The Issues surrounding lighting

"Half of our environment is above the horizon. Half of our environment is not protected by the force of law. The night sky, by its very nature a site of special scientific interest and an area of outstanding natural beauty, has been quietly and gradually taken away, over the last fifty years, from those dwelling in towns and urban fringe areas, throughout the developed world. Sky-glow and obtrusive waste upward lighting also detract from the character of the night-time scene and are detrimental to local amenity, not just for astronomers, but for the public in general".