Episode 127: How Rewilding The Night Skies Can Provide Major Benefits To Migratory Birds And Other Species
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Ruskin Hartley champions equitable access to dark skies and quality lighting for all through DarkSky’s award-winning programs. He works closely with volunteer leaders and donors to secure increased support for our priorities around the world. Ruskin believes that experiencing a dark sky, and appreciating quality lighting, are essential to DarkSky’s mission.
Before this position, Ruskin directed and managed conservation programs that protect land, water, and ocean resources. He served as executive director of Save the Redwoods League, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the redwood forest. He also served as the president and CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles and as vice president of resource development at Fair Trade USA, an award-winning social enterprise seeking to alleviate poverty worldwide.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Ruskin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree from The University of East Anglia. Ruskin loves to head out on the trail with his wife and kids or cook under the stars.
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Show Notes
Impact of Light Pollution on Night Skies and Biodiversity
This episode explores the growing issue of light pollution and its profound impact on the environment, biodiversity, and human experiences of the night sky. Starting from the advent of electric light approximately 150 years ago, the discussion delves into the astronomical increase in light pollution and its adverse effects on various species, including migrating birds and insects.
The conversation highlights simple, actionable, no-regret solutions such as implementing better lighting policies and local and national advocacy efforts to mitigate light pollution. The role of community involvement and scientific studies in understanding and addressing the problem underscores the urgency of preserving natural dark skies.
00:00 The Evolution of Dark Skies
00:47 The Impact of Light Pollution
02:37 Mitigating Light Pollution
06:15 Legislation and Advocacy
12:11 Community and Individual Actions
16:37 Conservation and Nighttime Protection
23:59 Get Involved and Make a Difference
Extra Credit
- Check out DarkSky.org and take simple steps to reduce light pollution where you live!
- Is there a Dark Sky chapter near you? Find your local chapter.
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.
So there are at least 2 of us who hate all this artificial light at night that blinds us from seeing the starts? I guess that’s a start.
It’s supposed to be dark at night, and humans need to start accepting that FACT. It’s not pitch black unless you’re inside a cave or under a thick canopy, and your eyes will adjust to a large extent. Even on nights with complete cloud cover there is some light.
The human attitude that the natural world is defective and that we should change everything to how we like it (“we” doesn’t mean all of us, but it does mean the majority of humans) is disgusting and needs to be reversed. This bad attitude toward natural processes and nature itself is yet another symptom of human lack of mental and spiritual evolution. See this book outline for details: https://rewilding.org/fixing-humans-by-expanding-our-consciousness/