We are aware that this can be a difficult time of year for many people. The ever-shorter days exacerbate all the problems of artificial lighting, whether in homes, public spaces, streetlights or car headlights.
Christmas lights have sadly become a particular problem. Most Christmas lighting now uses LED technology and is often brighter and harsher than traditional 'fairy lights'. We hear from many people who cannot tolerate this lighting and develop migraines, headaches and eye pain whenever they are exposed. This leads to illness and social exclusion at a time that should be filled with festive cheer.
LightAware is calling on people to be considerate this Christmas and find other ways to celebrate, such as getting creative with decorations, festive house plants and Christmas wreaths on your front door. You will also be helping to save energy at this important time.
This mailing is shorter than usual as we are saving more in-depth content for the launch of our membership scheme in the new year. The LightAware core team have been busy preparing a new website and working with Fiona, our new membership manager. Membership will enable LightAware to become a larger, stronger and more resilient organisation. We hope to have a wide appeal to all who are concerned about the impact of artificial lighting on human health and wellbeing. We look forward to welcoming you to join us.
In the meantime, please consider helping LightAware while you shop. It's easy to do, costs you nothing and makes a big difference to our capacity to raise awareness about this growing concern. See below for details.
All best wishes and thank you for your support,
The LightAware Trustees.
Shopping
Donation reminder whilst you shop online If you use Google Chrome as a browser you can load the ‘Give as you live’ donation reminder. It automatically registers that you are a LightAware supporter, which means you'll never miss a chance to raise free donations from shopping websites for LightAware. Just go to https://www.giveasyoulive.com/donation-reminder to install it.
We have signed up to two online schemes which donate a percentage of takings to charity, with no extra cost to yourself. If our supporters shop regularly in this way, it would make a big difference to what we are able to achieve. All donations will strengthen LightAware’s capacity to raise awareness about the effect of artificial light on human health and wellbeing. Here’s how to do it:
Give as you Live www.giveasyoulive.com Give as you Live is an online fundraising platform allowing users to shop at over 4,100 top stores and raise free funds for charity. The store pays Give as you Live a percentage of your total purchase price in commission and of this, 50% is passed on to charity.
Choose a charity to support (type in LightAware in the search box)
Select LightAware
Search for the store you want to shop at using the search facility
Once you’ve found the store, click on the ‘Shop & Raise’ button
You will be then directed to the stores website where you can shop as normal
Once you’ve made your purchase, the store will confirm the transaction with Give as you Live
You’ll then receive an email confirming how much you’ve raised for LightAware!
If you use Google Chrome as a browser you can load the ‘Give as you live’ donation reminder.
It automatically registers that you are a LightAware supporter, which means you'll never miss a chance to raise free donations from shopping websites for LightAware. Just go to https://www.giveasyoulive.com/donation-reminder to install it.
Amazon Smile smile.amazon.co.uk When the customer shops with Amazon using Amazon Smile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the net purchase price (excluding VAT, returns and shipping fees) of eligible purchases to the charitable organisation of your choice - LightAware! So basically, 50 pence for every £100 can go directly to LightAware at no cost to the customer. It doesn’t seem a great deal of money, but it will soon add up, especially once the Christmas shopping frenzy begins.
On the right hand side of the welcome page, type in LightAware in the entry field
Press Search
Select LightAware on the results page
Tick the box to say you understand to make use of the charitable donation, you must shop at Amazon via the SmileAmazon route
Then shop! It’s as simple as that!
Print copies of the LightAware Newsletter
We are very aware that some light-sensitive people struggle with computer and phone screens and that our online newsletter is not appropriate for all.
If you need a print version posted to you, or know somebody who does, or you would prefer a plain text version to be sent by email, please let us know oninfo@lightaware.org