Two weeks ago, I mentioned an ongoing light pollution battle raging in Arizona over e-billboards. As most of you know, these brightly glowing monstrosities are disastrous for viewers of the night sky, as they flood the surrounding area with photons blasting upward.
These days, most politicians care more about getting as rich as possible, than they do about the future of the country. Few have a moral compass. Down here in Louisiana, we have the US Attorney in New Orleans sending a constant stream of them to Federal prison. It has been going on for over 10 years, yet they never learn! It is like a contagious disease they get when they are sworn in. They think that they have been elected king.
And many modern politicians are quite ignorant about science, and its' importance to our economy. Remember the superconducting super collider? Now Europe leads in high energy physics. The USA is ruled by the greedy, corrupt, and ignorant. Remember TARP? AIG getting $180 BILLION from Washington? That ain't capitalism baby. Not even close. Things won't change until the next economic crisis, which could strike a lot sooner than most people think. It will be worse than the 2008 one.
There is virtually no chance of that governor vetoing the bill. No Madame Curie there in Arizona. But I will be glad to be wrong.
Buenos Aires banned 40,000 billboards. São Paulo banned outdoor advertising. We can do it too. www.discoverbuenosaires.com/buenos-aires-environmental-progress BAN Billboards during Global Astronomy Month ~ April! The starry night sky belongs to everyone on this planet. We are losing it to corporate greed. Like overfished oceans, billboard corporations have stolen the stars right out of the sky. It's time to get them back. Are you ready-as-you'll ever-be? Spread the word to ban billboards during Global Astronomy Month ~ April... starting with Earth Hour. Write letters to legislatures and lawmakers, Cc billboard corporations, and ESPECIALLY Cc billboard advertisers. Advertisers want to be considered "Environmentally Green" to the public. Inform them in a letter! Start fb causes petitions. Let's work together and see the reflection of pure starlight again in children's eyes.
It's items like this that spur me on to continue to educate the public through star parties, Astronomy Under the City Lights type programs and school outreach. No one seems to realize the impact that this has on our dwindling dark sky resources.
Also troubling is the fact that some of the last dark areas in Pennsylvania, including Cherry Springs State Park (the Gold Tier IDA Certified International Dark Sky Park), are potentially being threatened by natural gas drilling. The state legislature saw fit to give the gas drilling companies corporate eminent domain!