[anax]

Please look at the Switch Off - Look Up pages for current information

You are also welcome to read and join this discussion for the ongoing organization of this project.

Switch Off - look up
Preliminary overview of a community project

The idea: For one hour turn off as many lights and unneccessary switches in an area of Aberdeenshire

Ojectives:
1 create an opportunity to appreciate the night sky which is no longer possible in the area
2 raise awareness of energy waste

Date:
Possibility of 3rd of March which has a lunar eclipse (but maybe that's too short notice)

Community involvement:
The idea was generated and developed in an online forum discussion about Light Pollution on GrampianLife.co.uk, but is involving other groups and individuals.

Expressions of interest:
Aberdeen Astronimical society
Alford Academy

To do:
1 - further liaise with Aberdeenshire council about turning off street lights (especially concerning safety concerns and technical issues)

2 - find out if we can get a meter reading for an area to determine how much energy was saved

3 - generate awareness of the project

4 - determine volunteers for co-ordinating the action
(maybe beap would like to volunteer for school contact, Jim for local press, BarryA for electricity issues, BoB for letting the world wide web know about the project, moray photography, and Russell/anax coordinates things and liaises with council, Ltc might even think of something to help... just a thought, but if we all did a little we'd do a lot together.)


---- I've just written the above to help establish some clarity about the project. I spoke at to Anne Laird, the Sustainability Officer of Aberdeenshire Council, who was enthusiastic about the idea, and said if it was clear there was community interest in the project the Council would be responsive to it.

So let us know if you think it's a good idea, like everyone else, if there are things to consider, and ideas for moving forward. This is a project that everyone can contribute to this project.

[beap]

first thing might be to get it on Thursdays CDG meeting eh Jim?

I'd gladly coordinate with school(s).

[MysticMC]

Oooh is there really nothing I can do from here... ?

[anax]

Great to hear you'll help look after the school side of things beap.

The woman at the council actually recommended that I get in touch with Margaret Henderson of the Community Council (which I'm guessing is another name for the Development Group). I could probably make it along to the meeting... offer to swap more help for the Alford website for some support for this.

Mystic. Of course you can be involved. I reckon a useful starting point would be working how people interested in the project but geographically distant can get involved... then we can tell them all.

A lot can be done on the internet. It'd be great if you were able to learn more about the Reykjavic event.

[MysticMC]

I'll do it with pleasure...
Thankyou for involving me

Well... found various articles, but what kind of information would be more helpful ? About the organization I guess...

[MysticMC]

I think this is a good start... :

"10 October 2006
Lights out in Reykjavik - New Scientist
The idea of turning off all the city lights in Reykjavik has spread all over the world. The Blackout went without any accidents or crime waves. The traffic was heavy but no crashes. The sky was half cloudy so some missed the stars but the darkness was romantic and soft, but some gas stations and official building forgot to turn off the flood lights. It was a good dress rehearsal for next time. The police and fire department participated as they needed to rehearse reaction to blackouts or natural disasters. New Scientist has taken the bouquet and hopes that all cities and towns in the world would do this once a year. Salute to New Scientist. Here is the concept in a Night Poem for A City. Everyone that wants this to be done in the local metropolitan area can send this to the City Council:
Night Poem for a City Council. All the city lights are turned off for one hour an old astronomer talks about the stars on national broadcast radio."

"The City Council of Reykjavik and its neighboring municipalities have agreed to turn off all the city lights in the capital area for half an hour (...)"

Edit : Sorry Russell I didn't remember you had already posted this article...

[anax]

The project went well in Reykjavic... I noted the allaying of fears that safety was not compromised.

I also noticed news toady about a 'global footprint' project that the average person in Aberdeenshire would need 5.64 hectares to support all the energy, food, water and materials to sustain our lifestyles... If resources were spread evenly amongst the world's population we'd only have 1.8 hectares each.

I see resonances with our project ...

[Jim]

Happy to help Russell, when do you want me to make contact? Presumably not until we have things firmed up? What about my contact at the BBC? I will also mention this at the ACDG meeting if no-one else from this group is there.

[anax]

I've just had another productive talk with the council's Sustainability Co-ordinator. On the technical side of things, it does seem feasible if there are people prepared to be out to switch off the lights and switch them back on.

She strongly recommended connection with an established group like the ACDG... so I'll come along and the two of us can help forge strong links, Jim - do you think the whole project would be better under the heading of the ACDG

We'll also have to get in touch with police and fire-brigade.

Jim: BBC contact sounds great - this will be great for the profile of the area, the council, the ACDG, and any group that gets involved. Yes let's get things firmer before approaching press.

[beap]

Why not go Aberdeenshire wide?