IDA Europe Update Paris, France 25 September 2004 Bob Gent, IDA European Liaison Officer RLGent1aol.

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IDA Europe UpdateParis, France 25 September
2004Bob Gent, IDA European Liaison
OfficerRLGent1_at_aol.com
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How many stars? How far? To last star? After last
star? What is infinity? Human imagination! Dark
Skies are an important heritage worth protecting
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Quick Overview

• Achievements in Protecting
• the Night Sky
• IDA Europe Today
• Laws
• Future Activities

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Achievements in Europe

• 3rd European Symposium in Stuttgart
• Media Coverage Increased
• BBC World, Nature Magazine, many others
• New IDA Sections and Affiliates
• National Awareness Days

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Achievements in EuropeContinued

• Slovenian Conferences on Light Pollution
• Czech National Law
• Austrian Meetings two in October 2004
• Italian Laws are contagious!
• Declarations of Stuttgart and Lucerne

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IDA Lighting Awards

• 2003 award to Hungary
• 16,000 lights replaced at 500 train stations
• Ferenc MARTON, Tamas DERI and Jozsef Horvath

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New Lighting at Hungarian Train Stations
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2004 IDA Europe Lighting Award
Hinton St. George United Kingdom Outstanding Vill
age planning !
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IDA Europe Today

• European Union IDA Statistics
• IDA Italy 59 members (1st in Europe, 3rd in
  World)
• United Kingdom 26
• France 11
• Germany 16
• IDA Greece 15
• Belgium 13
• All other EU Countries under ten members each.
• Total in EU as of March 2004 201 IDA Members

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IDA Europe Continued

• IDA Switzerland 5 IDA Members
• Spain 9
• IDA Austria 4
• Hungary 3
• Norway and Sweden 2 each
• IDA Malta 1
• IDA Slovenia 1
• Croatia 1
• IDA Czech Republic 3

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Doing it Right in Czech RepublicBrnos Control
Center
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Why Laws for Lighting?

• Light Pollution is growing
• Glare hinders our ability to see
• Waste of energy
• Bad impact on wildlife and human health
• Loss of beautiful night skies

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Los Angeles in 1908,as seen from Mt. Wilson
Observatory
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Los Angeles in 1988, as seen from Mt. Wilson.
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Does Glare help?

• Blinded and cant see!

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Sleeping at Night?
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Laws for Quality Lighting

• Can be in zoning regulations
• Shielding is required
• Curfews are needed
• Lighting levels a must
• IDA recommends lighting zones

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Good Lighting in Debrecen
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3rd European Symposium for Protection of the
Night Sky Stuttgart, Germany   12-13 September
2003   Declaration of Stuttgart on Protecting the
Night Environment for Present and Coming
Generations   We, the participants at the 3rd
European Symposium for Protection of the Night
Sky   n       are unanimously concerned about
the vanishing night skies and the rapid growth of
light pollution in Europe and the world. This
light pollution is characterized by increasing
glare, energy waste, sky glow, and harm to the
nighttime environment. n       note that some
European countries have taken action to control
light pollution as evidenced by new national and
regional laws, zoning restrictions, educational
campaigns, and research. n       commend the
regional parliament of Lombardy, Italy, the
national parliament of the Czech Republic, the
Catalonia Region of Spain, and others for their
new legislation to protect the quality of the
nighttime environment for their citizens.
  These actions are important steps forward, but
more actions are required in these and many other
countries to reverse the adverse impacts of light
pollution.    
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Declaration Continued Therefore, we unanimously
request that all European governments and the
European Union take immediate action to control
light pollution. These actions should include
educational campaigns, new legislation, and
support of research.   We further declare that
the solutions which promote quality nighttime
lighting are attainable now and that everyone
benefits from these actions. Everyone should use
the correct amount of light and only when and
where it's needed. People would then see better,
save energy and protect the nighttime
environment.   Signed by all attendees on 13
September 2003   International Dark-Sky
Association (IDA has members in 75 countries) IDA
Austria IDA Czech Republic IDA Switzerland Executi
ve Committee of IDA Europe The Campaign for Dark
Skies of the British Astronomical
Association Astronomical League (international
association with 20,000 members) Fachgruppe Dark
Sky der Vereinigung der Sternfreunde of Germany
Verein Kuffner-Sternwarte of Austria Platform
Lichthinder of the Netherlands Werkgroep
Lichthinder of VVS in Belgium Bond Beter
Leefmilieu in Belgium Carl-Zeiss-Planetarium
Stuttgart Schwäbische Sternwarte
e.V. Österreichische Gesellschaft für Astronomie
und Astrophysik Sternfreunde Durmersheim und
Umgebung e.V. Association Nationale pour la
Protection du Ciel Nocturne (France)
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What Next?

• IDA Europe Executive Committee
• IDA Membership drives are critical
• Additional sections needed
• Working with CIE and Lighting Designers
• Continue local efforts
• Magnitude Six e-mail forum
• European Awards

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Looking to the Future

• Assistant European Liaison Officer
• Thomas Posch, Vienna, Austria
• IAU 2006 Commission 50.
• Prague, Czech Republic summer 2006
• Future IDA Europe Meetings
• Genk, Belgium April 29-30, 2005
• 2006 Proposal in United Kingdom

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Use the right amount of light only when and where
its needed.See better, save energy and protect
the nighttime environment
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Help is Available

• International Dark-Sky Association
• Website www.darksky.org
• Hundreds of Information Sheets
• Slides, Videos, Posters
• ida_at_darksky.org
• rlgent1_at_aol.com