| RECOMMENDATIONS
Research
Needed
- effects of
light pollution on human populations
- identification
of vulnerable groups
- effects of
light pollution in combination with other health factors
- effects of
light pollution on animal and plant physiology
- cost/benefit
- lighting and human productivity; lighting and accident prevention;
use of resources (cost of wasted lighting) and benefit
Personal
Action - What You Can Do at a Local Level
- turn out
the lights and install dark sky friendly lighting at home and
in your business
- ask for dark
sky friendly lighting at your local hardware and lighting stores
- establish
a local astronomy club or a local light pollution awareness group
- collect and
display images that demonstrate the impact of light pollution
- lobby your
local government with respect to developing sites that should
consider light pollution (e.g. big box stores, new residential
developments)
- establish
a local "Night Sky" celebration (e.g. around August
10-12 Persiedes Shower)
- join existing
organizations that address light pollution issues, e.g. International
Dark-Sky Association, World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy
of Canada
- lobby for
public funding for research, put pressure on with respect to the
costs and waste of light pollution
- ask for the
establishment of light-protected areas in each urban area where
people may go to observe the night sky
- talk to your
neighbours and friends
Public Education
& Awareness
- summarize
the discussions from the Ecology of the Night symposium and create
an action statement endorsed by the organizing committee to send
to the decision-makers and people of influence - focus on the
benefits and recommend specific actions
- write and
circulate articles and develop programs on the health, safety,
and financial aspects of light pollution
- create a
media package that clearly delineates the problem, the benefits
of action and recommendations for action
- develop and
sell curriculum for the school systems
- develop and
sell programs for extra-curricular organizations such as Girl
Guides, Boy Scouts, youth groups
- make presentations
to professional, technical and trades organizations - teachers'
groups, architects, electricians, planners, contractors, landscapers,
developers
- speak to
service clubs and other local associations such as horticultural
and field naturalist groups
- encourage
and educate politicians at all levels - make a presentation to
the federal Standing Committee on the Environment
- establish
a catchy slogan or phrase to attach to your efforts e.g. Just
Turn It Off!
- recognize
the legitimate need for lighting (don't be a zealot)
- ensure that
the message reaches all populations i.e. translate into relevant
other languages
- schedule
another symposium
Legislation
- commit to
a reduction in light pollution
- develop a
national lighting code
- develop policy
for parks and wilderness areas
- incentives/rebates
to change behaviour or to use alternatives
- develop templates
for local building code improvements
Commitments from Symposium Participants
- to collect
native stories and humour about dark skies
- be enthusiastic
about dark skies
- preserve
the August 14th blackout spirit
- send a letter
to the Czech republic endorsing its commitment to dark skies
- share information
with symposium participants through the web site and through e-mails
- develop art
inspired by dark skies
- create a
package for children
- take a field
trip to the Torrance Barrens
- write articles
in the local newspaper
- develop a
light monitoring system in Canadian parks
- pass symposium
information along to like-minded organizations
- visit offending
neighbours with photos of light pollution
- read Keepers
of the Night: Native American stories and nocturnal activities
for children
|
THEME
SUMMARIES MENU
- Scientific
and Biological Interests
- Importance
of the Night Sky to the Cultural, Spiritual and Historical Worlds
- Importance
of the Night Sky to Human Health
- Achieving
Dark Sky Compliance through Voluntary and Regulatory Means
- Recommendations
from the Symposium Theme Sessions
|
