Darkness descends over Hamilton Street
A celebration of the night sky was the theme on Hamilton Street this past Thursday as the Cube’s “Nocturne” art exhibit morphed into a night of astronomy and activism with light-pollution activist Robert Dick of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Click on the image to see images captured during the multi-faceted evening.
The effects of light pollution are far more serious than was thought even a few years ago and are now understood to include human sleep disorders, stress to wildlife, and even threats to public safety as “glare-induced blindness” makes humans less aware of their night time surroundings.
Check the audio link below as Dr. Robert Dick identifies common roadblocks citizens encounter when working to reduce light pollution in their neighbourhoods; he claims some can be overcome, but others may require a long wait for certain individuals to either “move or die”.
Thank heavens for this event…or should I say thank Cube. We have been in Tucson two successive years and are so excited about the city’s embrace of the dark skies by encouraging directed lights and educating the residents about light pollution. The effect is mesmerizing, peaceful, safe-feeling. It feels safe for me as a senior woman for the reasons that Dr. Dick states…glare is vastly reduced.
As a resident in Kitchissippi ward I hope others besides myself organize around this light pollution situation. It would save Ottawa money, and lead the way. I have joined the International Dark Skies Association. Will others?
Wow that is amazing Margaret! Hope we can use Tucson as an example — we need to lobby — hoping that Cube can have a dark sky celebration every year til we get it!
Don
at Cube