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French Anti-Neon Activists Grow in Number

They shut down neon signs, in an attempt to cut back pollution

Nov 10, 2008 07:54 GMT  ·  By
At night, Japan's neon lighting turns cities into scenes from Sci-Fi books
   At night, Japan's neon lighting turns cities into scenes from Sci-Fi books

Rising global warning awareness levels cause the most unusual forms of protests from worldwide teenagers. The most appropriate example for this is the Club du Neon organization in France, a group that aims at cutting back on emitted carbon levels through the powering down of neon signs that firms employ overnight. They say that, though off-hours, firms place incredible strains on the power grid, especially seeing how, at night, they have to light their commercials, so they would become visible.  

Taking advantage of the fact that more and more store owners throughout the country have installed power shut-off switches on the outside of their businesses, the group simply roams the streets at night and searches for these switches, to cut power to neon firms. They say that, if this type of direct actions were applied worldwide, the amount of carbon saved would be substantial, enough to have a direct effect on climate change.  

Already, organizations similar to Club du Neon have been reported in other countries as well, including Germany, Belgium, and the United States. In France, the Club began in Paris, but, soon, similar associations appeared in regions such as Normandy, Bordeaux, the Alps and Dordogne. Representatives of the Club told reporters that they encouraged other teenagers and young adults in other countries to do this as well.  

In the US and Japan, where the levels of street publicity reach enormous power requirements at night, this type of direct actions would help economies save thousands of gigawatts hour of electricity annually. Fossil fuel-powered electrical plants could benefit from a reduced strain, placed on their generating capacities.  

"The signs are a waste of electricity and a visual pollution. It’s crazy that when we all need to save energy, these neon signs are left on for 24 hours day. If all the neon signs in the world were turned off, the impact on global warming would be very significant. There ought to be a law against it, but since there isn’t, we have to go around doing it ourselves," said a member of Club du Neon.