6(b) International Dark-Sky Association

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" ' WHY DARK SKIES? . . • . � t _ _ The need to protect and restore the natural nighttime environment is more urgent than � � ever. Light pollution, defined as light where it Light Pol I ution is not wanted or needed, affects our health, the �,�. environment, wildlife, and our ability to find Ca n Put You r �"� _ awe in the natural night. Research indicates ^ ' � °� that light pollution is increasing at a global H ea Ith at R i s k average rate of two percent per year. �� - ��"°�� 1�. ABOUT IDA ' *'M`�"� � The Intemational Dark-Sky Association, a �� � 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in �`` � °�""�`'`' Tucson, Arizona, is dedicated to preserving and In less than 100 years, humans have protecting the natural nighttime environment. radically altered our nighttime environment, putting our health at risk. Due to the rapid growth of artificial light at night, most of us k �"� �� ",4. � spend our nights bathed in light. But basking ' 'ryr�- .,,, � in all this light at night is not natural and it - - �` " may be taking a serious toll on our health. �" ' x.�" ._� ,�.��.rv, We are only just beginning to understand " `` �� ` the negative consequences of this swift change in our environment. A growing body -� . . . � ` - of scientific research suggests that artificial � `� light at night can have lasting adverse effects � � ,.- .. � - . ,,. • :. on human health. � � �- :- • �- • .•. `� • •. � • _ �.�°`: �, ,��°: .,r� , w "The power to artificiallv override � . � � �,, � """'�°��""�'� " � � � � � �� °�`� `� �� thc natural cvcle of light and dark is a recent event and represents a man- made self-experiment." � ' ' " � ' �' � � ' � � � —The American Medical Assoc�ation � � . � ,�� •• •• INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKYASSOCIATION