Environment Day is the biggest one-line trick in British history

More Britons protest British reliance on energy-sapping dryers on Monday. "You're looking at the biggest one-line trick in history," British comedian Tim FitzHigham said to the assembled crowd.

Photo: Environment Day is the biggest one-line trick in British history

Environment Day is the biggest one-line trick in British history

The all-day demonstration used 4,920 items of washing and 24,600 clothespins. "All around the world today, people are drawing attention to the environment and the damage we've done to it," comedian and actor Alistair McGowan said. "But it's not just a day where you've got to do something for the environment it's the next day, and the next, and on."

Environment Agency personnel distributed pledge forms around the massive clothesline, asking attendees to sign onto lifestyle changes that would conserve energy, decrease consumption and reduce gas emissions in the United Kingdom.

The decision to focus on air-drying laundry was Britain 's particular stamp on the international event the "main force of our argument," McGowan said.

The Environment Agency said that if each family in Britain hung up just one load of washing each week, that would save 88 million pounds (128 million; US$166 million) and prevent over 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

"This is a great visual way to show people what a difference we can make," EA spokesman and wash-hanging volunteer Nick Rijke said. "Yes, we want the government to do more, but was also want people individually to do more than simply wait for shifts in government policy."

Materials used to create the clothesline from the wash to the metal poles to the clothespins would of course be recycled, FitzHigham noted, reports the AP.

N.U.