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Tuesday 16 July 2019
Listen on World Listening Day
Human Listening A little girl and her father take a
What can listening to nature teach quiet walk and identify the sounds
humans? A lot. around them. Soon the girl dis-
Relaxing by a seashore, hiking covers an extraordinary world of
through the forest, or walking in sounds in her everyday environ-
a park can calm the brain and ment.
body. And reduce stress. Being in
nature involves myriad senses: lis- Turn Down Sound Pollution
tening, seeing, smelling, and feel- As noted in Bernie Krause’s book,
ing. But, acoustic ecology studies The Great Animal Orchestra, “A
sounds. great silence is spreading over the
natural world even as the sound of
Research is surmising that nature man is becoming deafening. Little
sounds can physically modify the by little the vast orchestra of life,
synapses in the brain. And the the chorus of the natural world, is
changes in the brain influence in the process of being quietened.
the body. How many people There has been a massive de-
use meditation apps with nature crease in the density and diversity
sounds to promote sleep? How of key vocal creatures, both large
By Melissa Martin our planet.” many trauma victims use nature and small. The sense of desolation
OHIO — Shhh…do you hear that? as a healing place? extends beyond mere silence.”
Close your mouth and eyes. Open The World Listening Project (WLP) is
your ears and pay attention. It’s the a not-for-profit organization devot- Mother Nature is mothering. Listen Rock-in with the Natural World
sound of World Listening Day ap- ed to understanding the world and to the sound of the wind rustling Turn off technology and go out-
proaching; an annual global event its natural environment, societies leafs. Listen to birds singing. Lis- side to listen. The woods are full
held every July 18. www.worldlis- and cultures through the practices ten to the surge of ocean waves. of natural sounds. Take a picnic
teningproject.org. of listening and field recording. The Ahhh. That’s how I spell relief. basket and a blanket. Put on your
WLP was founded in 2008 and is Spending time in nature with open listening ears and enjoy.
The 2019 theme is “Listening With” supported by the Midwest Society ears can be beneficial for human
created by internationally ac- for Acoustic Ecology, a non-profit beings. Take the in-ear headphones out
claimed sound artist Annea Lock- membership organization affiliated when you visit the beach. Turn off
wood. “Listening with an aware- with the World Forum for Acoustic “The Listening Walk,” a picture the human music for a while. Lis-
ness that all around you are other Ecology. book for kids, by Paul Showers is ten to the rhythmic vibrations of
life-forms simultaneously listening recommended. nature.q
and sensing with you – plant roots, The World Forum for Acoustic Ecol-
owls, cicadas, voles – mutually in- ogy (WFAE), founded in 1993, is “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded
tertwined within the web of vibra- an international association of af- to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was
tions which animate and surround filiated organizations and individu-
als, who share a common concern really going in.”
with the state of the world’s sound- —John Muir
scapes. Its members represent a
multi-disciplinary spectrum of in-
dividuals engaged in the study of
the social, cultural and ecological
aspects of the sonic environment.
www.wfae.net. The International
Conference on Acoustic Ecology
will be held in October 2019.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author,
The American Society for Acoustic columnist, educator, and therapist.
Ecology (ASAE) is a membership She lives in the US.
organization dedicated to pro-
moting a holistic understanding of
sound, listening, and environment
through research and creative ex-
ploration. www.acousticecology.
us.
