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Rome Before Earth Hour
Photograph by Gregorio Borgia, AP
The Colosseum shone as brightly as ever until 8:30 p.m. local time on March 28, 2009, when Rome turned off the monument's lights for Earth Hour 2009.
The voluntary, annual global blackout, which aims to ease global warming, began in Sydney in 2007 with the nonprofit WWF. In 2009, 2,712 cities, towns, and municipalities in 83 countries signed up to participate in Earth Hour. The movement is a symbolic gesture in support of action against global warming.
March 30, 2009
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Rome During Earth Hour
Photograph by Gregorio Borgia, AP
The Colosseum remained dark until 9:30 p.m. local time on March 28, 2009, when Earth Hour ended.
Other world landmarks that went dark for an hour include the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas strip, the Eiffel Tower, Rio de Janiero's statue of "Christ the Redeemer," Athens's Acropolis, and Egypt's Great Pyramids.March 30, 2009
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Hong Kong Before Earth Hour
Photograph by Vincent Yu, AP
The illuminated towers of Hong Kong stretch into the sky on March 28, 2009. At 8:30 local time, soon after this picture was taken, the district went dark in support of the world's third Earth Hour.
March 30, 2009
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Hong Kong During Earth Hour
Photograph by Vincent Yu, AP
Over 1,700 buildings in Hong Kong switched off for Earth Hour 2009, which spanned 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in time zones across the globe on March 28, 2009.
March 30, 2009
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Kuala Lumpur Before Earth Hour
Photograph by Lai Seng Sin, AP
Malaysia's iconic Petronas Towers normally can be seen for miles, as in this picture--but not between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time on March 28, 2009, otherwise known as Earth Hour. The lights went off in cities around the world as a statement against global warming.
March 30, 2009
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Kuala Lumpur During Earth Hour
Photograph by Lai Seng Sin, AP
Malaysia's Petronas Towers blend into the night after being switched off for an Earth Hour on March 28, 2009.
March 30, 2009
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New York City Before Earth Hour
Photograph by Stephen Chernin, AP
Shortly after this picture was taken, Times Square's bright lights dimmed for a spell on March 28, 2009, for Earth Hour, a movement sponsored by the international conservation organization WWF to bring attention to energy waste and global warming.
March 30, 2009
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New York City During Earth Hour
Photograph by Stephen Chernin, AP
Times Square glows slightly dimmer during Earth Hour on March 28, 2009.
It's not clear how much energy was saved by Earth Hour this year. Unlike in previous years, event organizer WWF is not releasing energy-savings estimates.
"We think the value of Earth Hour is the lights going off," said WWF spokesperson Leslie Aun, "not the energy savings."March 30, 2009
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