„We need brightly lit streets to protect women from rape!” Really? Seriously?!? I’ve reached the point where I get angry – and I have some good arguments why we do not need so much light. I frequently get this statement. No matter how many arguments I have for the protection of insects, birds, hedgehogs or …
We are living in dark times. Let’s be honest, this year did not start well. Bush fires in Australia, war-mongering in the Middle East. Then we received news about a virus in China, which now holds the entire world in its grasp. So on top of all the other worries we’ve been having, another, very …
I’m quite picky with books these days. Time is precious, and there are so many average books in the shops that opening a new one often is a frustrating business. Then I found Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day – and couldn’t put it down. I didn’t choose the book because of the many good …
Please read the petition by Sibylle Schroer from Stars For All. She suggests to limit light emissions to sensible levels and conduct more research on light levels used in outdoor settings. Here is the full petition, if you like to sign, here is the link to the EU petition. Here is a short article about …
It’s always easy to complain if something is bad. However, there is only useful change when someone also has ideas how to make it better. Many communities want to have street lighting that combines cost efficiency, safety, climate protection, and comfortable light. But the actual outcomes of new street lightings are mostly quite sober. Last …
I often read or hear that women who walk around at night want lots of light so they can see everyone who approaches them and spot a potential danger early enough to prepare themselves. This is usually said by a man. Well, I’m a woman, and I frequently walk around after dark. Sometimes I walk …
‘I arrived in the provincial town of Odienné (Ivory Coast) by truck after a three-hour journey on unlit sandy roads across the bush. We first saw a few dots of light from afar; after a curve, we then saw a unique street lighting revealing silhouettes of men carrying assault rifles.’ This is the beginning of …
Sleep is an important topic these days. How many hours of sleep do we need, at which time of the night, and in what position? Some people are boasting about their ability to sleep only a few hours, others are very concerned about getting enough healthy sleep. Yesterday, the German health insurance company Techniker Krankenkasse …
If you think of Berlin, you also think of night life. However, night life is not only fun, for many people it is hard work. To talk about all the work that goes into a successful nightlife, a conference has been held last week in Berlin. “Stadt nach Acht”, “City after Eight” had many topics …