Panama lights and ads shine for Earth Hour

The 147 countries around  whose governments  participated in the Saturday "Earth Hour" blackout did not include Panama.

The annual event is an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund for protecting the environment, and usually kicks off with the dousing of the lights on Sydney’s famed bridge in concert with lights on buildings across the city.

Other cities, encouraged by local authorities and politicians darken their skylines for an hour and families are encouraged to turn off their lights and use candles. Millions around the world participated this year, and the lights went off on iconic structures from Sydney Bridge to London's Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Panama’s hour was scheduled for 8.30 -9.30 pm on Saturday, March 31, but there was  little visible participation. Lights remained on along the waterfront, including the giant illuminated advertising billboard 

over  Extreme Planet,  known by local apartment dwellers as “the searchlight” which  can be seen from Casco Viejo and from planes approaching Tocumen airport.

 But about 800 people gathered on the steps of the Canal Authority building to light symbolic candles.

They were entertained with a three hour concert by 20 artists doing their bit to raise awareness about the importance of saving energy.

The event came at a time when energy authorities in Panama have reported a leap in electricity consumption as citizens turn on the air conditioners as temperatures soar into the high 30s Celsius.