Earth Hour 2013: The bright lights of Berlin's (future) airport

They have not yet found the light switch at Berlin's new airport.

Remember the time when advanced technology was the pride of Germany? 

Well, nothing lasts forever:

At the problem-plagued construction site that will eventually become the Berlin International Airport, the terminal lights burn around the clock. And the reason is not to prevent workers there from succumbing to the winter blues. Rather, technical difficulties at the ultra-modern airport -- which will ultimately cost close to €4.3 billion -- mean that the lights can't be switched off.

"It has to do with the fact that we haven't progressed far enough with our lighting system that we can control it," Horst Amann, airport technical director, said on Wednesday during a rare public appearance.

That isn't the only technical hang-up at the airport, of course. Originally scheduled to begin operations in October 2011, its opening was unexpectedly delayed due to concerns about safety equipment -- before being delayed again last May. Since then, however, myriad problems, construction shortcomings, design errors and technical glitches have been found. Not to mention concerns that the building might be too small.

PS

Nothing so bad, as not to be good for something. At least the missing light switch will make it somewhat more difficult for the future airport to participate in the upcoming annual stupidity called The Earth Hour, on March 23 (unless they decide to follow the example set by Mauritius last year).  

(image by wikipedia)