FixTheMLO.org gives the 2009 IDA MLO draft a failing grade. We urge the IDA to abandon this draft and start anew. If you agree, please sign this petition. Signing will be closed on April 8, 2009 and names delivered to the IDA by April 10, 2009.

P E T I T I O N

to the
Board of Directors
International Dark-Sky Association

regarding

Model Lighting Ordinance Draft of February 2009

We appreciate the time and effort that MLO Task Force members have devoted to this undertaking. Nevertheless, we believe this draft is unusable for many reasons. Chief among them:

  • The document is far too complex and unnecessarily technical. No model ordinance can be effective if it cannot be readily understood by the people who would have to support, enact, implement, and enforce it.
  • It fails to address roadway lighting, a major contributor to light pollution.
  • No information is available as to what principles underlie the BUG ratings, and the data necessary to implement them do not exist.
  • The Lighting Zone scheme appears designed to perpetuate, if not increase, existing light levels.
  • Parts of it would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.
  • The endorsement of unnecessary uplighting is contrary to long-held IDA principles.

More than six years have elapsed since IDA began this project. The present MLO draft makes clear that the development process simply is not working.

Greenpeace and the fishing industry don’t develop joint guidelines for whaling ”controls,” and Sierra Club doesn’t collaborate with the coal industry on “acceptable” levels of global warming. These groups make a stand for their cause and then work to reach that goal, and IDA needs to do the same.

For the above reasons and many more, we call upon IDA Directors to take the following steps:

  • Immediately end work on this MLO and permanently abandon it.
  • Terminate the collaboration agreement with IES.
  • Plan to start fresh with a new committee whose members’ principal interest is “to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies.”

We believe that IDA adoption of anything like this MLO would do irreparable harm to our efforts to combat light pollution. To cite but one example, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association--even before this draft was released--was citing it to fight full shielding requirements. How will dark-sky advocates like us be able to establish “gold standard” lighting controls in our communities if IDA itself promulgates a watered-down model like this?

Please help us to continue the fight!

Total Confirmed Signatories: 190

  1. Tim Poulsen, SELENE (NY)
  2. Debra Norvil, IDA (Illinois)
  3. Francis Parnell, IDA (South Carolina)
  4. cathy rehr (Illinois)
  5. John McMahon, former (and disappointed) IDA member (NY)
  6. Keith Graham, IDA (Illlinois)
  7. Peter Talmage (Massachusetts)
  8. Roger Macklin, Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society (SMAS) & Oak Ridge Isochronous Observation Network (ORION) (Tennessee, USA)
  9. Robert Gatz, Homer Glen Environmental Committee, Lighting Sub-committee (Illinois)
  10. Christian Luginbuhl, IDA, IESNA, AAS (Arizona)
  11. Julie Schaar, IDA, Sierra Club, Dallas Area Interfaith, TxAstroSociety, TxIDA (Texas)
  12. Gail Clyma, IDA, IESNA (NY)
  13. Steve Engleman, Texas Astronomical Society (Texas)
  14. Joseph Boyd, IDA (Tennessee)
  15. Craig Patterson, IDA (Texas)
  16. Kevin Fleming, Founder, Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education, ICOLE/Owner, OutdoorLighting-Forum (Indiana, USA)
  17. Mike Hansen, NELPAG (Massachusetts)
  18. Steve Davis (NY)
  19. Stephen Pauley MD, IDA, IESNA (ID)
  20. Margaret CEntabar, IDA, Amatuer Observers Society of NY (AOSNY (New York)
  21. susan harder, IDA (NY)
  22. Bob Crelin, IDA (CT)
  23. Patric Johnstone, neighborhood association (OK)
  24. Keith Krueger, IDA (Arizona)
  25. Gary Citro, IDA, SELENE, Drak Sky Society (NY)
  26. Peter Bealo, NELPAG (NH)
  27. William Shaheen, IDA (AZ)
  28. Geoff Dudley, LIGHTS LIST, Australia (Australia)
  29. Roger Davis, Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc. (Australia)
  30. Margaret Holohan, IDA, SELENE (New York)
  31. Bill Crispino, Amateur Observers Society of NY (NY)
  32. Bernard Kosicki, IDA, NELPAG, Acton Outdoor Lighting Education Com, ATMOB (MA)
  33. Gary Jacobson, PE, IDA, NELPAG (Massachusetts)
  34. Paul Valleli, IDA (MA)
  35. Graham Cliff, Campaign for Dark Skies local officer (UK)
  36. Kenneth Kressler, A.S.R.A.S. (New York)
  37. Gail Smith
  38. P. Edward Murray, Past President, Buck-Mont. Astronomical Assoc., Inc. (Pennsylvania)
  39. Colin Henshaw, CfDS (Tabuk, Saudi Arabia)
  40. Fabio Falchi, CieloBuio (Italy)
  41. kati bazzucchi, Cielobuio (Italy)
  42. Leopoldo Dalla Gassa, IDA, Cielobuio end Venetostellato (Italy)
  43. Emiliano Maramonte (Italy)
  44. Walter Boschin (Spain)
  45. Francesco Giubbilini, Cielobuio (Italy)
  46. David Toeppen, IDA (IL.)
  47. Mirco Cappelli (Italy)
  48. Moro Leopoldina, Venetostellato (Italy)
  49. Paolo Turati, UAI (Italy)
  50. Gianluigi Bergamo, verdelitorale (venice - ITALY)
  51. Diego Bonata, IDA, CieloBuio Italy (ITALY)
  52. Stan Stubbe, IDA, IESNA (Pennsylvania)
  53. Gina Pizzini (ITALY)
  54. Paolo Grande (Italia)
  55. William Eaves, Campaign for Dark Skies (UK)
  56. gereschi gian luigi, cielobuio (italy)
  57. Jerry Loethen, IDA (MO)
  58. Stefano Klett, IDA (Switzerland)
  59. Paolo Morisoli, SAT (switzerland)
  60. Christopher Baddiley, IDA, BAA Campaign for Dark Skies (UK)
  61. Nicolas Cretton (Switzerland)
  62. egon klett (Switzerland)
  63. Andrea Tedeschi, Società Astronomica Ticinise (Switzerland)
  64. Wayne Gosnell, IDA (Texas)
  65. stefano beltraminelli (switzerland)
  66. Benjamin Jones, IDA (Texas)
  67. Robin Jackson, Campaign for Dark Skies (UK)
  68. Stefano Putelli, Dark-Sky Switzerland (Switzerland)
  69. Barbara Wilson, IDA (Texas)
  70. Michele Tedeschi, Associazione Cielo Buio (Italy)
  71. Valter Valter Schemmari, CieloBuio (Italy) + Società Astronomica Ticinese (Switzerland) (Italy - Verbania (VB))
  72. Axel Schwope (Germany)
  73. Stefano SPOSETTI (Switzerland)
  74. Andreas Haenel, IDA (Germany)
  75. David Oesper, IDA (WI)
  76. Davide Nava, CieloBuio (Italy)
  77. Roland Roberts, IDA (NY)
  78. Barry Clark, IDA (Australia)
  79. john king, IDA (Australia)
  80. Peter Patrick, IDA (Australia)
  81. Andreas Blatter (Switzerland)
  82. David Goggin (California)
  83. Daniela Foletta Mari (Switzerland)
  84. Simone , Cielobuio (Italy)
  85. marco scardia, associazione cielobuio (italy)
  86. Cristian Abarca, IDA (Australia)
  87. Paolo Pescatori, IDA, Cielobuio (Italia)
  88. Lorenzo Pesci, Cielobuio (Italy)
  89. mario di sora, IDA, head of IDA Italian Section (Italy)
  90. luca bandera (italy)
  91. Rodney Currie, IDA, Formerly IESANZ (Australia)
  92. GERARD GILLIGAN, IDA (England UK)
  93. Andrea Boldrini (Italia)
  94. Luca Zaggia, venetostellato, cielobuio (italy) (Italy)
  95. Fabio Terenziani (Italy)
  96. Cena Mauro, Cielobuio (Italy)
  97. R. B. Davis, IDA (Victoria Australia)
  98. Gerry Gerry, CfDS (UK)
  99. Aurora Margonari (Italy)
  100. Jari Falomo (Italy)
  101. Peter Litwiniuk, IDA (Australia)
  102. Mauro Narduzzi (Italy)
  103. Alessandro Di Giusto, Cielobuio (Italy)
  104. Ugo Tagliaferri, IDA (Italy)
  105. Dennis Proudman, CfDS (UK)
  106. Robert Edwards, IESNA (US)
  107. Mario Motta, IDA (MA)
  108. Susan Wyeth, AIA (CT)
  109. Silvano Tocchet, Venetostellato (Italy)
  110. Giuseppe Peltran, VENETO STELLATO (ITALY)
  111. John Nicholson, TexasIDA (Texas)
  112. paolo gattillo, Cielobuio (Italy)
  113. Andrej Mohar, Dark-Sky Slovenia (Slovenia)
  114. Brian Rudzevich (CA)
  115. jason jungreis (ca)
  116. Michael Tabb, IDA, CfDS (United Kingdom)
  117. Amy Meyer, Sierra Club (California)
  118. Fabio Damonte, WWF Italy - Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
  119. Dario Broggi, Dark-Sky Switzerland (Switzerland)
  120. Salvatore Santoro (Italy)
  121. Luca Berti (Switzerland)
  122. Herman Mikuz, Dark Sky Slovenia (Slovenia)
  123. David Seaborg (CA)
  124. Marco Cagnotti (Switzerland)
  125. Cindy Luongo Cassidy, IDA (Texas)
  126. Beat Kohler, IDA (Switzerland)
  127. gilberto luvini (CH Suisse)
  128. Temno Nebo (Slovenia)
  129. Guido Schwarz, Dark-Sky Switzerland (Switzerland)
  130. marco candotti, cast_ circolo astrofili talmassons (italy)
  131. Fabio Lucchinetti, LiBe (Switzerland)
  132. Marlene Korso (Illinois)
  133. Debra Lazar Pearl (IL)
  134. Drew Carhart, Naperville Astronomical Assn, (Illinois)
  135. Claudio Cozzutto (italy)
  136. Darren Baskill, CfDS (England)
  137. Sharon Sweas, Environment Committee (Illinois)
  138. Robert Guzauskas, Astronomical Society of the Palm Beaches (Florida)
  139. Jan-Herbert Damm, IDA (Germany)
  140. Michele Bianda (Switzerland)
  141. Doug Kniffen, Astronomical League (Missouri)
  142. Dan Taylor, IDA, RASC-LPAC (Canada)
  143. Jan Hollan, IDA, lifetime (Czechia)
  144. Ehrsam Claudia, Dark Sky Switzerland (Switzerland)
  145. Cynthia Rataj (Illinois)
  146. Margaret Sabo, Homer Glen (Illinois)
  147. Jose Antonio Soldevilla Gonzalez, CelFosc (Spain)
  148. Ignasi Sivillà, IDA, Cel Fosc (Catalunya)
  149. Esteban Reina, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  150. Jesús Nieto, CelFosc (Spain)
  151. Juan A. Alduncin, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  152. Eduardo Rodríguez (spain)
  153. Carlos Herranz, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  154. Friedel Pas, IDA, Preventie Lichthinder vzw, Vereniging Voor Sterrenkunde, Bond Beter Leefmilieu (Belgium)
  155. Jack Sales, IDA, IESNA, IDA California, IESNA, previous Webmaster and Board Member (California)
  156. Javier Rigaud, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  157. Paul Salazar (California)
  158. Robert Black, IDA (CA)
  159. Catherine Rich, The Urban Wildlands Group (CA)
  160. Travis Longcore, The Urban Wildlands Group (CA)
  161. Ferran Bosch, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  162. Aitor González, Cel fosc (Spain)
  163. Arcidicono Fabio, CieloBuio (Italy)
  164. Francisco Minero, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  165. JUAN MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ POLO, CELFOSC (SPAIN)
  166. Miguel Álamo, CelFosc (Spain)
  167. Ignacio Navarro, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  168. Irune Moriana, Public University of Navarra (Spain)
  169. ANA BELEN ALMECIJA, CELFOSC (SPAIN)
  170. Sebastia Torrell, Celfosc (Spain)
  171. Sergio ILOVAISKY, IDA, ANPCEN (France)
  172. Miguel Amer Salas, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  173. Fernando Jáuregui, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  174. Pere Horts, IDA, Cel Fosc (spain)
  175. David Galadi-Enriquez, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  176. Maria Ladrero, UNED-Pamplona (Spain)
  177. Manuel Gallego Coca, cel fosc (spain)
  178. Carles Schnabel, CelFosc (Spain)
  179. Dan Green, NELPAG (MA)
  180. Jack Liebenthal, IDA (ID)
  181. Joaquín Vidal Sainz, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  182. Pep Pujols, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  183. Joan Barceló i Joaquin, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  184. Montserrat Isern, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  185. Beatrice Roncada (Italia)
  186. Carlos Rodriguez, Cel fosc (Sapin)
  187. Montse Campàs (España)
  188. Jose M Olle, IDA, cel-fosc (spain)
  189. Antonio Cabrera León, IDA, Cel Fosc (Spain)
  190. Pavol Rapavý, Slovak Astronomical Society, Slovak Union of Ameteur Astronomers (Slovakia)