"Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future." We [sixth-graders] are part of this group and have entered the annual Caring For Our Watersheds Contest. In this contest you must find a problem that is endangering our watersheds and their natural inhabitants and propose a solution. Our idea this year is "Turn Off The Lights". We propose a 30-minute blackout period to raise awareness about light pollution and the damage that it does to our watersheds.
You see all the artificial lighting too, right? These are the lights that are killing our animals, watersheds, and our clean air. the green house gases are coming from the lights in cities like these. Even the street lights are in effect. Not only are the lights ruining nature but its ruining the viewing of our stars. Before all the big cities you could see the million stars in our milky way and all it is is hundreds now. The lights are effecting the darkness too! We are actually loosing darkness with the pollution traveling into space. This is an issue that needs to be figured out soon before it's too late, and our 30 minute blackout in Arlington that we are advertising is a good jump start. But, we also need your every day commitment such as carpooling, biking, do what you can. The 30 minute Black Out in April is something that we would like to turn into an annual event during International Dark Sky Week (April 20-26).