Celebrating natural darkness
Pūriri advocates for the protection of all life that depends on natural cycles of light and darkness. We are an informal collective of community volunteers.
At a regional environment sector planning meeting hosted by Environment Network Manawatu last August, one of the participants (Rosemary Gear) noted how urban light pollution contributes to biodiversity loss, with a particular focus on night pollinators. Rosemary and I have decided we want to keep light pollution on the environmental agenda, so we've committed to awareness-raising in the Manawatu.
Our first action is to disseminate research findings through our Facebook page. We hope you'll join us there. Read on for more information about our new informal group, Pūriri. Also check out the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.
Pūriri
Pūriri advocates for the protection of all life that depends on natural cycles of light and darkness. We are an informal collective of community volunteers.
The aims of Pūriri are to:
- Communicate the value of natural darkness to both nocturnal and diurnal animals, and also to plants and other living creatures;
- Communicate the importance of natural darkness to ecosystem integrity;
- Communicate the value of natural darkness to human health;
- Contribute to the public understanding of peer-reviewed and other robust/verified research on natural darkness, regardless of the findings;
- Advocate for dark sky reserves;
- Advocate for approaches to urban lighting that are in keeping with the above aims;
- Advocate for energy savings related to urban lighting that are in keeping with the above aims;
- Promote Earth Hour and similar events that are in keeping with the above aims;
- Undertake other actions that are in keeping with the above aims.
We are an informal group that welcome membership from anyone who shares our aims and a commitment to nonviolence. Membership is currently an informal network of interested persons. We have a named volunteer coordinating group that makes decisions about the public representation of Pūriri and about using shared resources (if any).
Members (any interested persons) are strongly encouraged to nominate themselves to become a part of this named coordinating group, and also to suggest actions that further Pūriri's aims.
