2015 World Environment Day

CHECKING THE ONGOING PROLIFERATION OF NOISE POLLUTION AS THE 2015 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY IS MARKED TODAY FRIDAY JUNE 5

         

Today June 5, the global community commemorates the 2015 World Environment Day. The Day was instituted by the United Nations’ (UN) General Assembly to raise awareness on the dangers attached to the various environmental abuses worldwide.

        

Of course, no society is bound to thrive successfully in a polluted environment or an environment filled with any form of pollution. Several plights such as malaria, cholera, depletion of the Ozone layer, loss of hearing, and what have you, as the case may be, being faced by mankind are mainly attributed to environmental mishandling or abuses.

       

Pollution can be defined as the introduction of unwanted substances or contaminants into the natural environment such as air, water and land, which causes adverse effect on the lives of the occupants. In the same vein, noise pollution is the disturbing or excessive sound that has the tendency of harming the activity of human or animal life.

       

The sources of most outdoor noise worldwide are mainly machines to include musical instruments, power generators, transportation systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential areas. Similarly, indoor noise can be caused by building activities or music performances, especially in some workplaces.

         

Though noise has been a thing of great concern to mankind for decades now due to its devastating effect, but the recent dimension it has taken has remained the most worrisome aspect of it, that, if drastic approach is not taken to curb the anomaly, it is likely to degenerate into a more horrible situation soonest.

         

One cannot conclude a discussion on the causes of the current proliferation of noise pollution, particularly in Nigeria, without mentioning the uncalled manner in which most individuals or corporate organizations make use of the sound producing instrument known as loudspeaker. For instance, in most cases you would see some of the new generational churches display their loudspeakers not even within their church premises but along the street where the church in question is situated, thereby generating series of cacophonies.

         

The pathetic one is a situation whereby an individual, especially a youth would not enjoy listening to music in a low or decent tone unless the volume of the sound system is at the maximum point. Without mincing words, deriving pleasure from a noisy environment is not just a ridiculous attitude but irrational and barbaric. The most annoying and worrying aspect of this silly behaviour is that the person who indulges in such act is not only causing harm to himself but to his/her entire neighbours.

        

Also, the noise being generated by the various domestic power generating sets cannot be overlooked while discussing noise pollution. It is obvious that currently virtually every family or bachelor in Nigeria could boast of at least one electricity generator owing to the alarming rate of power instability/failure in the country; in other words, some families have up to two or three in their possession. Statistics show that over sixty percent (60%) of the aforementioned persons/families live in one-room rented apartment; needless to say that the power generators in their possession are being ignited either at the balcony of their houses or directly behind their windows.

        

The adverse effect of noise pollution or noise disturbance cannot be overemphasized. High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure, an increase in stress and vasoconstriction, and an increased incidence of coronary artery diseases. In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey detection and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation as well as contribute to permanent hearing loss.

         

Noise pollution affects both health and behaviour. Unwanted sound can damage one’s psychological health status. In addition, noise pollution can cause hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, and sleep disturbances, among other harmful effects. Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with someone’s normal activities including sleeping and conversation or when it disrupts/diminishes one’s quality of life.

        

In human beings, chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss. Older males exposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate more significantly reduced hearing sensitivity than their non-exposed peers, though differences in hearing sensitivity decrease with time and the two groups are indistinguishable by age 79. Noise pollution also contributes to annoyance.

        

As the world over commemorates the World Environment Day, we are expected to contribute our respective quotas, individually or collectively, towards curbing the ongoing various environmental abuses, especially misuse or mishandling of acoustics. Noise pollution can be alleviated in many ways. Roadway noise can be reduced by the use of noise barriers, limitation of vehicle speeds, alteration of roadway surface texture, restriction of heavy vehicles, use of traffic controls that smooth vehicle flow to reduce unnecessary braking and acceleration, and enhancement of tire designs. Similarly, aircraft noise can be reduced by using quieter jet engines as well as altering flight paths and time of day runway.

        

Inter alia, people ought to be advised to make use of an earpiece headphone that has sound filter while listening to music or radio through an ear speaker. They should also be meant to understand the real beauty behind listening to music in a low tone or the health implications of high sound. More so, the churches should be sensitize on the appropriate way of channelling their sound systems during church service or worship hours. On the other hand, the ongoing incessant use of siren by various public office holders must be monitored by the appropriate quarters or authorities.

       

Most importantly, there is a compelling need to implement a legal backing regarding alleviation of noise pollution. Such measure would be targeted to mandate the owners of power generating sets to construct a mini-house for the said machines in order to profoundly reduce the sound being generated by them. Generally, the proposed law would create an avenue whereby any one or organization found abusing the use of any sound equipment or any machine that produces sound would be brought to book. Think about it!

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056     

Checking Noise Pollution

CHECKING THE ONGOING PROLIFERATION OF NOISE POLLUTION

        

Pollution can be defined as the introduction of unwanted substances or contaminants into the natural environment such as air, water and land, which causes adverse effect on the lives of the occupants. In the same vein, noise pollution is the disturbing or excessive sound that has the tendency of harming the activity of human or animal life.

       

The sources of most outdoor noise worldwide are mainly machines to include musical instruments, power generators, transportation systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential areas. Similarly, indoor noise can be caused by building activities or music performances, especially in some workplaces.

        

Though noise has been a thing of great concern to mankind for decades now due to its devastating effect, but the recent dimension it has taken has remained the most worrisome aspect of it, that, if drastic approach is not taken to curb the anomaly, it is likely to degenerate into a more horrible situation soonest.

        

One cannot conclude a discussion on the causes of the current proliferation of noise pollution, particularly in Nigeria, without mentioning the uncalled manner in which most individuals or corporate organizations make use of the sound producing instrument known as loudspeaker. For instance, in most cases you would see some of the new generational churches display their loudspeakers not even within their church premises but along the street where the church in question is situated, thereby generating series of cacophonies.

          

The pathetic one is a situation whereby an individual, especially a youth would not enjoy listening to music in a low or decent tone unless the volume of the sound system is at the maximum point. Without mincing words, deriving pleasure from a noisy environment is not just a ridiculous attitude but irrational and barbaric. The most annoying and worrying aspect of this silly behaviour is that the person who indulges in such act is not only causing harm to himself but to his/her entire neighbours.

        

Also, the noise being generated by the various domestic power generating sets cannot be overlooked while discussing noise pollution. It is obvious that currently virtually every family or bachelor in Nigeria could boast of at least one electricity generator owing to the alarming rate of power instability/failure in the country; in other words, some families have up to two or three in their possession. Statistics show that over sixty percent (60%) of the aforementioned persons/families live in one-room rented apartment; needless to say that the power generators in their possession are being ignited either at the balcony of their houses or directly behind their windows.

         

The adverse effect of noise pollution or noise disturbance cannot be overemphasized. High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure, an increase in stress and vasoconstriction, and an increased incidence of coronary artery diseases. In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey detection and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation as well as contribute to permanent hearing loss.

        

Noise pollution affects both health and behaviour. Unwanted sound can damage one’s psychological health status. In addition, noise pollution can cause hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, and sleep disturbances, among other harmful effects. Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with someone’s normal activities including sleeping and conversation or when it disrupts/diminishes one’s quality of life.

    

In human beings, chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss. Older males exposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate more significantly reduced hearing sensitivity than their non-exposed peers, though differences in hearing sensitivity decrease with time and the two groups are indistinguishable by age 79. Noise pollution also contributes to annoyance.

        

Noise pollution can be alleviated in many ways. Roadway noise can be reduced by the use of noise barriers, limitation of vehicle speeds, alteration of roadway surface texture, restriction of heavy vehicles, use of traffic controls that smooth vehicle flow to reduce unnecessary braking and acceleration, and enhancement of tire designs. Similarly, aircraft noise can be reduced by using quieter jet engines as well as altering flight paths and time of day runway.

       

Inter alia, people ought to be advised to make use of an earpiece headphone that has sound filter while listening to music or radio through an ear speaker. They should also be meant to understand the real beauty behind listening to music in a low tone or the health implications of high sound. More so, the churches should be sensitize on the appropriate way of channelling their sound systems during church service or worship hours.

        

Most importantly, there is a compelling need to implement a legal backing regarding alleviation of noise pollution. Such measure would be targeted to mandate the owners of power generating sets to construct a mini-house for the said machines in order to profoundly reduce the sound being generated by them. Generally, the proposed law would create an avenue whereby any one or organization found abusing the use of any sound equipment or any machine that produces sound would be brought to book. Think about it!

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

___________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

@fdnnwaozor

+2348028608056      

The Alarming Rate of Touting

CURBING THE ALARMING RATE OF TOUTING

           

             

Apparently, everyone desires to hear that the society he or she belongs to is addressed by all and sundry as ‘a well decent, disciplined and peaceful group of persons’. In the same vein, it is worthy to note that no society would be recognized as a ‘decent or disciplined society’ if it is proliferated with touts.

        

A tout is a person who renders services or sells things such as tickets unofficially or illicitly, usually at charges/prices which are higher than the official ones. A tout can also be defined as someone who solicits business or employment in a persistent and annoying manner. A tout can be found in places to include motor parks, airports, seaports, railway stations, tourist centres, government quarters, schools’ admission points, shopping complexes, stadium, just to mention but a few.

            

Touting can take place in so many forms. A person who frequent tourist areas and presents himself as a tour guide, particularly towards those who do not speak the local language, but operates on behalf of local bars, restaurants, hotels, or what have you, being paid to direct tourists to certain establishments, can be referred to as a tout.

        

Taxi touting refers to a kind of illegal taxicab operation, which involves taxi drivers and the touts in which they attract potential passengers by illicit means; for instance, calling out travellers or fetching them and their luggage to an area where the taxi drivers are waiting in their respective vehicles. They often charge the drivers exorbitant fees upon arrival or while departing, possibly using threats to ensure payment thereby hiking the transport fare.

        

Another devastating method is ticket touting. A ticket tout is someone who engages in ticket resale for more than the face value of the ticket; recently, ticket touts have moved into internet ticket fraud. On the other hand, shop touting has also become rampant. A shop tout is a person who is engaged by a shop owner to loiter outside their office, sometimes outside the building or outside their competitors’ shops; the tout then promotes the sales or services of the shop to a passer-by and afterwards escorts him or her to the shop in question for patronage. The tout is invariably paid a commission for each person he lures to the shop.

        

Though touting has rescued millions of unemployed youths in Nigeria from idleness, but on the contrary it is noteworthy that, it is indeed a social and economic menace in any society where it is harboured. Owing to the inevitable dangers attached to touting, it has been tagged by analysts as ‘a colossal societal cankerworm’.

        

Touting has been a serious threat to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any government. Take for instance; virtually in all the localities in Nigeria, one would hardly see the commercial motor drivers making use of the officially designed motor parks situated in their respective areas of operation. In recent times, the motor parks, among other transportation parks/stations, which are one of the paramount revenue sources of any government, have been turned to mockery grounds by the various touts littered all over the nooks and crannies of the country thereby posing an enormous danger to the purses of the affected governments.

         

Tax collection, which is an official activity required to be carried out by government officials, has also suffered similar maltreatment in the hands of touts. Currently, one would hardly know who is actually standing in for the government when it calls for tax collection due to the manner in which the touts has hijacked the routine. In most cases, they operate in disguise as genuine agents unknowingly to the firms involved. Most pathetically, sometimes the government employees indulge in such illegal act or they may in some occasions prefer to act as an accomplice, just as it is presently found in various institutions of higher learning during admission period. This incidence often makes several companies or entrepreneurs dodge from tax payment, which is supposed to be obligatory.

         

The sports arena is not left out. During any sporting competition anywhere in the world, touting activity is usually observed at the stadium that is meant to be used for the competition. The touts are illegally engaged in selling of tickets to the prospective spectators. This illicit practice has severely hampered the activity of sports organizers across the globe, particularly in Nigeria.

       

Touting had in various occasions caused the death of many innocent Nigerians. To say the least, even the lives of the touts are mostly at risk, which is usually attributed to rivalry, envy or greed that are often witnessed among them. In a nutshell; touting, which has become the order of the day in Nigeria, has succeeded in maiming as well as terminating lives of thousands of our ebullient youths.

        

Thus, it is needless to state that if severe and drastic measure is not taken towards eliminating the menace, it is most likely to become one of the major causes of death rates as well as economic mayhems in the country in the nearest future. To this end, I enjoin the law makers to put hands together toward ensuring that the societal cankerworm, which is on the rampage, is duly taken to the history book.

       

The various labour leaders on their parts, ought to endeavour to fish out the saboteurs or bad eggs in their midst as regards touting, so that he or she would be made to face the wrath of the law. Above all, in our individual capacities, we are expected to work hand in hand with the government in order to ensure that touting won’t only be eradicated but shall continue to be seen as a monster by all concerned for eternity, so that we will live to embrace a thorough decent and disciplined society, which everyone prays for. Think about it!

 COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter:fdnnwaozor

+2348028608056