Darkness as cities turned off lights for earth hour

Cities around the world have been turning out the lights for an hour to highlight the threat of climate change on Saturday.

Sydney was the first major city to begin "Earth Hour", when at 2000 (0900 GMT), lights went out on landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Lights were then turned off in Bangkok, Manila, Budapest, Copenhagen and Dublin as those cities joined the effort.

Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco were among several hundred cities in 35 countries taking part in the event.

Critics have dismissed the event as a gimmick that will have little effect.

Australians marked Earth Hour by holding candle-lit beach parties, dinners and poker games, while traditional Aboriginal torchlight performances were also held.

And in New Zealand, thousands of homes and more than 100 business in Christchurch turned out the lights.

WWF Thailand said the switch-off in Bangkok saved 73.34 megawatts of electricity, which would have produced 45.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

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Source: BBC