As with many aspects of modern life, light pollution represents both a triumph of technology and a minor disaster. It disrupts a basic relationship that has evolved between humans and the natural world. Historians such as A. Roger Ekrich have noted how darkness influenced cultural and social practices. The territory of intimacy and imagination, night can also carve out a refuge from the never-ending responsibilities of the day.
I remember recently being in Times Square, and there was so much light that it just felt like we were in a domed stadium almost, looking up at something totally artificial above us. When most Americans are living now in cities and suburbs where they’re getting anywhere from two dozen to four dozen stars instead of 2, 500, which is the number you could see on a normal night with no light pollution, it’s almost like why bother? I don’t know if most people even look up and notice the stars. And certainly way back, when a night sky was something that would tell you stories about your life, we’re way beyond that.
I have very good friends in New Mexico. I said to him it must be amazing here at night and I asked, do you have stories associated with the constellations for example? He said we have a whole legend filled with stories about how to live and what a good life is. Human culture in America is totally disconnected from that now.
It would be one thing if all this light were doing good. But the fact is that it’s having an impact on all these creatures from birds to turtles to insects that can’t do anything about it. They’re at our mercy.
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