18th February is the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” which is held each year in Italy when people try out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy. The campaign was launched by the Italian radio programme Caterpillar in 2005 and seeks to reduce private and public energy use. During its annual awareness-raising day, individuals and organisations are asked to make a symbolic gesture of support by switching off lights and all other non-vital electrical devices powered by non-renewable energy sources. This year, the campaign also encourages switching on lights from renewable sources.
The lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.
Here in Barga, for the fifth year running, Aristo’s bar joined in and switched off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay.
It (almost) all went like clockwork … the technician arrived at six to switch off the street lights but unfortunately they switched off the lights in the other piazzas but not in Piazza Salvi where Aristo’s bar is situated but whatever, “M’illumino di meno” festa 2011 was off and running.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIkdNOTtpo
Music for the evening was rigorously acoustic with Giuliano Nardi and his accordion followed by the four of the members of Emma e gli Aristodemo’s – Emma singing, Keane on Irish drum providing a strong rhythm background for Fabio Guazzelli on guitar, Alessandro Rizzardi on mandolin. Sitting in on the session were also Geoff Collins-White on guitar, Linda Turicchi and Roberto Conti on drums and Andrea Guzzoletti on percussion.
M’illumino di meno | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Per il quinto anno consecutivo è tornata a Barga l’iniziativa M’illumino di Meno, la giornata promossa dalla trasmissione radiofonica caterpillar (Radio Due) tutta dedicata al risparmio energetico.
Così, come ormai da tradizione, anche dal Casciani in piazza Salvi si è simbolicamente risparmiata energia illuminando il locale solo con candele e festeggiando con musica rigorosamente acustica, a cura di Emma e gli Aristodemo’s che si sono alternati alla fisarmonica di Giuliano Nardi.
Anche il Comune ha fatto la sua parte, così come tanti enti pubblici su e giù per l’Italia, spegnendo alcune luci pubbliche alle sei in punto, l’ora in cui in tutta la penisola è iniziata l’edizione 2011 di M’illumino di Meno