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What is the Mosquito? |
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Basically, the mosquito box is a unit that makes a sound and costs about £550. The thing that makes it so effective is that the sound is at a very high, very annoying frequency, about 16kHz to 18kHz. It works because as people get older, hearing becomes worse, and high frequencies can not be heard. Therefore older people can not hear to mosquito.
This has resulted in the case where young people have had their human rights exploited because only young people can be affected by the noise it produces.
The idea of local councils and the police using these to stop the 'yob' culture is good, yet with more mosquitos being produced it may soon be possible for the general public to purchase them. And then Young People will be passed around from pillar to post.
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Why is it a problem? |
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- The mosquito box is used to try and move young people away from areas. The problem is with this is that mainly these boxes will be in public areas, where people are not allowed not to congregate. As the mosquito box is so painful one couldn't be near it for any length of time it means that Human Rights are being abused as people can not enjoy free areas.
- Also, because the mosquito box uses sound to remove young people from an area, the sound protection of young people is not considered. Should the sound be loud enough to be painful, then that should be enough to make the use of it unacceptable. In terms of sound loudness, it can reach about 85 dB, about the same as a vacuum cleaner, yet the mosquito box's high frequency makes the perceived loudness much higher.
- I think any readers will agree that if this involved other age groups the outcome would be different - and as a current 20-year-old I am more than worried about the future possibility of the technology being abused.
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UK Youth Parliament |
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The UK Youth Parliament have for the second year running included a big section of their manifesto on banning the use of mosquito boxes. I am very grateful for their support in the fight against the use of these boxes and I hope we can take the campaign further.
The UK Youth Parliament manifesto can be seen here:
http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/downloads/UKYP_Manifesto.pdf
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Kent County Council |
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In May 2008, Kent County Council decided to ban the use of mosquito boxes on all council property. This is fantastic news to which I thank Kent County Council for, obviously understanding the problems which using such discriminatory devices.
Part of their plan is to lobby central government to ban mosquito boxes nationwide, and they have my 100% support for this.
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Buzz Off Campaign |
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The 'Buzz Off' campaign has been an amazing success in grabbing media attention about the mosquito box. I have met with Sir Al Aynsley Green to discuss his campaign in relation to mine. Needless to say, he is a very nice and understanding man who is really passionate about this issue. They at 11Million are working to get me involved in the future campaigning which is amazing news.
visit their website here: www.buzzoffcampaign.com
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For anyone on facebook.. |
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If on the networking site facebook, please join the anti-mosquito facebook group. http://dur.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2228780932
also, on good news, there are reports than the UK Youth Parliament support the campaign on mosquito boxes and have an opinion on them similar to mine. When I find a confirming link to this I will put it on the website.
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BBC News |
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As many are aware, this week has been very hectic in positive media coverage of the mosquito box.
Firstly, a live radio interview with BBC Radio Manchester was organised, and from that I have been covered on the Channel M (M for Manchester) News, by the local paper, the Rochdale Observer, BBC Radio Cumbria, and on Thursday 12th July I will appear on North West Tonight.
This is very good coverage for the mosquito, and is being successful in making this back onto the agenda.
Here is the BBC article about this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6287416.stm
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Durham County Council |
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As a student at Durham
University, I am very happy that the County Council has decided not to
use mosquito boxes in the local area. The article states that, in
the opinion of Durham County Council, mosquito boxes are "discriminatory against young people," and that such "a device designed to cause deliberate discomfort" to young people is unacceptable.
Here is the website link.
http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc%5Cpressrel.nsf/Web+Releases/EDD0F19370B0572C8025724B003F11E7?OpenDocument
Thank you Durham County Council!!!!
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Hello everyone! |
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Time to introduce myself!
I am Ben Robertson, a member of the Rochdale Youth Council (Rochdale is north of Manchester) and after mosquito's have been trialled in my area I want to find a way to try and get rid of them!
So I have a website!!!
The aim of this website will be to attract media and public attention to the weaknesses of the mosquito box and the problems caused by it. My aim is to make this country mosquito free!
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