Comments on: Global Light Pollution and The End of Days http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/ Sports News - Tech Reviews - Entertainment - Life Tips for EveryJoe Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:29:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Colin Henshaw http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-66082 Colin Henshaw Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:16:18 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-66082 Light pollution is ignored at our peril. Two thirds of all energy is wasted, a substantial proportion of which goes on lighting. Our cities have been cooking the atmosphere for decades, every night, three hundred and sixty five nights a year. This was bound to have serious envronmental and ecological effects, and this has now well established. This problem needs to be redressed urgently. Those who believe that global warming is a con and who think they have a right to light up everything have a lot to answer for. If they can't see at night, they should use a torch. Local authorities are not under any obligation to provide people with lighting. A universal culture change is required in our attitudes. Exterior lighting should only be used sparingly, on a needs must basis, where needed, when needed, and in the correct amounts. Otherwise the environment will pay us back with our own coin and with compounded interrest. It is not just astronomy that is at stake, but the whole planet. We will find out soon enough if we do nothing. Light pollution is ignored at our peril. Two thirds of all energy is wasted, a substantial proportion of which goes on lighting. Our cities have been cooking the atmosphere for decades, every night, three hundred and sixty five nights a year. This was bound to have serious envronmental and ecological effects, and this has now well established. This problem needs to be redressed urgently. Those who believe that global warming is a con and who think they have a right to light up everything have a lot to answer for. If they can’t see at night, they should use a torch. Local authorities are not under any obligation to provide people with lighting. A universal culture change is required in our attitudes. Exterior lighting should only be used sparingly, on a needs must basis, where needed, when needed, and in the correct amounts. Otherwise the environment will pay us back with our own coin and with compounded interrest. It is not just astronomy that is at stake, but the whole planet. We will find out soon enough if we do nothing.

]]> By: Graham Cliff http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-66895 Graham Cliff Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:10:12 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-66895 Folks, Light at night, causing the 24 hour day, is killing off Life On Earth? It has already destroyed the nocturnal habitat of bats and sucked their insect prey from them like a vacuum cleaner. Bats are in decline and so too are whip-poor-wills and night jars.You can learn more at http://www.lightpollution.org.uk If you choose to believe otherwise then by the time you wake up it will be JTL - Just Too Late. Folks, Light at night, causing the 24 hour day, is killing off Life On Earth? It has already destroyed the nocturnal habitat of bats and sucked their insect prey from them like a vacuum cleaner. Bats are in decline and so too are whip-poor-wills and night jars.You can learn more at http://www.lightpollution.org.uk If you choose to believe otherwise then by the time you wake up it will be JTL – Just Too Late.

]]> By: Rebekah http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-66637 Rebekah Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:07:12 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-66637 A few years back the librarian at my library went to Isreal and was traveling with friends and ended up in the sticks but stopped and got to see the milky way like she had not seen it before. A few years back the librarian at my library went to Isreal and was traveling with friends and ended up in the sticks but stopped and got to see the milky way like she had not seen it before.

]]> By: Tony http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-65452 Tony Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:44:29 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-65452 @Dave: That is an excellent point and one I've been meaning to blog about for a while now. It is a myth that more light equals more security, in fact, there is evidence to the contrary, just as you pointed out. More light actually aids criminals in committing their crimes. I'll be posting on that in the future. As for being afraid if the dark, that too, is a point well taken. We haven't evolved pasts some basic fears it seems. @Frederica: It is a beautiful picture, one of my favorites actually. I have a framed copy of the poster in my office and I look at it all the time. It is also a source of dismay though when I think about it in terms of light pollution. @Grace: It is amazing isn't it? Like I said, seeing a sky so full of stars I can barely make out constellations is the closest I've ever come to a religious experience. @Dave: That is an excellent point and one I’ve been meaning to blog about for a while now. It is a myth that more light equals more security, in fact, there is evidence to the contrary, just as you pointed out. More light actually aids criminals in committing their crimes. I’ll be posting on that in the future.

As for being afraid if the dark, that too, is a point well taken. We haven’t evolved pasts some basic fears it seems.

@Frederica: It is a beautiful picture, one of my favorites actually. I have a framed copy of the poster in my office and I look at it all the time. It is also a source of dismay though when I think about it in terms of light pollution.

@Grace: It is amazing isn’t it? Like I said, seeing a sky so full of stars I can barely make out constellations is the closest I’ve ever come to a religious experience.

]]> By: Grace http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-65451 Grace Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:53:29 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-65451 I was in the Philippines last month and one night while looking up at the sky realized something I haven't seen in a long time in Maryland. STARS! and plenty of them. The heavens opened and left me in awe. I was in the Philippines last month and one night while looking up at the sky realized something I haven’t seen in a long time in Maryland. STARS! and plenty of them. The heavens opened and left me in awe.

]]> By: Frederica http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-65449 Frederica Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:21:05 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-65449 I actually think this is a beautiful picture. So many photons... It is almost like a reversed picture to me. As a kid, living in the country, (in europe), I could see many constellations, the Milky Way, and almost as many stars in the sky as there are dots of light in this pic. I haven't seen that sky in almost 15 years now and I miss it. And now they have installed those street lights that can guide a space shuttle, it really is the end of those days. Meh ! I actually think this is a beautiful picture.
So many photons…
It is almost like a reversed picture to me. As a kid, living in the country, (in europe), I could see many constellations, the Milky Way, and almost as many stars in the sky as there are dots of light in this pic.
I haven’t seen that sky in almost 15 years now and I miss it. And now they have installed those street lights that can guide a space shuttle, it really is the end of those days. Meh !

]]> By: Dave http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-65495 Dave Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:58:07 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-65495 At least there is still some of the Texas Hill Country that's plenty dark! This problem will continue as long as people are afraid of the dark. When I was a kid, a neighbor put up a streetlight. When asked why, they said it'll scare away burglars. That's the reason I always hear, but when you ask a burglar, they'll usually say the light helps them see what they're breaking into... At least there is still some of the Texas Hill Country that’s plenty dark!

This problem will continue as long as people are afraid of the dark. When I was a kid, a neighbor put up a streetlight. When asked why, they said it’ll scare away burglars. That’s the reason I always hear, but when you ask a burglar, they’ll usually say the light helps them see what they’re breaking into…

]]> By: Veggie Chic - Theme Day round-up: Issues that affect the entire world http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days-191/comment-page-1/#comment-65383 Veggie Chic - Theme Day round-up: Issues that affect the entire world Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:59:45 +0000 http://www.astronomybuff.com/global-light-pollution-and-the-end-of-days/#comment-65383 [...] Tony at Astronomy Buff warns us that global light pollution is leading to the end of days. [...] [...] Tony at Astronomy Buff warns us that global light pollution is leading to the end of days. [...]

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