In the previous post, we discussed how seasonal festivities have brought about significant changes in light illumination globally. In this post, we continue on this thread of celebratory lights, this time beyond just festivities. Lights in many cultures have the celebratory connotations which makes light pollution so challenging to deal to with. The invention of light itself was a victorious feat in claiming back time, productivity, and sight against the darkness of the night. Light might also hold religious significance to some as a symbol of the victory of Good over Evil. Today, however, in contemporary times, habitual sightings of light in the city renders its effectiveness insufficient. Hence, celebratory lighting today increasingly takes the form of spectacular urban illuminations.
China is one particular country that has taken spectacular urban illuminations to new heights. Besides festive light shows, spectacular urban illuminations are also common during significant national events. In commemoration of the 40th year of the establishment of its Special Economic Zone and China’s reform and opening of borders, Shenzhen hosted a spectacular light show in 2018 (Yau, 2019).
Beyond national events, international summits held in China also commonly feature light shows (Yau, 2019). During the 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, buildings were illuminated with the flags of participating regions to welcome and celebrate the arrival of international guests.
G20 Summit in Hangzhou (Source: SCMP)
However, while these urban illuminations are mesmerising to our eyes, it is necessary to take into account the fact that these light illuminations are typically 10 to 100 times more than necessary (Yau, 2019). Additionally, Qi Honghai, a design director at Aurora Lighting of Beijing highlights that the largest part of the problem in spectacular urban illuminations is the asymmetrical nature of information (Yau, 2019). Particularly, the public is mostly unaware of the actual intensity of lights required in different contexts because such information is hidden by the state. Resultantly, the excessive usage of lights displayed are usually displayed with the blissful ignorance of the public.
As citizens that vote the government into power, we too have the responsibility to hold them accountable. Qi also shared that he had worked on a lighting proposal for the whole city of Hangzhou in 2009, in an attempt to improve its lighting pollution. However, this proposal was subsequently rejected by the government (Yau, 2019). Today, the lighting in Hangzhou remains equally problematic. This prompts us as everyday citizens to be more proactive in learning about the impacts of our actions on our environment and ourselves. While state-led implementations tend to be more effective in imposing large-scale changes, we too have agency and hence responsibility to be engaged in the sustainability of our city.
Lights are beautiful, lights are mesmerising, lights are closely tied to celebration. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that! However, what we do need to be mindful of is the intensity and extensiveness of light that we use for celebrations. We ought to question whether it is really necessary, whether it has to be so bright, whether we have to keep it lit for so long. Small changes are necessary and are significant. We ought to take action before our cause of celebration turns into that of despair.
Till next time!
Trudie
References:
- Yau, E. (2019, July 23). Unsustainable living: how crazy light shows are damaging China in the name of tourism. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3019699/unsustainable-living-how-crazy-light-shows-are-damaging