france: “5 minutes of rest for the planet” a huge success

According to the French Electricity Transport Network, more than three million homes took part in the action in France. A further four million homes were recorded as taking part in countries including Spain, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

Participants who took part made a symbolic gesture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching off their lights for five minutes. In Paris, even the Eiffel Tower and some other major monuments switched off their lights.

According to FoE France’s director, Anne Bringault, "The action exceeded our expectations, and spread far beyond activist networks. This mainstream event confirms that people are very concerned and ready to act concretely, as shown by a TNS Sofres poll that 86 percent of French people are willing to reduce their electricity consumption."

The drop in electricity use in France alone corresponded to the total consumption of the city of Marseille.

More information here.