National Trust to classify NSW Skies.

[JohnG (John)]

Will be interesting to see if this will force Councils to implement some Lighting Policies with a bit of teeth........

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=418274

Cheers

[sheeny (Al)]

Fingers crossed it has some impact!

Al.

[Hagar (Doug)]

*****wishfull Thinking********

[snowyskiesau]

Originally Posted by Hagar

*****wishfull Thinking********

Not to mention, difficult (impossible?) to enforce.

[BTW, Hagar, your URL gives an error ]

[Rob_K]

Nice move, but symbolic only - Nat Trust is a private organisation whose listings are non-statutory and have no legislative teeth at all. However, could be used to support arguments when engaging councils in developing decent lighting (energy-saving) policies...

Cheers -

[Ric]

An excellent idea and one that I really hope comes to the front of government policy.

I wonder if there is anywhere to put in a written submission, if there is it would probably be worthwhile for all of us to send off a page or two in support. Could you imagine 4000+ letters arriving at their offices, that would make them sit up and think hard.

Cheers

[leon]

Well it is a move in the right direction, at least they gave it some thought.

Leon

[Argonavis (William)]

"The Czech Republic has become the first nation to bring in a law against light pollution, one of the major problems for astronomers worldwide. Australia is also taking steps to control the problem..."

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s514458.htm

what measures you ask????

"Siding Springs is within the area of Tamworth City Council, which approved guidelines about outdoor lighting placement earlier this month. Outdoor lights are now required to have a shield that prevents any light being directed above the horizontal plane.

A spokesman for the Council explained the guidelines were an attempt to be more proactive about increasing light pollution in the area. People who do not comply will receive an advice letter."

"The new Czech law requires all citizens and organizations to 'take measures to prevent the occurrence of light pollution of the air.' Light pollution is considered to be every form of illumination by artificial light which is dispersed outside the areas it is dedicated to, particularly if directed above the level of the horizon."

I am starting to admire the Czechs, especially as they have elected a sensible politician with the aim of abolishing the global warming religion in the European Union, which are under the Czech Republic presidency in 2009.

http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/02/va...reelected.html

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by leon

Well it is a move in the right direction, at least they gave it some thought.

Leon

some popular reactions here:

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/a.../#commentsmore

illustrating that most people don't give a flying fig about the night skies, some even prefering a well light cityscape.

The underlines that the only means of mitigating light pollution is to sell it as an energy saving measure - that full cut off fixtures can use less power.

otherwise you come across as a crank

[space oddity]

Just get the greenies on the bandwagon to save a couple of tons of CO2 emissions and we are in with a show. Alternatively, we can just call ourselves an underpriveledged minority - they seem to get given anything they want . Just bribe a bunch of dole bludgers to march and shout the slogan "what do we want. CLEAR SKIES when do we want it NOW " repeat till hoarse.