Two posts on light pollution
The efforts of one astronomer to save Flagstaff, Arizona
from encroaching light pollution:
http://altairvi.blogspot.com/2008/04/wes-lockwood-saves-universe.html
And check out these cities as seen from space at night -
it looks pretty until you realize how those artificial lights
have killed the real natural beauty for those urban areas:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/CitiesAtNight/