Episode 2: The Wages of Sin is Light Pollution with Michael Colligan

Restoring Darkness

Michael identifies five of the seven deadly sins—gluttony, greed, pride, wrath, and sloth—as fundamental causes behind the growing light pollution epidemic. Gluttony manifests in our excessive and often wasteful use of electric light at night, far beyond what is necessary. Greed drives industries to prioritize profit over sustainable practices, accelerating the adoption of LED lighting and using utility ratepayers and driving up the cost of electricity. Pride fuels the desire to showcase power, wealth, or status through grand, illuminated displays, often without consideration for their consequences. Wrath is reflected in the aggressive rejection of criticism or calls for restraint, with some viewing efforts to reduce light pollution as an attack on the industry. Finally, sloth plays a role in our collective unwillingness to change habits or adopt more thoughtful lighting practices, even when the tools and knowledge to make better choices are readily available. This combination of human tendencies has led to a world where electric light dominates the night, often at great cost to ecosystems, human health, and the beauty of the natural world.