(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The usually beaming UAE Capital switched off its lights to join the world in observing Earth Hour on Saturday.
Public and private sector firms, organisations, hotels, malls and the rest went dark to raise awareness about the growing climate change threats.
The iconic
sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque switched off its lights at 8:30 pm.
Organisations like Adnoc also stepped forward to protect and preserve the planet. Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center switched off its lights completely for an hour. The entire hotel, even the lobby and its Fifth Street Cafe, was lit with candles.
Requesting its guests to participate in the campaign, the hotel had a hugely successful Earth Hour. General manager Matthias Widor said the hotel showed its support for the fight against global warming. "By participating in Earth Hour, we send out a powerful global message about environmental awareness and energy conservation. Understanding the consequences of our actions and how it has affected our world is very important to us. We want to overcome malpractices which possess a threat to the environment, to minimise further damage for the future generations," Widor said.
Abu Dhabi residents, too, joined in with gusto.
Vipin Prabhakaran, sales manager at a private company, said such days are great reminders for preserving the environment for future generations. "I have observed Earth Hour ever since it started. Not just today, I always suggest all my friends and family to consume power and water judiciously. My daughter has, in turn, asked her friends to follow this practice and I am glad that the word is spreading on the benefits of conserving energy," Prabhakaran said.
M Hotel Downtown by Millennium too was entirely candle-lit, including the lobby, restaurants and outer areas. Hotel general manager Cornelia Erhardt said Earth Hour represented the hotel's philosophy of being environmentally-friendly and seeking to drive change in any way to counter global warming and its effects.
"We are delighted to join the whole city in recognising the importance of social responsibility and preserving our natural resources by minimising our impact on the environment through this day, as well as throughout the years to come," Erhardt said.
Many residential areas and cultural associations were also seen in the dark for Earth Hour.
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