ALPiNe,
aren't you being a little pessimistic here? We have not started anything yet. What we need to do first is to get together, study the issue and formulate a plan of attack. The way I see it, the current fight against light pollution is akin to a 1 man charge against a bunker. It is bound to fail and nobody will even notice.
But you did raise a good point regarding the casino. Its always money first for the government. Maybe we can suggest a kind of penalty system for people who use excessive lighting.
Jin Peng,
If its just the CBD area, its not so ok. The reason, copycats and the keeping up'ers. When people see the buildings in the city all lit up, they too will want their own building or house lit up. They don't know why, but they must.
What we need to do is to educate the public and change people's opinion. 99% of the people on this island don't even look up at the sky, let alone worry about light pollution. And the people planning all this light up nonsense, are all crazy about disneyland and want to turn this place into a giant replica. See what we are up against? But we can at least come to a compromise if we have a strategy, but it will take some time.
In reply to ALPiNe, Plan A is to get to know each other and exchange contacts.
SOB SOB Astronomers
Hi Jin Peng,
If I may repeat myself:
And if I may repeat myself again:
Cheers,
- ALPiNe
If I may repeat myself:
No. I was not directing specifically at the lighting issue here if I may digress.Then again, I feel that for any opposing opinions on any issue, it must accompany loads of constructive suggestions or solutions that are in favour with the govt before they are even willing to consider it seriously.
And if I may repeat myself again:
I don't think I mentioned anything about the govt being heartless and them shutting us out totally. :roll:To summarize it plainly, good alternative solutions and suggestions in favour of the govt MAY be considered, while any solutions and suggestions not in favour of the govt will be rejected.
My sentiments exactly...Jin Peng wrote:By the way the government is not that heartless, it does listen to your views but usually it is rejected because we did not present any alternatives for them to carry out their "dreams".
Our government is really realistic and practical. We can propose a alternative for them and also inclusive of the petition to make it higher chance for them to accept.
Cheers,
- ALPiNe
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zong
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Hee Jin Peng and Alpine, dun fight here.. 
Nice point about GE, they might listen. I'm just one year short of official voting season -__-
Nevermind that one year. I think yes, too few people are looking up at the skies and knowing what it really looks like on a real clear night. So many people retort me with a "i see nice clouds, star what?" on a nice relatively cloudless day. Maybe we should do up a petition to arouse attention and educate the public at the same time. A starlight is worth a million streetlights (prolly a wee bit understatement, lol)
Heh, me dunno where can start petition. Anybody start one and i'll sign my name first thing i know about it. Oh yea, the petition can include more people than just us, those environmentalists who'd like less use of lighting also can be "attracted" to help sign our petition too.. So we can have more signatures to back ourselves up! Ask TASOS to sign too! erm, anybody think of any more parties?
As for the alternatives to lighting as a form of tourist attraction, I think there's no better alternative than the night sky! Well that's my opinion though. Or we can request for certain special days (maybe a day or two in every month at new moon) where this lighting is not up, so we can at least have 1 chance a month to do nice obs. It's a nice compromise, but i'm quite sure the government will not agree...
Nice point about GE, they might listen. I'm just one year short of official voting season -__-
Nevermind that one year. I think yes, too few people are looking up at the skies and knowing what it really looks like on a real clear night. So many people retort me with a "i see nice clouds, star what?" on a nice relatively cloudless day. Maybe we should do up a petition to arouse attention and educate the public at the same time. A starlight is worth a million streetlights (prolly a wee bit understatement, lol
)Heh, me dunno where can start petition. Anybody start one and i'll sign my name first thing i know about it. Oh yea, the petition can include more people than just us, those environmentalists who'd like less use of lighting also can be "attracted" to help sign our petition too.. So we can have more signatures to back ourselves up! Ask TASOS to sign too! erm, anybody think of any more parties?
As for the alternatives to lighting as a form of tourist attraction, I think there's no better alternative than the night sky! Well that's my opinion though. Or we can request for certain special days (maybe a day or two in every month at new moon) where this lighting is not up, so we can at least have 1 chance a month to do nice obs. It's a nice compromise, but i'm quite sure the government will not agree...
Erh…Fight?! Alamak! Zong, you watched too much movies already la.. ;) I was only clarifying myself in case I gave a wrong impression… 
Cheers,
- ALPiNe
Cheers,
- ALPiNe
Last edited by ALPiNe on Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Jin Peng
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Hm....saying about petition and educate people regards to light pollution. We got to execute now, asap, cos the government had openly annouce the grant for lightings already and seem many good response from some artichitechture...
Furthermore, the issue is one of principle. In the coming years it will become less and less expensive for large lighting infrastructure. Honestly I felt the bad skies we had today was due to the astronomical community did not done enough to defend against projects that threaten the integrity of the skies.
This time round if you guys want to prevent further seriours light glow at night, better act fast.
Ask the TASOS to do something leh, and it should be all astronnomical society in Singapore, all schools astro club unite to request the government to endorse for a National Dark-Sky Week in Singapore! (maybe period from march 25th - april 10th) In fact, this would highlight the beauty of the night sky and to draw attention to the ever-increasing levels of light pollution across the public in Singapore! By making use of these week if approve, we can invite the residents in our community to attend public star parties, visit their local planetarium or public observatory, or simply go outside to a safe, dark location to enjoy the wonder of the night sky. Learning the constellations, observing the planets, wondering about the stars and if possible, the Milky Way are one of the most basic of human experiences and should be enjoyed by all.
Cheers, ACT FAST! North, South, East, West Astronomical Society United!
Jin Peng
Furthermore, the issue is one of principle. In the coming years it will become less and less expensive for large lighting infrastructure. Honestly I felt the bad skies we had today was due to the astronomical community did not done enough to defend against projects that threaten the integrity of the skies.
This time round if you guys want to prevent further seriours light glow at night, better act fast.
Ask the TASOS to do something leh, and it should be all astronnomical society in Singapore, all schools astro club unite to request the government to endorse for a National Dark-Sky Week in Singapore! (maybe period from march 25th - april 10th) In fact, this would highlight the beauty of the night sky and to draw attention to the ever-increasing levels of light pollution across the public in Singapore! By making use of these week if approve, we can invite the residents in our community to attend public star parties, visit their local planetarium or public observatory, or simply go outside to a safe, dark location to enjoy the wonder of the night sky. Learning the constellations, observing the planets, wondering about the stars and if possible, the Milky Way are one of the most basic of human experiences and should be enjoyed by all.
Cheers, ACT FAST! North, South, East, West Astronomical Society United!
Jin Peng
Good proposition, but its like I said we need to get ourselves organise first. We can't just keep taking potshots and hope for success.Jin Peng wrote:Hm....saying about petition and educate people regards to light pollution. We got to execute now, asap, cos the government had openly annouce the grant for lightings already and seem many good response from some artichitechture...
Furthermore, the issue is one of principle. In the coming years it will become less and less expensive for large lighting infrastructure. Honestly I felt the bad skies we had today was due to the astronomical community did not done enough to defend against projects that threaten the integrity of the skies.
This time round if you guys want to prevent further seriours light glow at night, better act fast.
Ask the TASOS to do something leh, and it should be all astronnomical society in Singapore, all schools astro club unite to request the government to endorse for a National Dark-Sky Week in Singapore! (maybe period from march 25th - april 10th) In fact, this would highlight the beauty of the night sky and to draw attention to the ever-increasing levels of light pollution across the public in Singapore! By making use of these week if approve, we can invite the residents in our community to attend public star parties, visit their local planetarium or public observatory, or simply go outside to a safe, dark location to enjoy the wonder of the night sky. Learning the constellations, observing the planets, wondering about the stars and if possible, the Milky Way are one of the most basic of human experiences and should be enjoyed by all.
Cheers, ACT FAST! North, South, East, West Astronomical Society United!
Jin Peng
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zong
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I have thought of a plan. I would try to join the Meet-The-People's session once we have the plan somewhat set, and try to persuade the Council to temporarily turn dim or off all lights at the new Toa Payoh Town Park. It is a large nice place to see many things to the east, west, south, and zenith, only buildings blocking the north. As this is the central area, many people can come if we can publicise.
We can put up presentations showing what we can see in the night sky. We can put up exhibition pictures of what we have taken in Singapore itself. We will also need many many people to set up scope and make it a big event. This can bring more awareness to the amount of light pollution we have here, as the expressway and central buildings nearby are a big nuisance once the park lights are dim or off.
Only problem is if it rains, or gives us very very very very heavy layer of clouds. What can we do about that? Hold 2-3 weekends worth of such an event? It is possible, but will wear us all out.
Suggestions? Or was I too crazy to think of such an idea?
We can put up presentations showing what we can see in the night sky. We can put up exhibition pictures of what we have taken in Singapore itself. We will also need many many people to set up scope and make it a big event. This can bring more awareness to the amount of light pollution we have here, as the expressway and central buildings nearby are a big nuisance once the park lights are dim or off.
Only problem is if it rains, or gives us very very very very heavy layer of clouds. What can we do about that? Hold 2-3 weekends worth of such an event? It is possible, but will wear us all out.
Suggestions? Or was I too crazy to think of such an idea?
Published today in ST forum
March 31, 2006
Watch environmental impact of lighting up
I READ with interest the article, 'Push for dazzling night skyline with $10m fund' (ST, March 25). It is wonderful that the Government wishes to enhance the skyline of Singapore Downtown. I have always enjoyed looking at the skyline, especially when travelling across the Benjamin Sheares Bridge.
While encouraging developers to light up their property, I hope the Government has guidelines in place to regulate the lighting installations. It is imperative to ensure that the exterior lighting does not have adverse environmental and ecological effects.
It is known that bright lights can disorientate migratory birds. During the migratory season, birds are attracted to lights and some have died after crashing into illuminated towers or from exhaustion after circling the lights for long periods.
Lights are also known to attract bugs. And where bugs appear, insect-eaters like bats and birds also appear. At the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, bugs, bats and birds, including hawks, have been seen flying around the Sky Beam. The Sky Beam is sufficiently bright to be noticed from a cruising airliner 400km away on a clear night. It is even visible from space.
When changing the street lighting, the Urban Redevelopment Authority could consider redesigning the lamps with reflectors to focus the light downwards. This will save energy and the lights would do the job they are meant to do.
Likewise, low-intensity energy-saving lamps should be used to illuminate building facades and walkways.
The brightness of the installations should be kept to a reasonable level to enhance the skyline, not cast a perpetual glow over the city at night. Nor should bright lights be cast skywards for long periods of time. As it is, we can hardly see the stars due to ambient light.
That said, I will be looking forward to the improvement in the skyline.
Zhang Yan Ling (Miss)
March 31, 2006
Watch environmental impact of lighting up
I READ with interest the article, 'Push for dazzling night skyline with $10m fund' (ST, March 25). It is wonderful that the Government wishes to enhance the skyline of Singapore Downtown. I have always enjoyed looking at the skyline, especially when travelling across the Benjamin Sheares Bridge.
While encouraging developers to light up their property, I hope the Government has guidelines in place to regulate the lighting installations. It is imperative to ensure that the exterior lighting does not have adverse environmental and ecological effects.
It is known that bright lights can disorientate migratory birds. During the migratory season, birds are attracted to lights and some have died after crashing into illuminated towers or from exhaustion after circling the lights for long periods.
Lights are also known to attract bugs. And where bugs appear, insect-eaters like bats and birds also appear. At the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, bugs, bats and birds, including hawks, have been seen flying around the Sky Beam. The Sky Beam is sufficiently bright to be noticed from a cruising airliner 400km away on a clear night. It is even visible from space.
When changing the street lighting, the Urban Redevelopment Authority could consider redesigning the lamps with reflectors to focus the light downwards. This will save energy and the lights would do the job they are meant to do.
Likewise, low-intensity energy-saving lamps should be used to illuminate building facades and walkways.
The brightness of the installations should be kept to a reasonable level to enhance the skyline, not cast a perpetual glow over the city at night. Nor should bright lights be cast skywards for long periods of time. As it is, we can hardly see the stars due to ambient light.
That said, I will be looking forward to the improvement in the skyline.
Zhang Yan Ling (Miss)