The World
The Pope's Warning to the Politicians
Pope Benedict XVI, en route to Brazil, stirred controversy with remarks to journalists about politicians who approve abortion legislation. Asked whether he agreed that Roman Catholic legislators who recently legalized abortion in Mexico City should be considered excommunicated, the pontiff replied: "Yes."
Around the World, a Brief Fade to Black
Parts of Bangkok, the usually neon-illuminated capital of Thailand, went dark for 15 minutes last week in a symbolic gesture of concern about global warming. People applauded as the city faded to black precisely at 7 p.m., with none of the panic or looting that officials feared.
This may be catching on-sort of a visual referendum on climate and energy issues. In France, the Eiffel Tower went dark as Parisians held a five-minute "lights out" February 1, on the eve of a major international report on global climate change. At the same time in Italy, the lights were switched off at major Roman monuments, and in Spain, authorities blacked out landmarks in Madrid, Seville, and Valencia.
Two months later, in Australia, more than 2 million Sydney residents participated in an "Earth Hour" blackout that produced an impressive, if fleeting, 10 percent drop in energy consumption. The World Wildlife Fund Australia, one of the promoters, said the event was intended to get people to think about ways in which even modest energy conservation efforts-such as switching off nonessential lights-could add up to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases.
With Thomas K. Grose, Thomas Omestad and Associated Press
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