Awaaz Foundation
Encyclopedia
Awaaz Foundation is a charitable trust
and non-governmental organization
in Mumbai
, India, which builds awareness, carries out advocacy, and is involved in educational projects to protect the environment
and prevent environmental pollution
. It has impacted many important decisions by the government and influenced policy making in important environmental matters in India. The beneficiaries of the Foundation are the citizens of India at large.
Awaaz Foundation was founded on February 21, 2006 by Sumaira Abdulali, a well-known environmentalist
, who has exposed many scandals of environmental villainy in India at personal risk. The Foundation has filed several public interest litigation
s, including demands for strict implementation of noise-pollution
laws, better functioning of Mumbai’s Tree Authority, banning noise pollution, banning sale of tobacco to minors, and efforts to counter politically sponsored sand mining
mafia.
can cause annoyance
and aggression
, hypertension
, high stress levels, Tinnitus
, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Anti-Social Behaviour such as uses of Loudspeaker
is a highly sensitive social issue
in India.
Among the major forms of pollution in India is noise pollution. There is no parallel in the world to the noise pollution generated during festivals and religious celebrations in India. For Indians, making noise is a sign of happiness. For politicians the ability to make a big noise, by using huge loudspeakers at any opportunity, is a sign of strength. Festivals in India have become political battlegrounds as politicians try to score brownie points over one another by attempting to host the noisiest festival. The use of loudspeakers, permitted by the courts on certain occasions, often exceeds the permissible decibel limit, causing a great deal of stress and anxiety to the neighbourhoods.
Awaaz Foundation has advocated
against noise pollution from various sources and has conducted campaigns to create awareness of adverse health effects from noise in a methodical and scientific manner. These noise pollution campaigns of the Foundation turned into a public movement with overwhelming public support in Mumbai and in the rest of the country. Increased awareness and vigilance of citizens has resulted in systems and policy changes towards better implementation of Noise Rules.
In regard with this movement, and data collated and presented by Awaaz Foundation, such as reports of noise levels at major events since 2003, firecracker, traffic and construction noise reports and testing report of helicopter noise levels, along with and action on this by State Governments and courts, Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests accepted all recommendations by Awaaz Foundation on January 11 2010 for stricter noise laws in the country and issued a new notification to ban on the use of loudspeakers, musical instruments and honking in the areas demarcated as silence zones, including area around religious places throughout India. The MoEF also denied permission to the State Government of Maharashtra to permit private helipads for personal use of individuals atop residential buildings and included other sources of noise such as traffic and construction noise within the ambit of the Rules for the first time.
But The state Government of Maharashtra had initially, in its notification, asked municipal bodies in the state to demarcate area of 100 metres (328.1 ft) around educational institutions, hospitals and courts as silence zones but did not consider the areas surrounding religious places as silence zones. Awaaz foundation filed a Public Interest Litigation
on November 12, 2007 in Mumbai High Court seeking implementation of Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, which contemplate creation of silence zones around educational places, courts, hospitals and religious places also.
In 2009 the Bombay High Court
accepted the need for implementation of stricter noise laws and ordered the State Government to implement Noise Pollution regulation rules notified by 'Central Pollution board', (one of the Subordinate and statutory bodies) of Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests. Consequent to the Bombay High Court Order, the State Government of Maharashtra initially notified and asked municipal bodies in the state to demarcate an area of 100 metres (328.1 ft) around educational institutions, hospitals and courts as silence zones but did not consider the areas surrounding religious places as silence zones. Awaaz Foundation once again petitioned the Court to have these places notified as silence zones. On August 6, 2009, the principal secretary of the Home Department, Government of Maharashtra
in an affidavit told the court that about 1,313 religious places had been identified in the city of Mumbai and the BMC would put up Silence zone boards within three months.
Finally On Aug 20, 2009 principal secretary (appeals and security) Government of Maharashtra Mr. Anna Dani filed an affidavit stating that a supplementary notification has been issued to include all religious places in silence zone, and has been circulated to all civic bodies in the state.
It was Foundation’s advocacy against noise pollution in India that motivated the Government of India to make rules and implement them. Awaaz Foundation has successfully petitioned both local and state governments in India to impose stricter noise pollution laws. Under the new Environment Protection Act, in which the Noise Pollution Rules are framed, violation of the rules is punishable with a Jail term of up to five years and fine of .
Awaaz Foundation also has organized volunteers groups, offered them support and education to all those who faced noise related problems, independently monitored Ambient noise level
using sound level meter
. and interacted with the authorities to ensure their support and co operation. Excessive noise from loudspeakers, construction, traffic and firecrackers have been separately taken up by Foundation at various times and with various authorities; educational programs and publications for schools, colleges, citizens groups and the authorities empowered to implement the laws have been supported and implemented.
habitats, and has engaged in marine conservation activism
against nonessential seabed mining. Sand mining is a practice that is becoming an environmental issue
in many countries. Awaaz Foundation has raised public awareness of illegal sand mining in Maharashtra and Goa States of India. The State Government took serious note of illegal sand mining following an incident of assault on Sumaira Abdulali (President of Foundation) by the son and employees of a local Member of the Legislative Assembly
who are part of an extensive politically controlled sand mafia in Maharashtra. After that, Foundation filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court
seeking a ban on mining activities along the Konkan coast
. Earlier, the court had banned mining in the CRZ (coastal regulation zone) area and directed that a comprehensive report on alternatives to sand dredging prepared by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
to be implemented by the State Government. The Report includes measures to compulsorily manufacture and use artificial sand from building debris, environmental cess on natural sand and more environmentally friendly techniques of sand dredging.
Sumaira Abdulali was attacked a second time in March 2010 at Mahad while inspecting a site where illegal sand dredging is rampant. Thereafter, the Bombay High Court has completely banned all sand mining activity in the State of Maharashtra
and the Government has been forced to notify a completely new Policy on sand mining after considering the IIT Bombay Report.
The new sand mining policy stipulate that the barges should be registered and the list should be updated with the local Tehesildar. The Maharashtra Maritime Board
(MMB) will Provide No Objection Certificates to the sand barges that pass through the sea channel after the letters of approval from the district collector.
Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz foundation raised some specific queries under the Right to Information Act
regarding number of licences issued to barges carrying sand from Raigad district
to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
along with the name of barges owners, conditions for operations as well as the number of inspections deployed to check if any contraband material was being smuggled into the jetty
. The MMB did not respond for several months, then foundation filed these queries with the Maharashtra State Information Commission. Commission responded that neither The Maharashtra Maritime Board
(MMB) nor Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS) nor The Indian Coast Guard
maintain any records of the number of barges that move in and out of the inland waters on a day -to -day basis.
MAB for the Western Ghats
to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site
. The Western Ghats is very important Tropical Rainforest of India. During the monsoon season between June and September, the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier to the moisture laden clouds. The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the River Tapti, and runs approximately 1600 kilometres (994.2 mi) through the states of Maharashtra
, Goa
, Karnataka
, Tamil Nadu
and Kerala
ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India, one of three Biodiversity hotspot
s in the country.
The National Mineral Policy of India, 2008 rules that any abandoned mine "should be made richer than what it was before" through refilling the craters and reforestation, but most miners leave their mines in a state of utter decay and toxicity. According to the data available with the ministry's Indian Bureau of Mines, there are 297 abandoned mines across the country and most of them are yet to be "rehabilitated". To protect large-scale destruction of flora and fauna around Western Ghats
. Awaaz Foundation is advocating a zero-mining policy.
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
and non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India, which builds awareness, carries out advocacy, and is involved in educational projects to protect the environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and prevent environmental pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
. It has impacted many important decisions by the government and influenced policy making in important environmental matters in India. The beneficiaries of the Foundation are the citizens of India at large.
Awaaz Foundation was founded on February 21, 2006 by Sumaira Abdulali, a well-known environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, who has exposed many scandals of environmental villainy in India at personal risk. The Foundation has filed several public interest litigation
Public interest litigation
In Indian law, Public Interest Litigation OR जनहित याचिका means litigation for the protection of the public interest. It is litigation introduced in a court of law, not by the aggrieved party but by the court itself or by any other private party...
s, including demands for strict implementation of noise-pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
laws, better functioning of Mumbai’s Tree Authority, banning noise pollution, banning sale of tobacco to minors, and efforts to counter politically sponsored sand mining
Sand mining
Sand mining is a practice that is becoming an environmental issue as the demand for sand increases in industry and construction. Sand is mined from beaches and inland dunes and dredged from ocean beds and river beds. It is often used in manufacturing as an abrasive, for example, and it is used to...
mafia.
Noise pollution
Noise pollutionNoise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
can cause annoyance
Annoyance
Annoyance is an unpleasant mental state that is characterized by such effects as irritation and distraction from one's conscious thinking. It can lead to emotions such as frustration and anger...
and aggression
Aggression
In psychology, as well as other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause humiliation, pain, or harm. Ferguson and Beaver defined aggressive behavior as "Behavior which is intended to increase the social dominance of...
, hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
, high stress levels, Tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Anti-Social Behaviour such as uses of Loudspeaker
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
is a highly sensitive social issue
in India.
Among the major forms of pollution in India is noise pollution. There is no parallel in the world to the noise pollution generated during festivals and religious celebrations in India. For Indians, making noise is a sign of happiness. For politicians the ability to make a big noise, by using huge loudspeakers at any opportunity, is a sign of strength. Festivals in India have become political battlegrounds as politicians try to score brownie points over one another by attempting to host the noisiest festival. The use of loudspeakers, permitted by the courts on certain occasions, often exceeds the permissible decibel limit, causing a great deal of stress and anxiety to the neighbourhoods.
Awaaz Foundation has advocated
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
against noise pollution from various sources and has conducted campaigns to create awareness of adverse health effects from noise in a methodical and scientific manner. These noise pollution campaigns of the Foundation turned into a public movement with overwhelming public support in Mumbai and in the rest of the country. Increased awareness and vigilance of citizens has resulted in systems and policy changes towards better implementation of Noise Rules.
In regard with this movement, and data collated and presented by Awaaz Foundation, such as reports of noise levels at major events since 2003, firecracker, traffic and construction noise reports and testing report of helicopter noise levels, along with and action on this by State Governments and courts, Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests accepted all recommendations by Awaaz Foundation on January 11 2010 for stricter noise laws in the country and issued a new notification to ban on the use of loudspeakers, musical instruments and honking in the areas demarcated as silence zones, including area around religious places throughout India. The MoEF also denied permission to the State Government of Maharashtra to permit private helipads for personal use of individuals atop residential buildings and included other sources of noise such as traffic and construction noise within the ambit of the Rules for the first time.
But The state Government of Maharashtra had initially, in its notification, asked municipal bodies in the state to demarcate area of 100 metres (328.1 ft) around educational institutions, hospitals and courts as silence zones but did not consider the areas surrounding religious places as silence zones. Awaaz foundation filed a Public Interest Litigation
Public interest litigation
In Indian law, Public Interest Litigation OR जनहित याचिका means litigation for the protection of the public interest. It is litigation introduced in a court of law, not by the aggrieved party but by the court itself or by any other private party...
on November 12, 2007 in Mumbai High Court seeking implementation of Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, which contemplate creation of silence zones around educational places, courts, hospitals and religious places also.
In 2009 the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
accepted the need for implementation of stricter noise laws and ordered the State Government to implement Noise Pollution regulation rules notified by 'Central Pollution board', (one of the Subordinate and statutory bodies) of Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests. Consequent to the Bombay High Court Order, the State Government of Maharashtra initially notified and asked municipal bodies in the state to demarcate an area of 100 metres (328.1 ft) around educational institutions, hospitals and courts as silence zones but did not consider the areas surrounding religious places as silence zones. Awaaz Foundation once again petitioned the Court to have these places notified as silence zones. On August 6, 2009, the principal secretary of the Home Department, Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
in an affidavit told the court that about 1,313 religious places had been identified in the city of Mumbai and the BMC would put up Silence zone boards within three months.
It was Foundation’s advocacy against noise pollution in India that motivated the Government of India to make rules and implement them. Awaaz Foundation has successfully petitioned both local and state governments in India to impose stricter noise pollution laws. Under the new Environment Protection Act, in which the Noise Pollution Rules are framed, violation of the rules is punishable with a Jail term of up to five years and fine of .
Awaaz Foundation also has organized volunteers groups, offered them support and education to all those who faced noise related problems, independently monitored Ambient noise level
Ambient noise level
In atmospheric sounding and noise pollution, ambient noise level is the background sound pressure level at a given location, normally specified as a reference level to study a new intrusive sound source.Ambient sound levels are often measured in order to map sound conditions over a...
using sound level meter
Sound level meter
Sound level meters measure sound pressure level and are commonly used in noise pollution studies for the quantification of almost any noise, but especially for industrial, environmental and aircraft noise. However, the reading given by a sound level meter does not correlate well to...
. and interacted with the authorities to ensure their support and co operation. Excessive noise from loudspeakers, construction, traffic and firecrackers have been separately taken up by Foundation at various times and with various authorities; educational programs and publications for schools, colleges, citizens groups and the authorities empowered to implement the laws have been supported and implemented.
Sand mining
Awaaz Foundation has also worked to conserve the coastal ecosystems and aquatic ecosystemAquatic ecosystem
An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems....
habitats, and has engaged in marine conservation activism
Marine conservation activism
Marine conservation activism refers to the efforts of non-governmental organizations and individuals to bring about social and political change in the area of marine conservation. Marine conservation is properly conceived as a set of management strategies for the protection and preservation of...
against nonessential seabed mining. Sand mining is a practice that is becoming an environmental issue
Environmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
in many countries. Awaaz Foundation has raised public awareness of illegal sand mining in Maharashtra and Goa States of India. The State Government took serious note of illegal sand mining following an incident of assault on Sumaira Abdulali (President of Foundation) by the son and employees of a local Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
who are part of an extensive politically controlled sand mafia in Maharashtra. After that, Foundation filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
seeking a ban on mining activities along the Konkan coast
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
. Earlier, the court had banned mining in the CRZ (coastal regulation zone) area and directed that a comprehensive report on alternatives to sand dredging prepared by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , popularly known as IIT Bombay or IITB, is a public research university located in Powai, Mumbai...
to be implemented by the State Government. The Report includes measures to compulsorily manufacture and use artificial sand from building debris, environmental cess on natural sand and more environmentally friendly techniques of sand dredging.
Sumaira Abdulali was attacked a second time in March 2010 at Mahad while inspecting a site where illegal sand dredging is rampant. Thereafter, the Bombay High Court has completely banned all sand mining activity in the State of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and the Government has been forced to notify a completely new Policy on sand mining after considering the IIT Bombay Report.
The new sand mining policy stipulate that the barges should be registered and the list should be updated with the local Tehesildar. The Maharashtra Maritime Board
Maharashtra Maritime Board
Maharashtra Maritime Board is governmental organisation in the state of Maharashtra India. Task of this board is includes administration of ports and harbours, conservancy, licensing of crafts, levying of fees and regulation and control of traffic etc.....
(MMB) will Provide No Objection Certificates to the sand barges that pass through the sea channel after the letters of approval from the district collector.
Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz foundation raised some specific queries under the Right to Information Act
Right to Information Act
The Right to Information Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has its own act...
regarding number of licences issued to barges carrying sand from Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai is a Planned Satellite City on the west coast of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was developed in 1972 as a twin city of Mumbai, and is the largest planned city on the planet, with under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and a total area of . Navi Mumbai...
along with the name of barges owners, conditions for operations as well as the number of inspections deployed to check if any contraband material was being smuggled into the jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
. The MMB did not respond for several months, then foundation filed these queries with the Maharashtra State Information Commission. Commission responded that neither The Maharashtra Maritime Board
Maharashtra Maritime Board
Maharashtra Maritime Board is governmental organisation in the state of Maharashtra India. Task of this board is includes administration of ports and harbours, conservancy, licensing of crafts, levying of fees and regulation and control of traffic etc.....
(MMB) nor Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS) nor The Indian Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard is a branch of the Indian Armed Forces. Its mission is the protection of India's maritime interests and maritime law enforcement with jurisdiction over both territorial and international waters....
maintain any records of the number of barges that move in and out of the inland waters on a day -to -day basis.
Mining in dense forests
In 2006, India applied to the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
MAB for the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. The Western Ghats is very important Tropical Rainforest of India. During the monsoon season between June and September, the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier to the moisture laden clouds. The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the River Tapti, and runs approximately 1600 kilometres (994.2 mi) through the states of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India, one of three Biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
s in the country.
The National Mineral Policy of India, 2008 rules that any abandoned mine "should be made richer than what it was before" through refilling the craters and reforestation, but most miners leave their mines in a state of utter decay and toxicity. According to the data available with the ministry's Indian Bureau of Mines, there are 297 abandoned mines across the country and most of them are yet to be "rehabilitated". To protect large-scale destruction of flora and fauna around Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
. Awaaz Foundation is advocating a zero-mining policy.
See also
- noise regulation scaleA-weightingA Weighting curve is a graph of a set of factors, that are used to 'weight' measured values of a variable according to their importance in relation to some outcome. The most commonly known example is frequency weighting in sound level measurement where a specific set of weighting curves known as A,...
- Sound level meterSound level meterSound level meters measure sound pressure level and are commonly used in noise pollution studies for the quantification of almost any noise, but especially for industrial, environmental and aircraft noise. However, the reading given by a sound level meter does not correlate well to...
- Environmental Principles and PoliciesEnvironmental Principles and PoliciesThe book Environmental Principles and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction, written by Professor Sharon Beder, examines six key environmental and social principles that have been incorporated into international treaties and national laws...
- Environmental design and planningEnvironmental design and planningEnvironmental design and planning is the moniker used by several Ph.D. programs that take a multidisciplinary approach to the built environment. Typically environmental design and planning programs address architectural history or design , city or regional planning, landscape architecture history...
- Noise health effectsNoise health effectsNoise health effects are the health consequences of elevated sound levels. Elevated workplace or other noise can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance and sleep disturbance. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been attributed to noise exposure...
- Loud musicLoud musicThe term loud music is often used to refer to music that is played at a volume that disturbs others, such as neighbors or bystanders, who do not wish to hear the music, or that is otherwise viewed as a nuisance to the public...
- Noise-induced hearing loss
- LoudnessLoudnessLoudness is the quality of a sound that is primarily a psychological correlate of physical strength . More formally, it is defined as "that attribute of auditory sensation in terms of which sounds can be ordered on a scale extending from quiet to loud."Loudness, a subjective measure, is often...
- Environmental PolicyEnvironmental policyEnvironmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
- EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
- Human ecologyHuman ecologyHuman ecology is the subdiscipline of ecology that focuses on humans. More broadly, it is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study of the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments. The term 'human ecology' first appeared in a sociological study in 1921...
- Environmental movementEnvironmental movementThe environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
- Forest protectionForest protectionForest protection is a general term describing methods purported to preserve or improve a forest threatened or affected by abuse. The types of abuse that forest protection seeks to prevent include:* Aggressive or unsustainable farming and logging...
- List of environmental issues
- Environmental designEnvironmental designEnvironmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products...
- Environmental agreements
External links
- Indian Government gazette on Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rules 2009
- Awaaz Foundation Website
- The International Institute for Noise control
- Sudhir Badami's Views on Noise Issues
- Ambient Noise Standards In India- Government Environmental Standards
- WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health - final report
- Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
- European Commission – Noise policy
- Noise Pollution: Sources, Effects and Control
- Noise Mapping UK