Ever since I visited my first Dark Sky National Park, The Warrumbungles near Coonabarabran in New South Wales, Australia (a cookie if you can pronounce it in one go đŸ˜‰), I am haunted by the image of the Giant Emu in the night sky. For those of us in the southern hemisphere, The Emu is a prominent aspect of our night sky, a direct view of the core of our Milky Way galaxy (unseen in most of the northern hemisphere due to the Earth’s tilt).
However in many countries, populations face a growing disconnect with the natural world as we deprive ourselves of the beauty bestowed by the universe in the form of a starry night sky. Do you see the stars you once grew up with?
Even from an earthly perspective what's the point of having the most beautiful harbour in the world if you cant see a single star?
We choose to live in these filthy light polluted skies of our towns and cities. And the only solution to reconnecting with the universe is to take back control and boost its accessibility for our starry eyed population.
you ask, Fair question!
Because, light pollution (eg. street lights) disturbs our own natural circadian rhythm, it also affects the circadian rhythms of wildlife, from nocturnal possums, bats and owls, to insects and even some diurnal animals, bird and fish species.
While conducting my research, it was also brought to my attention the effects of artificial light on the environmental dominance of certain prey species such as pigeons and rats in cities, to the detriment of nocturnal predators such as owls. The changed macro nightscape from artificial light reduces hunting opportunities, benefitting many pests and disturbing the natural environmental balance.
Night light also impedes and stifles other macro conservation efforts and management goals of the state. Such as sea turtle and migratory bird habitat loss (See guidelines for Australia below, on night lighting and for more information on light pollution’s effects on conservation and management)
However, the biggest crime of street lights is the amount of energy they consume to stay on! Some estimates range from around 60-80% of the night-time energy consumption of major cities and towns. A huge energy bill, and an even bigger carbon footprint if the energy is non-renewable.
The movie Avatar is a great inspiration. Like James Cameron I feel inspired by the dark reaches of ocean, seldomly lit by the flicker of biological light, a faint clue of the creature that signalled it.
And the planet Pandora in Avatar is the greatest inspiration for how we could light up Earth with bioluminescent light. Controlled spaces that provide enough light to enable a safe and enabling nightscape and like the picture below allow for more engaging nightlife in our towns and cities.