— from Susan Shannon —

About 35 people attended an info meeting in Eastsound on Thursday, November 14 presented by the Sound Defense Alliance, who updated us about the Growler issue.

Nearly all the meeting attendees reported being affected by the sound of the Growlers –some citing exacerbation of PTSD symptoms, some physical disruptions such as visceral vibrations due to the low hum, some sensitivity to the onslaught of EMFs when the Growlers fly, but nearly all of us a general anxiety about the constant rumble. The entire island was represented as well, with attendees living in various locations.  Many were very upset by the constant sound of the Growlers on this exact day, the sound which had not let up at all (my own experience as well.)

It is only going to get worse, according to expert presenters Larry Morrell and Rhea Miller. Step by step, they outlined the grim picture of what is ahead for us if we, as a people, don’t can’t or won’t mobilize against it. A large part of Orcas is included in the area where the Growlers will be in holding pattern till they can land — which will become more frequent as the flights increase. Bigger engines are being put into the existing Growlers which will make them even louder; a huge increase of flights has been approved.

Morrell and Miller presented a great deal of information regarding the health risks we all are vulnerable to. This is not only an issue for the people who can hear them, this is an issue for all forms of life above and below the sea in this region. The low sound frequency does its damage whether you can hear it or not. Hearing loss, anxiety, headaches, decreased mental function, increased stress level (as was clearly spoken at the meeting) and more.

The potential environmental loss is monumental. Imagine our islands without bees, frogs, eagles, deer, owls. Imagine our islands where even cows, sheep, horses, and dogs suffer due to their even more sensitive nervous systems than ours.  Imagine our islands where the beautiful trees continue to die not from logging or drought but from the unregulated bombardment of EMF’s from the unregulated number of Growlers flying over.  Imagine our islands without salmon or Orcas. They are already being affected, as the low rumble of the Growlers occurs at an extremely low frequency which has been measured up to 100 feet into our waters. Imagine our islands where one must wear earplugs or noise cancelling headphones while outside. (Perhaps listening to recorded bird songs as we will have lost our birds — just like many other places in our world attacked by the sleuthing acts of environmental violence.)

Right now, as you are reading this, people in Coupeville are forced into wearing earplugs or noise cancelling headphones INSIDE their own homes as the Growlers fly unregulated overhead.

Morrell and Miller presented hope as well. Regional groups have formed across the NW and are working together to inform their local representatives of the problem. Veterans have come together to push for the return of quiet, peaceful skies. Our WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against the US Navy over the proposed expansion of Growler jet activity.

We all need to act now, regardless of how many other causes you are involved with. This issue is so much more complex than simply the disruption of peace.

It is a violent threat to our entire environment. I hope everyone reading this will visit the Quiet Skies over San Juan County website at www.quietskies.info, watch the videos, write postcards or letters, contact your newly elected officials, and find ways you can to stand up to this assault which is going to rob us of the lifestyle we’ve been drawn to and need to continue to preserve.

To one man’s comment last night, “Who is the enemy here?” I say,  can we as a community transcend that binary perspective?  It is only US now, humans, feathered, fur, scales, leaves etc. We’re all in this together.

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