On New Years Day 2007 the Eternity Cyclone was launched. It was created using 1000 discarded washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers, and these items were collected from local tips over a 6 month period by Clean Energy For Eternity and the community.
White goods were selected, as they use a lot of energy and water, and the fact that we could collect so many within a short space of time demonstrates the disposable nature of our society.
A vortex image was created by Richard Moffatt, with artistic inspiration from Les Brown.
The cyclone was used to try and raise awareness about the increased frequency of adverse weather events that we are all likely to face with global warming. The sculpture was then rearranged to 50/50 by 2020, turning awareness into action.
Hopes of a cleaner world to shine in our darkest hour
Sydney Morning Herald
Show of cleansing … kids gambol amid Jellat Jellat's landscape sculpture, part of a Clean Energy for Eternity project.
<small>Photo: Chris Lane</small>
THE aim is a clean environment. The method? More than 1000 discarded washing machines.
Children at Jellat Jellat on the South Coast made a run for it yesterday over the machines, which form part of a landscape sculpture designed to draw attention to the need for clean energy.
In March, as part of another green idea, the Harbour and Anzac bridges will disappear from Sydney's evening skyline for an hour. The city bridges will have their outer lights switched off as part of the environmental campaign Earth Hour, which aims to have as many lights as possible turned off from 7.30pm on March 31.
The bridges would remain open to traffic, said Andy Ridley, a spokesman for the body behind the campaign, WWF Australia.
"It's not the road lights, just the spotlights at the side that light the frames," he said.
A spokesman for the Roads and Traffic Authority said details were being finalised, but safety would not be compromised.
More than 30 large businesses have signed up to be part of Earth Hour since the campaign was launched two weeks ago.
"The outcome has been phenomenal," Mr Ridley said.
"They are not corner stores, either - they're the biggest ones in town."
Some of Sydney's biggest buildings are among those that will be plunged into darkness on March 31. ANZ Bank plans to turn off lights at its 21-storey headquarters in Martin Place and is considering blacking out all Sydney branches as well.
"The intention would be to participate fully and that would hopefully include branches, but we would need to finalise security issues such as lighting ATMs for customer safety," an ANZ spokesman said.
The insurance company IAG will black out its George Street office, and HSBC Bank is also considering joining.
The accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers announced last week it would join the campaign and aimed to be carbon neutral by July 1, 2008.
Earth Hour is supported by Fairfax Media, publisher of the Herald, the City of Sydney and the State Government.
Daylight saving ends a week before Earth Hour.
