Churches urged to join in London blackout

-09/10/06

Churches are being urged to join individuals and businesses and take part in a blackout in London as part of a night of “non-power” in the nation’s capital.

Workface Network has joined forces with the Come Off It campaign from the Carbon Coach, to promote a night of non-power on 4th November 2006, in support of the International Day of Climate Change Action and the I Count Climate Change Rally in Trafalgar Square, London.

The rally is being organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a growing coalition of many of the UKís leading environment, development and womenís organisations, activist and faith-based groups. Its members include Cafod, Christian Aid and Tearfund.

Known as “Blackout London”, the powerdown is being called at Sunset from 4.30 pm until 7.30 pm on 4th November. People, churches, businesses, and public buildings are all being asked to turn out the lights and switch off unessential equipment at this time, with the aim of increasing ‘negawatts’ (and reducing megawatts) at local power stations.

Other campaigners are already keen to participate. One member of the Campaign against Climate Change thinks that it may be possible to see London blacked out from space, and would love to see the big tourist attractions and office buildings turn out their lights for the evening.

Big London landmarks are also a target – including the thousands of church buildings in the capital.

“A major coup would be to get the neon advertisements at Piccadilly turned off for thirty minutes, and it would be absolutely fantastic if the major churches delayed turning on their floodlights for a couple of hours!”

Jo abbess of workface network was very enthusiastic about the action.

“We must keep a sense of doing something positive about Climate Change: taking firm, definite action to reduce power consumption is one of the best ways to conserve the environment. We hope that people switch things off on a regular basis, not just for one evening. If everyone acts together on 4th November, it would be fantastic! We should be able to get demand reduction figures from the electricity companies, which will prove how successful we have been.”

Dave Hampton, the Carbon Coach, is hoping for a large response to his appeal to Come Off It, after a successful power-free day in May this year. His engaging, people-friendly approach to reducing power consumption has attracted excellent media attention, and a lot of respect amongst other environmental campaigners.

Jo shares Dave’s approach to public action, “Unplugging the TV and turning off the outside lights is very therapeutic. Let’s have fun saving the Planet !” she said.

Churches are being urged to join individuals and businesses and take part in a blackout in London as part of a night of “non-power” in the nation’s capital.

Workface Network has joined forces with the Come Off It campaign from the Carbon Coach, to promote a night of non-power on 4th November 2006, in support of the International Day of Climate Change Action and the I Count Climate Change Rally in Trafalgar Square, London.

The rally is being organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a growing coalition of many of the UKís leading environment, development and womenís organisations, activist and faith-based groups. Its members include Cafod, Christian Aid and Tearfund.

Known as “Blackout London”, the powerdown is being called at Sunset from 4.30 pm until 7.30 pm on 4th November. People, churches, businesses, and public buildings are all being asked to turn out the lights and switch off unessential equipment at this time, with the aim of increasing ‘negawatts’ (and reducing megawatts) at local power stations.

Other campaigners are already keen to participate. One member of the Campaign against Climate Change thinks that it may be possible to see London blacked out from space, and would love to see the big tourist attractions and office buildings turn out their lights for the evening.

Big London landmarks are also a target – including the thousands of church buildings in the capital.

“A major coup would be to get the neon advertisements at Piccadilly turned off for thirty minutes, and it would be absolutely fantastic if the major churches delayed turning on their floodlights for a couple of hours!”

Jo abbess of workface network was very enthusiastic about the action.

“We must keep a sense of doing something positive about Climate Change: taking firm, definite action to reduce power consumption is one of the best ways to conserve the environment. We hope that people switch things off on a regular basis, not just for one evening. If everyone acts together on 4th November, it would be fantastic! We should be able to get demand reduction figures from the electricity companies, which will prove how successful we have been.”

Dave Hampton, the Carbon Coach, is hoping for a large response to his appeal to Come Off It, after a successful power-free day in May this year. His engaging, people-friendly approach to reducing power consumption has attracted excellent media attention, and a lot of respect amongst other environmental campaigners.

Jo shares Dave’s approach to public action, “Unplugging the TV and turning off the outside lights is very therapeutic. Let’s have fun saving the Planet !” she said.