I am grateful to my dear friend on this iland for bringing to my notice an international event - the Earth Hour 2008 0n March 29th. On this day the international community for environment is asking the households, business establishments, Government bodies, non-govermental organisations and all concerned to switch off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. It is for one hour between  8 to 9 P.M.  This event is promoted by World Wide Fund for Nature Australia an environmental lobbying group and Sydney Morning Herald.The first-ever earth hour was held in Sydney on March 31st, 2007 between 7.30 to 8.30 P.M by switching off lights. The 2007 Earth Hour is estimated to have cut Sydney's electricty consumption by 2.1 to 10.2% with as many as 2.2 million enthusistic people participating.  Seeing the benefits that accrued The second Earth Hour 2008 was planned as an international event with as many as 27 countries and several cities in these countries ,as on 27 th March, 2008 , participating in observing the day.

     The details are available in the site www.earthhour.org.

     For those who are not in the know about global warming , here is a brief.

    The emissions of chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) from refrigerators and air-conditioners and carbon di oxide gas emitted by automobiles, houehold and industrial fuel burning and electric bulbs, nitrous oxide(N2O)  emiited during agricultual and industrial activities and methane(CH4) emitted during production and  transportation of coal, natual gas and oil all known as green house gases produce green house effect. The light energy received from the Sun should be radiated back to space to avoid the Earth getting warmed.  These green house gases while letting through the light in visible spectrum retain the invisible infra red rays leading to the warming of the Earth.  This morning also there was a report in newspapers about melting of Ice shelves in antarctica due to global warming as shown by satellite pictures.

     It is high time, we as responsible citizens of the world, rise up to the occassion by whole-hearted participation in the event by switching off lights and non-essential electric appliances between 8 to 9 P.M. on March 29 th, 2008. I am going to observe the day in both letter and spirit

    Let us all do it for the sake of our Mother Earth. Join me in the switch-off.

    Hopefully and Environmentally yours,

    Kandasamy Mohan.

   saneevan@rediffmail.com