Light Pollution Reflection / Refraction Number 14

Posted June 28, 2008

WARNING:

I guarantee my reflections and refractions will create controversy and confrontation; and quite likely I'll step on many toes, but it's time to be brutally honest.

TURN OFF YOUR ^-#_@!=* LIGHTS Part 4

Please read Parts 1, 2 and 3 (R and R numbers 11, 12, and 13) before Part 4.

I know what y'all want: a one-day, magic-bullet solution to light pollution that costs little and takes less effort, but darkens the sky immediately. Oh, how I wish such a quick, easy fix for light pollution existed!

But there are many things you can do to control light pollution and restore dark skies over America in a relatively short time, that is, if you'd just do them.

Current dark sky orgs seem focused (obsessed?) on lighting laws, ordinances and the lighting industry, but oblivious to what possibilities lie out there beyond the telescope tube.

Doesn't anyone in the dark sky orgs look at and learn from other nonprofit orgs? Here's a place to start: ORION Society's Grassroots Network is a list of more than 1000 nonprofits and their websites. Very instructive! Every time I go there I find ideas.

What's the hardest thing about trying to eliminate light pollution? I believe it's overcoming the inertia of all the people who want dark skies but can't or won't act. How do we get astronomers (and nonastronomers) off the couch or away from their telescope tubes and glossy astromags, and get them doing whatever it takes to eliminate light pollution?

I wish I could pop out of bed tomorrow morning and suddenly solve this inertia problem for y'all, but alas, it ain't a-gonna happen.

When I was teaching earth science to ninth graders, an age group not known to enjoy such things, I entered my classroom each day challenged to pry open their curiosity a tad and slide in a healthy dose of my favorite trio of subjects, geology, astronomy, meteorology. I tried not to repeat the same tired trick over and over.

So, remembering those days, if I could, I'd grab hold of ALL you astronomers out there and the millions of nonastronomers, too, who say they want dark skies, and I'd yank y'all kicking and screaming into motion! But, alas, I can't quite tow all your masses alone. Sooo...

You must step up individually, grab yourself by the nape of the neck, the ears, the nose, the legs... and PU-U-L-L-LLLL like there's no tonight, because point blank, if you don't, there'll literally be no night tonight!

In part 3 of this R and R, I explained how Dark Sky Nights might be a good place to start. Dark Sky Nights aimed at turning lights off permanently.

SOME THOUGHTS:

1. DARK SKY NIGHTS (DSN): Hold public monthly (my preference) or bimonthly DSN celebrations--not a dull and boring protest. Hold it on the first night of each month, making it easy to remember, in a public place where there are lots of bright lights that cause light pollution...say, on public property next to one of the local car dealerships, or some big box store's parking lot, or some other too-well-lit outdoor venue. Your goals are to permanently turn off as many lights as possible and educate people about saving money while lowering their carbon footprint.

Do creative things, not negative things, fun activities, that encourage fewer lights that are turned off--permanently. You don't need 1000 people, not 100, or even 50. In fact too many people just distract from the message, a bad thing. You need just enough people to get the issue on the local TV news (live?) every month, in a positive manner, or in the local newspaper. Remember, it's a celebration of dark skies, a party, a public good time, not some dismal, rancorous, toxic activity. Dark skies should be about FUN!

And remember, there's NOT a business owner in America who doesn't want more profit and fewer expenses and fewer regulations (read lighting laws!).

Now, here's a true story from the GODs (Good Old Days). My father was the best car salesman, used or new, in the universe--well, OK, in Mason City, Iowa! Of course, back in those days (1953-1976) not every dealership used terrawatts to advertise their big, bulky, gas guzzlers, but back then gas cost less than a buck a gallon.

One night Dad attended a local baseball game where I worked as a 15-year-old, hot dog, popcorn, peanuts, and pop / soda seller.

Of course, I was instructed by the concession stand owner to "bark" the same old, tired claim... "Get your red hot, hot dogs and ice cold drinks here! Red hot, hot dogs and ice cold drinks..." Well, it turned out to be a chilly night that early June game, and very few people dropped money for the cold drinks.

Of course, Pop noticed the situation immediately and called me over to his seat. "Son, it's too cold for people to buy ice cold drinks tonight. So try this: walk up and down the stadium smiling and shouting, 'ICE COLD DOGS! RED HOT DRINKS!'" I thought, Pops, you've lost your mind!

So, duh, it worked. I made pocketloads of cash that night. People laughed and laughed at the "creative teen entrepreneur," but called me over and bought pop and popcorn, dogs, peanuts and other goodies!

My measely cut at the end of the night was considerably greater than on typical nights. And the money from that night and others went into the stash that became my first telescope later that same summer--$15 for a really, REALLY, BAD telescope!

Of course, the lessons I learned from Dad that night and many Saturday mornings watching him sell cars taught me how to be a better teacher, a real salesman. Astronomy and meteorology are easy--things happen! Geology? Rocks just sit there for eras and epochs! Thanks Dad!

2. WEATHER: Don't let weather or anything else stop your DSN celebrations. Not rain, snow, sleet, hail, clouds, wind, lightning! Not fire, soap operas, game shows, reality shows or talent shows; neither heat, nor cold, shark attack, or LOST; not an earthquake, volcano, asteroid impact...Oops, I got carried away. Not even flooding the likes of which we had / (still have) in parts of Iowa this year (2008).

3. DIVERSE & DIFFERENT: Each month's DSN celebration should be diverse and different, no two months alike! Yes, it'll be a challenge (like real teaching) to be creative, but do it or get used to light polluted skies where you live! Remember, gas prices to haul you and your telescope to the outback of darkness are NOT going down! Indeed, they've still not hit the high point as of summer 2008! And since the presidential candidates we're now stuck with aren't going to change a damned thing.......Nope, not going there yet! That's a rant for a later R and R!

4. COMPETITION & COOPERATION: Each DSN should offer opportunities for both competition and cooperation. Prizes?

5. MONEY? Make a choice. If money must be relevant to you, you'll have to earn it or collect it. I don't do money! If you wish money to be irrelevant (like me), you must figure out how to do the job without it. It won't be easy, but you won�t have to worry about all the hog hockey that comes with $$$! Too bad our politicians can't figure that out!

6. MEMBERS: Do you want an org with members? Or are you, like me, a Lone Ranger? Most orgs have several types of members: 1. Dues paying members who are willing to pay but don't want to do "stuff," in other words be active. 2. Members who do "stuff" but don't do dues. 3. Members who do both "stuff" and donate money. Remember: members also create hog hockey--bureaucracy, infighting, politics, the need for more money, etc.

Ask Questions! Seek Answers!

I'm sure you can add more to this "list" of my thoughts. I have many other "thoughts" to add to the list myself, but I think the ones above should be enough to get any person started who really wants dark skies. Besides, I'm only a few clicks away troegerj@raccoon.com

Again and again and again people ask the same old question: Why don't you just tell us what to do and how to do it? Even the editor of the vaunted Sky & Telescope expects answers. Oh, the endless burdens I must bear....

Again, my answer: I'm a teacher. I rarely answered all my students' questions. Doing so only served to limit their own thinking, creativity and interest. My own definition of an education is four words: Ask questions, seek answers.

By far, most of my own learning came from my own self-teaching, especially astronomy! If all your questions are answered, you'll soon forget to ask your own questions and seek your own answers. Goodness only knows we've got a country full of too many dependent, learning challenged, people who have no clue how to seek answers! More importantly, seeking your own answers can lead to much deeper thinking than anything I could suggest.

One more thing: The Astronomical League (AL) is one of the country's largest and most influential astro-orgs, or at least they want us to think it is. I've been a longtime, but very silent, member and supporter of their work and efforts.

The AL is comprised of thousands of potentially dedicated astronomers who say they hate light pollution as much as anyone. And the AL has money. Here's a thought: Perhaps the AL and other astronomy and light pollution orgs might stop writin' and whinin' about light pollution and dark skies in their newsletters, etc., and start doin' something to rid us of light pollution and restore dark skies. I've got some thoughts for the AL to chew on coming in the next R and R.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION with your own reflections and refractions. Just click on my e-mail address below and have at it! I will not sell or give your e-mail address to anyone. Your reflections and refractions will be placed under the link to the left labeled "Fan Mail - Hate Mail." I may edit comments I place there, but I will be careful to retain your words wherever possible.

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