September 29 marks the fifth anniversary of NoiseOFF.
NoiseOFF was originally created as a means to present the issue of noise pollution to various publics. I had previously worked as an account executive for a public relations firm and later as a webmaster consultant for a health organization. The anti-war movement in New York City inspired me to think about how people used technology to disseminate information for social and political change. I initially worked with a group that was working to lobby the city to ban car alarms and witnessed the city council derail the legislation. The revised NYC noise code that was later passed was a step forward, but with no effective enforcement, the problem of noise pollution persists.
The first media placement for NoiseOFF was an article that maligned the issue, suggesting that noise sufferers should politely ask drivers to turn down their car stereo systems when they disturb us at night. The anguished messages from affected families dealing with noise validates the issue. The vitriol from noisemakers validates our message.
The message board has grown to over 900 members; your numerous efforts have been covered in newspapers, magazines, radio and television news segments. The website has over 200 pages of material that is used as a working toolkit for members to directly handle noise pollution in their communities. The amount of research published on the website reflects the dedicated work of its core members.
The industries that profit from causing noise pollution ignore, obfuscate, invalidate, deny, and dismiss the issue and you to the extent that they will not be liable or bear any responsibility. When public officials say, "we are doing everything we can," they are doing little, if anything, to reduce noise problems they are mandated to handle. And then there are neighbors who are indifferent to causing noise problems in our communities.
To reduce noise pollution, we increase public awareness. The issue is presented to many audiences: media, legislators, law enforcement, engineers, researchers, academics, educators, students. It means connecting with others in the community through political clubs, civic groups, city councils and the local media. It means disseminating materials at public meetings, making phone calls, writing letters, pitching stories to news editors, social networking. People find us online and we can begin to change perceptions.
In the words of Ayn Rand: "It is those few that move the world and give life its meaning - and it is those few that I have always sought to address. The rest are no concern of mine; it is not me that they will betray: it is their own souls."
Richard
<*> To learn more about NoiseOFF, go to:
http://www.noiseoff.org
<*> For information on message board policies, go to:
http://www.noiseoff.org/members.php
<*> To connect with other members in your area, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/noiseoff/app/peoplemap
<*> To contact the moderator(s), send an email to:
noiseoff-owner@yahoogroups.com
<*> Follow NoiseOFF on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/noiseoff
