Please note! This news page is no longer maintained. There are simply too many news items coming out that the maintainer of this site can keep up with! However, this page is left as is since it does contain some interesting information.
Selected Light-Pollution News Stories...
Here are selected news stories from the British press. For more international news stories, see the International Dark-Sky Association News Page
December, 2005
The Telegraph: Dark skies groups attack failure to act over light pollution
"The Government has been accused of sidelining plans to introduce official guidance to control the rapidly spreading problem of light pollution. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which came into force in April made intrusive lighting a statutory nuisance, something for which conservationists and astronomers had campaigned for more than a decade. This will allow local council environmental health officers to act against the worst kinds of local light pollution blighting people's lives and disturbing their sleep."
November, 2005
The Guardian: Rome takes a dim view of wasted energy
"Rome is to dim its public lights to save energy...energy savings of up to 40% could be made."
November, 2005
BBC News: Residents' Christmas lights plea
"A group of residents have offered to pay a neighbour to forgo a charity Christmas lights display which attracts hundreds of visitors.
The lights have now been blamed for causing a "mini-crime wave". The spectators it draws have been blamed for vandalism, theft, violence and other forms of anti-social behaviour."
November, 2005
BBC News: Britain facing large energy gap
"Britain is facing a shortfall in energy supply in the near future, according to a major report.
"...the key to reducing that lies in renewables and energy efficiency.""
November, 2005
The Independent: Stars in the City
" It could be, but you wouldn't know it. Most of us never see the stars because of glare from city lights. But moves are afoot to bring back the night sky, says Oliver Bennett"
October, 2005
BBC News: New York dims lights to aid birds
"The city that never sleeps is turning out the lights on dozens of skyscrapers in the hope of protecting birds distracted from migration paths. Every night in autumn, hundreds collide with Manhattan's high-rise towers.
Owners of tall buildings are being urged to dim their lights to save the lives of night-migrating birds, while reducing energy costs. "
July, 2005
The Independent: Town tormented by yob birds calls in the Seagull Terminator
"With no predators, plenty of food and street lighting that enabled them to feed at night they [seagulls] flourished."
June, 2005
The Times: Toddler tearaways targeted
"Measures such as CCTV, increased street lighting and longer custodial
sentences were judged in the report to have been expensive failures, with
only a few exceptions."
May, 2005
The Guardian: Livingstone's Green Vision
"Mr Livingstone's aims include every development being built on previously used land and that "major developments should be zero carbon emission developments". He also wants all major developments to incorporate hydrogen or fuel cell technology and include gas pipes capable of carrying hydrogen. All insulation materials should be from natural materials. His vision even extends to improving the view of the stars in the night sky by insisting that outdoor lighting is designed to reduce the sodium glow above the city."
April, 2005
The Leicester Mercury: Watt a carry on
"New high-powered lamps installed in the village are so intense the residents claim they can read books in their gardens in the middle of the night. They say the bulbs burn so bright they have confused birds into singing 24 hours a day. People living in Wood Lane, which is one of the worst affected areas, say the street now appears to be floodlit.
Quorn Parish Council, which is calling for the lights to be dimmed, said the changes had stunned local residents. Clerk Kathryn Paterson said: "It looks like lighting from a retail park. It is incredibly bright and not at all what you would expect from a country lane. On the first evening after they were installed, birds were still singing, even though it was very dark, because the street lamps had convinced them it was still light. Have street lighting by all means, but we don't want the whole area lit up like this."
Parish council vice chairman Phil Child said: "It did come as a bit of a shock to people compared with the low-level lighting we have before.
"To their credit, Leicestershire County Council has agreed to reduce the wattage, so we will have to wait to see what happens."
"
April, 2005
Exterior floodlighting is now subject to the law of statutory nuisance under
s. 102 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. This means that a victim
of a nuisance light may now take the matter to their Environmental Health
Department, so that the "State" may intervene to issue an abatement notice
(to remove or angle the light down), or prosecute for continued nuisance.
An individual also has the right to take an action themselves to the
Magistrates Court. The law applies to "artificial light emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance", but with exceptions (see the link above).
April, 2005
BBC News: EU pollution deaths cost billions
"The European Union could save up to 161 billion euros a year by reducing deaths caused by air pollution, the World Health Organization has said.
Transport and the use of fossil fuels in homes [used to generate needless light pollution] are the major contributors to air pollution."
March, 2005
The Guardian: The power of darkness
"Artificial light illuminates our lives, allowing us to work or play through the night. But, as Hugh Wilson discovers, we toy with our body clocks at severe risk to our wellbeing."
January, 2005
BBC TV, Inside-Out: Light pollution is getting worse with Teesside and Tyneside the worst affected areas outside London.
December, 2004
The Daily Telegraph: Switch that light off or face a fine
"Light pollution is to become a statutory offence, enabling people to take on neighbours whose lights stop them from sleeping.
Under a Bill published yesterday, anyone who finds that artificial light emitting from premises is "prejudicial to health or a nuisance" will be able to complain to the council.
If the offender takes no action, he or she could face fines of up to £50,000."
See also the House of Commons website
November, 2004
BBC News: Stargazers oppose school crossing plans.
" As keen astronomer Deborah Hambly gazes into the night sky, it is not a spectacular view of stars she is greeted by, but an orange smog."
As Deborah says: "Everyone is in favour of a crossing that will make getting to school safer for the children - but what we want is one that's only lit when it needs to be lit and isn't flashing 24 hours a day."
October, 2004
BBC News: Village street lights win award.
"A Somerset village which raised £24,000 to install environmentally-friendly street-lighting has won a US award."
September, 2004
BBC News: Light relay 'should be dropped'.
"A "light relay" planned to coincide with the anniversary of Albert Einstein's death is facing opposition in the United States."
September, 2004
The Guardian: Scientists at odds over plans to honour Einstein
"On April 18 next year, scientists plan to create a global sweep of light to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Albert Einstein. But the light relay's organisers now find themselves in an embarrassing row. Their proposal is being opposed by astronomers, many of whom spend much of their time urging people not to shine lights into the night sky because the glare obscures the faint light arriving from distant celestial objects.."
September, 2004
The Times: Lights out, or risk the nightmare of cancer
"Children who sleep with the light on, or who have their body clock's natural sleep patterns interrupted by artificial light, may be at a greater risk of contracting cancer."
August, 2004
BBC News update: UK withdraws [light] relay support
August, 2004
BBC News: Astronomers oppose 'light relay' (which includes a TV and Radio interview). The BBC have also done a photo gallery of light-pollution.
July, 2004
2005 is the International year of Physics - but there are plans to celebrate this by shinning
"A relay of light around the globe in one night"! Yes, that's right, they want to celebrate Physics by generating light pollution! They say "Every kind of light source is possible (car headlights, torch light, bonfire, firework, laser)".
June, 12th, 2004
Des Moines Register newspaper, USA: Darkened streetlights fail to raise crime rate. "Vandalism, burglary and robbery in Des Moines have dropped 3.5 percent."
"A money-saving decision to turn off thousands of Des Moines street- lights met with dire predictions from critics who warned that darkened streets would create a haven for crime.
Statistics tell a different story.
The first four months of 2004 saw a 3.5 percent drop in vandalism, burglary and robbery..."
June 11th, 2004
CNN: Lights-out policy in cities saves birds. "PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- Turning out the lights of city skyscrapers is helping to save the lives of thousands of birds migrating across North American cities to their spring breeding grounds."
April, 13th, 2004
BBC News: Migrating birds rely on sunsets. "US scientists believe they have made an important breakthrough in the mystery of how migrating birds manage to navigate thousands of kilometres and arrive at exactly the same spot each year. ... The researchers concluded that each night the thrushes must have "recalibrated" their inbuilt compass from the position of the setting Sun." (If birds depend on light to navigate, it is no wonder that light pollution kills and confuses so many birds.)
April, 13th, 2004
BBC News: Blair 'adrift' on the environment. "The government is being urged to do more to improve the long-term quality of life in Britain. The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) says the government's "disappointing" efforts on climate change can be seen in the probable failure of the UK to meet its target for carbon emissions by 2010." (also see this related news story).
March, 2004
Stargazers to be helped by curbs on night glow. The Telegraph states that: "Planning curbs on light pollution to protect the night sky from orange glow are to be introduced by the Government."
November, 21st, 2003
The Guardian: Bright lights 'do not deter criminals'.
"Over-anxious Britons are placing a blind, almost medieval, faith in brighter streetlamps and security lighting as crime deterrents, according to a statistical analysis... to be published in the British Journal of Criminology. "
October, 6th, 2003
BBC News:
Action call over light pollution
Serious action is needed from ministers to tackle light pollution, a group of MPs have said.
August, 18th, 2003
BBC News:
Workers return after N America blackout
"What a blessing! I got to see the stars from my own roof like nothing before", ST, Toronto
For more quotes refering to the number of stars visible during the black out, take a look at the
BBC News comments page. The blackout actually occured during a full moon,
so only a few stars were visible over the glare of the full moon - but it seems
enough were visible for some New Yorkers to see stars for the first time in their life.
July, 1st, 2003
BBC News: UK power cuts 'in 20 years'
Seems like a good reason to use efficient lighting. Remember light pollution, by definition, is wasted light and energy.
May, 9th, 2003
BBC News:
'Pollution' threatens night sky
May, 9th, 2003
Leicester Mercury:
Who put out the stars?
May, 8th, 2003
BBC News:
UK 'will make bigger greenhouse cuts'
Hopefully, this will involve curbing light pollution, which will reduce electricity consumption and hence CO2 emissions.
May, 8th, 2003
BBC News:
Darkness never falls for children
March, 16th, 2003
The Observer: Why your kids will never see the stars: You can see London from space - but you can't see space from London
February, 15th, 2003
BBC News:
Artificial light linked to breast cancer
October 31st, 2002
Washington Post:
Man Accused In Deadly Shooting
late 2002
"Battle Ground School District in Clark County has reduced vandalism to
almost zero with a policy to darken campus after 10:30 p.m.". (The logic being that vandals NEED lighting to be able to see to ensure a quick getaway. If the lighting is removed you make it too difficult for them and they go elsewhere.)
June 1st, 2002
The Czech Republic is the first country with a law prohibiting light pollution.
It has found wide support among astronomers and also the population in general.
Citizens and organisations are obliged to reduce stray light,
which impedes observation of the night sky, by using shielded light fixtures.
"The improvement is spectacular," said Czech astronomer
Jan Hollan.
May 30th, 2002
Calgary, Canada, to replace all street lighting with full cut-off lighting
August 14th, 2001
BBC News: Atlas shows night sky pollution
October 6th, 2000
BBC News: Cancer "linked to" excess light
May 12th, 1999
BBC News: Night light "damages children's eyes"
CfDS News & Victories
For older news, see the newsletters below
- Light to become a statutory nuisance
Tom Harris MP of the Parliamentary Science and Technology Select Committee, which condemned government inactivity on light pollution in 2003, informs CfDS that light will be added to the list of statutory nuisances as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods Bill announced in the Queen's Speech: "My Government has always recognised the importance of clean and safe neighbourhoods. There will be further legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour". The Bill will make light a statutory nuisance alongside noise,and give redress to those troubled by intrusive light. There are proposed exclusions (e.g. lighthouses, perhaps a logical exclusion), and transport premises (not so logical). CfDS will strive to make the Bill as sky-friendly as possible.
December, 2004
-
Kielder Star Camp
CfDS officers Deborah Hambly and Rob Greaves manned a stand at the Kielder Star Camp and managed to recruit over 45 new members! Congratulations to them both! The event itself was a washout, no astronomy at all apart from the quick binocular views between monsoons.
October, 2004
- Swimming for the Stars!
Deborah Hambly (CfDS officer for Oxfordshire) swam 25km in Croatia in aid of CfDS! 100% of any sponsorship collected on her behalf will go directly to CfDS funds. Please e-mail her directly with your pledges at:
Deborah.Hambly
rsmi
co.uk
She is doing the swim not only to raise funds for CfDS, but also as a means of raising the awareness of light pollution.
More details of her swim can be seen here.
October, 2004
- The CfDS is mentioned on the BBC News article Making a difference in cyberspace.
August, 2004
- The Government's Science & Technology Report update
December, 2003
Older news can be found in the following CfDS Newsletters:
For issues prior to those above,
please
contact us