Light Pollution Growing at 6% PA

[glend (Glen)]

Here is a link to an interesting article on the effects of light pollution on native animal reproduction (leading to starvation of young due to birth being out of sync with their food source cycles), and importantly figures on world wide light pollution growth and the incidious LEDs.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-3...t-risk/6813934

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

thanks for that link Glen.

[LewisM]

Incredible how we live in this world of supposedly wanting to help the environment, but we do more to harm it every day than help it.

I am still sorely tempted to move out to my dark sky site on our family property and settle down, but that won't be for many years. In the meantime at least I can get the observing site finished - slab poured, barbed wire fence to keep the cows out, wind breaks...

It's a 5 hour drive from home, but it is truly D A R K... it's in one of those areas where if the family wants you back at the homestead, all they have to do is go on the balcony and call out... you can hear them a kilometer away... It is how life should be!

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

When you pursue a 'growth at all costs' strategy, this is the inevitable consequence. The cities just keep growing and growing.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by AussieTrooper

When you pursue a 'growth at all costs' strategy, this is the inevitable consequence. The cities just keep growing and growing.

Strategy??? That makes it sound like someone planned our present predicament.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Strategy??? That makes it sound like someone planned our present predicament.

I somewhat doubt that light pollution was what they had in mind, but given the low birth rate, our population is easily regulated by how many visas, permanent residencies and citizenships are issued.
That holds true for most western countries with a birth rate of between 1.8 and 2.4.

[OffGrid (Steve)]

Just listening to ABC Radio 702 AM Sydney.
Presenter Richard Glover will interview Fred Watson this afternoon re light pollution impacting on astronomers.
I do not know what time

[glend (Glen)]

I seem to recall politicians talking about the 'need' to double Australia's population - no doubt to gain more tax payers, but along with that comes the need for more food, water, housing, cars, roads, and of course light pollution.
It won't be long before even the narrow band imagers are driven out of towns by broad spectrum LEDs everywhere.

Darkness should be regarded as a natural resource. Imagine the government apponting a 'Minister for Darkness'!

And Pitch Black was on tv last night, that will scare the masses into buying more sensor lights to keep the nasties at bay.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by glend

Darkness should be regarded as a natural resource. Imagine the government apponting a 'Minister for Darkness'!

Given that we are a constitutional monarchy, there has got to be a way that he could become our 'Prince of Darkness'.