13th International Noise Awareness Day

"You may not wish to speak;

just sit without words

day and night by my heart's side" Tagore

April 16th is the 13th International Noise Awareness Day

Participate by the simple act of 60 seconds of “No Noise” from 2.15 to 2.16 pm regardless of location. This one minute period will highlight the impact noise has on our hearing and health.

Recipe for A Quiet Diet
Take these few, simple steps to preserve the peace and quiet in your life:
ALL DAY:
Pay attention to the noises you make and respect your neighbor's right to peace and quiet.
Turn down the volume two notches on your radios and personal stereo systems with headphones.
Turn down the volume one notch on your television.
Do NOT honk your horn, except in the case of imminent danger.
Do NOT tip taxi drivers who honk their horns illegally.
Avoid noisy sports events, restaurants, rock concerts and nightclubs unless you use hearing protection.
Replace noisy activities with quiet ones such as taking a walk, visits to libraries and museums.
Ask your health club instructor to lower the music.
Ask the film theater manager to turn down the volume.
Wear adequate hearing protection if you must be in a noisy environment (the subway, mowing the lawn)
Turn off the television during dinner and have a quiet conversation instead.
Get a hearing screening.
Organize a meeting to review (or develop) a local, enforceable noise ordinance.
Join Quiet Bangkok Group
Spread the word about the danger of noise,
and remember... OBSERVE ONE MINUTE OF NO NOISE FROM 2:15-2:16 P.M (regardless of location)

Mosquito - Beethoven

A new device referred to as 'mosquito' or 'beethoven', to exclude adolescents from areas where it is used, has appeared. Consisting of a small box with a loudspeaker it emits sounds which oscillate between 17 kHz and 18 kHz, a range which can be heard only by children and adolescents. The emission is at 95 dBs and causes a disagreeable sensation to young people, and can give severe headache. It cannot be heard by older people and, strangely, does not appear to affect dogs. It is used outside shops or in areas where young people congregate and sometimes intimidate passersby. The effect of the device is to create child free zones. It is widely used in the UK. In other European countries parents protest use of the device. Belgium has refused to suspend sales of the device. It sells for about 500 Euro.
The device effectively criminalises all young people, the innocent as well as those who might cause offense to others. It also affects babies and young children who are not involved in objectionable behaviour.
It is difficult to understand that use of such a device is acceptable.