KSA saves energy with the world

Saudi Arabia joined 172 countries around the world in celebrating Earth Hour this week, with lights switched off by government and private bodies across the country.
Ajlan Al-Ajlan, a member of the Earth Hour organization in the Kingdom, said the country formally participated in this global environmental event for the sixth year in a row. Riyadh, Madinah, Onaizah and Yanbu Industrial City participated in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
Government bodies that participated included the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, Riyadh municipality and the Ministry of Transport. The lights were switched off in seven major streets in Riyadh including King Fahd Road, King Abdullah Road, Al-Oroubah Road, Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq Street, Ayesha bint Abi Bakr Road to the west, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Road to the east and Dirab Street to the south.
Qasim joined the event for the first time in the history of the region represented by Onaizah municipality by switching off the lights in eight major streets and the Clock Tower and square.
In Madinah, the municipality switched off the lights of all its buildings and several streets and public locations. Yanbu Industrial City switched off the lights in the Royal Tent, a landmark of the city, and at the Yanbu artificial lake.
Other participants included the Kingdom and Faisaliah towers, the Ministry of Labor, the Human Resources Development Fund, Saudi Post, the Social Enlightenment and Rehabilitation Society, Sipchem Company, Al-Birr Charity Society, Qur’an Memorization Association in Baqaa, Hawazen secondary school in Taif, King Abdulaziz School in Bromah, the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association and Takatuf Society.
In addition, several Saudi students studying at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom organized an gathering to educate students and the British community about the event, in partnership with the international office of Anglia Ruskin University.
In the United States, several Saudi students from Washington University in Seattle participated in the event. This year, there was a 70 percent increase in participants. A total of 4,615 organizations participated.
However, there was a 40 percent fall in the number of government bodies. Social networking sites recorded a 24 percent rise in participation compared to last year. The official site of Earth Hour before and during the event registered 266,000 visits.
Jeddah municipality also participated in the event on Saturday, said Hani Ahmad Abdullah Naje, spokesperson of the municipality. “Everyone was invited to participate in switching off their lights and electronic devices for one hour. We are part of the world, which seeks to reduce pollution,” said Naje.
Ali Jadoue, director of sales and marketing at Crowne Plaza hotel in Jeddah, told Arab News that his company also participated. “It’s our responsibility to take care of the earth and save energy for coming generations.”