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I belong to a local astronomy club, and was part of the "Light Pollution Abatement" group for a while. But I had to stop: persuading people that light pollution
by herodotus 4y ago
I belong to a local astronomy club, and was part of the "Light Pollution Abatement" group for a while. But I had to stop: persuading people that light pollution matters and that something should be done about it is almost impossible. Even some of the comments here indicate to me that few people really care.
So why do I? It is not just to see more from my telescope. It is because this is part of a very broad problem. The problem? That humans on this planet have not even considered how we can live in a state of stasis with this planet. Weather catastrophes, insect decline, crop failures to pollination problems, shortages of seafood: these are all symptoms of the root problem, and light pollution is just one more symptom.
- hanniabu 4y agoI think the issue here is the same as recycling and carbon reduction. There's only so much us as individuals can do, our impact is extremely limited and negligible. You'd need to convince the governments to do something about it, but that's a large task given there's a lack of money for lobbying and a lack of profits to encourage them to do anything about it.
- mrelectric 4y agoGovernments are composed of individuals.
- themitigating 4y agoAnd people vote for them.
- hanniabu 4y agoAnd politicians barely listen to their voters
- switchbak 4y agoYou're right, but there are real system level dynamics and complex incentives at play, and you don't do the actual problem any justice with such a skin deep dismissal.
- switchbak 4y agoTo someone who isn't up on the topic, it sounds a lot less serious than the accumulation of gases in the atmosphere that threaten the majority of life on the planet. Maybe they're just prioritizing where they spend their energy. And maybe they're right.
- hedora 4y agoLight pollution is killing off many types of insects. That has cascading effects up the food chain. Of course, global warming can also cause civilization to collapse.
- herodotus 4y agoWhat you are missing is that the energy to power all those unnecessary lights are one of the reasons for the gasses in the universe. And many of them are completely unnecessary.
- ip26 4y agoOn the other hand, many of steps that can be taken for this problem are incredibly simple.
- _8j50 4y agoOk, a little drunk so I will tell you how I really feel. You people care so much about light pollution, the environment and the future of humanity so much. Oh how grand and amazing of a person you must be. Have you considered that many if not most humans endure enough suffering to not give a shit about humanity being destroyed you along with it? You care so much about the planet but the planet will be fine, it is humanity that is screwed. So why should individuals that live their entire lives in suffering because of the very conditions humanity as a collective has encouraged and enacted give a shit about humanity? You all know what is right like everyone else and you made your choice on what to be concerned about. So enjoy the fruits of your labour like everyone else!
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- christophilus 4y agoI just want to sit in my back yard and not have laser-like LED streetlights burning my retinas at night. And yet, two of my neighbors have those set up in their backyards, so…
- _8j50 4y agoMust be nice to have a backyard to begin with. Your worries and concerns are valid just don't expect others to care about what happens in your backyard especially when they don't have one for themselves.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- falcrist 4y ago> why should individuals that live their entire lives in suffering because of the very conditions humanity as a collective has encouraged and enacted give a shit about humanity? Because if they don't, they're descendents will suffer even more. I mean, really what you're asking is "why should people care about others?", which feels like a whole branch of philosophy.
- coffeeblack 4y agoWhy does it matter?