We discuss possible mechanisms for setting up a global outreach campaign centred on the main theme of this meeting: save our skies! Effective communication of this message to the world's media and the wide public is a prerequisite for successful sensitisation of decision-makers in different countries to the crucial issues at stake. We emphasise the need for careful planning of such a programme, especially in terms of definition of the key issues, the way they are presented, as well as the communication channels to be employed. It is important to differentiate the arguments used in connection with different types of pollution (light, radio, space debris). It will be necessary to identify clear and forceful messages that convincingly stress that these problems are of ultimate concern, not just a small group of astronomers, but to all of humanity. With their extremely sensitive instruments, astronomers constitute an avant-garde that is the first to detect the adverse effects, but as these intensify, increasingly broader sectors of society will be affected. It appears feasible, within the limited means available to the IAU and IDA, to initiate such an outreach effort with a comprehensive web-based campaign that highlights astronomical “pollution”. This may also serve as a useful test-bench for subsequent campaigns based on more communication vehicles and with a wider spectrum of associated activities.

The preservation of the astronomical environment is intimately connected to society's understanding and appreciation of astronomy. This requires effective education of students, teachers and the general public. We know how this can be done. It remains for us to become education-active and to convince our colleagues and students to do likewise.

The problem of light pollution exists almost everywhere, and is still growing rapidly. The preservation of the astronomical environment requires effective education. In this paper we present our educational programme, based in Greece and also including other countries. For full information see our web pages: http://www.uoLgr/english/EPL/LP/lp.htm

Using low-gain DMSP data, we obtained absolute values of light energy loss ejected to space from different cities. Showing these data to local people in each city encourages them to try to reduce light energy loss. This educational approach is very effective in reducing light pollution.

In order to compete successfully in the marketplace of the radio spectrum radio astronomers must appeal not to economic gain, but to the cultural value of their enterprise. In the real world this can be problematic, but it is not hopeless. This paper gives arguments why radio astronomy, no less than astronomy as a whole, has great cultural value whether considered from an environmental or an intellectual point of view.

Educating the public about interference to radio observatories is a different and more difficult task than educating the public about light pollution. Convincing and successful arguments against light pollution can be based on aesthetic, economic, cultural, safety and security considerations without relying solely on the need to preserve the environment for astronomy. In contrast, it is necessary to first convince members of the public of the value of radio astronomical research before making the case for interference protection. Once this is done, arguments about interference must be presented in ways understandable to a public that is, by and large, woefully uninformed about the technology involved. Successful approaches often borrow from the language of environmental protection and draw parallels to such issues as air and water pollution in justifying the expense of engineering measures to protect radio astronomy.

This, the final radio workshop session, covered the vital topic of public outreach. A number of valuable ideas emerged, with at least one specific goal to be achieved in a relatively short amount of time.

A summary is given of the results of WRC-2000 for radio astronomy and other developments since the end of Symposium 196 (up to April 2001).