Lights Out to raise awareness of climate change

Lewes Climate Concern, which is mounting a year-long campaign to raise awareness of the threat from climate change, intends to mark the anniversary with an appeal to people to turn off their lights for five minutes from 7.30 to 7.35pm on October 16.

Anna Rehin, who is co-ordinating the event for LCC, said: 'It's more than just a symbolic gesture. It reminds us of the extreme weather conditions we will face in the future, unless we act now to cut down our energy use.

'It also reminds us that if every household in the UK swopped just one light fitting to a low energy bulb, we could turn off two power stations. Switching off the lights when leaving a room would save even more on our electricity bills while cutting down on CO2 emissions.

Small actions can make a real difference.'

She added: 'We are all responsible for climate change. Switching off our lights for five minutes is a signal and by taking this action , it reminds us that together we can find solutions which will ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a planet worth living on. Five minutes of darkness on October 16 reinforces the consequences of doing nothing.'

Many major cities throughout the world will be having their own Lights Out moment - including London, Sydney and Paris.

Throughout the year, Lewes Climate Concern is organising screenings of the Al Gore enviironmental film An Inconvenient Truth.

The film can be seen tomorrow (October 13) at Laughton Village Hall and on Thursday, October 18 at Framfield Memorial Hall. The film begins at 7.30pm.

Further screenings this month include Rodmell Village Hall on Tuesday, October 23; Barcombe Village Hall on Wednesday, October 24 and at St Mary's Church Hall, Highdown Road, Lewes, on Wednesday, October 31. All screenings begin at 7.30pm.

Lewes Climate Concern is also collaborating with Lewes District Council on an energy monitoring experiment involving half a dozen volunteer households in Lewes, aimed at reducing their energy use.

To take part in the "lights-out" campaign, contact Anna Rehin on 01273-476358.