[Atmob-discuss] hearings in Congress on LP

[Mario Motta]

Hello all,

   This is a brief update on todays briefing in the senate Dirkson building
today on light pollution. I had to get up at 5 AM to get to the airport, and
just got home, so, very brief. We certainly were helped that the Wall street
Journal published an article on the subject, and mentioned that we were
testifying on the subject, a welcome surprise!

First, this was a great event, and I am very encouraged that some Senators
(specifically from Colorado) were interested enough in the subject, that a
briefing was set up in the Senate health, pension, and labor hearing chamber
in the Dirkson building. (That is where the senators have their offices,
across the street from the Capitol itself. This came only 4 weeks after a
similar briefing for the house of representatives.  About 30 people were
there, from various offices. I do not know yet which Senators were
represented, as some offices sent more than one staffer. but names were
collected, and will be sent to me soon by the IDA. I consider this a good
turnout, and a great start. Kudos to the IDA for getting this off the
ground.

This was a "briefing" not a "hearing". That means we were allowed to educate
the Senate staffers, and were not under oath or a formal investigation.
(good thing!)
The event went as follows:

Lead speaker was Kelly Beatty (IDA board member, and S&T editor). he spoke
as an introduction for the rest of us, and a bit on astronomy and loss of
the night sky.
Next was.. myself. I spoke on disability glare of bad road lighting, how an
eye functions, and the difference good and bad lighting can do. I explained
also that the Mass Med Society supports such legislation and why.
Next, Marianne Moore (PHD), gave a great presentation on the havoc bad
lighting creates in the environment, and bad effects on various animal and
bird life.
Next Richard Stevens (Univ Conn Medical School) gave a great presenation on
the bad medical effects of bad lighting on human physiology, specifically
loss of Circadiuan rhythm, and suppression of the immune system and increase
in cancer rates.
Finally, Chris Monrad, and engineer, spoke on energy waste, and how lighting
can be improved.

This was well received, and we got many positive comments after, with a
number of staffers stating they had no idea about much of this. They did
seem to be on board however after.

I am not naive, I know this is one set of meetings and will not lead to
immediate LP laws nationally, but... it was a good start, and many Senate
staffers (the people that actually run congress and advise their employers,
the senators) heard the message, and we we are in the record as having
testified on th subject. All in all, a good , albeit exhausting day.

Naturally I come home exhausted on the first really clear night in a long
time, just as the moon is rising..... sigh.

Mario Motta
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