Sify takes the initiative in supporting Earth Hour

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Sify Technologies Limited, a leader in Consumer Internet and Enterprise Services in India with global delivery capabilities, is campaigning in four Indian cities and encouraging businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour at 8 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2008 to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

The Earth Hour is a WWF initiative supported by businesses and individuals around the world. Earth Hour 2007 was primarily a Sydney event, held on 31 March 2007, when 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2 percent for one hour, which was the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. Earth Hour 2008 is a global movement.

Commenting on this initiative, Raju Vegesna, CMD, Sify Technologies Limited said: “The objective of the campaign is to encourage as many individuals, households and businesses as possible to turn off their lights as a symbolic statement against Global Warming. Sify recently unveiled its new visual identity with a fresh green logo that reflects Sify’s concern for the environment. Our support of The Earth Hour initiative is the first of others that we will support for the cause of the environment.”

Sify is making a concerted effort to generate awareness and invite widespread participation by its employees and the public:

Through Sify.com:

* Sify.com, the popular consumer portal, carries news and informative articles on Global Warming, and what individuals and businesses can do to support it.

* There is an extensive micro-site on Earth Hour with more details on Global Warming, news of participation from around the world, messages from eminent personalities, as well as a contest. Log on to http://sify.com/specials/earthhour

* There are also videos about Earth Hour and other related news on the site. As on ground activities are conducted, there will also be videos of these events as well as videos in support of Earth Hour by celebrities.

* All Sify mails sent have a footer urging people to switch off lights during Earth Hour 

Through the Iway cyber café chain:

*Communications on Earth Hour on the login screen as well as posters across the cafes

*A special microsite on Earth Hour as a homepage  

Radio and email campaigns:

* A Batti Bandh Campaign in the four metros on FM Radio to promote switching off the lights at the said hour.

* An eMail campaign to Sify’s customers and the public

Sify is also conducting on ground activities to spread the message:

*Street plays in 60 schools/ public locations across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai urging children to become ambassadors of the earth.

*Distribution of leaflets and caps at 250 locations across the four cities to create public awareness. 

Internally too, there are a number of initiatives for employees:

* Painting contest for kids

* Screenings of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, the Academy Award-winning documentary film about Global Warming, presented by the Nobel Laureate and former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore.

* A signature campaign in support of the Earth Hour. 

Sify invites you to join millions of people globally to participate in the Earth Hour from 8 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2008.