Update: 9:22PM CANDLES illuminated faces in the dark as Fijians began the global one-hour celebrations for our planet.
Hundreds gath
Hundreds gathered at the foreshore carpark in Suva
and hundred others scattered across the country turned off their lights to join
the annual world effort to conserve energy and reduce the pressure on the
environment.
At 8.30pm, lights went out and Fiji became
the first country to mark Earth Hour.
A global grass-roots movement encouraging
individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive
actions for the environment by switching off for one hour, Earth Hour
spread across the globe.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Fijis leading campaigner,
challenged Fijians to switch off.
But with the Hong Kong Sevens live on television, there was still electricity-powered light, mostly from the box, in most homes around the country.