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The NGO “Friends of the Earth” has launched an application in Marseille against unnecessary lights at night. It allows citizens to report windows that remain lit. #TheyHaveTheSolution
It was launched during the 14th edition of Jour de la Nuit, a major national awareness-raising event dedicated to energy waste. The application called “Night Extinction” aims to track establishments that do not respect the decree prohibiting illuminated advertising between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Anyone can download it to their mobile. An application to geolocate unnecessary and outlawed illuminated signs or showcases, designed by a volunteer from the “Friends of the Earth” association.
This application has been tested in Marseille by a dozen activists like Loïs: “Our role as a citizen is to take part, to know how to become an actor at least on our scale”. Volunteers in groups of two roam the streets, mobile phone in hand to identify and report the lit windows. “When you walk around, you notice a lot of stores that have their windows lit up when there are more customers in the street,” adds Vincent from the “Friends of the Earth” association.
During this anti-waste safari, activists place flyers under the doors of certain businesses to inform these poor students of their passage. This initiative aims to raise awareness among traders but also mobilize local authorities to ensure compliance with the new legislation on lighting at night. A law still deemed insufficient for some activists. According to them, these extinctions should take place much earlier in the evening. 140 users have already registered to participate in these reports.