Belgium will turn out the lights on Saturday for the Night of Darkness, an initiative aiming to raise awareness of the need to combat light pollution, reports 24brussels.
The event will feature activities across Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. In Brussels, participants can join a night walk in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, alongside activities such as sky observations, storytelling walks, lectures, crafts, and face painting at the Rouge-Cloître in Auderghem.
Fourteen Flemish cities and municipalities are set to switch off their street lighting, with Antwerp planning to darken around 50 of its buildings and monuments.
Normal darkness
“Light pollution occurs when artificial lighting is so prevalent that it interferes with normal and desirable darkness,” explains the Association for the Protection of the Night Sky and Environment (Ascen), which organizes the initiative in Brussels and Wallonia.
The impact of light pollution extends to nocturnal species. Insects, butterflies, bats, amphibians, and migratory birds are all adversely affected by various forms of artificial lighting. Furthermore, it disrupts the natural cycles of several plants and negatively impacts human sleep patterns.
Ascen highlights the energy and financial costs associated with illuminating empty spaces, such as vacant car parks and monuments. The organization advocates for a more rational use of lighting, promoting the practice of illuminating only what is necessary, when it is necessary, and how it is necessary.
Details of all activities can be found on the websites of Ascen and Leve(n) de Nacht.