Why and how citizens react: The record of a grass roots organization

Abstract

Citizen organizations on noise have sprung up … and disappeared. One shows staying power. In its ninth year it is the only large successful grass roots organization in the United States working to reduce noise. Citizens Against Noise (CAN) of Hawaii has passed the 1000 mark and continues to grow. It tackles all noise problems, except those in the work place. It has become an EPA resource. It is effective with Congress. Citizens Against Noise credits its success to early recognition that the individual could not succeed in reducing noise, but an organization could. Second, it has always emphasized the fact that if people learn what noise really does to their health they will no longer feel hobbled because “only an annoyance” is the source of their distress. A Noise Hot Line serving some 40 “clients” a week is a key CAN service. Its publications, public relations, and lobbying are basic to its success. Most of all it takes hours and hours of volunteer effort.