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Anglican News February 2009 - VOL 1 NO 1
An Independent Online newspaper for the Anglican Church of South Africa

The Environmental Corner - looking after the planet one article at a time

Diocesan Environment Committee: Light Polution

The Environmental Corner discusses Light Pollution. 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March is Earth Hour

One type of pollution that has not, until now, received sufficient attention in the environment debate, is that of Light pollution. This was remedied in a recent issue of the National Geographic magazine. Man's engineering ingenuity has deprived millions all over the world of the delight of viewing our Creator's nightly glories. An orange glow hovers over most of our towns and cities; "creative" advertising sends laser beams heavenwards; mammoth firework displays, visible from space, are mounted and applauded. Not only are these examples of this type of pollution unacceptable aesthetically and environmentally, our biological clocks, tuned to times of darkness (sleep) and light (wakefulness) are being affected. A new study quoted in the National Geographic article suggests a correlation between breast cancer in women and the night-time brightness of their neighbourhoods.

In the natural world artificial night-time light takes a heavy toll with hundreds and thousands of creatures, such as birds, frogs and turtles, dying as a result of their confusion and disorientation caused by this attraction. Happily there are still many areas in our own land where the stars are visible and enjoyed, and much can be done to reduce light pollution. Street and exterior lamps should be covered so light is forced down, and as we are being continually encouraged by Eskom, all unnecessary lights in the home should be turned off at all times to save electricity.

Those serving on Municipal structures, Bodies Corporate and other decision-making bodies can lobby for measures that will reduce, if not eliminate, this problem and its affect on our lives. It is the duty of each one of us to protect the darkness of our nights A project in which everyone can easily participate is EARTH HOUR, an international programme when lights all over the world will be turned off for an hour, at 8.30pm local time on Saturday 28 March 2009. It is reported that the City of Cape Town has already indicated that the floodlighting of Table Mountain will be turned off for that hour. Let's encourage all our congregations in the Diocese to show concern for our God’s creation by supporting this initiative.