Green Campaign May Cause Electricity Break-Down 01/02/2007 00:00

1 February 2007

AMSTERDAM — Only the Ministry of Housing and Environment will be taking part in the environmental awareness act Thursday evening when everyone is invited to turn their lights off for five minutes, Prime Minister Balkenende said. The rest of the government will not join.

Even though the cabinet supports environmental awareness in general, this particular act is irresponsible as it may lead to an electricity breakdown, the prime minister said.

The Dutch railroad company NS will turn off the heat in trains between 7:55 and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Tennet, the supplier of electricity in Holland, warned yesterday that a massive black-out may lead to a break-down.

The initiative to organise the five-minute action first came from French environmental organisations. The call from the environmentalists came in response to the new UN climate report.

The Green-Left party (GroenLinks) summoned all the Dutch politicians to set good example and leave the government buildings in darkness for five minutes.

Some parliamentarians think that the government's reaction was exaggerated.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2007]
Subject: Dutch news