trevor hancock: solstice a timely reminder of our place in the universe - solar street lighting system

When I was a teenager, I never lost the feeling of awe because I was lying in a dark place and really looked at the Milky Way.
It is overwhelming and humbling to realize that our own seemingly huge solar system is a small part of the Milky Way, and that I am a small part of all galaxies.
But it also gives me a strong sense of connection with the universe, a feeling that never left me.
I can get the same sense of awe and connection by looking at the vastness of the ocean or mountains, or the beauty of butterflies or flowers.
But now a lot of people, maybe most of us, have lost that connection.
Or at least experience too little.
A vivid example of our loss of contact comes from Los Angeles, where an earthquake struck and a power outage occurred on 1994.
According to a subsequent report from the journal Environmental Health outlook: "Many anxious residents called the local emergency center and the report saw a strange" huge silver in the dark sky
What they really see is
The first time --
Is the galaxy swallowed up by the city --sky glow.
Sadly, this phenomenon of losing any awareness of the night sky is not surprising.
The first World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness tells us: "Two-In America's thirtiesS.
More than one population-
Half of Europe's population has lost the ability to look at the Galaxy with the naked eye.
"But if we can't see the stars, how do we know our connection and location to the universe?
In a slightly smaller range, how many people realize that we are almost at the winter solstice?
To this end, how many people pay attention to the mid-summer to the day, spring and autumn and the moon?
But in most of our history, these are of great significance to human beings, helping us to connect with the great cycle of nature.
We often forget
Or choose ignore-
Many of our beliefs
Celebrations based on these ancient traditions have been superimposed.
Christmas itself is about the birth of a child, the "light of the world", just as the winter solstice marks the return of the Sun and the birth of the new year, the festival of light is also the festival of light.
In fact, later Romans celebrated the birth of the invincible sun in December.
25, is considered to be grafted into an ancient worship of the sun.
Many aspects of our modern celebration of Christmas
Bring green branches and trees into the house, light fire and candles, and hang the mistletoe parasitic
In many cultures, fire and lights seem to be an important part of the winter solstice celebrations.
Other celebrations are related to the lunar calendar.
Easter and Passover are related to the full moon before and after the Spring Equinox, while Sukkot (
Jewish harvest festival)
The Christian tradition of harvest is also around the autumn equinox.
They remind us that we used to have a deep connection with the season and the Earth.
But too many people, in fact most of the society, have lost contact with nature, which is part of the reason why we are stuck in this environment.
However, although we can imagine that our technology and our intelligence make us-
Even-
This is far from the facts.
We rely on nature as much as ever.
All our food, water, air, fuel and materials come from here.
If we could experience the kind of wonder, awe, and connection our ancestors felt --
There may be some fear, because the power of nature is still enormous --
We may respect the earth more.
So take the time this week to think about this year's turn.
Go out and have a look at the night sky and enjoy the ocean and flowers as we need to re-do more than ever
Building our connection with natureHappy Solstice. Dr.
Trevor Hancock is a retired professor and senior scholar at the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria.