253
Returning to 2007, direct consequences of that conference and of the La
Palma Declarations issued therefrom that must be emphasized are the launching of the Starlight Initiative, the formal establishment of the Starlight
Foundation, and above all the drastic change in the perception of the Roque
de los Muchachos Observatory by the people and authorities of La Palma.
The Starlight Initiative is conceived as an international campaign in defence
of the quality of the night sky and the right of all to be able to contemplate
the stars. It calls on all scientific, cultural, and citizens’ institutions and associations to join forces with it in its goal to demonstrate the importance that
clear skies have for humanity by highlighting and making known the value
that this heritage, now under threat, has for science, education, culture, tourism, history, and quality of life.
More than a hundred town halls and public administrations from all over
the world have signed the La Palma Declaration in defence of the night sky
and the right to starlight, with all that that entails in terms of commitment to
protect and willingness to act accordingly—all this with free promotion of the
island of La Palma, it must be added.
The La Palma Declaration has certainly received worldwide distribution
and has served to support the many movements that have arisen to protect the
night sky from light pollution. Some of these, such as the American Dark Sky
Association (DSA), possess considerable strength and economic resources.
Indeed, the DSA are competing with our Starlight Foundation with products
analogous to our certifications. Given its power, it would not be surprising if
it ended up achieving backing for its products from the international organizations that guarantee Starlight Certifications.
But the most important result, from a local perspective, of the international
Starlight Conference of 2007 was finally to convince the citizens of La Palma
that Roque de los Muchachos Observatory was a source of pride for them.
They have at last come to understand that astrophysics has not only put their
island on the map but is also a direct source of revenue. It is well established
that astrophysical activity as a whole is now the most important and fastmoving enterprise on La Palma, and that the fame of the island’s unpolluted
skies, due precisely to the world-famous Roque de los Muchachos Observatory,
has become a permanent lure for tourists. Astrophysics gives the island a
unique, powerful, and very special identity.
We have been saying this since the sixties, asking the citizens and their
authorities to prepare to exploit the new wealth that was coming their way.
When I was interviewed regarding the signing of the multinational
Cooperation Agreements for Astrophysics, I said that they should begin to
promote La Palma as an ‘Island of sun and stars’.
23 The Starlight Foundation…
Returning to 2007, direct consequences of that conference and of the La
Palma Declarations issued therefrom that must be emphasized are the launching of the Starlight Initiative, the formal establishment of the Starlight
Foundation, and above all the drastic change in the perception of the Roque
de los Muchachos Observatory by the people and authorities of La Palma.
The Starlight Initiative is conceived as an international campaign in defence
of the quality of the night sky and the right of all to be able to contemplate
the stars. It calls on all scientific, cultural, and citizens’ institutions and associations to join forces with it in its goal to demonstrate the importance that
clear skies have for humanity by highlighting and making known the value
that this heritage, now under threat, has for science, education, culture, tourism, history, and quality of life.
More than a hundred town halls and public administrations from all over
the world have signed the La Palma Declaration in defence of the night sky
and the right to starlight, with all that that entails in terms of commitment to
protect and willingness to act accordingly—all this with free promotion of the
island of La Palma, it must be added.
The La Palma Declaration has certainly received worldwide distribution
and has served to support the many movements that have arisen to protect the
night sky from light pollution. Some of these, such as the American Dark Sky
Association (DSA), possess considerable strength and economic resources.
Indeed, the DSA are competing with our Starlight Foundation with products
analogous to our certifications. Given its power, it would not be surprising if
it ended up achieving backing for its products from the international organizations that guarantee Starlight Certifications.
But the most important result, from a local perspective, of the international
Starlight Conference of 2007 was finally to convince the citizens of La Palma
that Roque de los Muchachos Observatory was a source of pride for them.
They have at last come to understand that astrophysics has not only put their
island on the map but is also a direct source of revenue. It is well established
that astrophysical activity as a whole is now the most important and fastmoving enterprise on La Palma, and that the fame of the island’s unpolluted
skies, due precisely to the world-famous Roque de los Muchachos Observatory,
has become a permanent lure for tourists. Astrophysics gives the island a
unique, powerful, and very special identity.
We have been saying this since the sixties, asking the citizens and their
authorities to prepare to exploit the new wealth that was coming their way.
When I was interviewed regarding the signing of the multinational
Cooperation Agreements for Astrophysics, I said that they should begin to
promote La Palma as an ‘Island of sun and stars’.
23 The Starlight Foundation…