View the signed Mayoral Proclamation for International Dark Sky Week
WHEREAS, The aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a shared common and cultural focus of all humankind; and
WHEREAS, Ninety-percent of the world’s population, including many in the Fargo-Moorhead area, live under a dome of excessive artificial lighting at night that disrupts natural darkness; and
WHEREAS, Light pollution has scientifically linked consequences to human health from disruption of circadian rhythms and day/night cycles, including increased rates of cancer, obesity, diabetes, sleep and eating disorders, mental health issues such as bipolar disease, connections to dementia and early macular degeneration; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota relies economically on a robust agricultural sector, and studies have shown that soybeans and other crops are sensitive to exposure to light pollution, in addition to high risks to pollinator species such as honeybees and moths; and
WHEREAS, Over half of North America’s breeding birds are migratory, with more than 80 percent migrating at night, and during migration, lights can cause birds to collide with windows or walls, causing injury, exhaustion, confusion or death; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota is located along the Central Flyway and on the border of the Mississippi Flyway, both significant neotropical migratory pathways, where approximately 400 to 450 million birds migrate through North Dakota in the spring and fall season, with as many as 35 million birds in flight on peak nights; and
WHEREAS, The United States is currently operating under a declared National Energy Emergency, and light pollution represents a waste of natural resources, with a 2022 Department of Energy report stating that less than 1% of all outdoor lighting reaches the human eye, and that over $3.4 billion could be saved annually if smart and sustainable lighting systems were installed across 75% of the country, all of which would contribute to energy security for our communities and nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, We the Mayors of Moorhead and Fargo do hereby proclaim April 21-28, 2025 to be,
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK
in the Cities of Moorhead, Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota and encourage public officials, business and community leaders, and residents to participate in this event by raising awareness on the subject of light pollution and observing and pondering the wonders of the cosmos, and by voluntarily reducing levels of artificial light at night to protect migratory birds as they fly over our region as well as conserve energy use and preserve the resource that is the nighttime sky for future generations.