251
Cousteau himself, who opposed its inclusion when we were both members of
a UNESCO panel of experts that prepared the Declaration.
Returning to the La Palma Declaration, attention must be drawn to its
claim for the ‘right to an uncontaminated night sky that allows the firmament
to be seen and observed so that all may enjoy its contemplation’, this right
being ‘equivalent to all the other environmental, social, and cultural rights’.
Consequently, there was an insistence on ‘the control of light contamination’, not only to guarantee astronomical observing but also to preserve nocturnal ecosystems, and all of this for biological, sanitary, scientific, cultural,
and even energy-saving reasons. The aim was to make a definitive contribution towards creating a planetary consciousness and urge humans (who are all
astronauts on this planet called Earth) to reach a supportive planetary commitment to preserve our Earth from the grave damage that we ourselves are
inflicting upon it.
Emphasis was of course laid on ‘protecting the skies in places of extraordinary astronomical quality’, with suitable legal regulations, similarly to the Sky
Law that safeguards the IAC Observatories. Astronomical tourism was also
emphasized as cultural tourism and a source of rural development.
The Declaration ended with a series of concrete recommendations and
petitions to international organizations, governments, local authorities, scientific institutions, and organizations involved in the protection of the environment, cultural diversity, and the promotion of sustainable development.
Ten years later, in April 2017, we organized, again in La Palma, but not
without considerable effort, another international conference to drum up
support for and update the 2007 Starlight Declaration. The title of the conference was Preserving the Skies: 10th Anniversary of the Starlight Declaration.
Under the honorary presidency of King Felipe VI, there was a very high and
significant representation of persons and international organisms from the
world of science, conservationism, and tourism.
During meetings of groups of experts, it was established that the achievements of the application of the Starlight Declaration, although many, had not
been able to prevent the significant build-up of planetwide light contamination closely connected with development and the growing concentration of
city populations. Also analysed was the effect that the LED (light-emitting
diode) revolution was having. Their evident energy efficiency needed to be
counterbalanced against the risk of collateral damage to health posed by these
light sources. Abundant data from recent scientific publications were used in
these discussions. Attention was also drawn to the harm produced by some
LEDs on the environment.
23 The Starlight Foundation…
Cousteau himself, who opposed its inclusion when we were both members of
a UNESCO panel of experts that prepared the Declaration.
Returning to the La Palma Declaration, attention must be drawn to its
claim for the ‘right to an uncontaminated night sky that allows the firmament
to be seen and observed so that all may enjoy its contemplation’, this right
being ‘equivalent to all the other environmental, social, and cultural rights’.
Consequently, there was an insistence on ‘the control of light contamination’, not only to guarantee astronomical observing but also to preserve nocturnal ecosystems, and all of this for biological, sanitary, scientific, cultural,
and even energy-saving reasons. The aim was to make a definitive contribution towards creating a planetary consciousness and urge humans (who are all
astronauts on this planet called Earth) to reach a supportive planetary commitment to preserve our Earth from the grave damage that we ourselves are
inflicting upon it.
Emphasis was of course laid on ‘protecting the skies in places of extraordinary astronomical quality’, with suitable legal regulations, similarly to the Sky
Law that safeguards the IAC Observatories. Astronomical tourism was also
emphasized as cultural tourism and a source of rural development.
The Declaration ended with a series of concrete recommendations and
petitions to international organizations, governments, local authorities, scientific institutions, and organizations involved in the protection of the environment, cultural diversity, and the promotion of sustainable development.
Ten years later, in April 2017, we organized, again in La Palma, but not
without considerable effort, another international conference to drum up
support for and update the 2007 Starlight Declaration. The title of the conference was Preserving the Skies: 10th Anniversary of the Starlight Declaration.
Under the honorary presidency of King Felipe VI, there was a very high and
significant representation of persons and international organisms from the
world of science, conservationism, and tourism.
During meetings of groups of experts, it was established that the achievements of the application of the Starlight Declaration, although many, had not
been able to prevent the significant build-up of planetwide light contamination closely connected with development and the growing concentration of
city populations. Also analysed was the effect that the LED (light-emitting
diode) revolution was having. Their evident energy efficiency needed to be
counterbalanced against the risk of collateral damage to health posed by these
light sources. Abundant data from recent scientific publications were used in
these discussions. Attention was also drawn to the harm produced by some
LEDs on the environment.
23 The Starlight Foundation…