[sully777]

Noting this solution to "the problem" is the following appeal: "Make light pollution a statutory nuisance and make lighting a planning issue." This appeal includes turning off commercial lighting after 11PM

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Is this a picture of light pollution or progress? Does artificial light cause harm to plants and animals?

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Extra source information: http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/index.html

The International Dark Skies (IDS) organisation - based in the US - works on a global basis for the reduction of light pollution. A number of people in the legal field have recognised the need to include light pollution as a statutory nuisance.

If dealing with local media insist on some editorial control so as to avoid headlines such as Star-gazers...

[rovenstinez]

Bring on dark nights. Just think how much energy would be saved? Maybe we would get more people shopping at day time and staying home in the evenings with momma and the kids.

[kcmt01]

Worst of all, it interferes with the financial planning of drug dealers, rapists, muggers, etc. who depend on darkness to carry out their trade. Shameful, and shocking. We must tax the rich to make up for their loss of income and recreation opportunities.

[NZerFromHK]

It may cause harm for astronomers since streetlightings etc make it harder to observe outer space using Earth-based telescopes.

[sully777]

I know this is a long read, but I recall hearing this nonsense in the NJ public school system during the 1970s to the 1980s. It was taught as fact, and was a definite slam against capitalism.

Well, the movement is growing and gaining a foothold into international government agencies, seeking to curtail light use after 11PM and changing residential, commercial, and government development rules.

[6SJ7]

I suggest the writer move to N. Korea. Nice and dark there at night. Light is a sign of a technologically advanced civilization.

[Calpernia]

http://www.darksky.org/about/funding
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
Established in 1988 to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting.

*see above link for info on:

- Tax-exempt status

- Federal tax returns

- Membership dues

- Donations

- Grants
----Pauley Foundation Grant
----National Science Foundation Grant
----Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Grant

[Dark Skies]

Campaign for Dark Skies

Just send your campaign contributions to me at Free Republic.

[redpoll]

I live up there in that huge dark area northwest of Anchorage. It's actually very pleasant to live in a place where you can see the stars at night (which should be starting in the next month or so... LOL).

Having said that, again, the activists are showing off their leftist pretense. Much of this article was a cry for large groups - government, planners, schools - to force change on people. Real change occurs when people as individuals choose to change. I make sure that my lights don't illuminate the neighborhood because it's aesthetically unappealing. if I wanted light at night, I can see easily that there's plenty of places to choose from. Forcing people to change their lives to fit some government fiat is the definition of tyranny... in which case, I'd probably change my 40-watt bulbs for 150-watt monsters, just to demonstrate my pissed mood.

[BipolarBob]

Everyone in favor of government telling us where to put our home lighting raise their hands.

[sully777]

Courtesy ping

[GATOR NAVY]

I've spent much time at sea and seen what the night sky can really look like away from light pollution, and it's a beautiful thing. On a truly dark night, you don't need a telescope. You can find all kinds of objects with just a pair of 7x50 binoculars.

Having said that, I don't buy viewing the stars as the major reason to reduce light pollution. I'd much rather see it pushed as a practical energy conservation issue, with the added benefit of seeing more stars.

[saganite]

Since you brought the subject u, I've been wondering what happened to the coming revolution in lighting, LED's for the home. Here's an article. Seems they're too expensive for the home right now but their energy usage is phenominally low and they last forever.

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/07/31/daily76.html

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

This is a case where I agree with the goals but not the methods being used.

I am firmly in favor of a reduction in the excess artificial light that comes from cities.

However I believe the way to do this is to point out economic advantages to convince people to do it of their own free will, not force them by law to turn out the lights.

[kcmt01]

What a great map. As I look across this map, it occurs to me that 4 or 5 nuclear warheads placed in Western Europe, with about 6 in the U.S. East of the Mississippi, and a couple in the West, along with 2 or 3 in the Japanese Isles would pretty much cure global light pollution. Notice how all of the communist nations are already saving our planet by limiting their prosperity. SAVE THE PLANET!! SUPPORT STARVATION POLITICS NOW!!!!

[Vision]

[PghBaldy]

I live in the city (Pittsburgh). I can see stars etc. I am shocked though, when I visit my family in the suburbs. Especially my parents, who have several acres. It gets VERY dark there. It does get dark enough here though. Darkness is rotten in dangerous neighborhoods though...

[Past Your Eyes]

"At the beginning of the 21st century, humanity is losing a valuable and beautiful part of its heritage. For the first time in history,..."

It didn't take much reading to figure out what a bunch of bullship this was. This has been going on for a long time and is nothing new. I work for an electric utility. We had a couple of "pilot" towns where we replaced all the outside lighting with the the new type of lights that are better for the "dark skies". I'm glad I didn't have to answer the phone calls from all the people bitching about how much the new lights sucked and they wanted their old one back. One friend of mine, who is not afraid to express his opinion, said "This is supposed to be an AREA light. I want it to light up an AREA, not just this little spot right underneath the pole."

[gaijin]

We can't get rid of all the street lights?

Of course not! Astronomers have the same lighting needs as everyone else. We all need good quality, well-directed

OH! Gosh, for a second there, I thought these people were WEIRDOS, or something...

But not NOW...

[Dawggie]

Years ago I moved out into the boonies. I was awe struck with the night sky. Yet even more, that when people move to the contry to "get away from it all" the first thing they do is install their own personal 1KW street light and ruin the night sky.

I am all in favor of dark skies, but it aint gonna happen in my life time and I would hate to see it imposed us.

[orionblamblam]

What a bunch of morons. Wanting the nights to be dark? What's next? Laws against noise pollution? I suppose people will start whining if I decide to set off fireworks at 3AM now.