UK Noise Association

The UK Noise Association is the main umbrella group for anti-noise campaigners of all sorts - from aircraft noise to fireworks, including piped music. It lobbies Parliament and invites individuals or associations to join it. But it cannot deal with individual noise problems, which should be addressed to NoiseDirect on 08453313230.

Email address: ukna@tesco.net

Slow cities movement

The Slow Cities Movement (Città Slow) originated in Italy six years ago, inspired by the well-known Slow Food Movement, and is now (slowly) spreading across Europe. Its essential aim is to slow down the too often frantic pace of life in smaller towns, while maintaining their social and economic vitality and so viability.

This means everything from traffic calming to encouraging local production and consumption of food. This Slowing Movement flies in the face both of globalization and the 24/7 Shop-till-you-drop mentality, which are the dominant forces of the world today. Città Slow does not believe that "vibrant" cities are best served by "market forces", although local markets are very much to be encouraged.

It needs local support to overcome the massive commercial and bureaucratic opposition such a contrarian - yet widely popular - movement will encounter. Some small towns in Britain have signed up to its charter.

See www.matogmer.no/slow_cities__citta_slow.htm