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London is to make one of the biggest environmental statements Britain has ever witnessed when the heart of the city switches off the lights in a mass twilight turn-off.
Between 9pm and 10pm on June 21, many famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Canary Wharf, the BT Tower and at least one government department, will execute the black-out to raise awareness of global warming.
London's three million households will be urged to switch off their non-essential lights and appliances in what organisers hope will be the first in a series of events that will spread to cities across the country.
The event is based on Earth Hour, a similar, hour-long mass switch-off last year in Sydney that involved 65,000 households and 2000 businesses, including the Opera House, the harbour bridge and Luna Park. Energy consumption fell by 10.2 per cent.
The campaign has the support of former US presidential candidate Al Gore, who suggested a similar plan for Britain last week, only to be blocked by the National Grid.
The National Grid said the power surge when people switched their lights back on could cause disruptions in supply and even endanger hospital patients on life support machines.
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