HK one of worst cities for light pollution

Lazers light up the sky above Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. The city has one of the worst levels of light pollution. Source: AFP

HONG Kong is one of the world's worst cities for light pollution with night skies around 1000 times brighter than globally accepted levels, researchers said ahead of this year's Earth Hour event.

A study by Hong Kong University found that brightness levels in the southern Chinese city's popular shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui were 1200 times greater than the international dark sky standard - a measurement void of man-made light.

The densely-populated city of seven million inhabitants, full of residential highrises, towering office blocks and neon advertisements, has no laws to control external lighting.

The result, researchers say, is that light pollution is thought to be much worse than in other large cities, including London, Sydney, Tokyo and Shanghai.

"In Hong Kong, you cannot go anywhere outdoor in the evening without your eyes being blinded by this really intrusive outdoor lighting," the light pollution survey's head Jason Pun told AFP.

"The fact that we have all this light in the sky means energy is wasted," he said, adding that excessive artificial lighting also adversely affects nocturnal wildlife.

"We should reduce the amount of lighting used and adjust it for the sake of the environment."

Research has suggested that light pollution can cause a number of adverse health effects in humans, including insomnia and headaches, and can also disrupt body clocks and hormones.

The university survey, the result of five million measurements taken from points across the city, was released just days before the start of the annual Earth Hour event, organised by the World Wildlife Fund.

People around the world will be encouraged to turn off their lights for an hour on Saturday night to raise awareness of climate change.

Last year a number of Hong Kong's major buildings along Victoria Harbour, including the International Finance Centre and Central Plaza, went dark to mark Earth Hour.

In France, from July 1 offices and shops will be required to turn their lights off overnight under new light pollution laws.
 

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Light plane crashes near primary school

The Cessna crashed into a paddock near Cape Clear Primary School. Picture: CFA Source: Herald Sun

A PILOT and his passenger have escaped serious injury after their light plane crashed into a paddock next to a primary school south of Ballarat.

The Cessna clipped power lines before crashing beside Cape Clear Primary School, Cape Clear, about 1.50pm.

The two men, believed to be in their 60s, were being treated by paramedics. Their injuries are not thought to be serious.

No students were hurt in the smash on Scarsdale-Pitfield Rd about 150km west of Melbourne.

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"The plane had clipped the power lines near the school," said CFA duty officer Archie Conroy

"Both occupants are out of the plane and being treated by paramedics. There are no other injuries."

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The crash happened as the primary students were being taught inside classrooms.

The Cessna crashed into a paddock near Cape Clear Primary School. Picture: CFA

Principal Christian Brown said no children were in the playground when the Cessna crashed.

"They hit the power line and they got out alive," he said.

"The plane didn't break up, so they were very, very fortunate."

The school and a nearby pub have been left without electricity after the fallen power lines cut off supply.

Cape Clear pub owner Lorraine Cameron said she had seen the plane flying low.

"We had seen it buzzing around and were wondering what it was doing. Obviously looking for a paddock to land," she said.

"It clipped the power line and now it means we have no electricity.

"The children were in the classrooms. They would have got a good view of the landing."

Ms Cameron said she believed the men were from Western Australia and had come to Victoria for an air show.

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