Countdown for Sikkim Batti Bandh campaign at the final lap

The countdown is now nearing the end for the 'Sikkim Batti Bandh' campaign which began nearly two months back to take a united stand against the greatest threat the planet is facing --global warming and climate change.

The timing could not have been better as large tracts of Sikkim has been left parched due to an unprecedented dry spell that resulted in over 150 forest fires since the year 2009 began.

The 'Earth Hour, Sikkim Batti Bandh' turn off the lights is a campaign to switch off the lights for an hour on Saturday, between 2030 to 2130 hrs to take a united stand against the threat of global warming and help deliver a powerful message about the need for action. ''The whole world is doing it. Sikkim- now is your turn'', was a message posted on the internet by the campaigners in Sikkim.

Earth hour is a global World Wildlife Fund (WWF) climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on March 28, to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007 where 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities and Sikkim joined in the campaign when Sikkimese Karma M Bhutia, the managing partner of SourceN Inc., a web and information technology firm based in San Jose, California which has its India headquarters at Bangalore, decided to kick off the campaign in Sikkim in his individual capacity with the help of friends. He initially started the campaign through an appeal on the internet.

Inspired by the Earth Hour in Sydney, the idea is to conserve energy during that one hour, as a mark of commitment towards fighting global warming. ''And, of course, it's not just that one hour of switching off the lights, but there are a host of things that could be done every day to reduce the risk of global warming.

''It is a symbolic gesture which initially started in Sydney in 2007. Last year 375 cities participated and the aim this is year is to take it to over 1000 odd cities globally. The objective is to create awareness and is also a form of protest and a platform to put a voice to take a positive step for global warming since this is having an alarming effect all over the globe,'' Mr Bhutia said on the Earth Hour: Sikkim Batti Bandh campaign.

He also said it was an appeal for the citizens since it was a worrying sign for everyone because of the changing weather situation.

Other cities which have already launched the campaign in India are Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad though not simultaneously.

''We as global citizens thought it was the right time for Sikkim to participate in this global phenomenon and be part of it, and symbolising and shutting out the lights for an hour to reach the 1 billion voting target for mother earth on the lines of the WWF climate summit and the Kyoto protocol,'' Mr Bhutia added.

The countdown initiative began at Rachna Books at Jeewan Theeng Marg here yesterday with the Small Town Film Club, a Sikkim based production house, in association with the Sikkim chapter of World Wildlife Fund organising an awareness/educational interactive screening session with the help representatives of all schools and media in Gangtok on the subject of global warming. A documentary on global warming was screened followed by an interactive session with the panel of campaigners for Earth Hour which is to be observed on Saturday.

Media representatives, teachers, students and interested individuals joined yesterdays event and was also expected to participate in large numbers on Saturday for the initiative.

-- (UNI) -- 26CA26.xml

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