Vietnam launches Earth Hour 2013

Many cities and provinces across Vietnam, including capital Hanoi, central Da Nang and southern Ho Chi Minh City, joined in the world's Earth Hour 2013 by turning off unnecessary electrical devices for one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.

A campaign for the Earth Hour 2013 had been launched across Vietnam with the slogan, "You and I Together We Act", which attracted hundreds of thousands of volunteers and people from all walks of life, and regardless of age.

In Hanoi, a grand Earth Hour ceremony "Switch off the light" was held on Saturday evening at the August Revolution Square, with participation of hundreds of people, including Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Van Suu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MIT) Le Duong Quang, and other officials from relevant agencies and local residents. Artistic performances were held before and during the Earth Hour.

Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen was one among four Vietnam's Earth Hour 2013 Ambassadors.

Earth Hour campaign, initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was first launched in 2007 in Sydney, attracting over 2.5 million Australians. The campaign has since expanded globally and now becomes the largest world-scale campaign in response to climate change and for protection of the earth. About 7,000 cities from over 150 countries and territories worldwide are expected to join the Earth Hour 2013.

Vietnam first launched the Earth Hour in 2009, with participation of 5 cities and provinces, and the number rose to over 30 cities and provinces nationwide in 2012.

According to MIT, which sponsored the Earth Hour 2013 in Vietnam, Vietnam is among countries using a huge amount of power, so the Earth Hour campaign is expected to further raise the people 's awareness to their utmost about climate change, reduction of the greenhouse emission, and for power saving.

According to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), about 700,000 kWh, equivalent to over 1 billion VND (48,000 U.S. dollars), would be saved during the Earth Hour 2013 in Vietnam.

Last year, the country saved 546,000 kWh, worth 712 million VND (34,000 U.S. dollars).