The effects of our Faith and Astronomy Workshop continue to echo. From Fr. Timothy Sauppé I received the following announcement that he recently issued in his area:
Formation of a Local Chapter of International Dark-Sky Association
“Attention lovers of nature! Pollution comes in many forms! We can see the litter on the ground and smell the fouling of our air. Our ears become offended by unnecessary blaring car speakers in traffic. But most people don’t consider the most neglected of all forms of pollution…. the wasteful or unthoughtful night lighting otherwise known as light pollution.
“Yes, at night we need to be able to see and to be safe, but with the growth of population, comes the ever increasing night lighting with no thought to its effects on people, the environment, and wildlife. If changes are not initiated, we will no longer be able to see nature’s greatest gift, the stars. Every new night light adds to the increasing glow around our cities thereby blotting out our night sky and our stars. Children will no longer know the wonders of the Milky Way, let alone the Big Dipper or Orion. We must begin now to restore what has been lost.
“By using shielded light fixtures (together with the new technology that is readily available such as light sensors, timers, and LED lighting options), we can restore nature’s “Sistine Chapel.” For the sake of future generations, please get involved in doing what you can to limit light pollution. So, be involved!
“The public is invited to an informational meeting at the Danville Public Library on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM where representatives of the local chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association and Vermilion County Conservation District will be available to discuss the effects of light pollution and the solutions that are available. We encourage everyone to visit www.darkvermilionskies.org and sign the pledge for your business, community, or household, to keep and preserve nature’s “Sistine Chapel.”
He adds: For more information call 217-267-3334 and ask for Dark Vermilion Skies. And visit http://www.blue-marble.de/nightlights/2012 to see for yourselves the result of light pollution on our state and our planet.
In fact, we could all think about organizing such efforts in our own community
