Image courtesy of Sound Defense Alliance
by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition, and Honorary Chair, Quiet American Skies
Readers of The Quiet Coalition posts know that noise does not just harm humans–research has shown that noise is harmful to animals and plants as well. The literature on the harmful impacts to marine life has been especially strong. For example, noise in our oceans have intruded upon the ability of whales to seek food, raise their young, and protect themselves from predators.
We now invite our readers to view a documentary that focuses on how industrial and military noise have impacted whales and other marine life. “Sonic Sea,” narrated by Rachel McAdams and featuring individuals who are recognized as experts on ocean life, tells the story from a personal view of Ken Balcomb, who solved a mystery involving a mass stranding of whales. The film can be seen online on Thursday, April 27 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.
As we seek ways to abate noise pollution and enhance quieter spaces, we need to do this for species other than humans. A quieter earth is a heathier earth for all its species.
