SoundBite Newsletter

VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 1 / FALL 1999

Book of Noise

n Canadian composer and author R. Murray Schafer recently revised his marvelous primer on noise pollution entitled "The Book of Noise". NoiseWatch helped in the drafting of the book and is now helping Murray with its distribution. We hope to introduce the book to schools across Metro Toronto and beyond. If you’d like to purchase a copy please give us a call.

 

INAD 1999

n April 21, 1999 marked the fourth International Noise Awareness Day sponsored by The League for the Hard of Hearing in New York. Once again NoiseWatch participated in this special event, hosting a public demonstration of quiet vs. loud household appliance technology in Nathan Philips Square.

Councillor Michael Walker was on hand to talk to the crowd and present Mayor Lastman’s 1999 INAD proclamation to us. Fifteen other cities across Canada proclaimed INAD this year, at our request.
We continued our tradition of handing out brochures and free ear plugs in front of City Hall. This year we received coverage in the Globe and Mail for the first time.

 

NoiseWatch- EPO meeting

n On November 18, 1998 NoiseWatch met with officials from Toronto’s Environmental Office. We present a 9-point plan designed to help raise Torontonians noise awareness. The EPO made a commitment to start the process with a public awareness campaign. We hope NoiseWatch will be able to work with the EPO and build on our first contact.

 

New Internet Address

n Please make note of NoiseWatch’s new internet web address:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/noise/

We hope you will stop by visit our new and improved site.

 

New noise publication

n Noise & Health, a new international journal dedicated to noise and health issues was recently launched. It is the only international journal devoted to research on all aspects of noise and its effects on human health. It will cover issues from basic experimental science through clinical evaluation and management, technical aspects of noise reduction systems and solutions to environmental issues relating to social and public health policy.

For more information on subscriptions, advertising or contributions please write to:

Dr. M. Patrick
330 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8EE
UK

or e-mail m.patrick@ucl.ac.uk

 

Meetings

nYou’re welcome to attend our monthly meetings. Meetings are held at The Canadian Hearing Society, 271 Spadina Rd., and start at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Please call ahead to confirm time and location.

Dates:

August 9, 1999
September 13, 1999
October 7, 1999 (AGM)
November 15, 1999
December 13, 1999

 

1998 AGM

n NoiseWatch was fortunate in having guest speaker R. Murray Schafer at last fall’s Annual General Meeting. Twenty five members enjoyed Murray’s delightful and inspiring talk which included many amusing stories and anecdotes

from his years of involvement in the anti-noise movement. Several members had the pleasure of chatting with Murray over munchies at a nearby Japanese restaurant following the meeting.

 

Aircraft soundbytes

Helicopters shot down

n Six of the seven member Toronto Police Services Board recently voted to ground the helicopter patrol pilot project until at least September of this year and probably beyond. Norm Gardner, chair of the police services board, was the only one voting in favour of the project.

A permanent air squadron would cost the city about $7-million a year. The proposed helicopter fleet would be regularly patroling neighbourhoods until 3:00 a.m.

NoiseWatch encourages members to write to Toronto city councillors, and the Toronto Police Services Board to congratulate the police board on their recent decision. Let them know that Toronto does not want or need police helicopter service.

Airport warrior dies

n The residents of Mississauga East, who opposed the new runway at Pearson International Airport that dramatically changed their lives, recently lost their spiritual leader.

Lorrie Mitoff died on May 27, 1999 in a Toronto hospital following complications as a result of stomach surgery. He was 58.

Mr. Mitoff was an undisputed leader and source of inspiration for thousands of residents in east Mississauga. A co-chair of the Council of Concerned Residents (CCR), a coalition of three residents' associations, he devoted countless hours over several years leading the opposition to the new runway at Pearson International Airport.

"He was very much the happy Warrior," remarked fellow Rockwood ratepayers' executive MacLean, who was astounded that Mitoff would think nothing of calling up Greater Toronto Airports Authority President Louis Turpen to shoot the breeze about airport developments.

Lorrie will be greatly missed by family, friends, and fellow anti-noise activists. He is survived by his wife Yvonne, a Mississauga separate school teacher, and by his children Larissa and Peter, both university students.

Toronto funds noise study

n The Etobicoke Federation of Residents and Ratepayers Association (EFRRA) have succeeded in convincing the City of Toronto to fund an independent noise monitoring study to test aircraft noise levels around the airport and surrounding areas. The study will cost approximately $25,000 and should provide some unbiased data that previously had to be relied upon by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).

 

1999 AGM

n Be sure to mark your calendar for this year’s Annual General Meeting on October 7, 1999. We are fortunate to have Dr. Arline L. Bronzaft, a most colourful and dynamic woman, as guest speaker.

Dr. Bronzaft, Professor Emerita, Lehman College, City University of New York and former Chair of its Psychology Department and Women's Studies Program is an acknowledged expert on the effects of noise on health and learning. Her credentials are varied and show her vast experience in this field.

Ms. Bronzaft is presently on the Board of Directors, for the Council on the Environment of NYC, and is Chair of its Noise Committee (an appointment by New York Mayor Giuliani, non-paid position). She also serves as an advisor on noise to groups in U.S., Canada and abroad.

Her publications include the book "Top Of The Class", chapters in five other books, articles in academic journals, and writings in the popular press.

 

City speed shops prosper

n Drag racing is getting out of control in Metro Toronto and speed shops are doing little to discourage this trend. As a matter of fact business is booming at these specialty Toronto stores with customers ranging in age from 18 to 58 years old.

Superchargers and turbo kits are the most powerful tools being used to enhance a car’s performance.A supercharger for a Civic costs about $5,000 to install and adds anywhere from 40 to 60 per cent more horsepower by supplying extra oxygen directly to the engine. The more air in the engine, the greater the power.

Others looking to raise their car's performance are choosing tamer methods such as high-flow intake systems and freer-flowing exhausts, which free up an extra 10 to 20 horsepower while making the cars noisier.

 

NoiseWatch positions available

n NoiseWatch needs your help! As you know all work done for the group is strictly on a volunteer basis. There are too many things to do and too few people to do them all. If you can spare just a few hours per month to help out, please give us a call. The following is just a sample of the type of help needed: preparing for the AGM, food preparation, telephone calls, writing articles, letter writing, bookkeeping, research, computer work, media relations, public relations, book sales and fundraising.

© 1999 NoiseWatch