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[OL-Forum] Digest Number 880
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There are 6 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Fw: NERAL NEWS: Art Upgren wins Walter Scott Houston Award/NERAL Meeting at Stellafane
From: "Maryann V. Arrien" <arrien@optonline...>
2. Ordinance lawsuit threatened
From: "Roger L. Hammer" <hamme1rl@cmich...>
3. Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
From: kgfleming@att...
4. Deadline for September IDA Newsletter fast approaching
From: Tim Poulsen <poulsen@netacc...>
5. Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
From: George Nickas <nickas@hanover...>
6. Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
From: "Barry Clark" <bajc@alphalink....au>
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:00:17 -0400
From: "Maryann V. Arrien" <arrien@optonline...>
Subject: Fw: NERAL NEWS: Art Upgren wins Walter Scott Houston Award/NERAL Meeting at Stellafane
PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release 7/30/03
Feel free to pass on this news to anyone who may be interested.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The North East Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) proudly announces that
Dr. Arthur Upgren, astronomy professor and author at Yale and Wesleyan Universities,
will be the recipient of this year's
WALTER SCOTT HOUSTON AWARD
being presented at this year's Stellafane Convention on Saturday evening.
Dr. Upgren is a member of many astronomical societies including the AAS, the IAU, (& Commission 50), the AAVSO and serves on the Board of Directors of the International Dark-Sky Association. He travels extensively promoting the interests of amateur and professional astronomers everywhere, does scholarly work in the study of Light Pollution, and is the author of The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, The Turtle & the Stars, and many other books on science, weather and astronomy.
There will also be a NERAL meeting at Stellafane on Saturday Aug 2nd at 4:00PM under the food tent at Stellafane East.
Anyone interested in attending our NERAL meeting may do so - it is open to anyone interested in astronomy and dark sky issues in the Northeast Region of the US.
Some of us may remain to enjoy the food tent's famous BBQ dinner served around 5:00-ish.
Come and enjoy!
Clear, dark skies,
Maryann Arrien
Chair: NERAL
North East Region of the Astronomical League
website:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/datahold/neral/
845-528-7420
Arrien@optonline...
PS- The Legendary JOHN DOBSON will be a guest at Stellafane all weekend. He will be 88 yrs old this September!
www.Stellafane.com
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
WALTER SCOTT HOUSTON AWARD of the North East Region of the
Astronomical League (NERAL)
In Recognition of his many years of ongoing Service to Professional Astronomy as an active Member of the American Astronomical Society,
The International Astronomical Union and its Commission 50 on Light Pollution,
his Virtuosity as a Author of science books and articles,
his substantial Efforts in Preserving the Night Sky
through his Scholarly Research on Light Pollution,
his Educational Efforts on behalf of the International Dark Sky Association,
and in particular his Sky Studies which helped to Preserve
The Dark Skies over Stellafane, we hereby present this Award to
Dr. Arthur Upgren
Presented this day, August 2, 2003 at Stellafane
In fond remembrance of Deep Sky Observer,
Science Writer and ATM Historian,
Walter Scott Houston.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 18:10:17 -0400
From: "Roger L. Hammer" <hamme1rl@cmich...>
Subject: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
Recently the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the LP ordinance
we've been working on for years to the City Commission for adoption
consideration. The city newspaper is against the ordinance and the city
manager just received an implied lawsuit threat from a lawyer in town who
uplights the facade of his building. The lawyer's argument is not only that
he wants to continue to uplight his building, but that there is no evidence
that the proposed ordinance will do what it claims, i.e. reduce the ill
effects of light pollution, etc. Although it may seem self evident to us,
it is a good point. Are there outcomes assessments that have been done in
cities with in place ordinances? Are there fewer traffic accidents from
less glare? Are more stars visible? Are there fewer migrating bird deaths?
Are there fewer cases of cancer? Are there fewer break ins? Are there more
energy savings? Are there fewer neighborhood light trespass complaints,
etc.? Please provide suggestions on how to address this lawyer's concern.
Roger
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 23:20:23 +0000
From: kgfleming@att...
Subject: Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
Roger,
The U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that communities have a compelling
interest in addressing issues such as aethetics, and safety, and has also
acknowledged the "parasitic" nature of commercial development. It seems
unlikely that a community would have the burden of proof on every aspect of
light pollution impacts. The work of the California Energy Commission has
produced assessments with respect to energy savings from instituting outdoor
lighting design and use standards. The Supremes have also acknowledged the
more or less self-evident driving hazards inherent from billboards and signs.
A lit buidling facade is not much further of a stretch.
More stars? See the World's First Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness.
Birds? See info from Flapp, Towerkills.com, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Less
cancer? Yes, to blind women. See http://www.nel.edu/Press/Light-Endocrine-
Cancer.htm#SUPPL2 If the attorney wants to put light pollution on trial I'm
confident it survives the reasonable doubt test.
Kevin
> Recently the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the LP ordinance
> we've been working on for years to the City Commission for adoption
> consideration. The city newspaper is against the ordinance and the city
> manager just received an implied lawsuit threat from a lawyer in town who
> uplights the facade of his building. The lawyer's argument is not only that
> he wants to continue to uplight his building, but that there is no evidence
> that the proposed ordinance will do what it claims, i.e. reduce the ill
> effects of light pollution, etc. Although it may seem self evident to us,
> it is a good point. Are there outcomes assessments that have been done in
> cities with in place ordinances? Are there fewer traffic accidents from
> less glare? Are more stars visible? Are there fewer migrating bird deaths?
> Are there fewer cases of cancer? Are there fewer break ins? Are there more
> energy savings? Are there fewer neighborhood light trespass complaints,
> etc.? Please provide suggestions on how to address this lawyer's concern.
> Roger
>
>
>
> OutdoorLighting-Forum - "The largest uncensored and most active forum on light
> pollution."
>
> Inbox out of reach? Choose "no email" at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OutdoorLighting-Forum/join?referer=1
> and view posts in the archives,
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OutdoorLighting-Forum/messages - only on OLF.
> To join: OutdoorLighting-Forum-subscribe@yahoogroups...
> Unsubscribe from any Yahoo list: listname-unsubscribe@yahoogroups...
> ==============================================================================
> No endorsement of content posted to OLF by any organization is implied.
> ==============================================================================
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 21:40:10 -0400
From: Tim Poulsen <poulsen@netacc...>
Subject: Deadline for September IDA Newsletter fast approaching
Hi all,
If you have news, photos, section reports, or announcements for the next IDA
newsletter, I need them soon. The deadline for submission is August 5th.
Please do not assume that because you posted an announcement to this forum that
I have seen and recorded it. I do my best to keep up on these forums, but I'm
sure I miss most of what goes on here. Make sure to send your materials directly
to me.
Thanks,
Tim
--
************************************************
Tim Poulsen, Newsletter Editor
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org
poulsen@netacc...
208-275-6632 (fax)
************************************************
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 21:19:18 -0500
From: George Nickas <nickas@hanover...>
Subject: Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
Outcome assessments as a pre-justification for ordinances controlling
outdoor environments--air, water,land eyespace, etc are a bogus
requirement. There is ample precedent for ordinances which exist to
protect privacy and property and which require no 'proof' in terms of
some tangible or material benefit. For example, most communities in the
country have noise and dog ordinances, to give two examples. Or if not,
at least have instructed their law enforcers to answer complaints about
noise or loose dogs Why? Noise ordinances reduce noise pure and
simple--that is all they are for. Noise is a form of unwanted energy.
Light pollution is a form of unwanted energy. If we pass one law to
protect each other from violations of our 'space' then the door is wide
open--the lawyer has his precedent. Let the lawyer argue that sound
should be managed, but light should not. I would also refer the lawyer
to the growing body of evidence implicating excessive amounts of indoor
and outdoor light to certain deleterious outcomes in human health.
Standards have already been set by many communities for how much light
is permissible at night. The door is wide open. gn
On Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 05:10 PM, Roger L. Hammer wrote:
> Recently the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the LP ordinance
> we've been working on for years to the City Commission for adoption
> consideration. The city newspaper is against the ordinance and the city
> manager just received an implied lawsuit threat from a lawyer in town
> who
> uplights the facade of his building. The lawyer's argument is not only
> that
> he wants to continue to uplight his building, but that there is no
> evidence
> that the proposed ordinance will do what it claims, i.e. reduce the ill
> effects of light pollution, etc. Although it may seem self evident to
> us,
> it is a good point. Are there outcomes assessments that have been done
> in
> cities with in place ordinances? Are there fewer traffic accidents from
> less glare? Are more stars visible? Are there fewer migrating bird
> deaths?
> Are there fewer cases of cancer? Are there fewer break ins? Are there
> more
> energy savings? Are there fewer neighborhood light trespass complaints,
> etc.? Please provide suggestions on how to address this lawyer's
> concern.
> Roger
>
>
>
> OutdoorLighting-Forum - "The largest uncensored and most active forum
> on light pollution."
>
> Inbox out of reach? Choose "no email" at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OutdoorLighting-Forum/join?referer=1
> and view posts in the archives,
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OutdoorLighting-Forum/messages - only on
> OLF.
> To join: OutdoorLighting-Forum-subscribe@yahoogroups...
> Unsubscribe from any Yahoo list: listname-unsubscribe@yahoogroups...
> =========================================================================
> =====
> No endorsement of content posted to OLF by any organization is implied.
> =========================================================================
> =====
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 16:26:21 +1000
From: "Barry Clark" <bajc@alphalink....au>
Subject: Re: Ordinance lawsuit threatened
Roger,
I suggest that you send the city manager my two Parts of 'Outdoor lighting
and crime', available from the OLF archive, www.asv.org.au and elsewhere
(except the IDA website, which still carries the obsolete original version).
The evidence reliably indicates that crime is worse in US cities with more
light per person or per unit area, and that the role of light is causal. Of
course, there is a risk that reducing crime with a lighting control
ordinance will reduce the amount of work for lawyers.
Barry
________________________________________________________________________
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