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This timely and captivating look at the hidden impact of light
pollution is "rich in revelation and insight...lyrical" (The Wall
Street Journal) and urges us to cherish natural darkness for the
sake of the environment, our own well-being, and all life on earth.
How much light is too much light? Satellite pictures show our
planet as a brightly glowing orb, and in our era of constant
illumination, light pollution has become a major issue. The world's
flora and fauna have evolved to operate in the natural cycle of day
and night. But in the last 150 years, we have extended our day--and
in doing so have forced out the inhabitants of the night and
disrupted the circadian rhythms necessary to sustain all living
things, including ourselves. In this "well-researched and
surprisingly lyrical" (The New Statesman, UK) book, Swedish
conservationist Johan Eklöf urges us to appreciate natural
darkness, its creatures, and its unique benefits. He ponders the
beauties of the night sky, traces the errant paths of light-drunk
moths and the swift dives of keen-eyed owls, and shows us the
bioluminescent creatures of the deepest oceans. As a devoted friend
of the night, Eklöf reveals the startling domino effect of
diminishing darkness: insects, dumbfounded by streetlamps, failing
to reproduce; birds blinded and bewildered by artificial lights;
and bats starving as they wait in vain for insects that only come
out in the dark. For humans, light-induced sleep disturbances
impact our hormones and weight, and can contribute to mental health
problems like chronic stress and depression. The streetlamps,
floodlights, and neon signs of cities are altering entire
ecosystems, and scientists are only just beginning to understand
their long-term effects. The light bulb--long the symbol of
progress and development--needs to be turned off.
"Urgent...vivid...eye-opening" (Publishers Weekly), and ultimately
encouraging, The Darkness Manifesto outlines simple steps that we
can take to benefit ourselves and the planet. In order to ensure a
bright future, we must embrace the darkness.
The Darkness Manifesto urges us to cherish darkness for the sake of
the environment, our own wellbeing, and all life on earth. Entire
ecosystems rely on natural darkness to flourish, from bats and
keen-eyed owls capering across the starry sky to the bioluminescent
creatures of the deep. But constant illumination has made light
pollution a major threat. By extending our day, humans have
disrupted the circadian rhythms necessary to sustain all living
things. The Darkness Manifesto lifts night's veil to reveal the
domino effect of damage we inflict by keeping the lights on:
insects failing to reproduce, plants left unpollinated, countless
hunting and migratory patterns eroded. Eye-opening and ultimately
encouraging, this book offers simple steps that can benefit
ourselves and the planet. 'Powerful ... A clarion call for change'
New Statesman 'A pleasure to read ... A paean of praise for natural
darkness' Financial Times, Book of the Year 'A must-read for all
who have an interest in the health of our planet' Russell Foster,
author of Life Time
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