Charles Cirillo, Ħamrun
Loud bangs, bells and church clocks at night
Malta, like other southern European countries, has always been known for its love of noise. Just look at what Lord Byron remarked about our country.
Loud noise from various sources has become the order of the day and we have grown so accustomed to it that we rarely bother to stop and think about the harm it causes.
To Kristina Chetcuti's list (Turn Down That Noise, November 3) I would add three other factors that contribute to our national din: loud petards, church bells and clocks. I wonder how many decibels Ms Chetcuti's noise meter would have registered in the summer months when loud petards are served daily for breakfast, lunch and supper!
Last August, Victor Axiak, chairman of the Archdiocese's Environment Commission, said that noise levels need to be controlled and, if necessary, excessive noise stopped completely. Several experts insist that the maximum level of noise permitted should not exceed 115 decibels. In some cases, feasts in Malta produce bangs that surpass all acceptable limits.
Prof. Axiak also warned that blasts and tremors caused by powerful shells could also potentially damage frescoes and paintings adorning church interiors. Checking them lies squarely in the hands of the authorities concerned and not the Church. We will wait patiently for the next festa season and keep our fingers crossed. I hope that the promises being made to turn down loud petards will be kept next summer.
Knowing that too much bell-ringing is an inconvenience, especially to those who live nearby, in its document regarding local feasts the Church forbids any ringing during festa days between 1 and 4 p.m. and also between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The Church also insists that since its bells are blessed, they cannot be used for profane purposes. I humbly ask why are many church clocks allowed to chime the night away every 15 minutes, when in its document on feasts the Church itself is forbidding any bell chimes between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.? Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. a church clock would chime 184 times!
A nice way to punctuate what's left of the night's silence. Isn't this nerve-wracking for the people who live nearby? Aren't clock chimes another form of bell-ringing? So much so that where some people protested, church clocks' chimes were either turned down or stopped completely, at least for the night. Again, in this day and age, who needs a church clock to know the time during the night? Not to mention those loud sound systems some cars have. These also contribute to a proper nightmare. And yet the noise goes on and on.
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john fenech
Nov 13th 2009, 17:22
Your comments definitely prove that we as a Nation find it impossible to navigate our daily existence unless we make a noisy statement. Most of the time we accept noise because we are unaware of the nuisance and hazard associated with unwanted sound. We are either oblivious of the hazard or else under the grand illusion that excessive noise is only a nuisance which if tolerated will cause no further problems. WHO & EU confirm that Millions of EU citizens suffer irreversible deterioration to hearing. About one in five people between 55 and 65 years old report tinnitus symptoms, associated with hearing loss. While the younger generation will increase the risk of hearing impairment if the PMPs volume is set at high volume over extended periods, above 85dB(A) for more than one hour daily; Director General for health & Consumer – SCENIHR Report. The main social consequence of hearing impairment is an inability to understand speech in daily living conditions, which is considered a severe social handicap. Our daily activities creates noise, therefore a certain level of noise is accepted, but it is our responsibility to know what is safe to protect ourselves and avoid causing harm to others!
Kevin Camilleri
Nov 13th 2009, 15:41
Another Gem Gem.
I live in Rabat, surrounded by churches and I have become so used to them that I don't even notice them anymore. We are living in a world where everyone wants to destroy what he doesn't like. Why don't you try to stop all the cars that run through High Street - those definatley make noises 24/7!
Chruch bells and Petards (Yes Petards Mr. Navarro) are part of our history and tradition. Personally I do think that some noises have to be controlled yes... church bells do not need to ring @ 3.00am and petars should have their size reduced so to make less noise. Also one should stricktly control at what time they are let off. However, we shouldn't stop these traditions.
Ivan Vella
Nov 13th 2009, 15:19
Come on Mr Cirillo!!! I live 20 meters away from a church in the nothern part of Malta. Our bell clock ring every 15 minutes and the church's big bells ring at 6am, 8 am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm and 7pm. I consider myself lucky to live in the area and I am proud to wake up in the morning at the sound of the bells. The bells sends a message everytime. I recommend you to do some research on the purpose of the bells and please don't try to change our culture. If you don't like bells, feasts and fireworks I recommend you to leave the island and go somewhere else.
John Carmel Navarro
Nov 13th 2009, 11:30
What did Lord Byron actually say then? Yes loud bangs useless petards are definitely unnecessary and there is likelihood that they do cause damage to both humans and artefacts’. However cannot agree with the bells and clock chimes these are the beating of our beloved Country’s heart, long may they continue. The Churches have stood the test of time and our ancestors lived through the same tones, I cannot understand why now modern thinking people want to change our makeup.