JERUSALEM/ ISRAEL: Lights go out in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israel marks international Earth Day

Record ID: 395937

  • Title: JERUSALEM/ ISRAEL: Lights go out in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israel marks international Earth Day
  • Date: 24th April 2009
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (APRIL 23, 2009) (REUTERS) FAMILY GATHERING IN RABIN SQUARE MOMENTS BEFORE BLACKOUT
  • Embargoed: 9th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA3SRQ4BFQNZOHUZ69A3FPJJA13
  • Story Text: Israeli President Shimon Peres and Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat turn off the lights at the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, as lights go out in the coastal cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa to mark international Earth Day.
    Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday (April 23) turned off the lights at the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem to mark international Earth Day.
    Peres was accompanied by Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, who met him ahead of the environmental event in a special meeting of Jerusalem city council which discussed environmental and ecological issues.
    After the lights were turned off, feistivities and dancing took place next to the Old City walls.
    Hundreds of people also gathered at the main square of the coastal city of Tel Aviv and watched the lights go off in the city's municipality building.
    The lights of the tallest buildings in Tel Aviv, the Azrielli towers, were also turned off.
    After the blackout, thousands of youths were celebrating as musicians and singers performed.
    Tel Aviv resident Vesko Mikrov who had attended the celebrations along with his entire family said that energy conservation was essential.

    "We came with all of our family, because we support the whole initiative for saving the energy in our earth. We know that there is not too much, too many resources left, so it's good to find ways, of recreative energy and find a way to live our lives without destroying our earth", Mikrov said.
    In the northern city of Haifa, lights went out at the major tourist attraction of the Bahai gardens, where a shrine for the Bahai sect is located.
    Lights where also turned off at the oil refinery of the city.
    Earth Day began 38 years ago as a series of grass-root "teach-ins" about environmental conservation and pollution. Since then, it has become an occasion to focus attention on human-generated climate change, pollution and eco-friendly policies.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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