You are invited to participate in the 2014 World Listening Day an annual  global event held on July 18. The purposes of World Listening Day are to:

• Celebrate the listening practices of the world and the ecology of its acoustic environments;
• Raise awareness about the growing number of individual and group efforts that creatively explore the Acoustic Ecology based on the pioneering efforts of the World Soundscape Project, World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, La Semaine du Son, Deep Listening Institute, among many others;
• Design and implement educational initiatives that explore these concepts and practices.

This year’s theme for World Listening Day is “Listen To You!” Some questions to consider:

• How do you make yourself heard by others ?
• How do you listen and what do you hear when you want to be unseen?
• How might the sounds you produce adapt to your nearby environment?
• What might a “listening ethic” be?
• How might such an ethic apply particularly to understanding the relationship between humans and other living creatures?

World Listening Day is co-organized by the World Listening Project (WLP) and the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE). July 18 was chosen because it is the birthday of Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, founder of the World Soundscape Project and author of the seminal book,The Tuning of the World.

WLP and MSAE invite you to participate in the 2014 World Listening Day, which will happen on Friday, July 18. Events will happen over the week of July 14th-20th. Some suggestions on how you can participate and organize may be:

• A soundwalk or a listening party with people who make, listen, and discuss field recordings.
• A performance event that explores your soundscape and how we can listen to our sonic environment.
• A private / solitary way, by listening attentively to your soundscape.
• An educational event that relates to acoustic ecology, field recordings, or a similar topic.
• Contact local groups participating in World Listening Day and get involved.

Participation in the past four World Listening Days exceeded our expectations. In this fifth year we anticipate even greater activity and interest. Please join in the 2014 World Listening Day activities by emailing worldlistening@gmail.com about your plans. Please be sure to include “World Listening Day” in the subject line or download the 2013 World Listening Day participation form here. Thanks!