Hanoi busy with 2014 Earth Hour campaign

Hanoi is orchestrating a range of activities to respond to the 2014 Earth Hour campaign, with the key event to be televised live from August Square in front of the Hanoi Opera House at 8pm on March 29.

Hanoi is orchestrating a range of activities to respond to the 2014 Earth Hour campaign, with the key event to be televised live from August Square in front of the Hanoi Opera House at 8pm on March 29.

Hanoi's youngsters respond to the Earth Hour

To be held by the Department of Industry and Trade, the annual drive is to raise public awareness of saving electricity and alleviating climate change threats, in response to the Year of Urban Order and Civilisation launched by the municipal authorities.

As part of the drive, decorative lighting and neon advertising boards will be turned off from 8:30-9:30pm in Hanoi’s landmark venues such as Ngoc Son temple, Thap Rua (Tortoise Tower), The Huc bridge, Ly Thai To flower garden, Hanoi Opera House, Truc Bach lake and head offices of the municipal government and People’s Council.

Hanoi-based ministries, organisations and people are also urged to join the campaign.

On top of this, the municipal administration will increase communications activities in residential areas, spreading information on the benefits of the economical use of energy and water as well as impacts of climate change on each individual’s life.

Many local schools have responded to the Earth Hour campaign in the form of planting trees and collecting second-hand goods for recycling.

Together with artists and celebrities, students from Doan Thi Diem primary school, Viet Duc and Tran Phu high schools will join a waste recycling festival, as part of the “I will if you will” challenge which encourages people and companies to make a real commitment towards the Earth while challenging others to do the same.