PARAGUAY: THE RAIN DIDN'T STOP EARTH HOUR

Despite an intense rain, minute before the start of the program, the central event of Earth Hour was carried out inside the Shopping Mariscal Lopez. Exactly at 8:30 pm the countdown to switch off lights started while candles were lit inside small cups of Coca-Cola, one of the many businesses that supported the initiative. The candles formed the number 60.

Many volunteers, artists, press workers and a large audience celebrated “Earth Hour” beginning with a play called “The Earth” performed by students of the National University of Asunción. After that, Rolando Chaparro, a well known musician and songwriter began the concert lead by him with special guest performers like Ana Lucrecia Talioretti, a very young blind violinist; The Betina Taborda School’s Choir; Cacho del Monte; and the 7 years-old drummer Leandro Baur who impressed the audience with his talent.

The bike ride had to be suspended because of the heavy rain.

All the activities were organized by WWF Paraguay together with the support of the Republic’s Presidency, the Cultural Centre “El Cabildo”, the Paraguayan Cycling Federation, the United Nations, A dodo pulmon – Paraguay respire, HSBC, Chacomer (Caloi), Coca-Cola, Modiga (Energizer), City Sport, Mariscal Lopez Shopping, Labarche Trading S.R.L, Financiera solar, Cooperativa Universitaria.

Lucy Aquino, Director of WWF Paraguay, explained that the event is a demonstration of the society’s concern for the negatives effects of climate change. She mentioned that, this year, Earth Hour is even more special because it is also WWF 50th Anniversary in the world, 11th in our country and the Bicentenary of Paraguay’s Independence.

“This is the third time that Paraguay joins this noble cause that seeks to raise awareness through a simple gesture, switch off lights”, she said. The first celebration was in 2007, in Sydney and it became a worldwide event every year.

Also, many emblematic buildings of our country joined us, like the Government Palace, the Old Cabildo (City Hall), Asuncion’s Cathedral, the Hydroelectric dam Itaipu and more than 25 business, institutions and organizations.

Around 4,000 cities in 131 countries announced their intention to support Earth Hour. They switched the lights of important monuments like the Acropolis of Athens, the Empire State Building, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil and the Opera House in Sydney.


For more information:
Cinthya Duarte cduarte@wwf.org.py
Communications, WWF Paraguay
Phone: 595 21 – 303 100