On the 1st February, 2007 throughout France:
Take part in the greatest mobilisation of citizens against Climate Change
The “Alliance pour la Planète†(a national grouping of environmental associations) appeals to all citizens to give the planet 5 minutes respite : everybody to extinguish all their lights and illuminations and turn off equipment on stand-by on the 1st February 2007 from 19h55 until 20h00. The purpose is not just to save electricity for 5 minutes that day, but to draw the attention of citizens, the media and the authorities to the waste of energy and the need to initiate action! 5 minutes respite for the planet: that’s not long, it costs nothing and will show our politicians that climate change is something which should figure prominently in political debates.
Why the 1st February? Because that is the day on which the latest report of the United Nations Panel of Experts is to be released in Paris. Although this event is scheduled to take place in France, we should not miss this opportunity of drawing attention to the global climatic situation.
If we all participate our actions will have great public and political resonance, at an important moment in our political life.!
Please make this appeal as widely known as possible in your own circles and networks ! please also publish it on your websites and in your newsletters.
France lights out
have you got a link?
BLACKOUT FRANCE
Hi People,
Thanks for the information about the French Alliance for the Planet.
This is the link you need :-
http://www.lalliance.fr
Rough translation : LIGHTS OUT !
"The 1st of february 2007, thoughout the whole of France : Participate in the largest mobilisation of citizens against
climate change !
The Alliance for the Planet is launching a simple call to all citizens, 5 minutes of respite for the Planet : the whole World to shut off their lamps and lights the 1st February 2007 between 7.55 pm and 8 pm.
It's not just about economising on 5 minutes of electricity on that day then, but to draw the attention of citizens, the media and the policymakers to the waste of energy and the urgency of moving towards action !
5 minutes of respite for the Planet : it won't last long, it costs nothing, and it will show the Presidential
candidates that Climate Change is a subject that must weigh on the political debate.
Why the 1st of February ? Because the next day, in Paris, the new report will come out from the group of experts, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations (IPCC)...
Get this circulated as much as you can around all your networks !"
WHAT!!??
Nice idea in theory...
but in practice this is just a way to damage power stations...
they have to be kept finely balanced to demand..
stepping up demand is easier to deal with, as hydroelectric stations can be running in virtually no time to deal with increased consumption...
but power being pumped out with no-where to go is at best gonna set off a shedload of tripswitches, and at worst make the stations go offline for a considerable time...
whoever thought this idea up has evidently got no clue about how a power supply grid works.
don't worry
this is a very well publicised action
even CNN is running a story on it
I would be surprised if the power people didn't know what to expect...
hurrah!
France 'dims' for climate protest
During the switch-off, the power grid operator RTE observed a fall of 800 megawatts, representing just over 1% of France's total consumption.
Some experts warned the switch-off could backfire, arguing that more energy could be consumed because of a power spike when lights were turned back on. However, no problems were immediately reported.
BLACKOUT LONDON
hi you all,
in case you didn't know it, BLACKOUT LONDON are calling for regular BLACKOUTS, and not just in LONDON :-
http://www.blackoutlondon.net
contact details for the nice ladies from the campaign :-
sharon@blackoutlondon.net
joanne@blackoutlondon.net
electricity generation by large centralised power stations is part of the climate change problem. so cut the carbon by unplugging your machines, people.
LIGHTS OUT !