Date:09/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/09/stories/2008080959560600.htm

Tamil Nadu

‘88888 Lights Out’ campaign, a success

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: The ‘88888 Lights Out’ campaign launched by the District Exnora and other service organisations to create awareness among the common people on ‘global warming’ and promote measures to check the same evoked good response in Tiruchi City and the surrounding areas on Friday night with all sections of the society voluntarily switching off the lights.

All the electric lights and electrical appliances were switched-off for eight minutes from 8 p.m. in various residential localities. In the extended areas like Karumandapam, the campaign evoked total response. It was the student community which extended full support to the campaign. The students also played a key-role in spreading this message among the parents and in the neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile the members of the various voluntary organisations like the Rotary, Lions, Inner Wheel Clubs etc. took active part. “It was a good experience and the cooperation extended by all sections of the society was really appreciable,” the president of the District Exnora, G. Subramanian, told ‘The Hindu.’ This is only a beginning and the campaign to conserve energy and protect the mother earth will be a continuing process, he added.