International Dark Sky Week was celebrated this year between April 21-28.
Light pollution refers to the artificial levels of light created by human activities which impact the night sky, the surroundings, as well as human health and wildlife. The obsession with over-lighting or misdirected lighting is not only a great waste of energy (which often translates into an increase of air pollution) but it is often totally unnecessary. This is often the case with excessively bright lights, floodlighting resulting in lighting up the night sky and creating a far reaching glow and glare. More and more studies confirm that exposure to light pollution is considered as a human health hazard disrupting our circadian rhythms: “Disruption of the circadian clock is linked to several medical disorders in humans, including depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, says Paolo Sassone-Corsi, chairman of the Pharmacology Department at the University of California, Irvine, who has done extensive research on the circadian clock. “Studies show that the circadian cycle controls from ten to fifteen percent of our genes…” (see: Missing the Dark: Health Effects of Light Pollution – PMC)
In the meantime we are also losing something we may not even be realising – our dark sky heritage. Some years back the “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” concluded that 80 percent of the world’s population lives under sky glow … and in Europe, 99 percent of the public can’t experience a natural night.” It is quite shocking when you realise how much of the sky we can no longer see. If lighting is absolutely necessary then it should be: useful, targeted and shielded, low level and controlled (motion activators / timers). Refer to The Astronomical Society of Malta on reducing light pollution and to this joint letter we issued earlier this year on Dwejra: Open Letter: Conserving the night sky of Dwejra, Gozo – Friends Of the Earth Malta
Not only humans use stars for navigation but so do many migrating animals. The loggerhead sea turtles nesting on our beaches approach the coast at night as do the seabirds returning to their colonies in our cliffs – light pollution interferes with their sense of direction and makes them extremely vulnerable to being confused and disoriented*. For instance some 60% of insects are deemed to be nocturnal and are thus very susceptible to light pollution. This inevitably impacts plant life, reproduction and fruit production.
“When we add light to the environment, that has the potential to disrupt habitat, just like running a bulldozer over the landscape can.”
Chad Moore, formerly of the U.S. National Park Service*
In case of any stranded seabirds please contact BirdLife Malta on (+356) 21347645 (EXT 507) (Working hours) or (+356) 79255697 (Evenings and weekends)
In case of other injured wildlife please contact the Nature Trust Wildlife Rescue Team on (+356) 9999 9505
