Children No Longer Noise Pollution in Germany
The German government has altered noise pollution laws to make it more difficult for people to file complaints about noisy children playing in residential areas. The debate had reached a fever pitch, so the cabinet decided to shut it down by backing a measure that would restrict noise complaints near day care centers and playgrounds. They felt there was a clear need to set a precedent with the decision that Germany is a "child-friendly society".
As the debate escalated in the preceding weeks, a conservative senior citizens group was widely criticised after one of its leading members said publicly that the noise from playgrounds and nurseries was like the "hammering of a pneumatic drill". That statement certainly didn't help their case in the eyes of lawmakers. But the new regulation is not without limits for the kids, as it specifies that the noise levels should not be damaging to the surrounding environment. Still,that language seems open to a lot of interpretation.