Unfortunately stargazers, and those who have an interest in wildlife, will always be in a minority, crackpots, cranks, tree huggers, etc., a small voice in the wilderness, with those in power unable, or unwilling, to do anything about it, we had a Green minister for the environment in the last government, was the issue tackled? Hell no, it's more important to get more money out of motorists, and banning gas powered patio heaters.
I know that the area around where I work has seen a spate of burglaries in the past couple of weeks, a woman I work with lives in the area and I asked her did she know when they had taken place? Her neighbour's house was broken into, at midday, and those she knew about also took part during the daytime. So let's shoot down the theory that more light means more security. But she then told me that she intends to insert a large halogen light in her back garden, I asked why, and she said so that she would feel safer. When I pointed out that the houses were being broken into was during the day, it made no difference, the light will be going in.
The bottom line is if the populace believe that swamping the streets and countryside with excessive light will make them feel more secure, then the night sky can disappear, bats and birds can vanish, nocturnal animals can go extinct and they won't care.
Will any of them sleep less if the Greater Horseshoe bat dies out?
I didn't think so.
Paul
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.
Rich Cook
  