Vancouver eyes return to dark ages

A City of Vancouver councillor wants to limit outdoor light at night to minimize the reportedly detrimental effects on both humans and animals. On Tuesday, council unanimously passed a motion by the Non-Partisan Associations Elizabeth Ball to have the city develop recommendations for an outdoor lighting strategy, which would preserve dark sky, and reduce light pollution in the city.

In her motion, Ball said research shows bright lights at night can disturb the bodys circadian rhythms, disrupt hormone secretions and weaken the immune system. She said studies show it can also interfere with the flight of migratory birds, so the city should work to avoid light spill and make sure we do not trespass with outside light.

Until the turn of the 19th century, evening brought an end to many of mankinds activities, she wrote in the motion. She said that current lighting conditions go beyond the basic requirement of providing illumination simply for the task at hand.

Ball does not advocate for an outright ban on lights at night. Her motion suggests that the strategy permit the use of outdoor lighting with reference to the minimum levels specified by the [Illuminating Engineering Society] recommended practices for nighttime safety, utility, security, productivity, enjoyment and commerce.

Vision Vancouver Counc. Heather Deal, who spoke in support of the motion, said that the city needs to make sure that were not needlessly leaking light into the night skies, and spoke about the potential benefit for stargazers. Mayor Gregor Robertson also voiced his support of the motion and said it was an issue people often asked council to take action on.

In 1991, Ball was hit in the head and knocked out by a chandelier that fell in a lighting store. It is unclear whether the incident was related in any way with her dark-sky motion.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

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Vancouver eyes return to dark ages