Ancient Alert System Gets a 21st-Century Update:โ Bell Ringers โSound โthe Alarmโค on Climate change
Villava, Navarra -โ Inโข a tradition stretching back centuries, bell ringers โขare adapting an age-old communication โคmethod to address aโ modern crisis. A new “touch,” or ringing pattern, has been developedโข in Villava, โNavarra, toโค warn โฃcommunities โขof excessive heat, effectively turning church bells into anโ early-warning system โfor climate change.
Forโ Rosalina Caballรญn, a pianist โandโค bell ringer, the enduring power of bells โขisn’t surprising. โShe describes them as “the WhatsApp from โคbefore,” a historically vital means to โขcommunicate everything toโ a community.This โฃsentiment underscores โฃthe enduring relevance of the practice, even asโฃ modernization threatens itsโค future. The Climate Foundation proposed the โคnew touch, which was then โadopted by the Bell ringers Association and implemented by Caballรญn. The pattern is now โฃactivelyโค used in villava, sounding when temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Joaquรญn Corcuera, spokesperson for the Bellโ Ringers of Navarra,โ emphasizes the need to preserve thisโฃ tradition amidst challenges like bell โtower access โissues โฃand the rise of automated, electric ringing systems. While acknowledging the convenience of electrification, Corcuera champions โฃthe unique characterโค of manual ringing.”the electric touch has no soul,” โhe stated, contrasting it with the nuanced, emotionally-driven sound produced by human bell ringers, where “every day depends on โthe mood of the bell ringer.”
The Bell Ringers of Navarra are working to document best practices and encourageโ younger generationsโ to learn the craft,โ recognizing thatโ continued transmission of the skill is vital. Despite the challenges, Corcuera notes the association is “very strong โright now,” and that traditionโ remains alive, though requiring increased effort to maintain. A recent session showcased โbothโค conventional touches and the new climate โchange warningโฃ signal, highlighting โฃthe evolving role โฃof this ancient practice.