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| User Accounts |
| Due to the overwhelming amount of junk messages posted as comments, FAQ suggestions, etc., user accounts and commenting have been disabled on the site. |
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| SELENE Statement on Light Pollution |
Light pollution is rapidly degrading the sky's quiet majesty and our nighttime environment. Excessive and misdirected outdoor illumination wastes precious energy, resources, and dollars; it increases power plant-generated air pollution, causes glare that blinds drivers and pedestrians, intrudes onto our property, and invades our privacy.
SELENE's mission is to advocate for better lighting practices in NY State and to ensure the passage of the The Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act |
| Announcements |
LP bill passes in Assembly |
| Posted by: selene on 06/19/2009 08:24 AM (Read: ) |
We're delighted to report that the NYS Assembly has just passed A7281, the Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act! We don't have any tally of the vote just yet.
As you doubtless know, the Senate essentially ceased functioning on June 8th. At that time the Senate version of the bill, S2714, was scheduled to be considered by the Environmental Conservation Committee on June 16th. That meeting, alas, never took place, and it is unclear whether there will be any more meetings of the Committee this year.
Of course it never hurts to remind your Senator of your support for this legislation. When the dust settles, we will post information about the appropriate contacts with the Senate leadership...whoever that may turn out to be! |
A5769 passes the Assembly |
| Posted by: selene on 05/15/2009 05:38 PM (Read: ) |
| A5769 has passed the Assembly. This bill will amend the Public Health law to provide the authority for the department of health to engage in or support research on the health effects of artificial night light. It has been delivered to the Senate and assigned to the Health Committee. |
SELENE on SlideShare.net |
| Posted by: selene on 05/05/2009 08:40 AM (Read: ) |
Web 2.0 technologies offer a great way to share and interact. For example, 280slides.com provides a way to create PowerPoint-like presentations online, for free. Slideshare.net provides a way to share those presentations.
We've published one of our PowerPoint presentations about light pollution using these tools. Check it out at:
SELENE - Light Pollution
We encourage you to use these tools to spread the word about the ill effects of poorly designed and implemented outdoor lighting. |
2009 is the Year of Astronomy in the State of New York |
| Posted by: selene on 04/01/2009 01:11 PM (Read: ) |
Resolution K00360, introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, encourages Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim 2009 the Year of Astronomy in the State of New York in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy.
More information is at:
International Year of Astronomy (US site) |
April 2-5 proclaimed 100 Hours of Astronomy in the State of New York |
| Posted by: selene on 04/01/2009 01:06 PM (Read: ) |
Resolution K00337, introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, encourages Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 2-5, 2009, as 100 Hours of Astronomy in the State of New York.
"100 Hours of Astronomy is a venture of breathtaking scope that seeks to involve people from all walks of life around the globe and conveys a multitude of messages, from the personal benefit of astronomical knowledge to the pressing issue of curbing light pollution". The resolution encourages "citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day and nighttime sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery."
More information is at:
100 Hours of Astronomy
International Year of Astronomy (US site)
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Bill A07281/S02714 has been introduced for the 2009 legislative session |
| Posted by: selene on 04/01/2009 08:53 AM (Read: ) |
The Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act (Bill A07281/S02714) has been introduced for the 2009 legislative session. As with past versions, our goal is to show that there is strong support for this bill. For that, we need lots of letters and phone calls.
Please write your Assemblyperson and Senator to urge him or her to get A07281/S02714 to the floor for a vote and then to vote "yes" on the bill.
More information is available on our LP Legislation page. |
IYA Photos of Dark Skies Importance |
| Posted by: selene on 03/31/2009 08:17 AM (Read: ) |
| As you probably know, this is the International Year of Astronomy. As part of IYA, a group called the World At Night has set up galleries of photos from around the world. Check out their gallery of Dark Skies Importance. For you panoramic image fans, be sure to check out this photo (requires QuickTime) which is part of the TWAN gallery. |
FixTheMLO.org Announces Review and Petition |
| Posted by: selene on 03/25/2009 11:52 AM (Read: ) |
As you may know, a new draft Model Lighting Ordinance (ML)--produced by a joint IDA-IES Task Force--was released for public comment in February. Since that time an Ad Hoc Review Committee has been studying the draft and has now posted its findings to:
http://www.fixthemlo.org
As you will see, the Committee identified a number of serious problems with the draft; these have been pointed out to IDA via the official MLO public comment form. At the end of its review, the Committee also concluded that IDA approval of anything like this draft would cause irreparable harm to efforts to combat light pollution. A new petition has therefore been posted to the above website, urging the IDA Board to discontinue work on this draft and start fresh with a different type of task force.
SELENE encourages you to visit the FixTheMLO site to review the analysis and comments of that group. Please take the time to submit your comments on the new MLO draft to the IDA. If you agree with the Committee's analysis, please sign their online petition. |
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Dealing with Light Trespass Problems in New York State
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The most frequent inquiry we receive at SELENE comes from people who have a problem with light shining onto their property, often into their bedroom windows, disrupting their sleep and adversely affecting their use and enjoyment of their property.
While every situation is unique, SELENE has found some common themes that we share with you in this article.
State-level efforts
"Light trespass" can come from a commercial establishment, a school or other government facility, a streetlight, or another residence. Everyone seems to agree that there should be some kind of law against this. Furthermore, there is no doubt that countless others are suffering from light trespass and are either unaware that they can do something about it or are afraid to confront the owners of the offending lights. Since 1999 SELENE has fought for light pollution legislation at the state level that would give residents recourse in certain light trespass situations. Such a bill has been passed by the Assembly four times, but at the end of the 2004 legislative session, it remained locked up in the Senate Rules Committee. Your support for the next version of this legislation is very important! See our LP Legislation page for more information on the bill. Check out our forums to discuss lighting issues and the bill with others across the state. And join our Sensible Lighting email list to keep abreast of the latest light pollution news that affects all New Yorkers.
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