The residents’ associations of Santa Catalina and Es Jonquet, Sa Llotja and the Paseo Marítimo in Palma will publicly highlight the impact of noise on residents’ health next Wednesday. The campaign, organised once again to mark International Noise Awareness Day, will seek to raise public awareness and call on the local council to take real action, particularly to regulate overcrowded nightlife in these city neighbourhoods.
In a joint statement, the neighbourhood organisations have argued that there is clear evidence that noise affects people’s health, as it triggers physiological mechanisms that can have cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological consequences, with a cumulative effect.
This scientific evidence provides a basis for complaints and claims regarding health impacts, such as the recent ruling by the High Court of Justice of the Balearics, which described the noise endured by residents living in the neighbourhood around the bullring during concerts held at the venue as “acoustic torture”.
The slogan for this year’s campaign will be, precisely, ‘Noise is torture’, and it can already be seen on some posters displayed on residents’ balconies. The protest will take place at 6.00 pm next Wednesday on the corner of Calle Fábrica and Avenida Argentina.
At the same time, in front of the bullring, local residents will share their experiences and show their support for the organisations working to tackle noise-related issues. This local initiative is part of a series of events promoted by the National Federation of Associations Against Noise, such as information sessions and protest events, aimed at tackling the problem of noise in cities with the determination it deserves