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New Zealand will plunge the world into darkness tomorrow - or at least a sprinkling of cities in affluent nations - when it kicks off a symbolic "Earth Hour" to raise awareness about global warming.
Christchurch is the official start point for a switch-off of the lights on major landmarks, buildings and private homes for one hour, starting at 8pm in most of the world's 24 timezones.
The project, begun last year by a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) worker, Andy Ridley, initially programmed 26 cities to dim their lights.
But a surge of enthusiasm by the public and politicians around the world has lined up at least 371 cities, towns and other local governments to participate from tomorrow night.
From 8pm, the campaign will see Christchurch Cathedral dimmed and people in the nearby city square will be able to watch an open-air showing of an environmental documentary, The 11th Hour.
More than 60 local businesses will also dim their lights, with a blackout expected in some parts of the city as Orion power company measures the electricity savings.
WWF has invited all New Zealanders to participate and other communities are expected to dim public lighting, with restaurants turning to candlelight dinners, businesses turning off their neon signs, and homeowners flicking the switch.
The upmarket Langham Hotel in Auckland's Symonds Street has said it will turn off 3000 lights and instead burn soy candles.
As the "power hour" moves across time zones a slew of other cities, including Suva and Sydney, will take their turns.
But one of the global organisers, Charles Stevens, of WWF told the French newsagency AFP that most participants are aware that it will be just a small step in solving the problem of rising temperatures around the globe.
"Switching the lights off for an hour is not going to make a dent in global emissions," he said.
"But it is a great catalyst for much bigger changes. It engages people in the processes of becoming more energy efficient."
Mr Stevens said the initiative encourages businesses to be more careful with their electricity use while at the same time sending "a fairly powerful message to governments that people are demanding action".
- NZPA
