It is difficult for most young persons to appreciate what has been lost in the last thirty years. Most do not appreciate that they have an inherent birthright to enjoy a star-filled sky. This is a right that has been enjoyed by all of mankind until just recently in our history. One of my concerns is that those most affected by light pollution and deterioration of the quality of life, the younger generation, may not appreciate what has been lost and may not take the initiative to restore their birthright of a starry sky. Light pollution is a pernicious evil that has crept up on us slowly.
Older persons remember what it was like to see the stars at night, even in the middle of a city.
They more acutely feel the loss of the stars. They did not grow up with bright yellow skies. I was an active amateur astronomer. I lived in the suburbs of Chicago and was more concerned about the Elm trees surrounding our house blocking my view of the sky than I was about light pollution. The Milky Way was easily visible through the trees.