In its attempt to save the environment and increase awareness about the crisis of global warming, the city of Mumbai will plunge into total darkness for an hour (7.30 to 8.30 pm) on December 15.

Mumbai Unplug, a group started by young professionals, are lobbying hard to gain support for this cause. They have named this campaign Batti Bandh (switch off the lights).
A similar initiative took place on March 31st in Sydney, Earth Hour, when the entire city was engulfed in darkness and millions of residents switched off their lights for an hour to show their commitment to reduce global warming. Seeing the success of Earth Hour, Mumbai Unplug wanted to replicate a similar thing in Mumbai.

They have already received support from 30,000 locals including corporates, students, NGOs and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. "All that you need to do to participate in this is to unplug all that runs on electricity for an hour, between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm, on December 15 and get others to do the same," said Anuradha, one of the founder members of Mumbai Unplug.

India features in the top ten countries which emit highest amount of carbon dioxide, which accounts for over 60% of green house gases released in India. Most of this comes from the energy sector burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

A campaign like this is moving in the right direction. Let's join in and contribute in our own small way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Batti Bandh

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