Presentacion de la Publicacion Starlight

A Common Heritage

The Right to Starlight

International Initiative in Defence of the Quality of the Night Sky as Mankind’s Scientific, Cultural and Environmental Right

May 28th, 2008 PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK Starlight: A Common Heritage

	INTELLIGENT LIGHTING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mechtild Rothe, has defended the right to preserve the quality of the night sky during the act of presentation of the book that took place at the headquarters of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) La Laguna. Mechtild Rothe, who wrote a prologue of the Starlight book, reminded that an “intelligent lighting” which limits light pollution, at the same time favours energy saving, night sky protection and our commitment to combat Climate Change.

	Several representatives of International Organizations, members of IAC, collaborators, and authors of the book attended the presentation. From left to right: Luis Gortázar (GAIA), Wolf Michael Iwand (TUI), Casiana Muñoz (IAC), Cipriano Marín (Coordinator of the Starlight initiative), Carlos Martínez (Sub director of IAC), Mechtild Rothe (Vice-president of the European Parliament), Laura Calero (IAC), Federico de la Paz (OPCC), Arthouros Zervos (President of the European Renewable Energy Council -EREC), Osman Benchikh (UNESCO - Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences). Download the Starlight book 15MB
Starlight, action included in the Campaign:

		Starlight Mechtild Rothe emphasizes the value of starlight as an universal heritage during her visit to the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. In the photo, Mechtild Rothe (Vice-President of the European Parliament) and Carlos Martínez Roger (Sub director of IAC).

		The energy dimension An “intelligent lighting” would reduce light pollution, favour energy saving and night sky protection as well as mitigate the effects of climate change. In the photo, Osman Benchikh (UNESCO's Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences).

		Starlight and Tourism Destinations Recovering the stars is an essential part of the tourism of the future. We must regain starry skies as a fundamental part of the attractiveness of tourist destinations. In the photo, Wolf Michael Iwand (Member of the Starlight Scientific Committee - former Executive Director of Environmental Management at TUI AG).

		Starlight and Renewable Energies. The Starlight international initiative sustains that renewable energy use and fight against climate change are two sides of the same coin. In the photo, Arthouros Zervos (President of the European Renewable Energy Council - Member of the Starlight Scientific Committee).

		Promoting the development of astronomy. The defence of night sky quality is vital to the development of advanced astronomy, as is the case of the European Northern Observatory (ENO). In the photo, members of IAC showing the laboratories of the Institute to the Vice-President of the European Parliament and to the other people invited.

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