International. Forty-five Samsung offices around the world, including Samsung Electronics' headquarters in Suwon, Korea, turned off their lights for an hour to help raise awareness about climate change and energy inequality, reducing approximately 9,400 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions.
The cost of electricity saved, along with donations from employees, will help fund the delivery of 1,000 solar-powered LED lamps to regions suffering from energy shortages.
This year marks Samsung's second global opt-out campaign. Last year, Samsung delivered LED lamps to Tiom, a rural village in the Indonesian province of Papua. The residents of Tiom can now continue their livelihood even at night. This year, the solar-powered LED lamps, assembled by employee volunteers in Suwon, will be delivered to rural villages in Mactan, Philippines, and Phitsanulok, Thailand, where residents suffer from power shortages.
"Building an LED flashlight is not, in itself, a difficult task. But it's exciting to imagine how small efforts like this can help change the lives of many people," said Kyosung Koo, a Samsung employee who volunteered to help put the kits together.
Samsung's 'Share the Light' campaign precedes the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour. Samsung Electronics opted to operate its program on weekdays to maximize the effect of turning off the lights, including reducing office CO2 emissions and public awareness.
