Chennai hosts bicycle rally to create awareness on global warming

Thousands of people participated in a cycle rally here to create awareness on climate change and global warming.

Besides women, children and senior citizens, a number of celebrities including Tamil film actors, took part in the rally.

The rally was organized to educate people about the impact of global warming on human lives.

M Subramaniam, mayor of Chennai flagged off the three-kilometre rally.

Holding placards and banners spreading messages on hazards of climate hange, the participants gathered at the city's Light House and cycled through the thoroughfares.

Participants said they wanted to spread the message of the benefits of reducing emissions by switching to alternative modes of transport.

"Global warming is God's warming, the temperature of the earth is going higher and higher due to pollution and fossil fuel burning; we have to reduce it by avoiding the usage of more and more fuel," said Harish, a student.

Participants urged the promotion of eco-friendly vehicles to tackle the problem of global warming.

"This is the first step and we are all trying to cycle down and that means we will start trying cycles and other simpler modes of travelling. This is just the beginning and I hope everyone will join us world over and we make it a big effort to make the world realize that nature is a part of us and we will have to appreciate it," said Swarnermalaya, a Tamil actor.

Residents of Chennai also planned a unique campaign named '99999 lights out' to promote awareness on global warming, where they will switch off their lights for nine minutes.

"To create more awareness, we will switch off the lights for 9 minutes on the 9th month i.e. September 2009," said Vel Murugan, an organiser. (ANI)