The week of the new moon in April is National Dark Sky Week, a movement started by Virginia teenager Jennifer Barlow in 2003.  Last year, IYA2009 endorsed National Dark Sky Week and pushed it global, to be International Dark Sky Week.

This grass-roots movement highlights the effects of light pollution not only on our health, but the impact to the environment as a whole.  It also attempts to bring back the full, gorgeous spread of the night sky to all observers.

How many of us can walk outside our front door at night and see this:

Perseid Meteor Shower 08/12/07, Image by WikiPedia User Mila

I lived in a small town growing up, and I can remember seeing the full spread of the night sky.  Now, this feels like a lost heritage.

Orion, seen from dark skies (left) and from Orem, UT. Image: Jeremy Stanly 01/09

Looking at this comparison, you can see what a difference it makes.
There are alternatives to having an area illuminated so much as to cause light pollution.  One is a type of light that is designed to not shed light upwards and to the side.  This site explains lighting regulations some areas are placing in an attempt to regain their starry night skies.  It saves energy, too.

I know our cities are illuminated to protect life and property.  In fact, I agree with it on that basis.  I wouldn’t want to live in a city that completely blacked-out at night;  you just have to see what happens during a power outage to know that’s not an answer.  I do think we can find a middle-ground (like regulated lighting) where we preserve our safety and can still have our starry, starry nights.