Sydney plunged into darkness

At 7.30pm tonight, Sydney was plunged into darkness for an hour. No, there was not a power black out. It was in support of the environment. From Sydney Morning Herald -

Sydney switches off lights

Staff Reporter
March 31, 2007 - 8:00PM

Sydney's famous icons switched off tonight as the city embraced Earth Hour, an initiative designed to highlight global warming.

The Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park all went dark and many lights in CBD buildings were turned off, although a number of lights remained on.

Australian actor Cate Blanchett described Earth Hour as a beginning.

"It's an hour of active, thoughtful darkness, a celebration of our awakening to climate change action," she said.

About 65,000 households and 2000 businesses committed to joining Earth Hour, which is part of an effort to cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent in the next 12 months.

Celebrities and dignitaries including Labor MP Peter Garrett, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd attended a function at Mrs Macquaries Chair and watched the city skyline go dark.

Restaurants offered candlelight dining, while the Coca Cola sign at Kings Cross was switched off for the first time since it was illuminated in 1974.

Street lights, safety lights, road lighting on the city's bridges and lights for public security were left on.

Entertainment and sporting venue lights operated as normal.

Earth Hour is an initiative of WWF-Australia and The Sydney Morning Herald. It is hoped in 2008 Earth Hour will go fully national.

Sydney Harbour Bridge at 7pm before the lights go out


The Harbour Bridge and city lights turned off.


Sydney viewed from the rooftop of the Connought Residential Building on Liverpool Street.

Mind you, why these big company buildings had their lights on in the first place on a Saturday night is a little strange.

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Didn't do much today, apart from some house cleaning and watching the Kangaroos vs Collingwood match in the afternoon.

Tonight I finally visited the Wests Rugby Union Club a few minutes walk away (after nearly seven years). They have Fox Sports and I was not going to miss my team's season opener (not broadcast on our free to air channels).