Aditi Gaitonde 08:47 PM, December 26th, 2009

Hello Bangaloreans, We are representatives of Batti Bandh, Bengaluru. Batti Bandh is a nationwide series of events that was started in 2007, by Keith Menon in Mumbai. It happens every year in December. The event involves people switching off all their electrical appliances, for one hour, between 7pm and 8pm. In other words, Batti Bandh is a call to people, to 'unplug', not just for the day but also in their lifestyles, and fight global warming. We hope to bring awareness to the climate cause, with this idea. In Mumbai, in 2007, 3 million people participated in Batti Bandh(384 business houses, 100+ NGOs, 300 schools, 78 colleges). 178.5 mega watts of power was saved which is equivalent to taking 2.35 lakh cars off the road for an entire lifetime and is also equal to 122.5 metric tonnes of CO2 not being emitted. This year, Mumbai saved 139MW of electricity and Ahmedabad saved 89.7MW. This year, the event took place in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Sikkim and Hyderabad. Batti Bandh Bengaluru, is scheduled to take place on 16th January, 2009, from 7pm to 8pm, at Cubbon Park. We intend to hold build-up events around the city, from the 9th to the 16th of January that will include: * Flash plays * Flash performances of music and singing * Flash performances of dance * Hula hooping * Djembe performances * Events at malls * Posters in Schools & Colleges * Using of Facebook & other social networking sites Our final-day event on 16th January, would consist of the following: 1- At a select few central locations in Bengaluru, we will host an hour of music, dance and art, for people to attend, relax and experience the joy of community and the numerous ways one can have fun without using electricity, by being involved in community. The event must essentially be a small event, kept simple, such that people can connect with each other. The event will run on minimal electricity, keeping with the spirit of Batti Bandh. All performances lined up for the evening, will be unplugged, acoustic events. Events for the evening will include a capella singing, playing of acoustic music, shadow plays, beat boxing, a magic show and a play. 2- We are getting in touch with housing complexes, and asking them to host community events like Housie, Antakshari, a game of volleyball, a pot luck dinner, story-telling and other community activities, in the one hour of Batti Bandh. 3- We are also getting in touch with restaurants, and asking them to hold an LED or CFL powered evening, with acoustic music. 4- Malls are dimming their lights for us, the Forum Mall and Landmark in Koramangala, having confirmed. Idea Cellular is our Communications Partner and Reva Electric Car Company is our Mobility Partner. Leading software companies are in the process of making commitments to partner with us as well. We also have the support of TERI(The Energy Resources Institute) who is supplying us with solar powered lamps for the event, in connection with their Light A Billion Lights Campaign, IYCN (The Indian Youth Climate Network) and Greenpeace. Batti Bandh would like you to join us on this venture. We require sponsors and partners for various purposes, that we can let you know off. We also require artists of all types, to identify themselves, if they would like to perform at either the build-up events or on the final day event around the city. Perhaps most important of all is our requirement of community volunteers to reach out to this city, and educate them on the climate cause. Do let us know your concerns and views on the same. In anticipation, Unplug, Aditi Gaitonde Batti Bandh Bengaluru, Coordinator Contact us at: info@battibandh.org Call us at : BANGALORE: Aditi: 09535203312 aditi.gaitonde@gmail.com Anoo: 09902351795 ecowarrior.91@gmail.com MUMBAI Kaizad : 9820297774 Keith : 09712388606 Or follow us on twitter at: http://twitter.com/battibandh And on Facebook at : Bengaluru Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194683249245&ref=mf Fan page: www.facebook.com/battibandh Event: page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146217670965&index=1

Kishan Bhat 11:19 AM, January 6th, 2010

Great act to increase awareness.

But really, really will the power stations reduce production for this 1 hour? I always thought that power production is static, I'll be keen to know if its not.

Aditi Gaitonde 07:07 PM, January 8th, 2010

Hi Kishan

Yes your absolutly right...
the power production is static.

But Batti Bandh is not about that...
Turning off your lights for an hour is merely a token and gesture of your support for the fight against Global Warming
We are not anti electricity...
we are an appeal to the common man to reduce his personal carbon emission by slight changes in his lifestyle...

We as a nation need to take a stand...

And Batti Bandh is that...

Aditi Gaitonde 07:07 PM, January 8th, 2010

Hi!
With the objective of reaching more people we have restructured. We are having an Inter-School Fest Gurukala on the 16th of Jan at the Bal Bhavan in Cubbon Park.

We are also having a college fest on the 8th of Feb and a final main even at Cubbon on the 13 of Feb. So please do be a part of all the events and come and make BBB a HUGE SUCCESS.