[Vision2020] light pollution

[Jeff Harkins]

To further amplify the myopic views being 
expressed on this subject, let's do a bit of word 
substitution to see if that might help to clarify the subject.

>Mercury vapor yard lights are good business for 
>the power companies that promote them.  To the 
>power companies it means money but to many of us 
>it means a despoiling of our night sky and light 
>trespass onto our properties and into homes by 
>unwitting neighbors.  In Latah County today, 
>Clearwater Power has some 500 mercury vapor yard 
>lights installed on rural properties.  The 
>numbers are increasing and our night sky is 
>fading.  Placing shields on these lights to 
>avoid light going up or laterally is not an 
>option according to Clearwater Power as these 
>lights are an older model and cannot be shielded.
>
>The basic fact with these bright mercury vapor 
>yard lights is that the glare reduces the owners 
>ability to see properly and in effect reduces 
>the owners safety and security.  Shielding these 
>lights not only makes them more effective for 
>the owners but reduces light trespass and hence conflicts between neighbors.
>
>The Planning and Building Commission of Latah 
>County has drafted a good outdoor lighting 
>ordinance which will require all yard lights to 
>be shielded.  Clearwater Power is opposed as 
>they will have to change out all of their older 
>model mercury vapor lights for something more 
>modern with shields.  To them it’s all about 
>money but this is our county and our quality of 
>life that we must work to maintain.  There is 
>also a vociferous group of rural land owners who 
>have no respect for their neighbors and believe 
>that they should have the right to put up as 
>many mercury vapor yard lights as they 
>desire.  Surely this group of people who would 
>not know the difference between a planet and a 
>star are in the minority – count the lights – 
>500 to date.  The majority of rural land owners 
>as well as all concerned residents of Latah 
>County now have an opportunity to demand that 
>all these bright obnoxious lights are fitted 
>with shields.  The Planning Commission has done 
>the work and they now need to hear from all of 
>us.  They need our support to pass this ordinance.

Now read this:

High priced organic fools are good business for 
the foodstores that promote them.  To the 
foodstores it means money but to many of us it 
means a despoiling of our budgets as consumers 
and leads to higher prices for shoppers that 
don't want organic foods.  In Latah County today, 
the Moscow Food CoOp has many varieties and 
flavors of organic foods.  The numbers are 
increasing and prices of other foods are 
rising.  Placing price controls on organic 
foods  is not an option according to the Moscow 
Food CoOp as these foods are what we sell and we can't change that.

The basic fact with these organic foods is that 
the sale of these foods prevents non organic 
foods to be sold in sufficient quantities to keep 
the prices low  and in effect reduces the amount 
of food that these folks can buy - hence it is a 
health and safety issue.  But selling organic 
foods not only makes them more healthy but the 
eaters weigh less and use less water and sewer 
services while reducing their weight and hence 
their travel costs.  This leads to less conflict between neighbors.

The Planning and Building Commission of Latah 
County has drafted a good non-organic food 
ordinance which will require all food  to be 
non-organic.  Moscow Food CoOp  is opposed as 
they will have to change out all of their older 
food inventory for something non-organic.  To 
them it’s all about money but this is our county 
and our quality of life that we must work to 
maintain.  There is also a vociferous group of 
CoOp Customers who have no respect for their 
neighbors and believe that they should have the 
right to demand as much organic food as they 
desire.  Surely this group of people who would 
not know the difference between a natural 
meal  and an artificial meal are in the minority 
– count the shoppers– 500 to date.  The majority 
of food eaters as well as all concerned residents 
of Latah County now have an opportunity to demand 
that all these organic foods are banned from the 
market.  The Planning Commission has done the 
work and they now need to hear from all of 
us.  They need our support to pass this ordinance.


As a foundation for understanding the argument 
and just for the record and clarification of the context, assume that:

1. Clearwater Power is an electric power 
cooperative - owned by its members to serve its members.
2. Moscow Food CoOp is a food cooperative - owned 
by its members to serve its members.

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