I believe that the anti-noise campaign that was started here a few months ago has created interest and awareness through regular articles in the press and discussions on the radio.
Local columnist Clinton Swanston has supported my stand in his article, “Loud Music Really is an Earsore,” which appeared in The Observer on March 7th. Numerous people have responded privately, to concur with the statements I have been making regarding the harmful effects of loud music and noise, and to support and encourage me to continue the effort. One anonymous supporter recently purchased a new digital sound level meter to donate to the cause. And many others have stated that they would be willing to sign a petition and also support the cause in other ways.
Until now, there has only been a small, hard core of us writing magazine and newspaper articles, and discussing the issue on the radio. Now we feel it is time to tap into the general community to give those who understand the issue, an opportunity to express their concern and add their weight and voice to ours, by signing a petition and helping to get others to sign too. The following is the complete text of our petition:
AN URGENT APPEAL FOR
PEACE AND QUIET!
The undersigned persons are alarmed at the spread of unnecessarily loud music and other sounds in our communities. Particularly alarming, annoying and offensive are the sounds which intrude upon an individual’s enjoyment of peace and quiet in his or her own home, and also in public areas where one has to do shopping or other business.
These sounds are generally caused by other entities for leisure, pleasure, or business purposes and in some cases have been authorised by permits from the Police Department. Exposure to loud music can cause headaches, disorientation, hearing loss, impaired concentration, and many other serious health problems, as well as general irritation.
Peace and quiet hurts absolutely no one. It is a perfectly natural state and one that we should all be able to enjoy. It is unfair, unreasonable and unhealthy for us to be subjected to unwanted, intrusive sound at somebody else’s whim. Our communities and our homes are too often under bombardment from sounds which not only tend to “drive us up the wall,” but also may tend to drive down property values and project an image of squalor. We are appealing to our authorities to rectify this situation and restore the natural peace and quiet of our island.
Petitions usually require a lot of signatures to be effective, so we’ll need as many different signatures as we can possibly get. This is where many other supporters can play a part. Petition forms are available at the museum in Charlestown and at CHOICE/fm radio station. Please pick up a form and gather signatures from as many people in your area as you can, before returning it. Just the signature and the area where the person lives is sufficient for the petition.
If anyone is willing to contribute or participate in other ways in the anti-noise campaign, please contact Amba Trott, 469-1424 / 765-3559.
