LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A record number of Angelenos turned off lights Saturday evening to mark Earth Hour, a global event designed to promote energy conservation.
This will be the fifth annual Earth Hour observance, which is organized by the World Wildlife Fund, one of the world's largest independent conservation organizations.
In addition to landmarks which went dark between 8:30 and 9:30 p. m., numerous households took part in the event by turning off their non-essential lights and appliances in order to conserve energy and demonstrate an awareness of environmental conservation, authorities said.
No specific figures were given, but organizers said more Angelenos took part in this year's event than previous years.
Among the city's landmarks that went dark were the illuminated pylons which mark the entrance to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The 100-foot-tall pylons glew solid green an hour before the event and then went dark.
The Queen Mary, a historic hotel featuring Art Deco staterooms and legendary sites, extinguished many of its exterior lights, including the smokestack. Hotel guests were asked to turn off their nonessential stateroom lights.
Among the world's landmarks that went dark between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time were the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, where about 500,000 lights will be turned off.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia with the participation of 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses. A year later the event became a global movement.
This year, Earth Hour is challenging people to go beyond the hour and think of other ways to make a difference after the lights go on, organizers said.
"Earth Hour is a chance for people and communities across the globe to join together with the common purpose of a sustainable future for our planet," said Andy Ridley, the co-founder and executive director of Earth Hour.
"This year, Earth Hour asks people to commit to an action, big or small, taking Earth Hour beyond the hour."
Last year, more than 80 million people in the United States and nearly one billion worldwide turned off their lights as part of the event, organizers said.
Special Report: Global Climate Change
