Earth Matters – (Noise Pollution)

English/22mins/2000
Producer: Mike H. Pandey, Riverbank Studios
Sponsored by: Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati

Subject Focus: Environment and Wildlife of India - damaging effects of noise pollution.

Summary: Earth Matters is an environmental series that takes an in-depth and incisive look at the state of our environment and wildlife today. The series travels across the varied landscape of India and takes stock of India’s rich and vibrant ecological heritage. It attempts to educate and sensitize people to the threats our environment is facing today. It empowers the viewers with the knowledge that we alone can make a difference. This episode Earth Matters looks into the damaging effects of noise pollution. Noise Pollution is perhaps the least acknowledged health hazard the world over. With growing urbanization noise levels seem to be rising far beyond acceptable healthy limit. The most vulnerable victim is the unborn child, though adults are equally susceptible and can suffer permanent hearing loss.

Producers/Director’s Profile: Mike Pandey is an internationally renowned wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. Born in Kenya, Mike trained in UK and USA before returning to India to work in the country of his origin. Committed and dedicated to the protection of Indian wildlife and environment, Mike’s films have always reflected his passion. In 1994 became the first Asian ever to win the Wild Screen Panda Award also known as the ‘Green Oscar’ for his film The Last Migration – Wild Elephant Capture in Sarguja. Six years later his film Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India won him the Green Oscar for a second time. Shores of Silence was a moving documentation of the mindless killing of hundreds of whale sharks – the largest fish in the sea – on Indian shores. The film not only won numerous international awards but has also become a landmark in conservation. A few months after the film’s first screening, the Indian Government brought about legislation to ban the killing of whale sharks in India. Giving it full protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. the film was also instrumental in giving the Whale Shark International protection. In November 2002, a resolution was passed at the CITES convention in Santiago, Chile giving the Whale Shark global protection. Over the last 30 years, Mike Pandey has produced and directed a wide spectrum of natural history and environmental films and children’s educational series, which have won numerous national and international awards. His work has always been steered by a deep-rooted affinity to the natural order of the living world.