE IT EVERY HOUR!'
- Embargoed: 14th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Environment / Natural World
- Reuters ID: LVA5E0QSB3MRZ262W8WV3AKTHKHF
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Centre turned dark on Saturday night (March 29), as the country marked Earth Hour.
The 65-storey building in Riyadh turned off its multicoloured lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm for the event - the world's largest environmental action on climate change.
Passersby gathered to take photos as darkness fell.
"We consider Earth Hour as a very important environmental phenomenon, and we will see some lights going out, including the Kingdom Centre," said Riyadh resident Mohammad al-Amar.
Some said they enjoyed the annual event.
"It is an hour that comes each year. I was walking here by chance and I decided to see how the tower would switch off," said Abdullah al-Adel.
Earth Hour saw major buildings around the world turn dark, including the Empire State Building in New York, the Acropolis in Athens and the skyscrapers of Singapore's central business district.
At Riyadh's Earth Hour gallery, visitors said the event was a good reminder of the need to save energy.
"I learnt that we must conserve energy for ourselves and for future generations so that it doesn't impact the environment," said Emad al-Motairy.
Last year, Saudi Arabia published a roadmap for a renewable energy programme, aimed at reducing the amount of oil it burns in power stations.
Those taking part in the Earth Day event said they wanted to do their bit too.
"In the past, I had no awareness of how to preserve the environment and energy. But now, after this Earth Hour event, I have became more aware. And I will educate my colleagues and make them aware of how to preserve the planet," said Saudi citizen Sultan Al Ajlan Event organiser, Ajlan al-Ajlan said it was essential to raise awareness about energy conservation.
"Saudi Arabia is part of this world and the whole world is concerned about protecting the environment because this planet is home to all of us. So what would happen if we didn't care about our home? Where would we go? This is a noble message which we are sending from Saudi Arabia, which is taking part for the fifth time in a row in this global event, Earth Hour," he said.
The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia in 2007.
Since then, it has become an annual event and this year 150 countries took part. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
