A Conversation about Light Pollution

I recently discussed the built-in hunger for light we develop at this time of year, and how lighting up our world in the darkest days is a comfort to us. And then I realized that there was a flip side to that particular coin, as with everything.

In our quest to remake the world in what we think is an improved version, we have in many cases gone to extremes and meddled with what was already a pretty good balance. Humans happily invented a little thing called light pollution. “What's wrong with making everything brighter?” you may ask. 

The easy answer is that all that light interferes with the life cycles of countless plants and animals... including humans. There are people living today who have never seen a naturally dark sky, complete with stars and moon and comets and even satellites. Their environment is always lit with artificial light in the name of progress. Tinkering with light is a useful tool for the farmer and greenhouse grower because they can adjust a plant's natural growth cycle to fit the wants of artificial “harvests” to suit holidays around the world. The key problem with all of the progress is the unintended side effects. Native plants suffer when their normal cycle is severely and abruptly changed, a cycle evolved over millenia. The domino effect sets in, altering the lives of the insects, birds, and animals that depend on each other for a seasonal pattern of birth, nutrition and growth. 

The form of light pollution that we think of with that specific term, however, is the loss of access to the “normal” night sky. Many of us live in urban and suburban areas, where safety and the public good  mandate much lighting and over longer hours. Once the street lights were only lighted for certain limited hours, but now everybody travels everywhere whenever they like... and demands lighting. It's actually difficult to just go outside  to take a break and stargaze peacefully. Instead of a respite, it becomes a chore. And if you're interested in the Aurora Borealis or the Perseid Showers or learning about the signs of the Zodiac or showing a kid how to find the North Star like you did when you were a kid yourself, it becomes a road trip.

When I was writing about the need for light around this time of year, I should have thought a little deeper. One of the most healing things we can do when we are caught up in the frantic activity of the holidays is grab a coat and step away from the “modern” world into the crisp clarity of a black night sparkling with tiny lights. Just stand and look up. And wait. Often it's either dead silent or there are the soft noises of the wildlife, and maybe a gentle breeze. The nagging problems drop away briefly and you can get a deep breath, both physically and emotionally. This may be harder to do as you near “civilization”, but worth the effort. 

For a remarkable look at the world at night and our interaction with light and the lack thereof, I have been following an amazing podcaster, writer and photographer named John Bulmer. His “Field Guide to the Night” covers humanity's relationship to the night from the beginning of Man, through to the scientific reasons for protecting the night from too much “progress.” Take a look at his work online  at Johnbulmerphotography.com.   If you have comments or suggestions for future columns, contact me at jeanthepipper@duck.com