Raising World Awareness of Light Pollution in 6.5 minutes
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), in collaboration with Loch Ness Productions, has recently produced a free-for-download video highlighting the issues regarding light pollution, titled "Losing the Dark."
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Losing the Dark is 6.5-minute public service announcement that is being distributed free of charge as a high-definition flat screen video for your use; use in science centers, classrooms, and streaming from the Web; and for both traditional and full dome digital planetarium theaters.
Light pollution is a worldwide problem that needs a worldwide solution. Losing the Dark explains how light pollution impacts wildlife, wastes energy, reduces visibility, threatens human health, and more. It also offers simple solutions that anyone can do, reminding us all that that it is not too late to save the nighttime environment.
However, Losing the Dark currently exists only in English and we want everyone to have access to its message. With your help we will raise the necessary funds to produce translated versions for people worldwide. We are currently working with volunteers that can provide translation and narration services. When those are ready we need the funds to pay our production company to combine the new narrations with the show’s visuals and music, producing a final, translated version ready for the world to see.
This is an elaborate process, as the show is freely available in some 23 different formats ranging from domed planetarium versions to flat screen HD.
Translations for Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish will soon be finished. We have also had requests for: Cantonese, Hebrew, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and others. We will provide as many language versions as we can based on demand and funding.
If translated, it is estimated that the PSA could be seen by 250,000 viewers annually worldwide, raising awareness of dark sky preservation globally.
With your help we will be able to complete all of these translations so that any planetarium or school can include the PSA in their regular educational program
You can see Losing the Dark on IDA's YouTube Channel http://youtu.be/dd82jaztFIo
Teachers, planetarium theater operators and anyone interested in spreading the word about light pollution can freely download the show in a variety of formats. With your help we will complete the translations so that they can all hear the message. Take a look at http://www.darksky.org/losingthedark
Enjoy the show and thank you for your support.
Risks and challenges
IDA started work on the PSA over a year ago during very difficult financial times. With the support of donors, we were finally able to raise the $20,000 to cover the cost to produce the English version at the end of 2012. Now we need your help to make the international versions.
We continue to look for funding from many different sources but are hoping that the indiegogo community will see the benefit of getting this program into the hands of anyone in the world. Donating a little or as much as you would like, will spread this film across the globe.
