Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Reduction / Light-Down Campaign (1st Report)

June 5, 2006

To raise nationwide "awareness" of mitigation of global warming , "CO2 Reduction/Light-Down Campaign" will take place this year as well from June 17 (Saturday) to 21 (Wednesday, the day of the summer solstice).

Especially, during 20:00-22:00 on June 18 (Sunday) is entitled as "Black Illumination 2006" and encouraged to turn off lights at light-up facilities and houses all together. Furthermore, collaborating with Korean broadcasting, "environmental event" will take place at and send a message for mitigation of global warming from the foot of N Seoul Tower at Seoul in South Korea, where the lights are turned off.
* As of May 29, the number of participating facilities is 33,897 (the previous year's is 22,716 in total).

1. Campaign Overview

Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been appealing and introducing case studies, activities, energy-saving technology and products to change "lifestyle based on mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal" to "lifestyle based on long-life, high quality, and recycling."

To spread this promotion nationwide, raising "awareness" is essential. Therefore, MOE decided to appeal to "Turn Off the Lights" as an example of "how to mitigate global warming" and started "CO2 Reduction/Light-Down Campaign" on the day of the summer solstice to turn off the lights at light-up facilities and houses since 2003.

(Light-Down participating facilities and individual participants)

2003 participating facilities : 2,278 individual participants: Approx. 5 million
2004 participating facilities: 6,088 individual participants: Approx. 6.4 million
2005 participating facilities: 22,716 individual participants: Approx. 6.64 million
This year again, in cooperation with "Candle Night" appealed by NPO, "Light-Down Campaign" will take place during June 17(Sat.)-21(Wed. , the day of the summer solstice).
* For details of "Candle Night" please contact the below;
DAICHI WO MAMORU KAI:TEL 03-3402-8841(http://www.candle-night.org/)

2. "Black Illumination 2006"

During the Light-Down campaign, the 2 hours from 20:00 to 22:00 on June 18 (Sunday) is entitled as "Black Illumination 2006" and encouraged to turn off the lights at light-up facilities and houses all together.

3. Environmental Event in South Korea "Hanryu All-Star Light-Down Concert in Korea -a Dream together-"

In collaboration with MOE, TBS Radio & Communications Environmental Project, and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation in South Korea, "environmental event" will take place at the foot of N Seoul Tower at Seoul in South Korea, where the lights are turned off.
The event will be broadcasted in Japan by TBS radio.

• Environmental Event(South Korea): June 15(Thursday) 2006, 20:00～23:00
• TBS Radio Broadcasting : June 19 (Monday) 2006, 20:00～21:00

4. Homepage regarding Light-Down Campaign

There is a site of "Light-Down Campaign" within "Wa-no-kurashi Homepage"

• Light-Down Campaign participating facilities list
  Introduces participating facilities.
• "Black Illumination 2006" Sticker
  For PR purpose, printable stickers are attached.