News and Developments (Citizens for Safe Technology)

Smart meter program meant to herd people

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

B.C. Local News, Nanaimo"I am deeply disappointed in how our government has dealt with the smart meter program. "B.C. Hydro first advertised that we, the people, would not have to phone in if our hydro went out. "Hydro has a monitoring system complete with its own satellite communication that is independent of the Internet that monitors all main distribution. They are well aware of when hydro goes out. They also stated it would curb hydro theft. Hydro theft is done before the meter so a new meter will not prevent this. "The latest advertising states the meters will educate us as to how to save and reduce consumption. "It sure will. When they have completed the installation process, you can bank on a shift in billing to reflect consumption during peak hours . . .

Steamed about smart meters

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

B.C. Local News, Kamloops"BC Hydro's Fiona Taylor can "suggest" all she likes that smart meters are safe, but the fact remains the so-called studies BC Hydro is basing its safety claims on are grossly misleading and intentionally designed for this purpose. "When teaching children graphing in grade school, one of the first lessons learned is that you must not compare different units of measure on the same graph. "BC Hydro's talking heads must have been absent for that lesson because that is exactly the method used in their regurgitated claim that 20 years of radiation from a smart meter equals a 30-minute cellphone call . . ."

Electrosmog in the Environment (Switzerland)

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) June 2005"Electricity supply systems, electrical appliances and a wide range of transmitters for various wireless applications generate non-ionising radiation (commonly referred to as "electrosmog") that can be harmful to our health, depending on its intensity. With its Ordinance relating to Protection from Non-Ionising Radiation, the Federal Council introduced a legal instrument to protect the population against the harmful effects of electrosmog. "This brochure describes the main sources of electrosmog, assesses the associated risks, identifies existing gaps in research and suggests ways in which we can reduce our own level of exposure."

Brian Stein - Full Electromagnetic Sensitivity Lecture (Part 2 of 2) (Video)

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

United Kingdom

Brian Stein - Full Electromagnetic Sensitivity Lecture (Part 1 of 2) (Video)

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

United Kingdom

Corix to dispose of Analog Meters once and for all - Press Release

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Another premature decision by BC Hydro? Includes LETTER SENT TO HYDRO and PREMIER ("Read on").PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate RELEASE "Corix to dispose of Analog Meters once and for all" "There are thousands of analog meters being stored by B.C. Hydro that they plan to dispose of before mid-December of this year."Vicki Lightfoot of the Merritt chapter of the coalition to stop smart meters is calling on Premier Clark, and B.C. Hydro to not destroy these meters so that the option to switch back to analog meter is still available to all B.C. Hydro customers. "Two families in British Columbia are on record as having their smart meter replaced back to analog meter after complaining to B.C. Hydro about adverse health reactions after the smart meter was unknowingly installed on their homes. According to B.C. Hydro spokesperson, Dag Sharman, this will no longer be an option after mid-December of this year because B.C. Hydro will no longer be storing the analog meters. Asked by Lightfoot what B.C. Hydro plans to do with the meters, Mr. Sharman replied that he did not know. "A close look at the agreement between B.C. Hydro and the company contracted to install the meters, Corix, has revealed that the Provincial Government is giving Corix our analog meters as of mid-December of this year. "Vicki Lightfoot, member of the Merritt chapter of the coalition against smart meters, has submitted a letter to Premier Clark, Energy Minister Rich Coleman, and B.C. Hydro board members requesting that they keep the meters until such time as each British Columbian has had the option of keeping their smart meter or not. "Lightfoot contends that the World Health Organization's ruling in May of this year to classify radiation emitted from such devices as wireless meters as a class 2-b potential carcinogen, came after Hydro's decision to go ahead with the wireless meter program. Given that the radiation emitted from the smart meter is now a class 2-b carcinogen, the public has a human right to decline additional exposure to the electro-magnetic radiation emitted from Hydro's smart meters."

Defend and Protect your Analogue Meter

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Collection of 8 signs to choose fromThis list contains a menu of choices to announce your intention NOT to have a "Smart Meter" on your property. Take your pick . . . Protect with "Ziploc" bag or laminate. Attach sign(s) and letter on or beside your analogue meter, being careful that dials are still visible. Take photograph and keep as proof. Attention Corix! No Trespassing Sign with space to record address, name and dateLetter/Sign to post on your "old" (non-wireless} analogue meter. States reasons for refusal."Do Not Remove this analogue meter" To deter installer from changing to Smart or Digital ("pre-smart")"Stop! Do Not Install" COPE stop sign (with space to record address, name and date)Sign "My Legal Right" black and yellow for public displaySign "My Human Right" black and yellow for public displaySign "My Democratic Right" black and yellow for public displaySign "No Smart Meter" Five reasons not to install a wireless meter

Presentation of 15,528 petition signatures to BC Minister of Energy (Video)

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Smart Meter Moratorium requests from BC citizens. Video includes statements from Una St Clair

BC Legislature- Smart Meters (Video)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

unedited clip of exchange between Minster of Finance/Deputy Premier the Hon. Kevin Falcon, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan, and Minister of Energy and Mines the Hon. Rich Coleman

Activists want referendum on B.C. Hydro smart meters

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Georgia Straight POLL included. Please sign! Do you think B.C. should hold a referendum on B.C. Hydro's smart meters?" . . . Critics such as McGinnis claim that there are too many "weaknesses" to the smart-meter program, not least relating to possible health impacts. "[B.C. Energy and Mines Minister] Rich Coleman is saying that 20 years' exposure to the radiation emitted from a smart meter is the same as a 30-minute [cell] phone call," McGinnis said. "Now, what we've been asking B.C. Hydro is for their research for their data to support that claim. They haven't supplied us with it, and that's because there isn't any. There is no research to support that claim." "The same claim is made on B.C. Hydro's own website in the section explaining smart meters. B.C. Hydro claims smart meters will save taxpayers $70 million in lower rates over the next three years, and "$1.6 billion in avoided costs and increased efficiencies over the next 20 years". "Coleman and B.C. Hydro smart-meter-program spokesperson Cindy Verschoor did not respond to calls by deadline . . ."

BC Hydro's smart meter installers lie to residents, then call police (Video)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Merritt, B.C.

Smart Meter opponents don't phase energy minister

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

CKNW News"A small protest at the legislature today by opponents of BC Hydro's Smart Meters. "Sharon Noble called for donations for possible legal action against the program including a human rights complaint or an initiative drive to force a referendum. "And we can't compete with it [BC Hydro's huge expenditures on advertising] now support our legal action support the initiative and we are going to stop this undemocratic and dangerous program." "Meanwhile Energy Minister Rich Coleman says Smart Meter opponents can learn to love the controversial devices. "Coleman says only a few hundred people have so far refused to accept Smart Meters at their homes. "Well what we're going to do is we'll educate those folks over time, our objective is to go through and put in, install the smart meters as we can, we'll have about half a million done by the end of December, so when that's completed we've got 1.8 million to do, we keep going back and educating, in most cases where we've had people that have said no, once they've learned about 'em, they've come back and taken 'em." "Protesters presented a 13,000 name petition against the Smart Meters at the legislature today citing health and privacy concerns."

Stop Smart Meter Signatures to BC Legislature (Video)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

oral question period: Kevin Falcon (Minister of Finance), John Horgan (NDP Energy Critic), Rich Coleman (Minister of Energy and Mines)

Gingrich warns EMP greatest strategic threat to U.S.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Claims it 'would literally destroy country's capacity to function' This piece about "EMP's" is pertinent to "EMF's," as humans are electrical beings. Disease and death by a thousand cuts, or a single burst. It's all a matter of scale. "WASHINGTON - In the Republican presidential debate Tuesday on CNN, presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich announced a threat to U.S. national security that no other candidate has discussed and that commentators described as "out of the box" until they researched it for themselves. "The potential threat Gingrich referred to was an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, attack that "would literally destroy the country's capacity to function." Gingrich pointed out that no one is talking about the potential for such an attack to cripple America's critical infrastructure. "Business Insider said that "at first, we thought Gingrich had been playing too many video games, but after looking into it, it turns out EMP attacks are actually real and pretty damn scary." "The CNN debate was sponsored by two conservative Washington-based think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation. "An EMP is generated from a nuclear bomb explosion in the atmosphere. It is a pulse of energy that is produced from the explosion . . ."

Smart Meter Petitions presented, Referendum Initiative Announced (Video)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

CHEK News

Coalition to Stop Smart Meters

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

News Coverage, Information and UpdatesSmart Meter Action Centralstopsmartmetersbc.ca

Referendum Initiative Announced - Press Conference

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Coalition to Stop "Smart" MetersFirst Video: Walt McGinnis and Steve Satow of "stopsmartmeters.ca" formally and publicly launch the referendum initiative against the BC Liberal's and BC Hydro's Smart Meters campaign at this press conference. Second Video: Una St.Clair and Sharon Noble of the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters present the signatures to John Horgan on the steps of the BC Legislature.

Smart Meter REFERENDUM INITIATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT (Video)

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

stopsmartmeters.ca announces referendum initiative - Press Conference 1

New Facebook Page: "Alberta Safe Schools" COMING SOON!

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

NB: Postponement of launch dateSOON the Alberta branch of Citizens for Safe Technology (CST Alberta) will be launching their Facebook page, "Alberta Safe Schools" (http://www.facebook.com/albertasafeschools), and their petition "Freedom of Choice for Safe Schools." We encourage all Albertans to visit their Facebook page and begin signing the petition when it is launched, which will hopefully be soon.Thanks from CST Alberta!

Thousands of British Columbians say "No" to Smart Meters

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Press Release and Media Advisory for immediate release November 23, 2011

Press Release November 23, 2011media advisoryTHOUSANDS OF BRITISH COLUMBIANS SAY "NO" TO SMART METERS

The Liberal Government and BC Hydro state that only a small number of people are concerned about the Wireless Smart Meters being forced upon them without consent. This is not accurate. Within one week, thousands of signatures have been gathered on a Petition organized by Citizens for Safe Technology Society demanding a moratorium and full independent review of BC Hydro's Wireless Smart Meter program.

To date, over 13,000 Petitioners are refusing the forced installation of Wireless Smart Meters, or demanding these same meters be removed for reasons of health, cost, privacy, security and safety. The Petition (both online and hard copies) will be presented to the Legislature on November 24, 2011, by John Horgan, NDP Opposition, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources critic, MLA for Juan de Fuca.

How long will the Liberal Government and BC Hydro show such callous disregard for democracy and human rights? British Columbians refuse to accept the Government decree that they no longer have the right to choose to protect their health or the health of their families in their own homes. Wireless Smart Meters emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields which were classified by the World Health Organization as possible to cause human cancer on May 31, 2011. Further, exposure to wireless emissions can exacerbete existing health conditions, and cause electrohypersensitivity, a physical health condition which can rob young and old of health and quality of life. The only remedy for this environmentally triggered health condition is to avoid wireless exposures wherever possible, and most importantly, within one's own home.

Further, British Columbians are determined to protect their privacy and security by refusing to allow devices that disclose personal electricity use and behaviour patterns, which are also vulnerable to unauthorized intrusion. This is no longer a simple electricity meter, but a complex multiple channel radiofrequency transmitter surveillance device.

Reports are now being received of sudden onset ill health triggered by exposure to Wireless Smart Meters, most commonly headaches, insomnia, heart irregularities, dizziness and nausea. Further, we are aware of two situations where the Wireless Smart Meters have been removed and analogue meters replaced by BC Hydro due to residents' complaints of ill health.

Questions need to be asked about the actions of the Liberal Government and BC Hydro, our sole provider of electricity, which amount to intimidation in their attempts to force customers to forego their democratic and human rights to health, privacy, security and safety.

Citizens can continue to vote for a Wireless Smart Meter program moratorium at www.citizensforsafetechnology.org

PetitionCST and the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters in BC, www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca, are now working with legal counsel formulating legal and human rights solutions.

Media Contact: Una St. Clair, una@citizensforsafetechnology.org

Fiona Taylor Interview re Smart Meter Program November 2011 (Video)

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

BC Hydro's 'Smart' Meters: Confronting Corix

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Arthur Topham- Quesnel Cariboo Sentinel" . . . About a week ago in the early morning while upstairs in my office working I heard a vehicle coming up my driveway. I live in the small village of Cottonwood along the Barkerville Hwy approximately 26 km east of Quesnel, B.C. When I glanced out the window I could see that it was a pickup truck that I didn't recognize and so I quickly went downstairs and out the front door. By the time I reached the doorway a man had turned his truck around and was standing behind it. As I walked out on the porch I could tell that it wasn't the man from Glad. I knew immediately from what he held in his hand that it was the man from Corix! . . .

Finding New Ways to Keep Tabs on People

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

A Wall Street Journal video interviewThe global market for off-the-shelf surveillance technology has taken off in the decade since 9/11. WSJ's Jennifer Valentino-DeVries explains some of the new methods governments and law enforcement are using to monitor people.

Mobile Communications - The Cause for the Global Disappearance of the Bees

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

a tri-fold brochure from The World Foundation for Natural Science"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man has not more than four years to live; no more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more humanity!" credited to Albert Einstein* Download first to print

Something somewhere went terribly wrong . . .

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Historical PerspectiveSomething somewhere went terribly wrong . . .

Deal opens India's exploding wireless market to B.C.

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

News Release: Office of the PremierNEW DELHI, INDIA - Wavefront, Canada's Vancouver-based wireless centre of excellence for commercialization and research started with a $5-million investment by the B.C. government, has signed an agreement with the Cellular Operators Association of India that will facilitate and accelerate the flow of bilateral wireless business, Premier Christy Clark announced today. "India has over 601 million active mobile subscribers generating US $38.2 billion in revenues, and has the highest subscriber growth rate in the world. It is the world's second-largest wireless market in terms of mobile connections. The COAI represents India's major cellular operators, infrastructure and service providers. The two organizations will work together to develop and promote strategic business and partnering opportunities. "This is a tremendous opportunity for technology and service providers in B.C. - and the rest of Canada - to tap into the world's fastest-growing wireless market that will continue its rapid expansion due to the huge growth in India's middle class," Premier Clark said. "Our government's $5-million investment in Wavefront's Vancouver facilities has already provided early-stage wireless companies with comprehensive research and commercialization support to boost B.C.'s world-class industry. Now Wavefront's agreement with COAI has opened the doors for these startup firms to make connections in India and deals of their own that will benefit the industry in both jurisdictions . . ."

Will Thomas's thoughts about so-called Smart Meters

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Promoting confusion instead of clarity? Response to uninformed statements by John Helliwell"I am concerned to see one of our trustees forwarding an uninformed email regarding smart meters from Mr. John Helliwell. Passing on unqualified opinions does not aid this discussion, and may actually endanger our community's health and civil rights - not to mention wallets held hostage to BC Hydro's rising rates. "Presenting unsubstantiated opinions does not provide "balance" to wireless technology health warnings and specific bans coming from Israel, the UK and every major European government. Or calls for a smart meter moratorium by every BC municipality. "It only adds "noise" to this crucial conversation. By promoting confusion instead of clarity, such irresponsible statements could lead to actual physical harm among this email's recipients, who might be ready to take as fact the uninformed opinions that they want to hear. "People are reporting intense headaches, brainfog, insomnia and chronic flu- like symptoms - classic low-level RF complaints - within days of smart meters being installed on homes. Over 2,500 people have phoned California's Pacific Gas & Electric with health problems." -Blake Levitt LET'S HAVE A REAL DEBATE "A more useful response to the more than 2,000 studies showing the harmful effects of Radio Frequency (RF)/microwave pollution would be just one peer-reviewed scientific study showing that smart meters will not harm humans and other creatures exposed to continuous pulsed radiation . . ."

New Russian Research on Cell Phones and Children

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Radiation's Effect on Cognitive and Other Functions in Children: Psychophysiological Indicators for Child Users of Mobile Communications Devices1) Overview of Present State of the Problem and 2) Results of 4-Year Monitoring of Cognitive, Memory and Other Functions in 196 Children Ages 7-12 who used Mobile Communications DevicesRussian researchers affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences yesterday published two studies in Radiation Biology. Radiation Ecology. 2011. Volume 51, No.5, p.611-623 that describe the effects of mobile phone radiation exposure on children's bodies, showing that children's bodies are more sensitive than adults, and showing an increased number of phonemic perception disorders, abatement of efficiency, reduced indicators for the arbitrary and semantic memory, and increased fatigue. A steady decline of the parameters over 4 years from high values to bottom standards has been found.

Canadian children drugged in record numbers

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Atypical antipsychotics lead to complications"So many Canadian children are taking the drugs known as atypical antipsychotics that doctors are being asked to watch for major complications - including dramatic weight gain, tremors, and abnormal face and jaw movements. "Once reserved for schizophrenia and mania in adults, one antipsychotic alone, risperidone, was recommended by Canadian-office-based doctors for children 17 and younger a total of 340,670 times in 2010 - a near-doubling since 2006 - according to data provided to Postmedia News from prescription-drug tracking firm IMS Brogan. "The increase in prescriptions for children as young as six is raising concerns that the drugs are being overused. "Some experts say too little is known about the effects on a child's cognitive, social and physical development, and that the side effects may set children up for serious health problems later in life. "These concerns were the driving force behind the creation of the world's first clinic to help children cope with the side effects of such medications at BC Children's Hospital in April . . ."

SCC opposed to smart meters, Robinson says (Surrey B.C.)

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Press Release: Surrey Civic Coalition City Council Candidate Gary T. Robinson"The Surrey Civic Coalition is opposed to smart meters, Council Candidate Gary T. Robinson announced today. "The former City Councillor who is seeking election with SCC, said he "will introduce a by-law to prohibit installation of the so-called smart meters in Surrey," if he is elected on Nov. 19. "They are intrusive, they are unsafe and everyone I talk to says they are not wanted," Robinson said, adding California is now in the process of removing smart meters. "Robinson noted the Union of BC Municipalities passed a moratorium on smart meters on Sept. 30. "The majority of elected people in BC do not support smart meters, and neither do I," Robinson said . . ."

Responses from Council and School Trustee candidates (BC election)

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Coalition to Stop "Smart" Meters - B.C. Municipal Council and School Board responsesBC ELECTIONS November 19thQuestions:1 - Do you believe that the Wireless Smart Meter program should be stopped based on recent moratorium requests and an independent inquiry launched with full public hearings? If not, why not?2 - What is your position on exposing children and teachers in schools to Wi-Fi and other wireless microwave radiation communications technology now classified by the World Health Organization as a cancer risk and Health Canada has posted the need for reduced use for children?

Wi-Fi in Schools Part 2: The Health Risks of RF Microwave Radiation (Video)

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Paris tackles radiation from the roofs

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Paris's 186 current cellular towers may soon be removed."The Mayor of Paris has halted construction of additional cellular phone towers to the city's roofs this week, according to Le Monde. The City established a pact in 2003 with mobile service providers to allow certain companies to construct cellular towers on municipal buildings within stated limits. The decision to stop construction of the towers coincides with the end of the city's contract with the mobile service companies . . . "Despite the uncertainty of any imminent health risks, the 186 current cellular towers which spike the skyline of Paris may soon be removed."

Smart meters and WiFi the discussion of public meeting in Merritt, B.C.

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

"A local group says it hopes to educate Merrittonians on BC Hydro's controversial Smart Meter program as well the dangers associated with wireless technology at a presentation tonight. "After an unsuccessful attempt to get the City of Merritt to place a moratorium on the smart meter program earlier this fall, Merritt man Walter Vohradsky has organized a public meeting tonight at the Merritt Civic Centre he hopes will alert people to the "economic, democratic, and health concerns" associated with Hydro's two-way wireless hydro meters, which will provide time-of-use data to the utility. "This event is vitally important to the citizens of Merritt concerning their family health and their security and well being," says Vohradsky . . . "I believe their intellect and heart will convince them where the truth is regarding the danger and damage to humans related to this wireless technology ... the objectives of the presentation this evening are two-fold: one, to inform residents about radio frequency/electro-magnetic fields, to show residents how they can protect their persons and residences from installation of wireless smart meters, and to push back against BC Hydro, and their agent Corix, if they already have a wireless meter installed on their residence without the owner's consent."

Council and School Trustee candidates Langley, Surrey, Victoria, White Rock

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Public stance regarding Smart Meters and Wi-FiBC ELECTIONS November 19th Questions : 1 - Do you believe that the Wireless Smart Meter program should be stopped based on recent moratorium requests and an independent inquiry launched with full public hearings? If not, why not? 2 - What is your position on exposing children and teachers in schools to Wi-Fi and other wireless microwave radiation communications technology now classified by the World Health Organization as a cancer risk and Health Canada has posted the need for reduced use for children?

Wi-Fi Laptop Emits More Microwave Radiation Than Cell Phone (Video)

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Short demonstration, with clear commentary, of cell phone and Wi-Fi laptop in common locations in rural Vermont

Untested Science - "Fracking"

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

"Hydraulic Fracturing" in Western Canada - Global News Carolyn Jarvis, Anne Hainsworth on 16x9Industrial practices that damage our ecosystem and all living things most definitely are "harmful technologies." This report sheds light on "Fracking" and its effects on our planet. Also demonstrated are the misleading information and outright lies that are presented to the public in order to continue these practices. In this video, BC Energy Minister Rich Coleman, also responsible for mandating wireless smart meters without any public process, is shown openly lying to the public when assuring parliament that there would be an extensive consultation before any contracts for Fracking were ever signed. Just 2 months later a 23 year long water license was granted to company Talisman Energy for 10 million liters of water every day from Williston Lake without any public input. Coleman states in an interview with Carolyn Jarvis he misspoke when he said he would consult with the public first. Clearly Mr. Coleman forgets who he is working for . . . "There is an energy revolution underway thousands of meters below our feet. A new method of extracting vast reserves of natural gas that were previously thought inaccessible is in full swing. It's called fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, and its lead to a boom in gas production across western Canada. But this new technique is also raising serious environmental red flags. In France, 'fracking' has been banned. In Quebec and New Jersey there are moratoriums in place. So is this the answer to our energy woes or a risky unproven science? "How hydraulic fracturing works: "Fracking is not new to the oil and gas industry but recent technical advancements have made it possible to access previously inaccessible gas deposits held in rock formations thousands of meters below the surface. "It's done be forcing water, sand and a chemical mixture down the drilling pipe under extreme pressure. The fractures or cracks in the rock allow the gas to rise to the surface . . ."

Mobile phone health risks: the case for action to protect children

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

MobileWiseMobileWise is a UK charity, raising awareness of mobile phone health issues, and promoting action to protect public health. More information can be found at www.mobilewise.org"The substantial body of evidence highlighted in this report suggests that mobile phone use may be linked with a range of important health problems. These include, but are not limited to, brain tumours and the evidence has serious implications for public health. Although further research is needed, it makes sense to err on the side of caution in the meantime. The long induction period for brain tumours and some of the other possible health effects means that it could take many years to fully understand the risks. We know from our experience with smoking and asbestos that waiting for certainty of harm is a dangerous policy. Even now we do not have a complete picture of those risks, despite many decades of scientific study. We have an opportunity now to promote safety measures, mindful of the benefits of mobile phone technology but reflecting the potentially serious risks, particularly for children. This report does much to elucidate the scientific evidence and policy issues. It is now incumbent on all of us engaged in the task of protecting public health to help ensure the public is provided with the information and guidance it needs to minimise its risks. Kevin O'Neill FRCS (SN) Consultant Neurosurgeon, Charing Cross Hospital, LondonContains:Executive SummaryReview of Scientific EvidenceSummary Findings:

Cancer and other Tumours
Damage to Fertility and Reproduction
Damage to Biological Processes
Vulnerability of Children

Policy Issues

Current Public Policy and Corporate Behaviour
Implications and Options
Recommendations

Appendix of Scientific Papers

Elections 2011: Candidate Lists for Local Governments and School Districts

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Welcome to the Civic Info BC Election Reporting System

This is a resource for the people of BC to help them contact their electorate for mayor, councillor or school trustee. On this linked site there are five category tabs across the top. After a person selects the category they can further refine their search to their specific region with the advanced reports feature.

"The lists presented here are unofficial, containing information as entered by Chief Election Officers or their designates from across British Columbia. "Under the Local Government Act, the deadline for candidates to withdraw is 4pm on Friday October 21st. Elections and acclamations must be declared by no later than 4pm, October 24th. Please note that time may lapse between a deadline and the time when a Chief Election Officer updates a list. In the event of a discrepancy between the information appearing here, and the official lists maintained by a local government or school district, the latter is deemed to be correct.

Municipalities
Regional Districts
Islands Trust
Park Boards
School Districts

Headaches from Cellular Telephones: Are They Real and What Are the Implications?

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

commentary by Allen Frey: blood-brain barrier, dopamine-opiate systems of the brain (1998)"There have been numerous recent reports of headaches occurring in association with the use of hand-held cellular telephones. Are these reported headaches real? Are they due to emissions from telephones? There is reason to believe that the answer is "yes" to both questions. There are several lines of evidence to support this conclusion. First, headaches as a consequence of exposure to low intensity microwaves were reported in the literature 30 years ago. These were observed during the course of microwave hearing research before there were cellular telephones. Second, the blood-brain barrier appears to be involved in headaches, and low intensity microwave energy exposure affects the barrier. Third, the dopamine-opiate systems of the brain appear to be involved in headaches, and low intensity electromagnetic energy exposure aficts those systems. In all three lines of research, the microwave energy used was approximately the same- in frequencies, modulations, and incident energies- as those emitted by present day cellular telephones. Could the current reports of headaches be the canary in the coal mine, warning of biologically significant effects? Key word brain, cellular telephones, electromagnetic fields, eye, hazards, headaches . . ."

Confidence Crisis shakes W.H.O.

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Lack of money and the link to pharmaceutical industries biggest problems

The very powerful UN agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), has fallen into an acute crisis. Lack of money and the connections with the pharmaceutical industry are the major problems. As the influx of money decreases, employees' positions are terminated. As well, the handling of the swine flu has made the trust to wither down. Greater transparency is an important requirement for the future.

In Swedish:

http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/fortroendekris-skakar-who_6613586.svd

"UN agencies mighty World Health Organization (WHO) has fallen into acute crisis. The influx of money decreases, employee termination and the handling of swine flu have been entrusted to rage. Greater transparency is an important requirement. "For three days this week discussed the WHO's Executive Board, Executive Council, the WHO's vulnerable position in a special emergency meeting of the 34 member states in Geneva . . ."The acute economic crisis has meant that so far 300 of the approximately 2400 employees at the WHO headquarters in Geneva terminated. And more are there to be, there are whispers in the corridors. "Several proposals for change is therefore about efficiency and better control over the economy. The report is a catalog of desirable future visions: the WHO to be controlled more effectively, the Board's power to grow, collaboration within WHO and with the various countries will be strengthened, control over money and the entire operation in gear paperwork more efficient and even long pointless debate posts stopped. "But you can hardly change the WHO overnight, all agree. A long process of change awaits. But the most enthusiastic talk of turning point, a major turning point, a historical turning point . . ."

Smart Meters- a dangerous undertaking

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Heeding the Law of Unintended Consequences . . . Letter to B.C. Premier Christy Clark"For decades I have done research and volunteer work in the highest inhabitable regions of the world - the Peruvian Andes. With Yachaq-Runa, an NGO of volunteers which I founded in Cusco in 1992, we do health campaigns and cooperate with the indigenous people on environmentally sustainable projects - solar light, solar hot water, reforestation, health clinics, and many more. [more about Inge here.] "I am very much concerned about the health of the people on this planet, especially the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries. Given your hazardous "Smart Meter" project I realize more than ever how vulnerable one can be also in a so-called "developed" country, which calls itself a democracy. Your smart meter project goes directly counter to Part 2, Division 1, Section 12 of the BC Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. After promoting the health of people living between 4000 and 5000 meters a.s.l. in the Andes for almost 30 years, I must now interrupt this important work in order to fight for my own health and that of my family and other British Columbians courtesy of the B.C. government . . . "Ms. Clark I know it was not you who came up with the idea of the smart meter, a very bad idea, which only a drunk driver could embrace. But why do you continue with this hazard? Will you allow for smart meters to be put into kindergartens, schools and hospitals? For goodness sakes, tell me where people who are sensitive to radio frequency radiation are supposed to go when they get even sicker? In fact, the soup of microwave radiation we have created affects all people, even if they do not realize it immediately. What will happen to people who already had or have cancer, MS or other serious diseases and whose immune system is failing? Who will be responsible for an ever-increasing wave of disease? How many separate hospitals without smart meters will you build for them? Dr. Havas has shown that the longer we are exposed to radiation, the less radiation we will be able to tolerate. When the radiation smog caused by cell phone towers, Wi-Fi in schools, planes, etc. and smart meters on every house increases even more, there may be few people free from symptoms. Remember that in front of every store or public building there are reserved parking spots for disabled people, special elevators etc. How will you make life easier for people with electromagnetic sensitivity? Please consider these enormous problems VERY FAST before it is too late and smart meters and other radiation-emitting devices endanger your entire province . . . "Please reconsider what your smart meter project does to the health and well being of British Columbians, to animals and all of nature. Our planet is on the verge of being destroyed by humanity's irresponsible actions. Canada's weak regulations and laws about the environment do not reflect the wisdom and vision your citizens deserve. Instead of using a billion dollars on disease-causing smart meters, why don't you make sure that British Columbians can use this money to work on alternative energy projects. Such projects not only preserve our environment but also provide much needed work as seen in other countries. "Ms. Clark, I hope you honor the democratic rights of your citizens. If you do, then stop your destructive "Smart Meter" project and reinstall all the analogue meters to British Columbians. Instruct ALL your people about the damage radio frequency radiation causes, so they can protect and defend themselves. Or would you rather see even more people suffer and die a horrible death from cancer? You have a very big responsibility on YOUR shoulders. Think about it before it is too late . . ."Dr. Magda Havas from Trent University http://vimeo.com/8283238 http://www.watershedsentinel.ca. excellent information on the serious effects of radiation on the health of humans, animals and our environment.Postscript from Inge: After having spent seventeen days in our house with the smart meter, with headaches and dizziness, the emergency truck of BC Hydro stopped below our house and to our great surprise, an analog meter was re-installed. The young man who exchanged it also opposes the program and said to me: "If you think you have troubles now, just wait until the entire grid is activated. That will really be something." He is worried about his children.We do not know exactly why the meter had been exchanged. We made a lot of fuss, and we told BC Hydro that we get pulsating sounds from the smart meter and loud sounds coming from the kitchen, especially the refrigerator. I also have a letter from our family physician about sensitivity to radiation. One or all of these reasons may have led to the exchange.

Smart Meter Opposition Appeals to High Court (U.S.)

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Law Court appeal filed this week at PUC - Maine Smart Meter decision appealed to High Court

For Immediate Release 11/4/2011

Smart Meter Opposition Appeals to High CourtLaw Court Appeal Filed This Week at PUC

Contact: Ed Friedman, Lead Plaintiff: 666-3372 edfomb@comcast.net

Bruce McGlauflin, Attorney for the Plaintiffs: 775-0200 bmcglauflin@pmhlegal.com

As part of a rapidly rising international tide of smart meter opposition, Maine privacy and safety advocates have appealed a Public Utilities Commission dismissal of their earlier complaint which had raised concerns about safety, privacy, security, trespass and constitutional violations related to the meters. In dismissing the complaint, the PUC stated all of the issues had been adequately investigated and resolved in its previous proceedings, referred to as the Opt-Out Investigation. The notice of appeal to Maine's Supreme Judicial Court was filed October 31 by attorney Bruce McGlauflin of the Portland firm Petruccelli, Haddow & Martin, LLP representing the Appellants.

The questions raised on appeal include whether the safety, privacy and other concerns raised in the complaint were fully and adequately addressed and decided correctly by the Commission in its previous Opt-Out Investigation, and, whether the PUC has satisfied its Legislative mandate to "ensure safe, reasonable and adequate service." In one of the Opt-Out Investigation Orders dated January 7, 2011, the PUC stated: "We make no determination on the merits of health, safety...or which federal or state agency has the jurisdiction to make these determinations." In an Order dated June 22, 2011, the PUC reiterated that it "is making no determination on the merits of the health, safety, privacy or security concerns with respect to wireless Smart Meters."

When operational, the smart meter system will work as a "mesh network" of individual meters wirelessly communicating with one another to relay customer power usage and personal data to Central Maine Power. Privacy concerns are high on the list for many electricity consumers. The National Institute for Standards and Technology and Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is among the more established entities to recognize potential privacy concerns including detailed consumer profiling that could be obtained from smart meter data.

"More and more experts consider smart meter radiation to be a toxics issue equivalent to second-hand smoke", said Kathleen McGee, former director of the Maine Toxics Action Coalition. "Our issue with the PUC is quite simple, in order for them to meet their statutory obligation to ensure safe and reasonable service; they need to first make a determination on these issues of concern. In order to do this, they need to fully evaluate the science and hear from the public, both of which they have repeatedly refused to do."

In one of its Op-Out Investigation rulings, the PUC allowed electricity consumers to Opt Out of the smart meter program and retain their old analog meter but it also required these consumers to pay Central Maine Power Company an initial fee of $40 plus a $12 monthly fee for this option. "Endangerment, immoral, illegal, unethical, irresponsible or just plain wrong; call it what you will, but when citizens are ordered by the PUC to pay-up in order to avoid real or perceived harms to health and privacy, this is the antithesis of good government. In fact, it's good government gone very, very bad," said Ed Friedman, lead Plaintiff in the case.

Shortly after the PUC issued their first Order in the Opt-Out Investigation, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO/IARC) issued a report that identified as a "possible carcinogen" the type of non-ionizing radiation emitted by smart meters, cell phones and other wireless devices. This puts smart meter radiation in the same category used by WHO/IARC for identifying other potential carcinogens, such as DDT, benzofuran, chlordane, chloroform, 4,4'-Diaminodiphenyl ether, diesel fuel, 2,6 Dinitrotoluene, gasoline, lead, Polybrominated biphenyls, styrene, Toluene diisocyanates, and 4-Vinylcyclohexene.

"Concerns about the new technology are only increasing and Congressional hearings have been called for," says Friedman, "It will be some time before this issue is settled. Meanwhile, we encourage ratepayers not to sanction this uncontrolled and PUC - mandated experiment on their health and constitutional rights, but instead to keep their existing (electro-mechanical) meters and not pay the extra fee. That sends a clear message to CMP and the PUC."

Shaw, Cisco to build Wi-Fi super network in major cities

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"The service is aimed at the fastgrowing mobile-device market that is seeing people tune into Wi-Fi networks from their smart phones, tablet computers and other devices. "Rather than providing coverage at a limited number of hot spots such as coffee shops and other businesses, the Shaw Wi-Fi network, which is being built in collaboration with Cisco, will attempt to provide seamless coverage over broader areas, such as along rapid-transit lines, throughout stadiums, in parks, or along busy urban streets. "The challenge will be to build them [wireless access points] where our customers are," Bissonnette said, adding that they could be anywhere from small arenas where parents take their kids to play hockey to shopping centres in Surrey. "Bissonnette said the Vancouver coverage will extend throughout the Lower Mainland and, after the initial network is in place, the company will continue to expand on it, filling in areas where there is demand . . ."

BC Hydro and Corix Threaten Customers

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Green Party press release re Smart Meter conflicts"The Green Party of BC is calling on the BC Liberal government to instruct BC Hydro and by extension Corix Utilities to stop using threats and intimidation related to the Smart Meter program. Members of the public are contacting BC Greens about both BC Hydro and Corix. People who oppose the installation of Smart Meters on their homes and businesses report the Corix installers telling them that if they refuse a Smart Meter . . ."

Neighbourhood Alert Newsletter: Smart Meters

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Tri-fold brochure (to print and distribute locally, fold in thirds, one sheet, two sides)"Dear Neighbours, "You have probably heard that Wireless Smart Meters are being rolled out across B.C., although you may not know this is causing serious public concern. On September 30, 2011, the Union of BC Municipalities, (all the mayors and council members of BC), voted for a complete moratorium on the rollout of wireless smart meters until questions regarding health, privacy and cost could be analysed under public scrutiny. The Liberals said they didn't care, and are ignoring all requests from the people for democratic choice. Rich Coleman and Christy Clark have both stated that if you don't want a wireless meter on your house, you will need to pay to move it elsewhere on your property, go "off grid," or leave the province . . . "This tri-fold newsletter/brochure, one sheet back to back, is designed to print out and distribute. It will alert friends and neighbours to the "Smart Meter" installations that are taking place in local communities throughout BC. In an attempt to outpace opposition, Hydro's Corix installers are working rapidly to install Smart Meters before the majority of us know what is happening. Then, either on the brink of installation, or after the fact, people are asking in a panic, "What can we do?" Regardless of whether or not we live in houses, apartments, condominiums, town homes or care facilities, there ARE things we can do, in our neighbourhoods. Definitely, they are better done before the fact than after, but even after the fact there are things that can be done in the longer term.Hopefully, this newsletter brochure can be a springboard to action. It can help initiate conversation and awareness on the subject of wireless Smart Meters and answer questions that many people are beginning to have about these devices and the "Smart" grid that will follow. If you use it as a tool, there is a space for you to write your contact information if you wish. First we have to learn the facts and recognize the spin that BC Hydro is using to promote this unsafe technology. Then we need to talk to each other and decide what we can do, together. Many hands make light work, and two heads are better than one . . . Best distributed with the No Trespassing Sign and printed, hands-on copy of Non-Consent Letter to Hydro.

Dispatches from the urban meter wars

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Resistance to BC Hydro's smart meters still seems strong, but it's hard to tell who's winning."A BC Hydro rep gave a presentation at a recent meeting about energy conservation initiatives. Unbidden, he began by letting us know, "One thing we're not going to discuss today is smart meters." ". . . Suffice to say the meeting was filled with people very supportive of energy conservation. "When the BC Hydro rep inadvertently mentioned smart meters some minutes later, he interrupted himself: "Let's not go there." "When his PowerPoint slide about smart meters popped up, he jumped to the next slide. He wasn't even going to try to make the case for them to this knowledgeable group. "As we received this in polite silence, it began to sink in for all of us, I think, just how deeply damaging the Liberal "slam smart meters down their throats" campaign has been for BC Hydro's reputation . . ."

Letter to Vancouver City Council re wireless infrastructure

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Concerning more rapid growth of wireless infrastructure in VancouverSent by Una St. Clair calling for public consultation and input regarding Shaw's current plan to put Carrier Grade Wi-Fi routers in a wireless mesh throughout Vancouver's public spaces. She is asking Vancouver Council to move to protect public spaces so that all people, and the natural environment, can spend time in Vancouver without being assaulted by microwave radiofrequency radiation. "We are being inundated by e-mails and calls from Vancouver residents who are strongly opposed to the Shaw plan to put Carrier Grade Wi-Fi routers in a continuous and comprehensive overlapping wireless mesh throughout Vancouver's public places - from Stanley Park to downtown to the beaches. "In discussion with a Shaw engineer this morning, I was told they have no knowledge that microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are a W.H.0. Class 2B, possible human carcinogen, nor that Health Canada has issued an advisory to alert parents that reduction of wireless exposure to cellular devices is warranted at this time. You will find Parliamentary Council of Europe resolution attached - this document explains clearly the need to reduce exposure, not increase it. "I have been told by Shaw that Vancouver council and local government officials are making agreements to have these Wi-Fi routers installed on street poles, light fixtures, buildings (inside and out), literally everywhere. There is no arrangement in place to post signs on the locations of these devices, so there is no warning for people who have strong personal and health reasons and wish to avoid . . ."

Approach your local council NOW.

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

or run for the off-grid hillsLocal councils need to take steps to defend the health, safety and human rights of their constituents. They need to represent the people in their ridings, and people need to speak up for their rights. According to Bill 23-2008 of the British Columbia Public Health Act, section 83 (1), Section 83 (1), a municipality must take action when it learns of something that could be harmful to its residents. It must notify the Minister of Health or take immediate action. We can't say it strongly enough: Approach local councils NOW, and demand safe neighbourhoods!If you don't, the change we need won't happen.

PG&E Begins Removing 'Smart' Meters due to Health Effects

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Widening Call for Immediate Return of Analogs; Disconnection of "Mesh Wireless Networks"SANTA CRUZ, CA"Just as PG&E enters the final phase of its deployment of wireless "smart" meters in California, the largest of the state's Investor Owned Utilities (IOU's) has reversed course, quietly beginning to replace the 'smart' meters of those reporting health impacts with the old trusty analog version. Consumer rights and health groups immediately seized on the news, demanding that millions of Californians unhappy with their new wireless meters get their analogs returned immediately at no cost . . ."

Smart meters will be Hydro's cash cow

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Michael Smythe, The Province"Add this to the growing mountain of evidence that B.C. Hydro will one day flip a switch at head office and turn your new smart meter into a miniature tax-collection machine: "Hydro is maxing out its credit card with something called "deferred expenses," according to a report Thursday from the auditor-general . . . "When you pin him down, Coleman says there will be no time-of-use billing for now - you know, before an election - but he won't rule it out in the future. "And isn't it interesting that Hydro's own manager of the smart-meter program seems so gung-ho for time-of-use billing? "It's a clear slam-dunk," Gary Murphy gushed to Globe and Mail reporter Ian Bailey. And Hydro customers will be the ones getting slammed! "But time-of-use billing is just one reason why opposition is growing against smart meters. "Some people worry about the health risks from microwaves. Others worry about privacy breaches. "Hydro can't figure out how to handle the backlash. They recently softened their message that the smart meters are mandatory for all Hydro customers. "If they don't want us to install a smart meter, we're not installing a smart meter," said Hydro vice-president Greg Reimer, adding that the corporation will "talk" to those customers instead. "If you're one of those reluctant people who refuse a smart meter, send me an email. I'd love to know how your "talk" goes with our debtridden utility."

Insights into British Columbia's installation of Smart Meters (Video)

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

an industrial engineer speaks about the process, technicalities, health, ethics and legality of Smart Meters in British Columbia

Insights into the Installation of Smart Meters in BC (Video)

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

A White Rock resident shares her experiences and insights regarding health effects and human rights as they relate to B.C. Hydro Smart Meters

Canadian Radiation Safety Council WEBSITE

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Canadians working against involuntary exposure to microwave and radiofrequency radiation, and other forms of electromagnetic pollution.Smart Meters, Wi-Fi, News, Sources, Resources, Government, Press Releases

Aspen Decline

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

International Journal of Forestry Research article on the adverse influence of RF on trembling aspen seedlings (2010)"Numerous incidents of aspen decline have been recorded in North America over the past half century, and incidents of very rapid mortality of aspen clones have been observed in Colorado since 2004. The radio frequency (RF) environment of the earth has undergone major changes in the past two centuries due to the development and use of electricity in power and communications applications, and the anthropogenic RF background continues to increase in intensity and complexity. "This study suggests that the RF background may have strong adverse effects on growth rate and fall anthocyanin production in aspen, and may be an underlying factor in aspen decline."

Former BC Premier Bill Vander Zalm Talks About Smart Meters (Video)

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

ICTV Victoria

Endorsement: Diane McNally for Greater Victoria School Board

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

November municipal election November, 2011Citizens for Safe Technology Society is pleased to endorse Diane McNally for School Trustee in School District 61, Greater Victoria. We support Diane in her position that schools need to adhere to a position of safety which excludes actively exposing children to W.H.O. Class 2B, possible human carcinogen, being microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emanating from wireless internet routers, wireless laptops and other wireless devices within the school. Diane believes that the risk of serious health concerns should be avoided and schools hardwired with the latest wired technology to support increased reliability and speed, increased safety and security for children, reduction of potential liability for the school and school district, and above all, hard wired systems have none of the risks associated with wireless exposure. We encourage parents to take action to protect their children from wireless technology risks, and to vote for Diane McNally. Una St.Clair Executive Director Citizens for Safe Technology Society

Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic: Neil Cherry 2000

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The implications for the epidemiology of cancer and cardiac, neurological and reproductive effectsFor presentations in May to NZ Parliament and June 2000 in Italy, Austria, Ireland and at the European Parliament in Brussels. "Our frame of reference determines what we look at and how we look. And as a consequence, this determines what we find." Burke J, The Day the Universe Changed, 1985. "The way we perceive things determines how we make decisions. To move from picturing ourselves as physical beings to biological beings significantly changes our view of health and fitness. Too much exercise and oxygen free radicals really damage our cells. To move from biological to bioelectrical incorporates intelligence and emotion and leads to a radically fundamental change in our way of seeing things that it forms the basis of a new paradigm. Principles of Approach: This paper attempts to follow basic classical scientific principles to counter the dismissive and biased approach of industry and many government and international authorities, including the WHO and ICNIRP. The principles found to be important are that biology reveals that brains, hearts and cells use electromagnetic signals, charged ions, voltage-gated ion channels, ion regulated gap junctions, all of which can be interfered with by external electromagnetic fields in subtle but vital ways in relation to health. A primary physical principle of resonant absorption explains why external and internal signals that share the same part of the spectrum, resonantly exchange energy at levels well below the thermal threshold. This is also true for radio and TV receivers. It involves tuned circuits and resonant absorption . . ."

Foes of wireless meters seek choice - Kamloops, B.C.

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Imposing smart meters is wrong, crowd told at public forum"People should have a right to choose whether to accept a health risk, a principal somehow forgotten in the rush to install wireless meters, an audience was told at a public meeting Monday night. "Smart meters are part of a wider process occurring at every level of government, where your right to make a decision about what happens to your body is being taken away," said Shawn Buckley, a Kamloops constitutional lawyer who often deals with consumer rights. "About 150 people attended the gathering, the first public meeting held on the controversial issue, to hear arguments against the devices. No one at the meeting spoke in support of the technology. "Smart meters record consumption and communicate the information to utilities through use of two-way wireless radio transmission. The City is using the technology for its water-metering program as B.C. Hydro has them installed for electrical use. Fortis is also planning to install smart meters for gas consumption. "Buckley drew a contrast between the involuntary imposition of wireless technology and the overzealous application of the law prohibiting raw milk. The rejection of water meters in Kamloops by referendum, only to have them imposed by law, is another example of what he calls "the democratic deficit . . ."

Smart Meter Fight (Video)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Townhome Owner in stand off with BC Hydro - CTV News

Wi-Fi Health Hazard for Students (Video)

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The Hazards of Wi-Fi in our Schools - full of research, information and workable solutions September 29, 2011

Robert Bateman discusses health and Smart Meters Part 1 of 2 (Video)

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

ICTV Victoria

Robert Bateman discusses the lack of choice regarding Smart Meters Part 2 of 2 (Video)

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

ICTV Victoria

B.C. bill could open up your private information

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Proposed changes would radically alter freedom-of-information law

Installation of Smart Meters an infringement of Canadian Rights

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Letter to the editor from a Quesnel health care practitioner"I am deeply concerned about the people and all biological systems that inhabit this community and province; as well as other areas that have had Smart Meters imposed upon it. As a health care practitioner who has utilized electro-magnetic (EMF) technology for the provision of health care since 2006, I, as well as many clients/patients, can attest to the affect that even extremely short (1/100 sec), small amperage EMF pulses can have on human beings and living systems. In controlled settings, biofeedback systems utilize EMF pulses that are precise, specific frequencies which are calibrated and harmonized to only provide health enhancement. Such a biofeedback system is default set to disallow any frequency that could potentially be harmful to the client/patient through specifically calibrating the biofeedback system to that client . . . "Knowing that the EMF of a Smart Meter will penetrate my home, I perceive the potential installation of a Smart Meter on my property against my wishes as an infringement on my rights as a Canadian citizen to live the way in which I choose as a means to protect my own health. "Thus I fully intend to stand up for my rights as a Canadian citizen and will do everything in my power to prevent the mandatory installation of a Smart Meter on my property and on the properties of the citizens of this community and the province . . ."

B.C. Hydro's smart meters rile the skeptics

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Georgia Straight report"Vancouver pharmacist Harlan Lahti was very upset. While he was working at his shop on October 17, a B.C. Hydro crew arrived. The workers were going to install the controversial new smart meters in his business's building. "Convinced about the health risks posed by the radiation given off by these devices, Lahti tried to stop them. But he was bluntly told that he either got a new meter or his power would be cut off. "They're not even giving people a choice," Lahti fumed on the phone. Earlier that day, he happened to be on the line with the Georgia Straight, feeling quite relieved that he still had his old meter at home. He was actually planning to write B.C. Hydro to say that he didn't want a new one installed in his home. "B.C. Hydro is in the midst of installing 1.8 million new meters in homes and businesses across the province. These are designed to monitor energy use in real time, and to electronically transmit recorded data several times a day to the utility company. "Lahti is one of many who are not comforted by assurances from the Crown corporation, and authorities like provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall, that the technology is safe. "It's a very pulsing frequency that goes from very low to very high...very strong bursts," Lahti said of smart-meter emissions. "This is extremely disruptive to the human energetic system. Some people are very sensitive to it. . . ."

British Medical Journal's Upcoming Cell Phone Study Deeply Flawed

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Environmental Health Trust and Other Experts Expose Major Flaws in New Danish Study Claiming No Significant Cancer Risks from Cell Phone Use."The new report misrepresents risk of brain tumors for the very same reason the original Danish study was previously criticized. Removing more than 300,000 cell phone users who were business users from the analysis (almost 30% of the original group), defining as a user anyone making one call a week for 6 months, and ignoring the fact that phone calls were more expensive and shorter years ago, reduces the group's average exposure and makes it very unlikely to find any evidence of increased risk. "Secondly, the report analyzed the rates of brain tumors that occurred between 1990-2007 in those who began using cellphones after 1987, compared to those who were non-subscribers when the study started. This also understates risk, because most of those who began as 'non-subscribers' to cell phone service (i.e. the 'controls' at the time the cohort was collected) became cell phone users later on, and accumulated almost as many years (on average per person) as the 'exposed' subscribers. Hence, the comparison to the population not contained in the subscriber sample is a comparison between two exposed groups. When Michael Kundi and colleagues from the Medical University of Vienna mathematically corrected for this concern in the earlier Danish study, they found a significantly increased risk for brain tumors. "Cell phone users who began using cell phones after 1995 and those under the age of 30 were not considered 'subscribers' in the study (as with the business users and pay-as-you go users), thus significantly diluting the results and underestimating the risk. "An accompanying editorial on the study by Anders Albom, notes several design limits of this study and repeats a concern raised about this problem in 2005, where he noted: "Not being able to include corporate users, likely to be among the earliest and heaviest users of mobile phones, also weakens the statistical power of the study." "Finally, and importantly, the current, updated Danish study being published today in fact did find increased risk, even though the study is currently being promoted to the media as if it did not . . ."

David Cobb steps down

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

David Cobb is current president and CEO of BC Hydro. He is leaving after 18 months on the job."BC Hydro President and CEO Dave Cobb is leaving the huge crown corporation after fewer than 18 months on the job. "Mr. Cobb, who was John Furlong's right-hand man during preparation and staging of the 2010 Winter Olympics, has presided over an operation that was criticized this summer by an government-appointed panel for excessive salaries and large planned rate increases. "In a statement, Hydro chair Dan Doyle announced Wednesday that Mr. Cobb was departing to take "a senior position" with the Jim Pattison Group. "Mr. Cobb will remain with Hydro until November 30 "to ensure a smooth transition" to his replacement, the statement said . . . "His departure comes at a time when Hydro is at a turning point in its future, with the provincial government wanting changes on many levels. The changes will result in hundreds of job losses at a time when demand for increased power capacity in the future could be fuelled by numerous large, energy-related projects in northwestern B.C. "Mr. Cobb's departure follows months of public dispute between the government and the utility over proposed increases in electricity rates, and the need to slash costs . . ."

FAQ - Stop Smart Meters!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Frequently asked Questions and Answers re "Smart Meters" (Source is California US, but applicable to all)

Please consider that this post hails from California and therefore some references, such as those to PG&E correspondence, will not apply to Canada. However, most of the information is applicable to Smart Meters no matter where they are being deployed. The effects, issues and information will be the same, or very similiar, and strategies used in one location can be considered when mapping out an action plan in other areas. "We are happy today to officially launch our new FAQ section which attempts to answer the many questions that reasonable people have when faced with the unreasonableness of 'smart' meter installations being pushed by their government and utility. We hope it will be an ongoing project, informing people about the issue and why it matters and, most importantly, helping everyone become aware of our rights and how to defend them.

"How did the FAQ come about? For many months, we here at Stop Smart Meters! have been inundated with people sending us questions: "How do I stop them installing this meter?" "How do I get them to remove this meter that is making me sick?" and many more. As a relatively new organization with a limited budget and staff time, we have been struggling to reply to the thousands of e-mails we've been receiving from those all over the US and abroad. If you have sent us an e-mail and not heard back, we apologize. Try the FAQ and if you can't find an answer to your question feel free to e-mail us again. There is also a Links page.

"The FAQ is not perfect, and as a work in progress, we welcome any suggested changes or additions. This is a community resource and knowledge base and we encourage people to contribute their insights and wisdom. We are often asked for local contacts in places other than California, so if you would like to be listed in the Contacts Database, please let us know.

"If you find this resource useful and want to help us keep fighting wireless smart meter mesh networks currently being installed in areas not aware of the dangers, please donate to us today. We are able to continue our work through the generosity of hundreds of people around the world. And we thank you. -SSM!"

Paris tackles radiation from the roofs

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

news report from France

"PARIS - The Mayor of Paris has halted construction of additional cellular phone towers to the city's roofs this week, according to Le Monde. The City established a pact in 2003 with mobile service providers to allow certain companies to construct cellular towers on municipal buildings within stated limits. The decision to stop construction of the towers coincides with the end of the city's contract with the mobile service companies.

"Paris is the only city in France to have an agreement with cell phone companies which limits the exposure of electromagnetic waves to two volts per meter over 24 hours. The mayor has accused the French Telecom Federation of allowing exposures of up to 15 volts per meter, levels that some reports deem unhealthy.

"The European Environmental Agency reported in 2007 that health risks are associated with electromagnetic waves, though the threshold of a "dangerous" level remains highly contested worldwide. Some advocacy groups like Ecoforum, based in the south of France, insist that levels above 1.5 volts per meter pose health risks. In a public test at the beginning of this month in Marseille, Ecoforum's president, Hugo Espinoza, tested emissions with a smart phone that registered eight volts per meter.

"Despite the uncertainty of any imminent health risks, the 186 current cellular towers which spike the skyline of Paris may soon be removed . . ."

New study shows cell phones exceed FCC exposure limits by as much as double for children

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release - Environmental Health Trust"A scholarly article on cell phone safety published online October 17, 2011, in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine reports the finding that cell phones used in the shirt or pants pocket exceed FCC exposure guidelines and that children absorb twice as much microwave radiation from phones as do adults. "The paper, titled "Exposure Limits: The underestimation of absorbed cell phone radiation, especially in children," notes that the industry-designed process for evaluating microwave radiation from phones results in children absorbing twice the cellphone radiation to their heads, up to triple in their brain's hippocampus and hypothalamus, greater absorption in their eyes, and as much as 10 times more in their bone marrow when compared to adults . . ."Click here to a view a summary of the paper

Health Canada warnings on cell phones need to be clearer and widely heard

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Open letter Contributed by Carol Hughes, MP Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing"In the summer of 2010 I wrote about a group of parents in Collingwood who were fighting to have Wi-Fi, taken out of their children's school. I heard their story while sitting as a member of a parliamentary committee investigating the safety of the microwave radiation emitted by wireless devices like cell phones and modems. "The committee heard contradictory evidence and warnings from scientists, groups and individuals. There were claims that Canada's code that regulates the limit of radiation any device can emit was not strict enough - Health Canada officials disputed this. "Much has changed in the story since that column . . ."

REMOVAL LETTER: for Hydro Wireless Smart Meters Already Installed

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Form letter to send to BC Hydro and its affiliates to remove a smart meter from your home or businessB.C. Hydro is in the process of installing wireless "smart" meters on 99% of homes and businesses in the province of British Columbia, with a target completion date of December, 2012. Many believe and assert they have done so without due diligence or public education, using "implied consent" as their reason to proceed without permission of the people of B.C. This form letter is for those who have had a chance to learn more about the negative effects of living and/or working in the vicinity of wireless smart meters, who do not accept the risk this involves, and who wish to officially register their opposition in the form of a demand for removal of the wireless smart meter, and the re-installation of a wired, analogue meter.NB You will need to download it in order to copy and paste it into your own email, and fill in your information before sending.It would be a good idea to also register your situation with your mayor and council. Address finder here.If you do NOT already have a wireless "smart meter?" After posting (ASAP) a sign with your address, name and date, on your meter and on your door, you can send the original Letter of Non-consent to register your wish to keep your analogue meter after posting your intention to.

Via electronic mail to: smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

Also via Canada Post to: BC Hydro,Smart Meter Specialist Department6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby BC, V3N 4X8

Attention B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and agents and/or assignees thereof:

Re: DEMAND FOR REMOVAL of any wireless Smart Meter at my Residence/Workplace AND RE-INSTALLATION of Analogue/Wired Meter

Dated: _______________, 201__ B.C. Hydro Account # on bill_____________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Please accept this as your official notice from this date forward of my absolute demand for the removal of any wireless Smart Meter installed on my Residence / Workplace AND for the re-installation, at BC Hydro's expense, of a wired, analogue meter on my home or premises at

full address ________________________________________________________

Take notice that B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or agents and assignees thereof did not have my authorization, permission or consent to enter my property, business or premises for the purpose of replacing my previous meter with a new wireless Smart Meter.

Your action of installing this device on my property or residence is constituted as trespass and a violation of rights afforded to me as a citizen of Canada.

I refuse your wireless Smart Meter on the grounds that it has the capability of being a surveillance system, used by you or other parties, which could violate my right to privacy. Also: My fundamental democratic right to protect my health from a possible carcinogen, specifically radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by your wireless Smart Meter, supersedes any right you have to install a wireless Smart Meter on my property.

You only have authorization to attend at my property for the purpose of reinstalling a non-wireless analogue meter, and reading it manually.

Name in full ________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

Copy (Cc) to

Liberal BC Leader Christy Clark, Minister of Energy Rich Coleman, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan, BC Chief Medical Officer Perry Kendall, NDP Deputy Health Critic Sue Hammell, Green Party Federal Leader Elizabeth May, Minister of Health, Mike de Jong, NDP Health Critic Mike Farnworth, NDP BC Leader Adrian Dix, Green Party BC Leader Jane Sterk, BCRefed Leader Ingrid Voigt

premier@gov.bc.ca, rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca, john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca, perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca, sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca, elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca, mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca, mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca, leader@greenparty.bc.ca, ingridrefed@gmail.com

This letter format can be accessed, downloaded, cut and pasted into your own email from:citizensforsafetechnology.org (Smart Meter Action Kit under "REMOVAL LETTER")

On the run from radio frequencies

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Maclean's Magazine: Some Canadians go to great lengths to escape waves of radiation from electronics that are considered harmless"As the mother of two young girls, Samantha Boutet does what she believes is necessary to protect her family. That's why, with the spread of radio frequencies from increasingly common wireless technology, Boutet is a refugee in her own land. The naturopathic doctor and her two daughters are relocating more than 600 km east of their home in Maple Ridge, B.C., to a small cabin in a remote valley in B.C.'s Kootenay mountains. "The decision was spurred by a series of health problems affecting her older daughter, Amelia, which started in Grade 4. For more than a year, Amelia suffered from deep headaches, nagging nausea, inexplicable muscle soreness, tingling extremities, and insomnia, Boutet says. Eventually, after visiting a number of specialists, the family doctor diagnosed Amelia with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), a medical condition that involves a range of non-specific symptoms attributed to electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs), much like those described by sufferers of multiple-chemical sensitivity, another environmental illness believed to be caused by low-level exposure to chemicals. "I felt really bad because her body was telling her there was something wrong, and I was telling her there couldn't be, and I couldn't understand why she was behaving the way she was," says Boutet . . ."

Liberals' dumb response to smart-meter opposition could prove their Waterloo

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Opinion Vancouver Sun"Smart meters emerge as a policy Waterloo for the Liberals and could become nails in Premier Christy Clark's political coffin. "You'd think the Liberals would have learned something on their stumbling retreat from the Moscow of the Harmonized Sales Tax, what with Bill Vander Zalm's and Chris Delaney's take-no-prisoners referendum and recall campaigns so fresh in their memories. "It seems not . . ."

A Right To Know? Not If the Wireless Industry Has its Way

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

educational information and the way it is communicated to the public

"San Francisco passed a landmark ordinance earlier this year, which mandates that information about RF radiation exposure, a WHO class 2B carcinogen, be present at all cell-phone retail sites in the city, and given to buyers. If such an ordinance were passed to inform people about their exposure to RF from "smart" meters, what might the poster look like...?

The SF cell-phone right-to-know ordinance was put into effect on Sept. 30, with retailers to be given about three weeks to get into compliance. However, only a few days passed before the CTIA embarked on a lawsuit to stop the city instituting the ordinance. The grounds? Infringement of the wireless industry's freedom of speech . . .

Information is the greater part of education--context and the tools of analysis making up the rest. But to start with information is crucial . . ."

Autism and Electromagnetic Waves

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

How TV sets, computers and cell phone technology may be altering children's brains and contributing to autism"Mirror neurons are cells fired by the brain when we perform various tasks. They also fire when we watch someone else doing a task. Scientists think that they contribute to learning by imitation, development of language and the neural basis of empathy. For instance, if you see someone crying you feel empathy for them because you know that you feel upset when you cry. "Recent evidence suggests a link between autism and the human mirror neuron system. I argue that temporal disruption from the environment may play a role in the observed mirror neuron dysfunction, leading in turn to the pattern of deficits associated with autism. I suggest that the developing nervous system of an infant may be particularly prone to temporal noise that can interfere with the initial calibration of brain networks. The most likely source of temporal noise in the environment is artificially generated electromagnetic radiation . . ."

"Wi-Fi Refugees" moving to Green Bank, West Virginia (VIDEO)

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

escaping electromagnetic radiation - A massive radiotelescope prohibits any mainstream electronics from being used nearby"Tranquil Pocahontas County is not where Diane Schou planned to end up. "It's difficult for me to know that it's an affliction that anybody can share with anyone," she says. "Anyone can get this." "Schou and her husband were farmers in Iowa. When a cell phone tower was built near their home she says her problems started . . . "We told him about the cell tower and his reaction was, 'Move.'" "While not a formal diagnosis in America, electromagnetic sensitivity is recognized in several European countries. And last May, the World Health Organization classified it as a possible carcinogen. "I would call myself a refugee/fugitive and I would say it's 'electromagnetic radiation fugitive,'" she says. "She's found peace and health in West Virginia. Inside the "National Radio Quiet Zone," a 13-thousand square mile piece of land free from most radio signals. Inside it are Covington, Clifton Forge, Lexington and Buena Vista. But even more restrictive is the ten mile radius around a massive radiotelescope that maps outer space . . ."

INITIATIVE New petition imminent. Stay Tuned.

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

BC Recall and Initiative Act

"An initiative is being launched under the BC Recall and Initiative Act to stop the mandatory installation of smart meters in British Columbia. The executive of StopSmartMeters.ca has gathered a board of consultants and advisors, and in October 2011 will begin a pre-registration program for British Columbians opposed to the ongoing installation of smart meters. The completed pre-registration will enable a swift and successful official petition and an initiative vote similar to the HST campaign.

A further announcement will be made in a few weeks, letting people know when and how they can begin pre-registering for the petition. Please keep watching for this announcement."

Stop Wireless Smart Meters - One Step Up The Ladder

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Interview with Una St. Clair re UBCM vote to support a moratorium on Smart Meters in BC. September 30, 2011

Plenty of questions surround move to smart meters

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Thirteen and counting . . .For those of you who think smart meters are a good thing, or those who know little about them, educate yourselves and consider:

1. Right off the top, it is going to cost taxpayers $1 billion to replace the present analog meters that are perfectly fine. This money would be better spent on education, health care or job creation.

2. With former premier Gordon Campbell's Energy Act, the B.C. Utilities Commission has not been allowed to review and approve a business plan.

3. Concerned taxpayers have not been allowed public hearings.

4. These are wireless digital transmitters that can, 24/7, invade our privacy and collect all kinds of data that can be sold to anyone.

5. Hackers will be able obtain data, such as whether we are home or not.

6. This radio frequency radiation cannot be turned off, unlike our cell phones or wifi transmitters.

7. People with health problems or electro hypersensitivity are being made sick or sicker.

8. No energy is conserved by this meter. It only reports usage like an analog meter.

9. Provinces like Ontario are finding that consumer bills are climbing by as much as 150 per cent.

10. B.C. Hydro had the choice to use hard wired smart meters, but it chose wireless. Why?

11. Citizens of the Netherlands protested so vehemently smart meters were abandoned.

12. Education is the only way to learn to conserve energy.

13. Finally, ask yourselves: Who is behind this global effort to create a global electrical grid?

Canada won't issue Wi-Fi warning: Health Minister

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Health Minister Aglukkaq"OTTAWA - Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says more research is needed before Canada considers issuing an alert on the possible risks linked to wireless Internet. "In May, the World Health Organization's cancer arm classified all radiation emitted by wireless devices -including cellphones, Wi-Fi and baby monitors - as possibly carcinogenic. "Health Canada issued new advice on mobile phones Tuesday and advised parents to encourage kids under 18 to cap their cellphone use, but the agency maintains wireless Internet technology is completely "safe." "Wi-Fi is quite different than cellphones," said Aglukkaq . . ."A growing number of Canadian students and teachers are convinced wireless Internet at school causes headaches, nausea, muscle weakness. They want to see the technology removed from educational settings."

Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, dies at 56

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The GuardianThe mastermind behind an empire that has revolutionised personal computing, telephony and music, dies in California. "Fifty six years of age seems very young to die, for a very intelligent person, with vast riches and access to the world's best medical care! "So what environmental toxin was he exposed to, that may have caused his early demise? "Could it have been strong microwave radiation from his Apple wireless computers? "Or strong microwave radiation from his Apple I-Phones? "Or a living environment filled with microwave radiation from Wi-Fi and cell phone antennas etc? "Much scientific research indicates that microwave radiation is causing significant cancer increases to persons exposed. "Is Steve Jobs death an early predictor of what will happen to millions of intelligent citizens who have become hopelessly hooked on wireless technologies? "How many other people who are exposed to radiation from Apple wireless devices will also suffer long illnesses from cancer and an early death?" Martin Weatherall WEEP

Sleeping Mamma Wakes!

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

fledgling smart meter activist in Orange County, CaliforniaMaureen Homan is a "sleeping mamma" who's just woken up to the "smart" meter invasion where she and her family live, in Orange County CA. But she's got herself and others organized the way only a mamma can do! She's just started up a website: www.StopOCSmartMeters.com. And she's found out what many of us know--you have to get out and talk to your neighbors and friends. "I've never [done] any of this sort of thing before. But when you tick off the sleeping mamma.... We have a core group of a few people who are spreading the word quickly. SCE is deploying (am I in a war?) at a rate of 3000 per day. I think everyone senses the urgency to get the word out. "My mother put a book about "smart" meters on my desk about 6 months ago and I thought it was just another one of her crazy causes. Then I got the notice in the mail from SCE saying that they were coming here in the next few weeks. Concern turned to panic when I started reading what you folks were going through and realizing the validity behind the protests.

BC Smart Meter Moratorium Announcement (Video)

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Councillor Philippe Lucas describes voting process at the UBCM

Scientists played down brain tumour risks in children.

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Manipulation of research regarding mobile phones and cancer risks"A new industry-sponsored study on brain tumour risks in children who use mobile phones was presented to the media in July 2011. The press-release claimed that the results were "reassuring" whereas the study itself indicated an increased risk. Apart from playing down the results, there is evidence that the scientists also manipulated the research in order to underestimate the risks, especially of cordless phones . . . "Cefalo might have been designed to play down risks, but instead of challenging the findings of the international Interphone group and the Swedish Hardell group, it reconfirms them. These studies made IARC, the cancer research agency of the World Health Organisation, classify mobile phone radiation as "possibly carcinogenic" in May 2011. "There is now more than enough evidence for an application of the precautionary principle according to the International EMF Alliance, a public interest NGO representing some 60 grassroots organisations advocating for a regulation and a reduction of electro-pollution. - The irrational "zero-risk" interpretation of the Cefalo scientists creates doubts and could postpone preventive measures and cause unnecessary suffering. Mobile phone use has increased massively among children and teenagers the last decade, and even a small increase of brain tumour risks is of great concern, says Alex Swinkels, IEMFA board member . . ."

CEFALO FACTS

Sample: Cefalo included 352 children aged 7-19 who were diagnosed with a brain tumour, in the period 2004-

2008 in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, and 646 controls.

Results: Almost all tables indicate an increased risk. The risk was 36% higher for children and adolescents who

used mobile phones regularly. (OR 1,36, CI 0,92-2,02). The risk was amplified by a longer latency time and was

more than twice as high (+115%) for children for whom the longest time had elapsed since they received their first

mobile phone subscription. (OR 2,15, CI 1,07-4,29).

Statistical significance: The odds ratio (OR) measures the odds of an event occurring in a group compared to a

control group. Positive results are considered to be statistically significant when the entire confidence interval (CI)

is above 1. The doubled risk mentioned above is thus significant.

Funding: Partly financed by the industry funded Swiss Research Foundation on Mobile communication

Resolution to UBCM Regarding Smart Meters

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Passed September 30, 2011

Resolution presented by the City of Colwood

Passed at the UBCM's Annual Conference on September 30, 2011

City of Colwood

RESOLUTION TO UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MUNICIPALITIES

REGARDING BC HYDRO WIRELESS SMART METERS

Moved by Councillor Cullington

Seconded Councillor Tucknott

Whereas significant and serious health, privacy and other concerns have been identified regarding the installation of wireless smart meters in British Columbia and

Whereas BC Hydro is proceeding with its program to install wireless smart meters in British Columbia although it recognizes there is active discussion and ongoing research into the possible health and environmental effects related to radio frequency signals and it is aware the World Health Organization has called for further investigation on this matter in its press release issued on May 31, 2011:

Therefore be it resolved that a moratorium be placed on the mandatory installation of wireless smart meters until the major issues and problems identified regarding wireless smart meters are independently assessed and acceptable alternatives can be made available at no added cost to the consumer.

CARRIED

Democracy Wins at the UBCM

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release from CST"The BC Liberals' attempts to silence the growing Smart Meter controversy have failed at the Union of BC Municipalities convention with delegates voting for a province-wide moratorium. Could the heavy-handed, dictatorial edicts of Rich Coleman and the Liberals have actually prompted this clear vote for democracy, pushing back this denial of democratic process, denial of human rights, and denial of the freedoms and liberties enshrined in our Canadian Charter? "This is, of course, not the first time the Liberals have attempted to force an unacceptable political position onto BC residents without consent or due process. The dust has hardly even begun to settle from the HST fiasco. But it is obvious that the BC Liberals have long held total disregard for the citizens, and pay little heed to our wishes and concerns except when they want our vote . . ."Resolution passed September 30, 2011

Mayors call for freeze on smart meter rollout at UBCM

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Union of British Columbia Municipalities"Energy giant B.C. Hydro will continue outfitting its customers with wireless smart meters despite a unanimous vote by delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities for a moratorium on the mandatory instalment of the devices. "Municipal politicians voted 55 per cent on Friday in favour of putting a halt to Hydro's Smart Metering Program until the major issues associated with the $930 [million] project can be addressed. "The smart meters have proved one of the hot-button issues at this year's annual meeting of mayor and councillors, with critics raising the alarm over such issues as the potential health impacts, cost and efficiency of having them attached to their homes. "Many critics also expressed anger over having the devices imposed on them with little or no consultation. Hydro has already installed 100,000 smart meters and intends to hand one to each of its 1.8 million customers . . ."

UBCM Convention: Hydro Smart Meter Controversy Update

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Union of British Columbia Municipalities - Vancouver Convention CentreCitizens concerned about BC Hydro's Smart Metering Program are a presence this week at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre September 26 to September 30. "As a major sponsor at the UBCM convention, B.C. Hydro is taking this opportunity to promote Smart Meters to all local government representatives in B.C. For Hydro executives, this province's wireless metered future is a foregone conclusion, and questions and alternative insights are not their concern. It also seems they are backed by Liberal Minister of Energy Rich Coleman. Despite a scheduled vote this coming Thursday to determine whether or not municipalities will back a province-wide moratorium, he has forcefully stated that no one will be exempt from wireless smart meters under any circumstances, and that the only choice for people who don't want to be part of the program is to go 'OFF GRID' . . . "

BC Hydro won't be dissuaded on smart meters: Rich Coleman

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Government not interested in Smart Meter safety concerns"BC Hydro will proceed with its smart meter program regardless of growing municipal government opposition, Energy Minister Rich Coleman said Tuesday. "As local government officials at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention grilled BC Hydro officials over why the utility is proceeding with the controversial $930-million infrastructure upgrade program despite concerns from residents, Coleman said the program is here to stay. "We continue what we are supposed to do, and that is to install smart meters in British Columbia," he said. "We have already made the investment, we've already passed the legislation in the Clean Energy Act. We have invested [as much as] $400 million so far and a resolution [by the UBCM] is not going to stop us." " . . . B.C. residents won't be allowed to opt out of the program or use non-smart meter equipment, although BC Hydro is willing to consider moving the meters elsewhere on a property. "We continue to have a dialogue with those folks and we are trying to answer all their questions," he said. "We are not in a place where we are ready to throw the gauntlet down and play hardball." "Wendy Bales, a director for the Fraser Valley Regional District, said some of her constituents are so angry and worried they are considering "going off the grid" by installing their own power generation equipment. "Under questioning from Saanich Coun. Leif Wergeland, Murphy acknowledged BC Hydro never consulted with the public before buying the meters. He said the province's Clean Energy Act mandated that the utility begin the modernization program . . ."

No Wi-Fi for the French National Library

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

September 2011- Wi-Fi and the French National Library, all unions on the same wavelength"Today, on Friday 23 September 2011, at the time of the Hygiene and Safety Committee of the Francois Mitterrand vote took place on the project to rollout Wi-Fi . . . "The French Unions (CFDT, CGT and FSU) voted unanimously against this project, thus in compliance with the Precautionary Principle and in favour of equality for everyone with regard to access to Library services."

To avoid breast cancer, take that cellphone out of your bra

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Devra DavisSo . . . October is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month." What's missing?"For many young women today, tucking cellphones in the bra has become a cool, hip way to have simple access to these essential devices. They can jog, drive, shop or sit in darkened movie theaters, quickly responding to tingled vibrations at their breast. Most of us have no idea that cellphones are two-way microwave radios that should not be kept directly on the body. "As the month of breast cancer awareness, October finds the media packed with warnings about the disease. What's missing from this welcome public attention is the fact that the ways some people are using their phones today could increase their risk of developing breast cancer and other diseases. A cellphone's microwave radiation seeps directly into soft fatty tissue of the breast. That's not a good thing. "Someone wise once said that there is no cure for stupidity, but ignorance can be cured with knowledge. I sure hope this is the case . . ."

Is Wi-Fi health hazard for students?

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

York Region, Ontario"York Region's public school board may be getting top marks for being at the forefront of digital learning, but a growing number of parents are wishing educators would take it a little slower. "They are concerned that wireless technology may be harming their children's health and have organized a seminar to explore the topic next week. "All of York Region's public schools are connected wirelessly and the board is recognized as a leader in move to bring digital technology into the classroom. "But not everyone thinks that's smart. "It goes against our rights as parents," says Richmond Hill parent Lynnette Haralampopoulos. "We try to have a safe environment for our kids and do what we can at home to remove things that can cause cancer but they have no choice; they have to be in school." "Ms Haralampopoulos, and other parents in the region, are reverting to plug-in technology and circulating a "non-consent form" to be submitted to schools when parents don't want their kids using wireless computers or to be exposed to them in the school . . ."

Coalition to Stop "Smart" Meters (CDN)

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

British Columbia, CanadaWe are a non-partisan Coalition to Stop "Smart" Meters, consisting of British Columbia residents, businesses and organizations dedicated to ensuring that the upgrading of the provincial utility infrastructure (electric, water, gas) proceeds in a manner that protects jobs, democracy, privacy, security, safety, rights, health and the environment, while also preventing the downloading of unnecessary costs to taxpayers.

Defense Intelligence: Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation in Eurasian Communist Countries

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Prepared by US Army Medical Intelligence and Information Agency Office of the Surgeon General 1975"The purpose of this review is to provide information necessary to assess human vulnerability, protection materials, and methods applicable to military operations. The study provides insight on the current research capabilities of these countries. Information on trends is presented when feasible and supportable. "The study discusses the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation in the radio and microwave ranges (up through 300,000 megahertz). It is not within the realm of this study to provide detailed descriptions of every laboratory experiment. Such data have been purposely omitted in favour of an analytical approach. An attempt has been made to identify the principal areas of research and to discuss the significance of experimental results. "The information reported in this study has been drawn from scientific, medical, and military journals, intelligence reports, magazines, news items, books, and other publications. The information cut-off date for this study was 1 October 1975 . . ." Report contains: Biological Significance of Radiowaves and Microwaves

Blood
Cardiovascular System
Cells
Central Nervous System
Digestive System
Glands
Metabolism
Reproduction
Visual Systems
Internal Sound Perception
Miscellaneous Observations
Discussion of Research Methodologies
Safety Precautions and Standards
Trends, Conclusions and Forecast
Information Gaps
Data Handling
Distribution List

Moratorium Requests from Municipal Councils re Smart Meters in B.C.

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Response to B.C. Public Health Act: Bill 23-2008 section 83 (1)

Smart Meter Moratorium Motion Tally List Current Tally: 26 Congratulations and welcome, North Vancouver City, #26!

A growing number of responsive and proactive B.C. Municipal and City Councils are passing motions for moratoriums on mandatory installation of B.C. Hydro's wireless "Smart" Meters as follows:

"According to Bill 23-2008 of the British Columbia Public Health Act, section 83

(1) a municipality must take action when it learns of something that could be harmful to its residents. It must notify the Minister of Health or take immediate action. At its June 27 Council meeting, the City of Colwood, B.C. passed a motion to write to the Minister of Health and, due to the potential for wireless smart meters to cause harm or to compromise security, request a moratorium on mandatory installations of wireless meters. The Council also requested that concerned residents be offered safer alternatives at no cost to them."

B.C. Councils who have considered the above request, and voted in favour of it:
Alert Bay
Central Saanich
Colwood
District of Highlands
Invermere
Islands Trust (Gulf Islands and Bowen Island)
Ladysmith
Lake Cowichan
Langley Township
Merritt
Metchosin
Nanaimo
New Denver
North Cowichan
North Saanich
North Vancouver City
Parksville
Powell River
Qualicum Beach
Regional District of Nanaimo
Richmond
Saanich District
Sechelt
Silverton
Victoria
White Rock

To be continued . . .

UBCM All Delegates Letter re Rights and Freedoms

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The Right and Freedom to Refuse a Wireless Smart Meter on personal property"We make note that there is serious disagreement between BC Hydro and thousands of private homeowners who refuse installation of Wireless Smart Meters upon their properties, and who are requesting the choice of either a complete opt out or a wired Smart Meter, without punitive cost or penalty. Further, we note that the BC Clean Energy Act and Regulations have no mandate to install Wireless Smart Meters and believe that this arbitrary decision is being forced on every B.C. citizen without authority . . ."

PRESS RELEASE: UBCM DELEGATES REQUESTED TO PROTECT PUBLIC

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Union of BC Municipalities will be asked to support BC Hydro's Smart Meter InitiativeAt their annual UBCM Convention, September 26 to 30, delegates from Municipal Councils throughout BC will be weighing the pros and cons of a variety of BC initiatives and goals. One of the sponsors of this convention is BC Hydro. Their representives will be promoting their Smart Meter Program at the conference, and asking for feedback as well. This letter has been sent to prepare Delegates for this component of the conference, and to remind them about the ramifications of the initiative, and their responsibilities to their constituents. "Serious disagreement continues between the BC electric utility companies and thousands of private homeowners who refuse the forced installation of Wireless Smart Meters on their homes without consent. Customers want the Utilities to listen to their valid concerns before pressing ahead with this program. "Questions of conflict of interest arise with BC Hydro sponsoring the UBCM convention while embroiled in such strong disagreement with its customers, the very same people who are appealing to Mayor and Council for protection under the Public Health Act. As a sponsor of this event, BC Hydro is holding private and public meetings with UBCM delegates, who do not have the benefit of hearing advice at this same convention from independent scientific advisors representing the public good without competing interests, whether financial or otherwise. We recommend that UBCM delegates insist that they receive advice from a truly independent scientific expert panel and fully acknowledge this conflict of interest situation . . ."

Wi-Fi in Schools Part 1: Testing for Microwave Radiation Dangers in the Classroom (Video)

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

background, balanced overview, testing demonstration with reference points at Calais School in Vermont

Ignoring the effects of electrosmog: unsafe, unwise, and expensive!

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release - Magda Havas

Press Release: September 19, 2011

Ignoring the effects of electrosmog is unsafe, unwise, and expensive!

Cancer, diabetes, mental illness, heart disease and respiratory disease linked to electrosmog exposure!

Shocking statistics:

" . . . five leading chronic diseases-cancer, diabetes, mental illness, heart disease, and respiratory disease-could reach $47 trillion over the next 20 years, according to a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF)."The number of deaths attributable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) could reach 53 million per year by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

source: Reuters, Chronic disease to cost $47 trillion by 2030: WEF, By Kate Kelland LONDON | Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:50pm EDT, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/18/us-disease-chronic-costs-idUSTRE78H2IY20110918/

We now have more than 40 years of scientific research linking these chronic diseases to radio frequency radiation (RFR) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by electronic devices and wireless technology.

In a recent 2009 publication, Historical evidence that electrification caused the 20th century epidemic of "diseases of civilization," Dr. Sam Milham found a higher rate in cardiovascular diseases, malignant diseases (cancer), diabetes, and suicide (mental illness)--in urban centers that had electricity, as compared with rural communities that were not fully electrified.

link: http://www.magdahavas.com/2009/12/04/electrification-caused-diseases-of-civilization/

In 1972, Dr. Zory Glaser summarized the biological effects of radio frequency radiation and noted among those effects heart disease, blood sugar problems, psychological disorders, and cancers. Results were published in a Naval Medical Research Institute publication.

link: http://www.magdahavas.com/2010/07/05/pick-of-the-week-1-more-than-2000-documents-prior-to-1972-on-bioeffects-of-radio-frequency-radiation/

Cancer: The World Health Organization classified both low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radio frequency radiation as a Class 2B Carcinogen--possibly carcinogenic to humans.

link: http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/06/05/may-2011-a-month-in-review/

Diabetes: In addition to Type 1 (childhood onset) and Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, another form, Type 3 diabetes, has been documented. Levels of blood sugar in Type 3 diabetics can spike or fall within a matter of minutes, depending on exposure to RFR. Some brittle diabetics (those who have difficulty regulating their blood sugar) may fall into this category.

link: http://www.magdahavas.com/2010/03/22/diabetes-and-electrosensitivity/

Mental Illness: Mental illness takes many forms. Depression and anxiety disorders and increases in suicide rates have been associated with exposure to electrosmog in both occupational settings (electric utility workers) and residential environments.

link: http://www.emfs.info/The+Science/abstracts/Suicide+and+depression/

Heart Disease: Early studies with radar workers document cardiovascular dysfunction. In 1970, Healer stated: "In the interest of occupational hygiene, many Soviet investigators (and at least one U.S. researcher) have recommended that cardiovascular abnormalities be used as screening criteria to exclude people from occupations involving radio-frequency exposures." Recent studies show abnormal heart activity when people are exposed to radiation from a cordless phone.

link: http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/03/06/pick-of-the-week-24-microwave-radiation-affects-the-heart/

Respiratory Disease: Asthma, especially among children, is increasing. Li and co-workers (2011) reported a connection between maternal magnetic field exposure during pregnancy and asthma in offspring. Studies show an increase in asthma for those who live near power lines (Beale et al., 2001).

link: http://www.microwavenews.com/Asthma.Li.html http://www.emrpolicy.org/review/06_havasde_schls.pdf http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=542337929245324;res=IELHEA

Our exposure to RFR is increasing and, unless we reduce our exposure, more people are going to become chronically ill. The strain on families, finances, and hospitals will not subside unless the causes of these diseases are recognized and eliminated. We can no longer apply a bandage to stop a hemorrhage. By reducing exposure to RFR fewer people will become ill and those who are sensitive to this radiation will have the opportunity to recover. For more information, contact Dr. Magda Havas, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada, mhavas@trentu.ca, 1-705-748-1011 ext 7882.

Beware of That Which is Not Discussed

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

United Nations meeting follow-up letter from Susan Foster and Olle Johansson"As the United Nations meets in London yesterday and today to assess the global impact of the five leading chronic diseases--cancer, diabetes, mental illness, heart disease, and respiratory disease-- there is a glaring omission in the environmental risks not being analyzed for impacts on health and economy. That omission is the massive explosion and intrusion of wireless technology into every facet of life. "Even without factoring in the proven biological effects of RF (microwave) radiation, the World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates the health costs for the above five diseases could reach $47 trillion over the next 20 years . . . "Wireless technology is an identified risk causing ill health in all five areas addressed by the WEF-- cancer, diabetes, mental illness and respiratory disease-- carrying potential for huge economic and almost incalculable global impacts, growing in danger and in tandem with the wireless infrastructure rollout throughout the world. Until the World Economic Forum addresses this elephant in the room, any prediction for a troubling outlook will be a euphemism."

Hudak pledges to axe mandatory smart meter program

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Tim Hudak is Progressive Conservative Leader in Ontario, CanadaTORONTO -- Ontario Tory leader Tim Hudak says mandatory smart meters are dumb. He says if he's elected premier on Oct. 6 he will axe the program that forces seniors to do their laundry in the middle of the night . . ."

ATTENTION! CORIX: No Trespassing Sign

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

to be attached to 'regular' analogue (non-wireless) meter to alert Smart Meter installerThis sign is to be mounted on or beside your non-wireless meter, if you are lucky enough to still have one. There is a line on which to print the address of the building in question. Also a welcome at the bottom for the analogue meter reader:N.B. Do not forget to write your name and address onto this no trespassing sign, and the date you posted it. If you don't do that, Corix may rip it down and proceed with the installation. A photo of the meter with the sign is also a good idea . . .ATTENTION CORIX Smart Meter Installer for BC HYDRONO TRESPASSINGDO NOT INSTALL SMART METER HERETHIS IS NOTICE OF MY REFUSAL TO ACCEPTA SMART METER AT THIS ADDRESSMany people are taking the step of "enclosing" their analogue meters, protecting them from removal, while still making sure that the necessary ID tags and consumption information remain clearly visible and intact.

ALERT: Reply to Hydro * Updated November 11, 2011

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Form reply letter to send to BC Hydro and its affiliates re Smart Metering Program. Referral to legal and other representatives working on your behalf.This letter can be sent to Hydro and its affiliates if they say, by phone or in writing, that you must meet with them, or accept the smart meter against your request. It can be cut and pasted from this page into your own email, or from the download at the bottom. E-mail addresses for Cc are also at the bottom of the letter.ALERT: LETTER OF NON-CONSENT FOR SMART METER

smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

BC Hydro Smart Meter Specialist Department Date:___________________

6911 Southpoint Drive,

Burnaby, B.C. V3N 4X8

Attention: Mr. David Cobb, Mr. Gary Murphy, Ms. Cindy Verschoor, BC Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or assignees thereof:

Dear Messrs. Cobb, Murphy, Ms. Verschoor, BC Hydro Smart Meter Team, and Corix Utilities:

Re: B.C. Hydro Account # _________ Address: ___________________________________________

I wrote to B.C. Hydro to give clear notice that I am refusing to allow the installation of a Wireless "Smart Meter" on my property. I made it clear in my communication that I am refusing to have my privacy rights violated. I also made it clear that my decision to refuse a Wireless Smart Meter is also to protect my health and the health of my family.

You wrote back on behalf of B.C. Hydro, which serves as an acknowledgement of B.C. Hydro's receipt of my notice of refusal.

In your reply you create fictitious hoops for me to jump through to exercise my rights. You make it clear that I must fill out a form and meet with a B.C. Hydro representative, and if I do not, my current meter will be exchanged with a Wireless Smart Meter. Therefore, you are saying that I must comply with the conditions created in your letter before I can exercise: my right to privacy, my right to protect my health and the health of my family and my property rights.

There is no basis in law for nullifying a clear and unambiguous exercise of rights by imposing fictitious conditions that do not exist in law.

CONTRARY TO YOUR ASSERTIONS, ANY FAILURE OR REFUSAL BY ME TO ENGAGE IN CONSULTATION WITH B.C. HYDRO OR ITS AGENTS CANNOT AND WILL NOT REVOKE OR NULLIFY MY REFUSAL OF CONSENT TO THE INSTALLATION OF A WIRELESS SMART METER ON MY PROPERTY OR PREMISES.

The B.C. Hydro Smart Metering Program and your letter raise some very troubling ethical issues. Electricity is an essential service that we cannot live without. We have only one electricity provider and so are locked into this essential service. Now the sole provider is imposing, without consent, Wireless Smart Meters in our homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods. I have the following questions for B.C. Hydro:

1. Why do the residents of B.C. have no say in whether they want to protect their privacy by refusing to allow devices that disclose personal details, such as their electricity use patterns; information the police currently need a warrant to obtain?

2. We, who have written to B.C. Hydro refusing Wireless Smart Meters, are legitimately concerned about the potential health consequences of the manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by these devices. Have we reached a time in B.C. when individuals, in an effort to protect their personal health and the health of their families, can no longer choose to avoid perceived dangers in their very homes?

3. Are we at a place in B.C. where we have no choice but to allow our neighbourhoods to be contaminated by manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitting constantly at street level from multiple Wireless Smart Meters and wireless infrastructure; to have no choice but to have our children play in streets and communities where their little bodies are subjected to a soup of manmade, pulsed microwave radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation which we believe poses health risks and concerns us greatly as parents and caring people?

4. B.C. Hydro is a monopoly, owned by the public. Is it appropriate for corporations like BC Hydro to impose fictitious conditions on customers who wish to register refusal of a new Wireless Smart Meter? Is it appropriate for our utility company to intimidate customers in attempts to force them to forego their rights to health, privacy and the welfare of their families?

5. What law or regulation gives B.C. Hydro the right to place a two-way radiofrequency telecommunications device on my home without my permission?

The B.C. Clean Energy Act is being touted as the authority for B.C. Hydro to install Smart Meters. Nowhere in that Act or the regulations is there any mandate to install Wireless Smart Meters. There is no reason that B.C. cannot provide its citizens with Wired Smart Meters, as do Idaho or Italy. Or to stop the whole program as in Hawaii and Illinois. The B.C. Government has not mandated Wireless Smart Meters in its legislation or in its regulations. That arbitrary decision is being forced on every B.C. household and business without authority.

I insist that B.C. Hydro reconsider its Wireless Smart Metering Program. Fair and reasonable accommodation, without undue financial costs and penalties, must be made for those who, like me, will not allow a Wireless Smart Meter to be installed. I am not willing to meet with B.C. Hydro, in part because I am worried about being intimidated and not taken seriously.

Citizens for Safe Technology Society and the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters are working with Constitutional Lawyer, Shawn Buckley, of Buckley and Company, 588 Braemar Drive, Kamloops, B.C., V1S 1H8. Mr. Buckley and executive members of both organizations agree to meet with B.C. Hydro on my behalf to address my concerns.

If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with Mr. Buckley and these representatives, please send written notice of such request to Mr. Buckley's office as above.

Yours sincerely,

Full Name

Full address

Copy (Cc) to

Copy also to your local Mayor and Council

Smart Meter Opposition Grows

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Maine U.S."Further opposition to smart meters grew early this week when 19 CMP ratepayers filed a formal complaint against Central Maine Power (CMP) and the Maine Public Utility Commission (PUC). While the 23 page complaint touches on many negative aspects of the meters, it focuses most on recent evidence regarding adverse health effects and electronic privacy issues. "In May, after ruling on earlier complaints, the PUC ordered customers be allowed to Opt Out and retain their old meter but also required ratepayers to pay CMP $40 initially plus a $12 monthly fee for this option. Many customers, including the current complainants, feel this is nothing more than extortion, citing The Hobbs Act which defines the term as "the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right" to support their claim. "There is plenty not to like about smart meters-harmful effects on wildlife, adverse health effects, electronic trespass and privacy issues, interruption with other wireless devices and over-billing" said lead complainant Ed Friedman, whose Grandfather defended clients against illegal wiretaps in the 1950's and 1960's. "With customer safety at the core of the PUC mission, they can't, with any good conscience or legitimate legal standing, extort payment from ratepayers choosing to minimize exposure to meter problems . . ."

Ontario School Replaces Wi-Fi with Wired Internet

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Pretty River Academy, Collingwood"Another school has decided not to play Russian roulette with the health of students and staff. "Pretty River Academy, a private school in Collingwood, Ontario, with 150 students attending kindergarten to Grade 12 replaced wireless internet access (Wi-Fi) with wired ethernet before the start of the 2011 academic year. "This school follows in the footsteps of other schools that have replaced Wi-Fi or that refused to have it installed in the first place. "Students and teachers were encouraged to do research on the best technology for the school and they decided wired internet access was superior to wireless for all sorts of reasons, including health issues . . ."

Ontario school cuts Wi-Fi over safety concerns

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Pretty River Academy, Collingwood"A private school in Ontario has cut its wireless Internet network over concerns that the technology causes health issues in students. Pretty River Academy in Collingwood, Ont., a private school with 150 students attending kindergarten to Grade 12, is the first Ontario school to remove Wi-Fi from campus. "The school's old Wi-Fi system was taken out over the summer and replaced with Ethernet connections ahead of the first day of the school year. In May the World Health Organization said radio frequency radiation from WiFi and cell phones posed a similar health threat to DDT, lead and car exhaust. "Principal Roberta Murray-Hirst says the new hard-wired Internet system is actually faster than their previous system and gives teachers control over when students can go online . . ."Hear the hour-long interview and phone-in at this link.

Smart Grid Security Inadequate (Video)

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

CIA Director calls Smart grid "stupid" due to security problems - USA

Hypersensitivity becomes a new cause of permanent disability

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Labour Court in Madrid declared electromagnetic hypersensitivity as new cause of permanent disability of a college professor and therefore entitled to permanent disability pension for this condition - May 23, 2011Hypersensitivity to the waves produced by mobile phones becomes a new cause of permanent disability. News of Forensic Medicine and Law, News of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Disability News. "Spain, September 2011 - This has been ruled by the Labour Court to declare Madrid 24 permanent incapacitation of a college professor who suffered from chronic fatigue and environmental and electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The ruling is unique in this regard and make a precedent for future conditions related to hypersensitivity to these waves. The verdict was issued on 23 May and gave the teachers 100% of his base salary, which amounted to 1640.80 euros. "Team Assessment of the Social Security disability (EVI), recognized in clinical diagnosis: chronic fatigue syndrome, celiac disease, fibromyalgia syndrome and environmental electromagnetic hypersensitivity, yet they dismissed the patient's disability. "The Labour Court in Madrid again puts into question the criteria for the granting of this degree by the provincial leadership of the national institute, and recognizes the rights of the applicant stating that presents enormous problems for the performance of their tasks " with appropriate level of professionalism and performance." "Legal Medical Group would like to echo this statement pioneer in the defense of those who are entitled to a permanent disability pension, and upholds the spirit of not giving any circumstances for lost, when there is sufficient medical and legal basis. Legal Medical Group is a pioneer in the defense of those who apply for disability, accident or illness, advising them from a technical point of view, medical and legal since 1978."

Coalition to Stop "Smart" Meters

Mon, 5 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Committed to a full review of the current "Smart" Meter ProgramLet's Take a Second Look

Who We Are
Concerns
Coalition Goals
Founding Coalition Members
Coalition Supporters

Special Note: We support organizations and groups calling for immediate moratorium on Independent Power Producers who sell power to BC Hydro at three to four times the going rate. These prices are outrageously high, are subsidized by the taxpayer and are unsustainable.

'Kicked in the Teeth' at BC Hydro -The Tyee

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Workers in the trenches say mass job cuts would create more havoc than savingsTwo weeks have passed since the Clark government called upon BC Hydro to save money by cutting as many as 1,200 jobs. The study making the recommendation, titled "Review of BC Hydro," triggered immediate outraged response from unions representing BC Hydro workers. Missing from the conversation so far have been people who go to work every day inside BC Hydro. Five of those workers spoke with The Tyee about what they think is wrong with BC Hydro, the government report and the news coverage of it all so far. From these conversations emerged a picture of a workforce wracked by uncertainty about how many jobs will actually be axed and confusion about where the fat supposedly lies in their ranks. They warned that contracting out jobs will create false sav- ings, cripple planning and eventually reduce BC Hydro to bare bones. And they cited what they said were the biggest threats to BC Hydro and its ratepayers -- a billion dollar Smart Meter program and high priced contracts with private power producers locked in by order of the BC Liberal government. If the workers interviewed by The Tyee are typical, morale is plummeting inside BC Hydro as employees feel victim- ized and belittled in media coverage flowing from the review.

Neuronal Damage and Possible Physical Mechanisms made by Man

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The Mammalian Brain in the Electromagnetic Fields Designed by Man with Special Reference to Blood-Brain Barrier Function"Life on earth was formed during billions of years, exposed to, and shaped by the original physical forces such as gravitation, cosmic irradiation, atmospheric electric fields and the terrestrial magnetism. The Schumann resonances at 7.4 Hz are an example of oscillations possibly important for life. "The existing organisms are created to function in harmony with these forces. However, in the late 19th century mankind introduced the use of electricity, in the early 20th century long-wave radio and in the 1940-ies short-wave radio. High frequency RF was introduced in the 50-ies as FM and television and during the very last decades, microwaves of the modern communication society spread around the world. Today, however, one third of the world's population is owner of the microwave-producing mobile phones and an even larger number is exposed to the cordless RF emitting systems. To what extent are all living organisms affected by these, almost everywhere present radio frequency fields? And what will be the effects of many years of continuing exposure? . . . "It is our generation who invented the microwave emitters. We now have an imperative obligation to further investigate the links between EMF and biology in order to prevent the possible detrimental effects of the microwaves. The concept of solitons as active in membranes and RNA-transcription may be one key to open new paths in the search -- a search which must be an imperative not only for researchers but also for states and organisations world-wide . . ."

Getting a Read on Smart Meters

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Talk of the Town - Focus Magazine September 2011"Smart meters won't endanger health or privacy, and will conserve energy, reduce theft, and produce cost savings. Or so BC Hydro tells us. But is there a hidden agenda driving what may be a billion-dollar boondoggle?" "One exchange at BC Hydro's tense public meeting in Victoria in March was emblematic of the debates about smart meters. Asked about the health dangers of smart meters' wireless electromagnetic fields (EMF), BC Hydro consultant Dr John Blatherwick explained they'd rarely be transmitting, anyway: "Those things will be [operating] for one minute [per day] on average, up to a maximum of three [minutes]." "BC Hydro has said the same, but coming from a former Vancouver chief medical officer, this reassurance carried weight. However, Walter McGinnis, an electrician who retrofits homes to reduce EMFs, said the meters actually communicate constantly, but in energy micro-bursts. He claimed BC Hydro was using sleight of hand to disguise that--like claiming a strobe light flashing on for 0.05 seconds every half second is techni- cally only "on" for six minutes per hour. "I have tested it," said McGinnis. "The meter does transmit all day every day." "I can't debate that with you," returned Blatherwick. "I do not know the specifics." . . .

Hydro customers protest against installation of smart meters

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Victoria, BC Canada"With smart meters rolling out across the province, some households are taking active steps to block the change at their homes. However, B.C. Hydro maintains there is no other option and that every house will have its old meter changed to the new Wi-Fi meters. "The hydro company has dealt with only a "very small number of folks who have had issues with smart meters," said Gary Murphy, B.C. Hydro's chief project officer for smart meters. About 900 customers, of the province's 1.8 million, have asked not to have their meters changed. "Customers who call with concerns are addressed on a per-customer basis, said Murphy, who says there is no "do not install" list. Yet, "the installation of meters to these customers' homes has been delayed," he said . . ."Hydro's assertion that a "very small number of folks . . . have issues with smart meters" is a downplaying of the fact that thousands of British Columbians have voiced their opposition to these meters. That is an indication that there are many more who are opposed who don't have the time, patience or confidence to write letters, or argue with Hydro. MLA John Horgan has received 3500 messages to his office alone with concerns about smart meter installations. CST's petitions have signatures approaching 2000. Thirteen municipalities in BC have requested moratoriums on installation of smart meters, and this number is growing. The B.C. Office of Privacy Commission is looking into problems regarding privacy issues and Ombudspersons are pursuing complaints to their department. This is happening in direct response to Hydro's unwillingness to communicate in a constructive, organized and collaborative way with those concerned. People aren't looking for open houses and barbeques. They are asking for input and answers. They are asking for options. They are asking for time. They are asking for respect. That the BC Hydro Smart Metering Program Team would say for the media that there are 900 persons with "issues" is an obvious misrepresentation the very real opposition that these meters are causing. If Hydro is only aware of 900 persons, they might do well to begin communicating with more customers, and make that list that they have, as yet, not made.

Cell Phones and Head Blemishes in Adolescents: Is it Melanoma?

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. Magda Havas"A hair stylist in Toronto noticed discolourations on the scalp of adolescents. The marks were often in the temporal lobe near the ear although some were on the top or back of the head. Since most of the blemishes were covered by hair they were difficult to see. "Most, if not all of these students, had their own mobile phone. They were between the ages of 8 and 13. Most likely they comb their own hair or visit a hair stylist who may or may not notice these blemishes. "Blemishes on the scalp may be innocuous (moles, birth marks, irritated hair follicles, insect bites, and scratches) or they may be the first signs of a malignant tumor (melanoma). The message for parents is to check their children for head blemishes and to notify their family doctors if any resemble melanomas. This is especially important if your child uses a mobile phone . . ."

W.H.O. refuses to include leading expert's evidence

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

First offered in April 2005Not much new since then, as reputable research is still being ignored by governments who don't want to acknowledge or give credibility to any kind of "inconvenient truth." The following article contains more links to studies and research."Professor Olle Johansson, a leading world expert into electrical hypersensitivity, attended the October 2004 World Health Organisation "Workshop on EMF Hypersensitivity" in Prague. The organisers have refused to include his formal reservation in the summary of the workshop. This is a shame, especially as the reservation in question is both informative and enlightening, and we have therefore decided to show it in full with the kind consent of Professor Johansson himself: . . ."

Success in Cedar!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

moratorium on Smart Meters and local siting protocols for cell towers"Thank you for such a large showing of support at last night's Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) meeting. It worked! The Board passed both motions we were seeking regarding the TELUS tower in Cedar . . . "As an added bonus, the Board also passed a moratorium on the installation of smart meters in the RDN until they could gather further information. Health concerns of cell towers are very related to health concerns of smart meters. It was synergistic that these two topics were discussed in the same meeting. I know both topics are very important to many people . . ."

Richmond Smart Meter - RF demo (Video)

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

RF readings while a newly installed Smart Meter transmits to its collection antenna

Victoria debates Smart Meters, while 1600 are installed (Video)

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"A" News, Victoria B.C.

Smart Meters operating in Richmond, B.C.

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

photo images and map - EMR Health Alliance of BC"Just south of the intersection of Westminister Highway and Number One Road in Richmond, BC, there are a handful of homes with BC Hydro wireless smart meters in operation. People who are sensitive to wireless devices (EHS) photographed the antenna that was installed to collect the data from these homes . . . "Photos in this link help to see the difference between a "regular" digital meter and a "Smart Meter." FYI

The butchering of BC Hydro

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Jim Quail"On one level, the B.C. government's new Review of BC Hydro marks an about-face by the Liberals under Christy Clark, calling quits to Gordon Campbell's fantasyland of a "green energy powerhouse." On a deeper level, however, it represents a deepening of the Campbell agenda to privatize the public utility. Campbell's fantasy was that we'd become massive exporters of clean electricity mined from our rivers and wind, sold at a premium into the power-hungry California market. This represented a major shift in the mandate of BC Hydro. "From its inception, BC Hydro's mission was to provide safe, reliable, low-cost electricity to British Columbians. Campbell changed this: Hydro was to become a booster and sales agent for private sector electrical generation corporations. This role was given such priority that the government was happy to sacrifice affordability. That's because Hydro's customers would be forced to underwrite the profitability of the private electrical industry . . . "Enter the Review. A committee of deputy ministers was thrown together in April, and issued its report to the cabinet in June. It was released to the public early this August. This whirlwind venture had only one real goal: to help the government survive the next election in the face of public furor about the surge in electric rates -- a surge that critics (including the undersigned) had warned of ever since the government adopted its buy high/sell low strategy (code-named "electricity self-sufficiency"). And a hasty job it was -- apparently working backward to try to end up with politically-palatable rates, identifying everything that might be thrown overboard to keep the Liberal ship afloat."

Smart Meters: Separating Fact from Fiction

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Commonly Made Statements: What's the Real Story? (September 13, 2011)Updated and Revised September 13, 2011When asked about the impacts that "Smart Meters" will have on B.C., representatives of Hydro have a standard set of responses-- a scripted "mantra" intended to justify their decision to install these meters. In form letters and interviews, advertisements and news reports, the statements are repeated and repeated again. To explain their inaccuracies and clarify facts is a highly repetitive exercise, problematic when Hydro representatives and government officials make the same false statements over time, and when reports in the mainstream media continue to present these inaccuracies as truth. The following collection of "Frequently Asked Questions and Statements made about Microwave/ Radiofrequency Radiation" contains information that helps to separate the fact from the fiction. Hopefully it will answer any questions regarding "Smart Meters": their safety and their health effects, their costs and impacts on B.C. and beyond.

How to Properly Read a Scientific Paper - Reporting the Truth

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Sample Study: Mobile Phone Use and Brain Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter Case-Control StudyFalse or biased press coverage of scientific findings seems to plague journalism these days. What follows is a basic 2-page primer for lay people and journalists to avoid the possible pitfalls of reporting on Scientific findings. The tendency to report an existing opinion without first understanding how scientific findings are presented is tempting. Quicker and easier. However, much understanding can be gained by taking a little time to look between the lines. Reporting Scientific FindingsClick here for pdf of sample study."If you want to know what is really happening with cell phones and cancer - you need to learn how to read between the lines. That is what scientists do. They go beyond the abstract and read the document. They examine the results and compare their own conclusions to those of the authors'. Some authors who are dealing with controversial, contentious, politically charged issues or those who have a bias-financial or otherwise-may deemphasize a finding to minimize backlash directed at them or their study. But, if the authors are honest, the document will provide the truth-sometimes buried between the lines-for other scientists to find. The truth is out there. You just need to learn how to find it . . ."

Opponents Push to Stop BC Smart Meters

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Municipalities, Green Party, call for moratorium"BC Hydro began rolling out its wireless "smart" meter program in British Columbia on July 1, but opponents are still hoping they can stop it. "Anti-smart meter campaigns are gaining momentum, and at least five municipalities have applied for a moratorium after concerns were raised by residents. The B.C. Green Party has also called for the program to be cancelled. "The $930-million program will replace electric meters at every B.C. home and business with wireless smart meters by 2012--1.8 million in all . . ."

Privacy Letter

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Model letter to Privacy Commissioner for BC re: surveillance capabilities of BC Hydro 'Smart' MetersThe Information and Privacy Commission of B.C. is another important support and resource to use when challenging Smart Meters. Smart meters are used to gather very private and personal information, which companies consider as their own ("proprietary") and sell to marketing companies, insurers, and others. Even if, initially, they don't sell it, with wireless smart meters they are still putting a surveillance device in all of our homes. This is clearly an invasion of our privacy and should not be allowed. Video: A Little Too Smart The office of the Privacy Commission is receiving many calls each day from people concerned about smart meters and the issue of privacy. The Commissioner would like each of us to submit a complaint following the following protocol.

Skelton, Taintor & Abbott Wins Landmark Smart Meter Case

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Maine U.S.Category: Firm News

On behalf of several Maine residents, Skelton, Taintor & Abbott secured a landmark decision that will benefit utility customers throughout the country. Alan Stone, chair of the firm's energy law group, successfully convinced the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to find that it was an unjust and unreasonable practice for Central Maine Power Company (CMP) to refuse to permit residential and small commercial customers to opt-out of CMP's smart meter program.

Skelton, Taintor & Abbott represented a group of customers in a complaint against CMP, and convinced the MPUC to order CMP to offer customers the option of opting out of the smart meter program and retaining their existing electromagnetic meters. Stone proved that because of unresolved concerns relating to health, privacy and cyber security resulting from the installation of wireless meters on their homes, customers should have a choice concerning the installation of those meters. CMP argued vigorously that customers should not be allowed to opt out, and the MPUC found that position to be unjust and unreasonable.

The Portland Press Herald has described the decision as a "landmark" case that represents the first time any state had ordered an electric utility to permit customers the choice to opt out of a smart meter program. The case has been followed by other Public Utilities Commissions and utility experts around the country, and will serve as precedent for others in the determination of how to resolve what has become a growing debate about customer choice and smart meters.

Alan Stone is also chair of the trial practice group at Skelton, Taintor and Abbott, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in the area of Energy Law.

More provincial parks embracing wireless internet

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Wi-Fi available in Ont., N.S., B.C., Sask., Alta. parksTech companies score another point . . . When will it stop? Where will we not have wireless "connectivity" and wireless radiation intrusion?"It's now easier than ever to stay connected in provincial parks across Canada, but not all visitors are happy campers about it. "With wireless access available at some parks in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, visitors can enjoy the web in the wild. "We're an accommodation -- bottom line," says John Salo, southwest zone manager for Ontario Parks, the agency that oversees provincial parks. "Yes, we protect significant [environmental] areas, but we're an accommodation, and when people go to motels and hotels, they expect to have wireless internet." "Ontario Parks has decided to extend a pilot program that introduced wireless internet in Pinery Provincial Park last year. Salo says the hotspot at the park's convenience store will stay active until November. "If there's a positive response, we'll sit back and determine if it's worth it to continue," he said. . ."

Smart Grid Privacy And Security Risks Loom For Agencies

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Letter to BC's Information and Privacy Commissioner references this article"'The article below is a comprehensive and concise description of the risks to privacy and security from the impending provincial, nation-wide, and world-wide smart grid. The "smart grid gold rush" has allowed technology deployment to rush ahead of proper forethought, planning, and scientific research over a proper period of time. "'And this so-called smart grid 'gold rush' has already encountered several significant security breaches.'" "Please read this article. It covers the essentials of what thousands of British Columbians are extremely concerned about.""The smart meter program needs to be stopped. There are so many issues, including privacy and security, that were not researched properly or without prejudice. And the citizens of British Columbia were not allowed their democratic rights to give input into this enormous and costly program that will affect everyone's future. We are rushing into bankruptcy of our citizens and BC Hydro. And we are rushing into a catastrophe of enormous dimensions. "Please stop the smart meter program until you have released your report and opened this issue up for discussion with the citizens of British Columbia who are paying for this train wreck about to happen. "The citizens of British Columbia urgently need your assistance. "The effort to modernize America's electric grid is well underway, with nearly $8 billion in federal funding since 2009 and states across the country hastening to deploy everything from electronic smart meters for homes to regional sensors capable of detecting and responding to power outages. "But major privacy and security problems for the smart grid effort could be on the horizon and present a host of challenges to federal agencies, according to multiple smart grid technology and policy experts. "Funding and deployment during what some call the "smart grid gold rush" has vastly outstripped the federal government's ability to develop meaningful privacy and security standards and regulations within one of the nation's most critical infrastructures. "And efforts in Congress to put one agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security, in charge of securing the grid could add to the chaos surrounding security and privacy . . ."

Merritt man to bring smart meter fight to council

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Concerned over health effects from 'microwave sickness'Unless Vohradsky takes further steps to clarify "No Install," his attempt to "delay install" will actually amount to "implied consent" for installation at a future time of Hydro's choosing."When Merritt man Walter Vohradsky began researching the health effects from wireless technology two weeks ago, he became concerned and requested that BC Hydro put a delayed install notice on his account. But the 70-year-old was advised that he had no choice in the matter, as Section 12 of the B.C. Clean Energy Act specifies that installation of smart meters can be done without the consent of the owner. "I was advised that BC Hydro has no choice because government legislation has mandated that by Dec. 31, 2012 every household in British Columbia will have a smart meter," says Vohradsky . . . "Vohradsky says he will notify city council that they are required to "take action" regarding matters of public health and safety as outlined in Section 83 of the B.C. Public Health Act.

A Skeptic's Guide to BC Smart Meters

Mon, 8 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

From dubious cost-effectiveness to health concerns, here are a few reasons to question them."Ben Franklin may have discovered electricity -- but it is the man who invented the meter who made the money." -- Former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren "Does this story sound familiar? A $1-billion waste of money, taxpayers picking up an enormous tab -- for no benefit to them - and BC Liberal friends getting big contracts. "Could it be the BC Rail privatization? Or the Harmonized Sales Tax? Nope. It's a brand new one -- installing "smart meters" in the home or business of every BC Hydro customer. "And smart meters are the dumbest idea yet from a government full of them. BC Hydro claims the completely safe wireless-transmitting smart meters will save you money and the environment by letting you -- and them -- monitor electricity usage. Then you can reduce usage and shift it to off-peak hours at lower rates. That all sounds good -- but it's not accurate. Here's the flip side: smart meters will cost you $930 million up front, not reduce energy usage, not save the environment and not stop drug dealers. And they may not be safe . . ."

Langley Municipality adopts resolution to request moratorium on mandatory Wireless Smart Meters

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Two Letters to Federal and Provincial Health Ministers Aglukkag and Michael de JongAt a public council meeting July 25, 2011, the Township of Langley Council. . . adopted the following resolution: That Council send letters to both the Provincial and Federal Ministers of Health requesting a moratorium be placed on mandatory installation of wireless smart meters until independent assessments are done and wired alternative solutions are provided at no cost to customers.

ALERT: LETTER OF NON-CONSENT for SMART METER

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Refusal Letter to send ASAP to Hydro (Corix) re Smart Meter Installation - with instructions

IMPORTANT:RIGHT AWAY, to keep your Analogue meter (if you are lucky enough to still have one . . .), even before you send the following letter, post theNO TRESPASSING SIGN and/or COPE STOP SIGN, or other visible deterrent for Corix, Hydro's official installer. Write your address and your name on the sign, along with the date. Secure it beside your meter AND on your front door. A photo would also help to prove it was there . . . Hydro claims they will respect letters and signs for the time being, but very often the Corix installer is not doing so . . .Also: DO NOT PHONE BC HYDRO to refuse a Smart Meter. This is no longer a wise use of your time, as Hydro simply uses it as an opportunity to promote their Smart Meter Program. To register refusal of a B.C. Hydro wireless Smart Meter, the following letter is useful. It is not guaranteed that B.C. Hydro will not install, but it eliminates the "implied consent" argument that they are using to justify the installation of the meters without notification or permission. It is recommended that you keep a copies for your files, and perhaps post it by your meter.send Via electronic mail to: smartmeters@bchydro.com and info.utilities@corix.com

Also via Canada Post to: BC Hydro,

Smart Meter Specialist Department

6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby BC, V3N 4X8

Attention B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and agents and/or assignees thereof:

Re: Refusal of Smart Meter on my Residence / Workplace

Dated: _______________, 201__ B.C. Hydro Account # on bill_____________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Please accept this as your official notice from this date forward of my absolute refusal to allow the installation of a wireless Smart Meter on my home or premises at

full address _______________________________________________________________

Take notice that B.C. Hydro, Corix Utilities and /or agents and assignees thereof do not have my authorization, permission or consent to enter my property, business or premises for the purpose of replacing my current meter with a wireless Smart Meter.

Any attempt to install this device on my property or residence will constitute trespass and a violation of rights afforded to me as a citizen of Canada.

I refuse your wireless Smart Meter on the grounds that it has the capability of being a surveillance system, used by you or other parties, which could violate my right to privacy.

Also: my fundamental democratic right to protect my health from a possible carcinogen, specifically radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by your wireless Smart Meter, supersedes any right you have to install a wireless Smart Meter on my property.

You still have authorization to attend at my property for the purpose of reading the non-wireless meter manually

Name in full ________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

Copy (Cc) to

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -This letter format can be accessed, downloaded, cut and pasted into your own email from:citizensforsafetechnology.org (Smart Meter Action Kit under "Letter Alert!")

Declassified information on the Bioeffects of Selected Non-Lethal Weapons

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

United States Army Intelligence and Security Command - Freedom of Information/ Privacy Office December 2006"This addendum to the Non-lethal Technologies Worldwide study addresses in summary, some of the most often-asked questions of non-lethal weapons technology, the physiological responses observed in clinical settings of the biophysical coupling and susceptibility of personnel to non-lethal effects weapons. These results identify and validate some aspects of maturing non-lethal technologies that may likely be encountered and used as non-lethal effectors in the future, including:

Lasers and other light phenomena
Radiofrequency directed energy
Aural bioeffects . . ."

Santa Cruz Enviro Group Implicated in Covering for 'Smart' Meter Ecological Damage

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

editorial by Joshua Hart"On a recent glossy pro-smart meter flyer sent to everyone in Santa Cruz County by PG&E, "County resident" Mahlon Aldridge says cheerily, "Smart Meters are essential for achieving a sustainable energy future." "Turns out he works for Ecology Action, an environmental organization in Santa Cruz, and makes an annual six digit salary from a lucrative PG&E contract with the organization. Critics of "Smart" Meters are pointing the finger at PG&E, accusing the company of omitting key disclosures about financial ties between the energy company and Mr. Aldridge . . ."Details of Town Forum scheduled for Wednesday, August 3

Media Release: Possible Break Up of BC Hydro Being Kept Under Wraps

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Still new news to most of us . . . March 17, 2011Still news to most of us . . . Now it is falling into place: Why the rush, why the lack of oversight? "A major restructuring may be underway BC Hydro that could result in the crown corporation being broken up into several different entities, according to information obtained by the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378 (COPE 378). "BC Hydro and its outsourced arm, Accenture, have told COPE 378 that a major restructuring is under way at Hydro that could result in further fracturing of BC Hydro through multiple outsourcing agreements. Under this restructuring, a new series of outsourcing contracts may be handed out and Accenture, which currently has the contract for about one third of BC Hydro's privatized operations, could be gone. "However, details about the restructuring--called the Long Term Sourcing Strategy, or LTSS-- are completely absent from Hydro's Rate Increase Application, which was just filed with the BC Utilities Commission. Changes of this magnitude, which could significantly impact upon hydro rates, the number of people employed at BC Hydro and its contractors, and the number of jobs located in BC, are routinely documented in filings such as these at the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC). "Accenture first told us about the big shake up at Hydro because they said they were fearful of losing the lucrative outsourcing contract they currently hold," said COPE 378 Vice President, Gwenne Farrell. "Since then we've had confirmation directly from BC Hydro that this restructuring is indeed underway, and our next step was to look for details in the BCUC filings." "Farrell noted that the anticipated restructuring is three times the scale of the 2003 Accenture outsourcing plan. Farrell further advocated that decisions which could so profoundly impact Hydro rates, or result in huge job losses, be brought under the scrutiny of the BCUC as a major change to the utility. "The BC Liberal government has sought to neuter the BCUC and remove huge decisions like this from the public eye," said Farrell. "But we may well see BC Hydro split into three or more pieces, customers could be severely impacted, rates could go even higher, and hundreds, maybe thousands of workers will certainly be affected." "It is unacceptable that BC Hydro even entertain these changes without engaging its customers who rely on BC Hydro every day, the BCUC, and their workers," Farrell added . . ."

Smart Meter Tax Machines (Video)

Tue, 2 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Randy Hillier MPP in the Ontario Legislature

Green Party Opposes BC Hydro's New Smart Meters (Video)

Mon, 1 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PDT

news video with text

** TIME SENSITIVE: Arthur Firstenberg needs our help by August 4, 2011 U.S.A.

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Deadline for filing an appeal for persons with disabilities. A federal precedent is being set . . .This is a crucially important civil rights issue involving Equal Protection and Due Process for persons with disabilities. "On July 5, 2011, a federal district court judge in New Mexico ruled that the Telecommunications Act preempts the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), even if such an interpretation would "condemn a class of citizens to death because of their disability." He further ruled that the Telecommunications Act supersedes the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. "This decision by Judge James A. Parker goes to the essence of the conflict between wireless technology and health. But the breadth of the decision will also have implications for every person with a disability in this country, all disability organizations, and fundamental civil liberties. "What is left of the ADA if it cannot even prevent a taking of life? What is left of our constitution? . . . "The judge's ruling must be appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by August 4 . . ." Arthur Firstenberg still has to raise $7000.00 and file an appeal by August 4, 2011. The initial $20 000.00 is just a start of the costs that will be incurred if this goes forward. Mr. Firstenberg has been a major and important voice for many years. His charts of data and articles have been foundational. His story is in Telecommunications vs the Environment. For a sample of his writing read "The Largest Biological Experiment Ever" Idaho Observer and Sun Monthly. Also Wireless Silent Spring and Microwaves 2011.Despite his own EHS, he has continued, under great duress, to work on the issue. He is truly a hero. Please help him to the extent that you can. Website: Cellular Phone Task Force. Info.

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Evidence for a Novel Neurological Syndrome

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Just accepted by International Journal of NeuroscienceObjective: We sought direct evidence that acute exposure to environmental-strength electromagnetic fields could induce somatic reactions (EMF hypersensitivity). Methods: The subject, a female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity, was exposed to an average (over the head) 60-Hz electric field of 300 V/m (comparable to typical environmental-strength EMFs) during controlled provocation and behavioral studies. Results: In a double-blinded EMF provocation procedure specifically designed to minimize unintentional sensor y cues, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle-twitching, and skipped hear tbeats within 100 s after initiation of EMF exposure (P < 0.05). The symptoms were caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the presence of the field, as assessed by comparing the frequency and severity of the effects of pulsed and continuous fields in relation to sham exposure. The subject had no conscious perception of the field as judged by her inability to repor t its presence more often than in the sham control. Discussion: The subject demonstrated statistically reliable somatic reactions in response to exposure to subliminal EMFs under conditions that reasonably excluded a causative role for psychological processes. Conclusion: EMF hypersensitivity can occur as a bona fide environmentally-inducible neurological syndrome.

Elizabeth May: The Twitter storm -- why I said what I said ...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Reflections and statement regarding Press Release about "Smart" Meters and B.C. Hydro"It has been an interesting day. While doing my work on constituency matters, I tried to keep at bay a growing furor over why I had tweeted about the safety of electromagnetic radiation and Wi-Fi. I haven't been attacked with such nastiness in ages. (I used to be used to it. It was almost refreshing.) The easiest thing to do on Twitter, would, I suppose, be to wave a white flag and say "just kidding." Instead, I think the controversy has created a good teaching moment . . . "

Green Party Press Conference on Smart Meters (Video)

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Victoria, BC Canada

Media Advisory: National Energy Plan, Global Smart Grid

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Watershed Sentinel - Environmental News from British Columbia and the World"What do the National Energy Plan, smart meters, Site C, IPPs, nuclear energy in the tar sands, and BC's high voltage Northwest Transmission Line have in common? The plans for renewable energy high voltage transmission have been spun over the decades, but now large corporate players, controlling strategic committees in Washington and Ottawa, are ready to transform the continent and drain Canada of energy - oil, gas, hydro. The only public involvement is that taxpayers are expected to foot the bill. It's all wrapped up in the "Clean Energy Dialogue" about renewable energy, and nary a word about the sacrifice of wilderness. But what the National Energy Plan and the global smart grid really mean in Canada is the draining of the hinterland, and the Canadian hydro consumer, for electricity export and profit. "Now in an extensive feature in the upcoming September issue of the Watershed Sentinel, author and researcher Joyce Nelson meticulously connects the dots. What follows is a sneak peek at some of the sections. Journalists may contact the Watershed Sentinel for a full version of the story, embargoed until September 1 . . ."

High Voltage Spin and Lies
The Smart Meter
High Voltage Direct Current
The Clean Energy Dialogue
North to Alaska
Writing the National Energy Plan: GENI Meets EPIC

Greens Want Smart Meter Plug Pulled -Victoria Times Colonist

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Provincial, national parties call for public hearings, health studies"The Green Party of B.C. is calling on B.C. Hydro to shelve its $930-million smart meter program until public hearings can be held and the health effects of the wireless devices can be determined. "Leader Jane Sterk told a press conference Wednesday the party also believes people should be able to opt out of the program, which earlier this month started replacing existing meters in Prince George and Richmond. Greater Victoria residents can expect to see installations start in late summer or early fall. "People should have a right to feel safe and secure in their own homes," she said . . ."

Making Cell Towers Safe

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

What members of Congress can do and what is needed now"Congress needs to update its mandate of 1996 -15 years ago--to the FCC when Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and direct the FCC to revise and update safety regulations to protect workers and the general public against cancer and other biological effects from wireless cell phone signals emitted by both phones and the transmission antennas, disclosed by later research since 1996. "Such updating is long overdue to protect American families as well as telecom workers. Further delay is simply not acceptable."

Citations

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Laboratory and epidemiological studies from the medical/scientific literature regarding the biological effects of wireless technologyAll of the 40 reports listed below document biological effects or associations, many of them adverse or undesirable, at exposure to radio frequency radiation below the FCC guidelines for both power density (1000 microW/cm2) and specific absorption rate (0.08 W/kg). Of the 12 studies that provide power density data, 11 document effects below 41 microW/cm2 (scenario of a child using a laptop computer); 6 document effects below 6 microW/cm2 (exposure to multiple Wi-Fi antennas); and 3 document effects below 1 microW/cm2 (exposure to 1 Wi-Fi antenna) (22). People who suffer from EHS may be adversely affected by the radiation even if they are not using this technology. Users of this technology will have even higher exposure levels. Includes additionally: Research Needs, Neurological and Behavioural Evidence, Cognitive Functions, Auditory Effects, Human Subjective Effects, Immune Function, EMF's and Public Health Policy, Modulation, Melatonin Reduction, Autism and Heavy Metals, Cancer, EMF's and Children, Blood Brain Barrier Permeability, and other studies.

List of Authorities on Microwave Radiation / Study references

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Compiled by Professor Olle JohanssonProfessor Olle Johansson's list of Authorities who have studied and reported on the effects of microwave radiation.

Studies reporting biological effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) at low intensities

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Prepared by Henry Lai, Ph.D Research Professor in Bioengineering, University of Washington - compiled to January, 2003Thirty-four studies with source of literature and abstracts.

Green Party Opposes BC Hydro's New Smart Meters

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Victoria, BC CanadaThe Green Party would like a moratorium on installations until a cost benefit analysis is completed. Something many British Columbians are already lobbying for."

BC Greens say Smart Meter health concerns demand action

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Victoria BC Canada"All jurisdictions imposing blanket implementation of wireless Smart Meters face citizen backlash. Many have placed a moratorium on the installation of wireless Smart Meters pending further study. Others have cancelled their programs. "BC Greens support development of a Smart Grid, of which Smart Meters may be one small and expensive component. If we are to encourage conservation, many other things need to be in place long before a decision is made to purchase a different kind of meter. The type of meter should be the last part of the plan and only implemented if they are proven cost effective and safe . . . "The smart meter program is another example of unsupportable assumptions based on industry lobbying rather than best practices," says Jane Sterk, leader of the Green Party of BC. "Greens believe all public policy should be evidence based and founded in the Precautionary Principle. "BC Hydro's wireless smart meter program violates that principle. There are environmental, privacy and security concerns as well as the potential for adverse health risks. This is an issue that hits at the heart of democratic rights. Individuals have no ability to opt out of a program that may impact the health of those with electromagnetic sensitivity," says Sterk. "The Green Party of BC is calling on the provincial government to stop BC Hydro's implementation of wireless smart meters, to call formal public hearings on the program, to gather third party independent data on the health effects of wireless, and to put all aspects of the process under the purview of the BC Utilities Commission."

Radiofrequency Interference with Medical Devices (IEEE)

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

COMAR Technical Information StatementIEEE stands for "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers." COMAR stands for "Committee on Man and Radiation." This article was published in Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine 17(3):111-114 (1998) "The past few years have seen increased reports that medical devices, such as pacemakers, apnea monitors, electrically powered wheelchairs, etc., have failed to operate correctly because of interference from various emitters of radiofrequency energy. This condition is called radiofrequency interference (RFI). The consequences of these failures range from inconvenience to serious injuries and death. Reasons for this problem are twofold: 1) increasing numbers of electronically controlled medical devices with inadequate electronic protection against RFI, and 2) a significant increase in the number of RF sources in the environment. Medical devices are widely used outside the hospital and may be attached to, or implanted in, patients. Portable wireless communications equipment, including cellular phones, handheld transceivers, and vehicle mounted transceivers, comprise one of the largest sources of RFI. Some medical devices are especially sensitive to the type of digital modulation that some of the wireless communications devices utilize. ". . . Technology exists to protect, or "harden," most medical devices from RF fields that are much more intense than the 3 V/m level specified in present RFI standards. Most of these techniques, including shielding, grounding and filtering, are not costly if they are incorporated into the initial design of the electronics system. "COMAR recommends that the various parties involved in the manufacture and use of RFI prone medical devices take steps to avoid serious RFI problems that may lead to safety hazards. Medical device manufacturers should design and test their products to ensure conformance with current RFI standards and educate the users of their devices about the possible symptoms of potential RFI. If there exists the possibility of RFI problems to medical devices, steps should be taken to ensure that all sources of RF energy be kept at a sufficient distance . . . INTRODUCTION "Since the early 1990s, reports of medical device failure from electromagnetic interference have increased. This is due to several factors. The number of electronically controlled medical devices has burgeoned in hospitals and other medical facilities. Newer instruments are often more sensitive to radiofrequency interference (RFI) because they incorporate low power integrated electronic circuitry that can be much more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than their electrical and electromechanical predecessors. In this document, RFI refers to radiated interference from electromagnetic fields that are coupled from a source to a medical device through the air (i.e. without connections via conductors such as wires or cables). "There has also been a significant rise in the use of electronically controlled medical devices outside the clinical environment. These devices are often used in homes, attached to patients, or implanted in their bodies. In addition, portable wireless communications equipment, such as cellular phones, handheld transceivers, and vehicle mounted transceivers, is a major source of RFI. The number of land mobile transmitters in the US alone currently exceeds 10 million and personal communications systems are burgeoning throughout the world. To an ever increasing extent, wireless communications equipment (e.g., cellular phones) is likely to be used in close proximity to medical devices without the knowledge of the patient or attending medical personnel. "Digital mobile communications systems often utilize pulsed amplitude modulation, a type of modulation, that can enhance the potential for RFI. For example, cellular telephones based on some digital technologies generate peak powers of up to 8 watts and are modulated at 2 to 217 pulses per second. This range spans the physiological frequencies of the human body, from about 0.5 Hz to several hundred Hz, that are monitored by many medical devices. This is often termed the "physiological passband." While modulation at very low frequencies is critical, this document does not address RFI from sources with very low carrier frequencies. Thus, AC power line fields (50-60 Hz) are excluded from discussion. Also excluded are transient fields, such as pulsed gradient fields from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, where most of the frequency content is below a few MHz. The frequencies discussed in this statement are in the range of 30 to 3,000 MHz . . ."

Smart Meter News on ANewsVanIsland TV channel (Video)

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

News clip, video footage from B.C. Hydro's "open house" opportunity to talk with their representatives (March 2011) and Hydro's promotional materials

Effects of Microwaves and Radiofrequency Energy on the Central Nervous System

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Allan H. Frey September 1969 - Federal Scientific and Technical Information U.S. Department of Commerce"This Symposium was organized for several reasons. One was to bring together active investigators in order to see where we stand in the state of the art. Another reason was to provide a tutorial situation for investigators who have interest in embarking upon experimentation in this area. For them the organizers wished to provide an understanding of what has been done already, why certain lines have or have not been pursued, and the problems encountered or that can be expected. It is to meet these objectives that I shall address myself. Thus, I shall briefly sketch some of the history of this area of research, outline briefly the experimentation that I have carried out, and state strongly what I believe to be critical matters that an investigator must recognize. "The last substantial group of experiments in this area were carried out in the middle and late 1950's. The results of these experiments were brought together and detailed just before and after 1960; in the four annual conferences that were called tri-service conferences. This afternoon's session is in a sense unique. There was no session on the nervous system in those conferences. Today investigation of the neural effects of RF energy is recognized as a legitimate area of investigation. But existing with this recognition is also a good deal of confusion and misunderstanding. Such confusion and misunderstanding is characteristic of scientific areas in which there is a great deal of talk and very little data collection. "Why is there so much misunderstanding and confusion and so little data collection in this area? There are four sources that have contributed to the development of this situation. We should recognize them for what they are. Then we can move on to more useful pursuits such as meaningful experimentation . . ."

The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Parliamentary Assembly - Council of Europe Resolution May 27, 2011

Introduction
Background to the debate
Growing concerns in Europe
Effects on the environment: plants, insects, animals
Biological effects of electromagnetic fields in medicine
Therapeutic use of electric currents or electromagnetic waves
Technological progress and economic growth at the expense of environment and health protection
Contending forces and arguments: the dispute over the incidence of biological effects and over threshold values
Scientific studies and arguments pursued by associations and NGOs, by groupings of scientists, by the European Environment Agency and by the European Parliament
Conclusions

There Goes the Neighbourhood . . . FACTS about Smart Meters

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

What Every Citizen has the Right to Know! Comprehensive, 2-page information sheet to print and distribute (Updated November 16, 2011)This flyer is a canvassing tool designed to encourage sharing in B.C.neighbourhoods far and wide. As presented here, it is printable back to back on letter-sized paper. If needed, a "large print" version can be obtained by photocopying and enlarging onto an 11"x17" page. Also, to keep costs low, specify black ink only. A "bright" yellow is recommended for visibility, but white works perfectly well.

Egregious Court Decision: Federal court rulings favour Telecom, not persons with disabilties - New Mexico

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Letter: Arthur Firstenberg re Disabilities Act, Equal Protection, Due Process"On July 5, 2011, a federal district court judge in New Mexico ruled that the Telecommunications Act preempts the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), even if such an interpretation would "condemn a class of citizens to death because of their disability." He further ruled that the Telecommunications Act supersedes the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. "This decision by Judge James A. Parker goes to the essence of the conflict between wireless technology and health. But the breadth of the decision will also have implications for every person with a disability in this country, all disability organizations, and fundamental civil liberties. "What is left of the ADA if it cannot even prevent a taking of life? What is left of our constitution? . . . "The judge's ruling must be appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by August 4 . . . "We already have commitments totaling $5,000 and we previously raised an additional $975. Please respond by email telling me the amount that you can pledge towards this legal case. Donations, payable to the Cellular Phone Task Force, will be tax deductible."Notice the authorization of "Federal Bar Association WiFi" by Judge Parker in his courtroom.

Interview and discussion about B.C. Hydro's Smart Meters

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Steven Andrew (CFAX) interviews Sharon Noble (C.A.U.S.E.) and Una St. Clair (C.S.T.)This radio interview with Sharon Noble and Una St.Clair includes background information about health, safety, security, and updates about legal and local action. Phone-in callers are also included.

Bioeffects of Selected Nonlethal Weapons

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Department of the Army United States Army Intelligence and Security Command - Regraded unclassified December 13, 2006This addendum to the Nonlethal Technologies --Worldwide study addresses in summary, some of the most often asked questions of nonlethal weapons technology, the physiological responses observed in clinical settings of the biophysical coupling and susceptibility of personnel to nonlethal effects weapons. These results identify and validate some aspects of maturing nonlethal technologies that may likely be encountered or used as nonlethal effectors in the future including:

Laser and other light phenomena
Radiofrequency directed energy
Aural bioeffects.

The study of electromagnetic fields and their influence on biological systems is increasing rapidly. Much of this work is taking place because of health concerns. For example, increased concern has arisen regarding the effects of operator exposure to the electromagnetic fields associated with short-wave diathermy devices, highpower microwave ovens radar systems, magnetic resonance imaging units, etc. In addition, much concern has arisen about extremely low frequency (60 Hz power frequency) electric and magnetic fields that originate from high-voltage transmission lines, industrial equipment and residential appliances. Both occupational and residential long-term exposure have been the focus of epidemiological studies. The studies have suggested possible adverse effects on human health (e.g. cancer, reproduction, etc.). Laboratory research is still being pursued to identify possible mechanisms of interaction. However, other than thermal heating for microwave frequencies, there is no yet agreed-upon mechanism of action. . .

Incapacitating Effect: Microwave Heating
Biological Target/Normal Functions/Disease State
Mechanism to Produce the Desired Effects
Time to Onset
Duration of Effect
Tunability
Distribution of Human Sensitivities to Desired Effects
Possible Influence on Subjects
Technological Status of Generator/Aiming Device
Range
Incapacitating Effect: Disruption of Neural Control
Biological Target/Normal Functions/Disease State
Mechanism to Reproduce the Desired Effects . . .
Recovery / Safety . . .
Laser-Induced Biological Effects . . .

Interviews with Sharon Noble re BC Hydro's Smart Meters

Sat, 9 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

two radio discussions with "call in" included - July 7 and 11CKNW: Bill Good's July 7th radio interview with Sharon Noble of Citizens Against UnSafe Emissions (C.A.U.S.E.) includes Q&A with phone-in callers. Also a follow-up interview July 11th on CFAX.This is a double post, sourced from the EMRABC website. You can also hear B.C. Hydro's Fiona Taylor's responses to Mrs. Noble's interviews in the audio recordings that follow it.

Smart Meters A Little Too Smart? Personal Surveillance

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

EMF Safety Network - U.S. applicable to Canada and elsewhere (Introduction by Rafe Mair)

Town council backs anti-Smart Meter stance

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Lake Cowichan Gazette"BC Hydro did not do an adequate job of educating the public as to the Smart Meters they are currently installing. "That is the message mayor and council had to share, following an impassioned anti-Smart Meter presentation by Mesachie Lake resident Mary Lowther. "I'm a little concerned that BC Hydro is dumping this on us without educating us," mayor Ross Forrest said. "I think they should have started this off by sitting down with each municipality," councillor Tim McGonigle said, in agreement. "I think it's prudent to investigate all angles, both good and bad." "During her presentation, Lowther outlined several concerns around Smart Meters, including the potential for increased monthly billing; security, in that the Smart Meters can be hacked into; and radio frequencies, which she said BC Hydro may be understating the significance of . . .Council hopes to meet with BC Hydro representatives to further discuss the Smart Meters."

"Stop Smart Meter" Rally in Vancouver (Video)

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Video: B.C. Hydro Downtown Vancouver June 22, 2011

HEALTH CANADA CONFUSED ABOUT W.H.O. CLASSIFICATION

Sun, 3 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

World Health Organization at odds with Health Canada?" . . . Why is it that pharmacies keep a record to ensure that people don't mix the "wrong medications," but being exposed to multiple types of radio frequency radiation is OK? "Why is it that children are given "children's aspirin" but are able to be exposed to "industrial strength Wi-Fi" in schools? "Why is it that school boards are ignoring the wishes of parents and are unwilling to provide a choice so that some kids can connect to the internet with wires rather than radio frequencies flowing through the air and through their bodies? "At the end of the article Ms Pieterson said, "Canada certainly supports WHO recommendations and the findings of IARC." Does that mean that Health Canada will now do something about radio frequency radiation in Canada or are we still waiting for "conclusive evidence?" "Health agencies do not require "conclusive evidence" to act in a "precautionary" way. Why is Health Canada protecting the wireless industry instead of the health of Canadians?"

Think twice about smart meters

Sat, 2 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Portland Daily Sun"I've been pondering why so many well intentioned conservationists have fallen in love with the huge tragedy known as the Smart Grid. I suppose that many of them hope a smart grid, with components such as smart meters will (in and of themselves) conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases. But that is not how the grid will function. Only if consumer behavior is changed, will "the grid" save energy and reduce our CO2 output. The component of the grid that is supposed to regulate energy usage is not the infrastructure, or the meter; it is you. So it's really you who needs to be smart, not "the grid". Unless utilities are able to turn our appliances on and off, which is a major privacy concern, they will not conserve energy except in miles driven by meter readers. Ironically, enabling wind and solar is touted as another grid benefit, but smart meters installed by CMP don't provide for energy generated by home customers to feed the grid. 'While smart grids may sound green, it's the wireless industry and utilities benefiting, not the environment or consumers. Very little data support consumers using less energy as a result of this billion dollar taxpayer funded program. Connecticut's Attorney General rallied against the costs of his state's smart grid after a pilot project showed no energy savings at all (www.dpuc.state.ct.us). Similar results have been reported all over the country (www.drrc.lbl.gov/Peters, S. Lutzenhiser, et. al Behavioral Economics, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, 2009). "Consumers can only get their real time energy usage if they buy all new grid-enabled appliances. Conservationists should ask where will we put all of our "dumb" appliances, and how much will that cost? Smart appliances will connect wirelessly to smart meters so even "off" they will be "on." Many people reasonably question whether more energy consumed as a result of these "vampire" (always on) appliances. One thing is certain, our homes will become loaded with RF radiation from our neighbor's meters, and our own 15-25 appliances, enabled or not. CMP (and their third party vendors) will know when we use our dryers, when we cook, turn on the TV or shower, whether we have a hot tub, and when we leave the house. In the old days, one needed probable cause and a search warrant. This is not good news for conservation or privacy; and certainly not smart. "Most worrisome to me are the radiofrequency radiation effects. Over 2,000 smart meter health complaints have been registered at California's PUC so far. People are complaining about headaches, tinnitus, heart palpitations, insomnia, nausea and exhaustion (www.stopsmartmeters.org). Dr. Martin Blank, a professor at Columbia that studies bioelectromagnetics, is not surprised. When exposed to RF radiation, cells respond as if they are stressed, he says. These stress responses occur at all levels in our bodies, and any wireless device that uses RF radiation has the potential to create negative biological responses . . ."

Face to Face with Smart Meters: Part 2 (Video)

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"No Smart Meter" Rally at B.C. Legislature building in Victoria, B.C.

Vancouver Rallies: Smart Meter Resistance Builds June 2011 (Video)

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Citizens Rally in Vancouver to Stop Smart Meters

Environmental and Health Concerns Associated with Compact Fluorescent Lights

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Environmental Petition submitted to the Auditor General of Canada June 2008BACKGROUND INFORMATION "With growing concern about climate change, governments around the world are looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gases and to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. One simple solution that has gained government support is phasing out energy inefficient light bulbs and replacing them with energy efficient ones. The most popular bulbs that are commercially available and affordable are compact fluorescent lights (CFL). CFL bulbs use approximately 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and last longer. At first glance this seems like a good way to conserve energy and to protect our environment. However, there are a number of serious problems associated with CFL bulbs that need to be considered and corrected. These include mercury content, emission of UV radiation, emission of radio frequency radiation, and generation of dirty electricity. There is the additional concern that these lights are making some people ill. This includes those who suffer from migraines, skin problems, epilepsy, and electrical sensitivity . . ."

The Danger of CFL Bulbs re Energy Efficiency Regulations

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Letter to Office of Energy Efficiency, Department of Natural Resources"I am delighted that Natural Resources Canada is considering a two-year delay for banning incandescent light bulbs. "In 2008, Tom Hutchinson and I sent a petition to the Auditor General of Canada that is attached. It outlines the key problems with CFL bulbs and includes the following . . . "Canadians are attached to their incandescent light bulbs and it makes sense to use light bulbs that will add to the heating of rooms especially during the long Canadian winters. CFL technology is deeply flawed and it was a mistake for the government to tell people what type of light bulbs they should or should not use. There are alternative ways to alter choice without banning a product. I would urge the government to remove the ban all-together but extending it for an additional two years makes sense because it will give Canadians a choice with technology that is likely to be even more energy efficient without the side effects of CFL bulbs."Also available: Environmental Petition submitted to the Auditor General of Canada June 2008 entitled Environmental Health Concerns Associated with Compact Fluorescent Lights. Contains a 16 page informational summary.

Lawsuit: Man sues school district over Wi-Fi

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Portland Oregon"A local man is filing a lawsuit to try and get Portland Public Schools to take Wi-Fi connections out of the classroom. "David Morrison filed the suit in federal court this week. His daughter attends Mount Tabor Middle School, which is setup for wireless Internet. "Morrison believes it's a health hazard. The World Health Organization has classified radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. "Morrison says he's taken this to administrators, but believes his concerns are being ignored. That's why he filed the lawsuit."A spokesman for Portland Public Schools says the district is not commenting on the case, because it's an open lawsuit . . ."David Morrison is suing the Portland Oregon School District. David has been active in opposing wireless, Wi-Fi and cell phones etc. due to dangers. He sponsored an unsuccessful application to proceed with a warning label bill in the Oregon Legislature. Please spread the word if you support his cause.

Mesh Antennas and Networks

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Information updates from EMR Health Alliance of B.C.

Itron Antennas
Smart Meters -Not In Our Homes and Backyards! by "Public Exposure" Film Co-Producer Mary Beth Brangan
Stratford Ontario becomes a "Smart City" with MESH Network Assessment of Radiofrequency Microwave Radiation Emissions from Smart Meters
Smart meter company buys Mesh WiFi vendor SkyPilot

The Birds, the Bees and Electromagnetic Pollution - Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy - May 2009

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

How electromagnetic fields can disrupt both solar and magnetic bee navigation and reduce immunity to disease all in one go"Many of our birds are disappearing mysteriously from the urban environment and our bees are now under serious threat. There is increasing evidence that at least some of this is due to electromagnetic pollution such as that from cell towers, cell phones, DECT cordless phones and Wifi. It appears capable of interfering with their navigation systems and also their circadian rhythms, which in turn reduces their resistance to disease. The most probable reason is that these animals use a group of magnetically-sensitive substances called cryptochromes for magnetic and solar navigation and also to control the activity of their immune systems. "Birds are very sensitive to electromagnetic fields and some may find the electromagnetically polluted urban environment no longer tolerable. Migratory birds may also lose their sense of direction and never reach their intended destination, perhaps just falling into the sea on the way. Bees are even more under threat and are extremely important to us. Without bee pollination, there would be very few brightly colored or scented flowers in the countryside or in our gardens and many of our crops would be devastated. We would be left just with crops that are wind pollinated (mostly cereals) that do not on their own provide a healthy balanced diet, nor do they act as host to the friendly nitrogen fixing bacteria that are essential to the sustainable fertility of our soil. This may be a very heavy price to pay for our unrestricted use of cell phones and other forms of wireless communication . . ."

Immediate Opt-Out and Ban on Smart Meters

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Awareness information and rationale". . . The "smart" meters operate in mesh networks, transmitting radiation in millisecond pulses many times a minute throughout the day and night. It is continuous exposure 24/7 and the general public is not being informed of this. 'Health and safety are at issue, as well as the likelihood of problems with skyrocketing electric bills, electrical fires, privacy and security breeches, hacking, and electronic interference with other wireless equipment and medical devices. Every customer's personal usage will be known, harvested and marketed. "Ultimate success of the grid is dependent upon full compliance by us, as consumers, to purchase all new appliances that will have wireless RFID chips in them to interface from within our own homes to the smart meters. Do we really want our appliances to have wireless radiation emitting devices in them? Manufacturers, corporations and our government need to respect people's rights to have a safe, radiation free environment with our privacy fully intact. "In B.C. we are, as yet, not given a choice to opt out, even when the exposure to these microwave emitting devices will be hazardous to our health.

Declaration of Curtis Bennett United States District Court - Portland, Oregon

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Defendant: Portland Public Schools"I, Curtis Bennett, under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, hereby make the following declaration in support of a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Portland Public Schools' use of Wi-Fi . . . "In my opinion as a professional with Canadian national and provincial credentials, Portland Public Schools' use of WI-FI is causing and will continue to cause Alexandra Morrison, other students, and school staff and faculty adverse health effects and should be discontinued immediately as this as a national and global emergency . . ."From Mr. Bennett: "Please contact Health Canada and ask, "What weight of evidence approach did you use for the reporting of the error or omission in Safety Code 6, both ten months ago and again after the recommendations of the committee in December, 2010?" They have to answer that question. The application of the law has changed and according to Safety Code 6 (law) Wi-Fi and Smart Meters are illegal today.

Technocracy Endgame: Global Smart Grid

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The August Review - June 2011"There is a new world wide web emerging right before our eyes. It is a global energy network and, like the internet, it will change our culture, society and how we do business. More importantly, it will alter how we use, transform and exchange energy." - Terrawatts.com "The dark horse of the New World Order is not Communism, Socialism or Fascism: It is Technocracy. "The development and implementation of Smart Grid technology in the U.S. - reinventing the electrical grid with Wifi-enabled digital power meters - is proceeding at breakneck speed. Although Smart Grid is the result of years of government planning, the recent kickoff was made possible through massive "green" grants that were quietly included in President Obama's economic stimulus package starting in 2009. "These lucrative grants have drawn in a host of corporate players, from utility companies to digital meter manufacturers to control software vendors. Global companies like IBM, GE and Siemens are putting their full effort behind the "build-out" that will consolidate all of America into a single, integrated, communication-enabled electric delivery and monitoring system, collectively called Smart Grid. "Proponents of Smart Grid claim that it will empower the consumer to better manage his or her power consumption and hence, costs. The utility companies will therefore be more efficient in balancing power loads and requirements across diverse markets. "However, like carnival barkers, these Smart Grid hocksters never reveal where or how SmartGrid came into being, nor what the ultimate endgame aims to achieve; perhaps most of them have no idea either, but simply repeat the mantra as if they know what they are talking about . . ."

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) World Health Organization Library 2006

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Proceedings International Workshop on EMF Hypersensitivity Prague, Czech Republic October 25-27, 2004FOREWORD "A WHO workshop on Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity was held in Prague on October 25-27, 2004. This meeting was arranged in collaboration with the National Reference Laboratory for Non-Ionizing Radiation, Ministry of Health, Czech Republic and was co- sponsored by the European Commission Coordinated Action EMF-NET and the Action COST 281 (Potential Health Implications from Mobile Communication Systems) within the European Framework for Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research. "Sensitivity to EMF has been given the general name "Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity" or EHS. It comprises nervous system symptoms like headache, fatigue, stress, sleep disturbances, skin symptoms like prickling, burning sensations and rashes, pain and ache in muscles and many other health problems. Whatever its cause, EHS is a real and sometimes a disabling problem for the affected persons. Their EMF exposure is generally several orders of magnitude under the limits of internationally accepted standards. The aim of the conference was to review the current state of knowledge and opinions of the conference participants and propose ways forward on this issue. "The meeting was conducted by the WHO International EMF Project as part of the scientific review process to determine biological and health effects from exposure to EMF. The purpose of these workshops is to bring together expert scientists so that established health effects and gaps in knowledge requiring further research can be identified. "EHS has been a particularly contentious issue for a number of years. There have been over 30 studies to determine if EHS symptoms are related to EMF exposure. The workshop and the papers in this proceedings provide up-to-date information on this issue. The editors thank all speakers to the workshop for their contribution to this proceeding . . ." The Editors January 2006

Dr. David Carpenter Warns of Smart Meter Dangers, Stresses Need for Analog Option (Video)

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Director of the Institute for Public Health and the Environment at the University at Albany

Transmitting Smart Meters Pose A Serious Threat To Public Health

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

They will not stop installing these meters unless complaints are filed."Transmitting smart meters are being installed nationwide on gas, water, and electrical services, driven in part by funding for the Smart Grid Program approved as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. "This is of great concern because the exposure to microwave and radiowave radiation from these meters is involuntary and continuous. The transmitting meters may not even comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "safety" standards (see http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/). However, those standards were initially designed to protect an average male from tissue heating (cooking) during a brief exposure. These standards were not designed to protect a diverse population from the non-thermal effects of continuous exposure to microwave and radiowave radiation. Therefore, these "safety" standards were not designed to protect the public from health problems under the circumstances which the meters are being used. "The transmitting meters most often being used transmit continuously, every few seconds. This is picked up by a receiver and logged by the utility. You are exposed to the transmissions from all the meters within transmitting range. The meters often have a range of over 2 miles. Thus, the exposure is continuous and the "safety" standards the meters comply with are irrelevant to the situation. Please read this letter from the Radiation Protection Division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the limitations of the FCC standards . . ."

Stop Smart Meters! Director Arrested in Capitola Today (Video)

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

PG&E threatens installation in Santa Cruz County, as showdown with local governments looms

Letter to Dr. Perry Kendall re B.C. Hydro's Smart Meter Program

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

includes request for official opt-out procedure /response from Dr. Kendall"I understand you are a knowledgeable and influential person with an extensive background in Medicine and Health, and that your role as our Provincial Health Officer is to advise the Ministry on health issues, policies and practices. Also, to monitor the health of the people of B.C., to provide information and analyses on health issues, and to report to the public on legislation, policy and health. I would hope that this works both ways, so here I am, fulfilling my responsibility to inform you about what is vital and important to me, my family and friends regarding public health practices . . . "I would like it recorded for future reference in your files that I have my family doctor's written advisory that a wireless meter in or near my living space would be harmful to my health. I therefore choose to be one of a growing number of British Columbians who strongly wish, without penalty or prejudice, to opt-out of B.C.'s ill-conceived wireless Smart Meter Program, and to be offered alternatives that are more conducive to my welfare. ". . . I would appreciate advice as to the proper avenue and direction to opt out of B.C. Hydro's Smart Meter Program. If there is anything other than this letter that I need to present to register my official request in Victoria or elsewhere, I would appreciate receiving it. Also, if a wireless meter is installed on my property without my permission, and before satisfactory alternatives have been arranged, please advise as to the best way to have it removed and replaced with a wired meter."And Dr. Kendall's prompt response . . .

Dear _________ ,My apologies for not responding to your earlier call. I sympathize with your health issues, but my office does not deal with the Smart Meter program which is the purview of BC Hydro. I do suggest that you contact them with your request for an alternative.

Best wishes,

Perry Kendall

"Dear Dr. Kendall, "Thank-you for your prompt reply to my lengthy letter. I hope you had time to actually read it from start to finish, as it had information that isn't just within the "purview of B.C. Hydro." "I looked for the definition of "purview" and found that it actually does apply to your role as Provincial Health Officer: "purview" noun [in sing. ] the scope of the influence or concerns of something . . . a range of experience or thought: social taboos meant that little information was likely to come within the purview of women generally. "Radiofrequency radiation is a threat to public health and safety. I understand that your purview is to protect the health and safety of British Columbians. "Hydro would argue that their purview is not public health and safety. They would argue that they only need to stay within safety limits set by Health Canada and other public health authorities such as yours. These limits are woefully inadequate, but this is supposedly not the concern of Provincial Officers. Federal Officers are also unwilling to act at this time. "And so it goes, round and round, with no one addressing the big and pressing problems and issues. "Finally, the World Health Organization has ventured out of its safety zone and taken steps to address the risk of wireless technology to health, reclassifying it as a Class 2B carcinogen, most notably in the same category as DDT, lead, chloroform, diesel exhaust and others. Still, Canada, and you, are denying the importance of such a step, saying that it is insufficient to warrant concern, currently downplaying the responsibility of Government, and its impact on the decisions made by public utilities such as Hydro. "Your suggestion to contact B.C. Hydro with my request is not especially helpful, as Hydro has not been addressing this issue, despite many people with questions who have tried, for months now, to engage them in problem-solving, with options and information. Safe and reasonable alternatives to wireless connectivity are not being offered, or even discussed. "Again, I feel that it IS most definitely within your purview to ensure that B.C. Hydro does not endanger the health of citizens, or trespass on their rights and concerns when it comes to their well being. There are those who, for legitimate reasons, have difficulties arising from Hydro's initiative. They must not be discriminated against or harmed due to a mismanagement of responsibility. "I continue to request that you file my letter in your office, and use your knowledge and influence to inform Hydro about the health and safety aspect of their initiative to have 99% of British Columbians connected wirelessly to their grid, with no effort given to educating them about the risks involved."

The Truth about ITRON and B.C. Hydro Wired Connections

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

ITRON phone line options, annual reports, photos, patents"Back in March 2011, in response to groups of individuals concerned about the negative effects of the upcoming Smart Meter Program, B.C. Hydro gave assurances that, once Hydro's plans were "finalized" they would be offering help to people with legitimate concerns. People took Hydro at their word. "Since March, a growing number of citizens have been writing letters and making phone calls, contacting B.C. Hydro, sharing their health issues, asking for answers and offering information with regards to the problematic effects of wireless metering technology. To this date, there has been precious little, if any, constructive feedback or support received from Hydro . . . "There are areas in Ontario and the United States that are still using wired electric meters. In fact, today, homes in Ontario have meters collecting data and sending it via phone lines. This process makes sense. It uses a private line that is only used for this service and it is safe and secure. The filed patents for the Itron OpenWay meters actually state, as do many patents for other smart meter brands, that Itron OpenWay can use a telephone line for communications . . ."

Smart meter opponents seek public support

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Gulf Islands Driftwood"Members of Gulf Islanders for Safe Technology are continuing to build momentum in a public awareness campaign they hope will stop a network of smart meters from being installed across the province. "Protesters recently sought to gain the attention of Energy Minister Rich Coleman at a rally planned just four days before it took place outside the B.C. Legislature on June 1. GIFST spokesman Chris Anderson followed up the action with a presentation to Salt Spring's Local Trust Committee last week, citing multiple reasons why the program should not go ahead. . ."

Warning: Using a mobile phone while pregnant can seriously damage your baby

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Study of 13,000 children exposes link between use of handsets and later behavioural problems U.K. 2008May 2008"Women who use mobile phones when pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with behavioural problems, according to authoritative research. "A giant study, which surveyed more than 13,000 children, found that using the handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age. And it adds that the likelihood is even greater if the children themselves used the phones before the age of seven. "The results of the study, the first of its kind, have taken the top scientists who conducted it by surprise. But they follow warnings against both pregnant women and children using mobiles by the official Russian radiation watchdog body, which believes that the peril they pose "is not much lower than the risk to children's health from tobacco or alcohol". "The research - at the universities of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Aarhus, Denmark - is to be published in the July issue of the journal Epidemiology and will carry particular weight because one of its authors has been sceptical that mobile phones pose a risk to health . . . "The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection says that use of the phones by both pregnant women and children should be "limited". It concludes that children who talk on the handsets are likely to suffer from "disruption of memory, decline of attention, diminishing learning and cognitive abilities, increased irritability" in the short term, and that longer-term hazards include "depressive syndrome" and "degeneration of the nervous structures of the brain".

Mobile Phones and Head Tumours

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Mobile phones and head tumours. The discrepancies in cause-effect relationships in the epidemiological studies - how do they arise?Conclusions Our analysis of the literature studies and of the results from meta-analyses of the significant data alone shows an almost doubling of the risk of head tumours induced by long-term mobile phone use or latency.

Angelo G Levis, Nadia Minicuci, Paolo Ricci, Valerio Gennaro, Spiridione Garbisa

VANCOUVER RALLY against BC Hydro Smart Meters

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Took place on JUNE 22, 2011Smart Meters are about to move into every home and business in the province of British Columbia over the next year and many citizens are convinced these new wireless digital meters could cause serious health problems and not necessarily provide the promised financial savings. A peaceful event called "Smart Meters are Stupid" Rally took place on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 10 a.m. outside the BC Hydro Building at 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC.

For further information about future rallies or the various concerns about Smart Meters:

Walter McGinnis emf@islandnet.com (250) 652-2554 EM Radiation Health Alliance of B.C. www.emrabc.ca

Chris Anderson canderson@uniserve.com (250) 537-5102 Gulf Islanders for Safe Technology www.gifst.ca

Una St. Clair una@citizensforsafetechnology.org (604) 532-1863Citizens for Safe Technology Society www.citizensforsafetechnology.org

"Cyber War" on CBC's The Current

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

radio broadcast June 14, 2011

Part Two of The Current

Cyber War - KT McFarland

We started this segment with some sound from attacks we know about. Government and corporate computer systems are under attack, possibly by hackers in the employ of hostile governments. In the U.S., the Pentagon has drawn a line in this silicon sand: a major cyber attack linked to a foreign government may be an act of war.

To help tell us what that exactly means, we were joined by KT McFarland. She has held national security posts under U.S. Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan. She was the Pentagon's spokesperson from 1981 until 1984. She is currently the national security analyst for Fox News. KT McFarland was in New York City this morning. Cyber War - Wesley Wark

Cyber attacks may be intrusive and damaging, but some people think they're not much different than regular, old espionage. And spying isn't usually enough to get troops on the march.

Our next guest follows this kind of security issue closely. Wesley Wark is a national security affairs expert and a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. He was in Ottawa.

Related Links:

Interview with BC Hydro Chief Project Officer, Gary Murphy, regarding Smart Meters (Video)

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

audio interview with photo of protest outside B.C. Legislature

Key resolutions/appeals re biological effects of EMF and RF/EMR

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

International Experts' PerspectiveInternational Experts' Perspective on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Radiation"Below are some of the key resolutions/appeals released by expert scientific groups around the world since 1998 regarding the biological and health effects of both low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) associated with electricity and radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) generated by wireless devices. "Anyone who reads these cannot be left with the illusion (or delusion) that this form of energy is without adverse biological and health consequences at levels well below existing guidelines. Children are particularly vulnerable. It is irresponsible of governments to maintain the status quo in light of thousands of studies that have been published and statements by these experts . . ."

Cell Phones Aren't Good for Protozoa

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Department of Biology of Obninsk Institute of Nuclear Power - National Research Nuclear University RussiaResearchers believe that their valuable study helps estimate quantitatively how low intensity radio frequency radiation affects biological objects. Most interesting fact in this research is that experiments revealed "safe" periods of time for such an impact, which appeared to depend on energy flux density. "In our everyday life we spend a good deal of time being under influence of weak electromagnetic radiation - it can come from mobile phones or microwave ovens, for instance. Active debates about possible danger of this type of radiation take place all over the world. New facts on the subject arrive from Russian researchers . . ."

Mobile phones cause brain tumours - more evidence

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Powerwatch 10/06/2011Interphone Study leader Elisabeth Cardis and colleagues have now published a new analysis showing an increased risk of brain cancer close to where you hold a mobile phone to your head. This shows up in the data from people who have used a mobile phone for more than 7 years. The majority of malignant gliomas (the most common type that has been associated with mobile phone use) are fatal within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis, even with treatment. The new study claims to be the first to use estimates of RF energy absorbed at the centre of brain tumours as a measure of radio-frequency (RF) dose. An increased risk of glioma was seen in the 20% of users with the highest exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE MEETING AT THE W.H.O. HEADQUARTERS GENEVA, MAY 13th 2011

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

regarding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)Jaume Cortes opens the intervention by raising some basic questions to address the issue of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Electrohipersensibility (EHS).a) MCS and EHS are real health problems. b) There is evidence to confirm this statement:

Medical diagnostics.
Reports of work inspections establishing causality between exposure and disease.
There are scientific studies that confirm its existence.
There is a recognition by the European Parliament of these diseases, evidence that is provided in the dossier presented today.
There are 200 judgments in favor in Spain that support this evidence.
We are getting in Spain (economic) 'compensation' for patients.

c) We need to include these illnesses in the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD), because what makes it more difficult for legal recognition is precisely the lack of code for these diseases in the ICD.

Toronto's Wireless Water Meter Program - Promotional Information and Video May 2011

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PDT

NEPTUNE is under contract to the City of Toronto, OntarioNeptune is under contract to the City of Toronto to install wireless water meters in homes and businesses throughout the city and surrounding neighbourhoods. To prepare home owners, the video shows the in-home installation process. Instructions are given for a "clean install." "The City of Toronto is rolling out a mandatory, automated water meter program that will replace or install water meters for all customers, with more efficient and accurate automated meters. The meters, and the installation, are free... "All water meters will transmit consumption data via a transmitter, eliminating the need for city staff to enter your home in the future to obtain your water meter reading. The transmitter wire is attached to the water meter and the transmitter box is placed in a location that will ensure the best possible signal transmission. The transmitter is programmed by your installer and will only send consumption data and your serial number to the city. No other personal information is transmitted..."

Cellcom Israel Announces a Purported Class Action Filed Against the Company

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd."NETANYA, Israel, June 7, 2011: Cellcom Israel Ltd. announced today that a purported class action lawsuit against the Company and three other cellular operators was filed in the District Court of Tel-Aviv-Jaffa, by an Israeli citizen, in connection with the allegation that the defendants mislead customers who buy accessories for carrying cellular handsets or do not disclose to them relevant data concerning radiation hazards associated with the usage of accessories for carrying cellular handsets, allegedly contrary to the cellular handsets manufacturers' instructions and warnings and the Israeli Ministry of Health' recommendations. "The total amount claimed from the Company, if the lawsuit is certified as a class action, is estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 1 billion (out of a total sum of approximately NIS 2.7 billion against all defendants), substantially all for non monetary damages . . ."

President Obama, Don't Waste Billions of Taxpayer Dollars on Your Risky WIRELESS Broadband Initiative and Wireless Smart Meter Stimulus Grants.

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

EMR Policy Institute Letter and SummaryThe same problems apply to "Smart Meters" in Canada and abroad.

BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER $$$ WASTED ON RISKY TECHNOLOGY
INFERIOR WIRELESS BROADBAND PERFORMANCE COMPARED TO FIBEROPTIC
PERSONAL FREEDOM THREATS
HEALTH RISKS
MEDICAL DEVICE MALFUNCTION RISK FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
SAFETY RISKS
PRIVACY RISKS
CYBERSECURITY RISKS
NO ENERGY SAVINGS
INCREASED CHARGES TO RATE PAYERS

Privacy Implications of Smart Meters (U.S.)

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Chicago Kent Law Review"It's 1984, Orwellian time. The telescreens are everywhere, monitoring the intimate details of citizens' lives within their own homes. Big Brother is watching you. Now transport yourself to 2010. Smart meters--along with other smart devices--are being installed in homes across the country. By measuring energy consumption by appliance every fifteen minutes, they capture details on how you spend your days and nights. When you turn off the lights. When you take a shower. When you leave home. Where your electric vehicle is being charged. But who is watching you? Who has access to all this information? The electric company? Appliance manufacturers? The government? The Internet? What might they do with it? Orwell's 1984 has not come to pass, but smart meters have. This article examines the privacy implications of smart meters and explores options for protecting one of our most basic rights . . ."

A Recent History
Types of Threats to Privacy Presented by Smart Meters
Lack of Consumer Options
Current Lack of Adequate Laws and Regulations
The Fourth Amendment
Current Threats and looming Uncertainty Beg Immediate Action

W.H.O.'S NEW CLASSIFICATION OF RFR: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CANADA?

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. Magda Havas, PhDJune 5, 2011. "The World Health Organization classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic. What does this mean for Canadians? "After a week-long meeting in Lyon, France, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)--an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO)--classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (otherwise known as radiofrequency radiation or RFR) as a class 2B carcinogen, meaning that it is "possibly carcinogenic to humans". Lead and DDT are two examples in the same category, and both are banned for public use in Canada. "It turns out that Canada has "observer status" with the Council of Europe as outlined in the following document (click here and here) and as such we are expected to conform with the rules applicable to such agreements. The PACE meets once every quarter-year and the six delegates and/or six substitutes from Canada ARE supposed to attend. The six representatives and the six substitutes are provided here. Among the representatives are Jean Dorion (Bloc), Percy Downe (Liberal), Michael MacDonald (Conservative), Dean Del Mastro (Conservative) and Massimo Pacetti (Liberal). David Tilson (Conservative) is the chair of this committee. "What does this mean for Canadians? . . ."

W.H.O. Wireless/Cancer Link a Game Changer for Smart Meters

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

J. Hart - U.S.Make no mistake. The decision by the World Health Organization on Tuesday to classify non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" is an absolute game changer for our movement. This seemingly cautious statement by the world's pre-eminent health organization should ring loud alarm bells around the world. Despite backroom industry influence and widespread conservatism, the slow-to-react beast was finally forced to act- as the walls of wireless damage closed in . . ."

LightSquared wireless Internet plan concerns officials pushing GPS for aviation

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Washington PostAn article from the Washington Post. Think of the implications for GPS, for emergency vehicles, airplanes, let alone our health. The system operates on the L band, and 1559 megahertz is where LightSquared's authorized bandwidth ends and the GPS band begins."The Federal Communications Commission in January issued a waiver to allow Reston-based LightSquared to develop a $14 billion broadband communications system adjacent to the bandwidth used for GPS transmissions. "Two of 21st-century America's favorite gadgets -- the smartphone and the GPS device -- are on a collision course, according to a report delivered Friday to the Federal Aviation Administration. "The report says deployment of a massive new network of towers and satellites to expand wireless communication may effectively shut down Global Positioning System devices that are at the core of a multibillion-dollar plan to revolutionize aviation. They also may affect some GPS units used by drivers, bicyclists and boaters. "The report puts the Obama administration in a Solomonesque position with two of its most cherished, ambitious and expensive initiatives. The president has promised to make Internet access available to all Americans, even as the administration has pushed airlines to invest billions to install GPS-based equipment. "The Federal Communications Commission in January issued a waiver to allow Reston-based LightSquared to develop a $14 billion broadband communications system adjacent to the bandwidth used for GPS transmissions . . ."

Adverse health effects of exposure to power frequency electric and magnetic fields (EMFs)

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

David L. Henshaw Professor of Physics - H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol"It is indeed unfortunate that the question of health effects of exposure to EMFs well below current exposure guidelines has not received the highest level of scientific or public health attention that it deserves. The evidence of adverse health effects from EMFs associated with the electricity supply, in particular magnetic field (MF) exposures around or below 1 microtesla (uT), is huge and it is quite clear across a range of outcomes. We have long passed the stage where application of the Precautionary Principle and of appropriate legislation against undue exposure is warranted, including a substantial lowering of permitted MF exposure limits, currently 100 uT. In the case of high voltage overhead powerlines, these should not be built close to houses or farms where cattle and poultry are housed. "The available evidence on adverse health effects of MF exposure speaks for itself. No longer can we talk of differing opinions of whether or not there are such adverse health effects: the question is not about what people think, rather it is about what the evidence says. "Official review bodies are usually constrained by their Terms of Reference and have not been in a position to access the bulk of our scientific knowledge of MF interactions with biological systems. As I will explain below, I estimate that such bodies have at most addressed only 10% of the available evidence/data . . ."

Request for EHS Testimonials

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Health Symptoms to reportIf you suffer due to Electrosensitivity or Electrohypersensitivity and could provide a one-page description of your situation that could be shared (anonymously if you prefer) for the purposes of possible public action and/or legal action, please email wrscouncil@aol.com. Please include:

any reason(s) you attribute your sensitivity to exposure to electromagnetic radiation;
whether or not your physician has diagnosed ES or EHS;
one-page (or shorter) description of your situation; and
your preferred method of contact if you would consider providing more indepth information now or at some time in the future.

Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Canadian Human Rights Commission - Cara Wilkie and David Baker May 2007"In an effort to clarify the issues surrounding environmental sensitivities and accommodation for them in employment, housing, facilities, employee organizations and services, the Canadian Human Rights Commission commissioned two research projects. One examines the medical and architectural considerations and awareness of environmental sensitivities. The other project, this report, examines past legal assessments of accommodation for environmental sensitivities, including how third parties may be involved and the relevance of buildings codes and standards. The report was commissioned to answer [seven] questions . . . "This report begins by examining environmental sensitivities generally to provide context for the research that follows. The authors consider environmental sensitivities in the light of international definitions of disability and evidentiary difficulties that may arise for litigants because of the minimal understanding of the condition within the medical community. "In the sections that follow, the researchers turn to a consideration of the types of accommodations that may be requested by a person with environmental sensitivities and to jurisprudential consideration of the reasonableness of these accommodations in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The researchers also conducted research into New Zealand and United Kingdom jurisprudence, but were unable to identify anything of relevance. In each jurisdiction, the researchers consider which accommodations have been accepted and which have been rejected as unreasonable or as causing undue hardship. The researchers consider how third parties are engaged in the accommodation process and how the rights of the different parties are reconciled. The section concludes with the researchers drawing cross-jurisdictional conclusions on what accommodations will likely be required as a result of Canadian human rights analysis. . ."

The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Canadian Human Rights Commission - May, 2007 Margaret E. Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.)

"People's responses to factors in their environment vary enormously. For instance, we all know that blue-eyed red-heads are sensitive to sunshine, burning more readily than dark-skinned people. What may be less well known is that some people have debilitating reactions to other aspects of their environment, such as chemicals or electromagnetic phenomena. Although there is a growing consensus in the medical community and society at large that chemicals in the environment are of concern, environmental sensitivities are neither universally recognized nor fully understood.

"This report was prepared for the Canadian Human Rights Commission to examine, from a medical perspective, issues related to environmental sensitivities. The report begins by discussing the diagnosis of environmental sensitivities and conditions commonly occurring along with the range of medical conditions that may arise from environmental sensitivities. This is followed by an overview of the recognition of environmental sensitivities by international, federal, provincial and municipal bodies, and awareness of this condition among medical communities. The report then addresses the initiating factors, triggers, and symptoms of environmental sensitivities, with a focus on how environmental sensitivities affect the workplace performance of those who experience this condition. This is followed by a review of medical research into the initiation and manifestation of environmental sensitivities, and a discussion of how environmental sensitivities are diagnosed and treated. The final sections of the report examine how codes, regulations, policies and guidelines for construction address issues affecting environmental quality. Guidelines for the optimization of the indoor environment and accommodation of people with environmental sensitivities are presented, and the costs and benefits of protective measures are discussed. For those interested in the original scientific and technical literature, an annotated bibliography is available on request from environmentalhealthmed@gmail.com . . ."The Canadian Human Rights Commission published another report in 2007 that examined past legal assessments of accommodation for environmental sensitivities, including how third parties may be involved and the relevance of buildings codes and standards.

A Month in Review - May, 2011

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Magda Havas, PhD- Trent UniversityMay 2011. A Month in Review. A lot has happened during the month of May in the EMR arena.

1. Scientists with strong Industry ties no longer tolerated as "experts" on International Panel.
2. IARC classifies Radio Frequency Radiation is a Class 2B Carcinogen "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
3. The Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe (PACE) released a document entitled: The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment. Resolution 1815 (2011)
4. Research at Queen's University in Kingston documents that cell phone use may lead to low sperm quality and a decrease in male fertility.
5. Cell phone radiation causes piping (swarming) in bees.
6. Scientists who speak out about the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation are harassed.

Replace, Reduce, Reposition - How to Reduce Microwave Radiation

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Flyer: English VersionThis flyer, also available on this CST website in Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese is a helpful guide for those who wish to reduce their exposure to microwave radiation in home and work environments. It is also a good handout for friends and other community members. "The European (EU) Parliament and European governments have been warning citizens about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic and microwave radiation for years. The World Health Organization has also recently classified Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields emitted by wireless communication devices as "possibly carcinogenic to humans", in the same category as Lead and DDT. To protect the health of yourself and your family (especially children), please take precaution . . ."

Replace, Reduce, Reposition - How to Reduce Microwave Radiation

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Flyer: Mainland China (Simplified Chinese)This flyer, available on this CST website in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and English, is a helpful guide for those who wish to reduce their exposure to microwave radiation in home and work environments. It is also a good handout for friends and other community members. "The European (EU) Parliament and European governments have been warning citizens about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic and microwave radiation for years. The World Health Organization has also recently classified Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields emitted by wireless communication devices as "possibly carcinogenic to humans", in the same category as Lead and DDT. To protect the health of yourself and your family (especially children), please take precaution . . ."

Replace, Reduce, Reposition - How to Reduce Microwave Radiation

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Flyer: HK Taiwan (Traditional Chinese)This flyer, available on this CST website in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and English, is a helpful guide for those who wish to reduce their exposure to microwave radiation in home and work environments. It is also a good handout for friends and other community members. "The European (EU) Parliament and European governments have been warning citizens about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic and microwave radiation for years. The World Health Organization has also recently classified Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields emitted by wireless communication devices as "possibly carcinogenic to humans", in the same category as Lead and DDT. To protect the health of yourself and your family (especially children), please take precaution . . ."

Prof. Johansson loses lab: IARC loses credibility

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Karolinska Institute teaches science world a lesson in politics - shut up or get outValuable overview regarding collateral damage resulting from this controversial issue:"Stockholm's Karolinska Institute, one of the world's premier educational institutions under the rectorship of Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, has been plunged into an international scandal amid accusations of undue corporate influence of staff and stifling academic research not to the liking of big business. "In the same week one member of staff, Anders Albom, Professor of Epidemiology since 1987, was sidelined at the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC), accused of influencing policy relating to the safety of microwave communications and holding a directorship in his brother's public relations firm in Brussels. "Then on Friday, Dr. Olle Johansson, of the Karolinska's Department of Neuroscience, issued a statement announcing, "Due to unforeseen circumstances I am now being evicted from my premises." In recent year Johansson has gained an international following due to his assertion that microwave radiation used by the communications industry is dangerous to human health. This winter Spanish protesters wore luminous waistcoats bearing his photograph. "The timing of Johansson's silencing smacks of revenge because on the same day the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), called on European governments to "'take all reasonable measures" to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, "and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours'". "The apparent attempt to silence Johansson has been on-going . . ."

NDP wants safety warnings on cell phones

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The Canadian PressTORONTO - The Ontario government will examine a World Health Organization warning about a possible link between cellphones and cancer, but won't take any immediate action to warn consumers, Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best said Wednesday. "The United Nations agency reported Tuesday that the type of electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellphones and other wireless devices could possibly cause cancer. "The New Democrats want warning labels slapped on cellphones and smart phones to caution users about the possible increased risk of cancer, but Best said for now she'll consult more experts. "I will be speaking with the Ontario chief medical officer of health, as well as Health Canada," she said. "It's a very important issue, and we will monitor and continue to monitor the evidence, the new evidence that has been brought forward." "Scientists with the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic to humans,"' based on a higher risk of glioma, a rare but often deadly form of brain tumour . . ."

World Health Oganization labels wireless "Possible Carcinogen"

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Prime Minister of Canada urged to protect Canadians"Starting yesterday, microwave radiation from cell phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters and other wireless consumer devices and infrastructure is officially labeled by the World Health Organization to be a Possible Carcinogen, in the same category as Lead and DDT. . . "In light of the reclassification of emissions from wireless devices as possible carcinogens, the Prime Minister must now require Health Canada and Industry Canada to review existing standards for cell phones and all wireless consumer devices, especially those exposing pregnant women, children and youth. These include: wireless toys; baby monitors; as well as Wi-Fi and other sources in schools, daycares, and all locations where pregnant women, children and youth are exposed, including colleges and universities. We also call on the Prime Minister to urgently adopt widespread and ongoing awareness campaigns for family doctors, parents, employers and all Canadians . . ."

Can cellphone use lead to cancer?

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Marketplace broadcast - Canada's investigative consumer show November, 2003"In 1997, scientist George Carlo headed up the Wireless Technology Research group in Washington. He had spent $28 million U.S. over six years. But because his research group was funded entirely by members of the cellphone industry, it's dismissed as a big public relations job. "Carlo insists there is no proof of a health risk, supporting what becomes sort of a message track from the cellphone industry -- from people like Roger Porier of the cellphone lobby. "The overwhelming evidence from the scientific community -- these are the top people in the world who are investigating these things -- conclude time after time there are no adverse health effects in fields of this nature." "But Carlo, who was once the cellphone industry's hired gun, has morphed into one of the industry's biggest critics. Carlo's afraid there is a possible health threat. He thinks we should be told . . ."

WHO: Cell phone use can increase possible cancer risk

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Cell phones "possibly carcenogenic" - World Health Organization releases findings(CNN) -- "Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization. The agency now lists mobile phone use in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. Before its announcement Tuesday, WHO had assured consumers that no adverse health effects had been established . . ."

Cellphone use may be linked to cancer: scientists

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

CBC News: HealthUsing cellphones is considered a possible cause of malignant brain cancer, an international panel of scientists says. "The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use," the group said in a statement Tuesday from Lyon, France. "Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings," said IARC director Christopher Wild, "it is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting." "The agency's working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries met this week to review hundreds of scientific papers on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, including cellphones."

IARC (W.H.O.) CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

PRESS RELEASE #208: World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer"Lyon, France, May 31, 2011 The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B,) based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use . . . "Dr Jonathan Samet (University of Southern California, USA), overall Chairman of the [IARC] Working Group, indicated that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough enough to support a conclusion and the 2B classification. The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk." "While these conclusions focus on cell phones, it is usual that these international bodies are conservative in their approach, often confirming, long after damage has been done. Indeed, until now they have been using the phrase "there is no evidence." But today's announcement is a break-through in their view, and clearly supports the contention we have made . . . that research just hasn't been done on the long-term effects of this kind of radiation on humans. Moreover, today's IARC announcement strongly suggests that there is now even more reason for local governments and agencies to exercise care and common sense precautions with respect to the part they play in adopting policies regarding their use and approval of facilities that emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, be they cell towers or Wi-Fi installations in schools."

Cell phone radiation: Harmless or health risk? Part 1/3

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

This is the first of a three-part series on issues related to cell phone radiation."A typical day for Jonathan Hirshon, a San Francisco-based public relations representative, is spent with his iPhone 4 pressed to his head for two or three hours. "What does he fret about while he's using that phone? He hopes he can make it through an entire conversation without his call being dropped; he hopes his voice is clear enough that the people on the other end of the call can understand him; and he hopes AT&T doesn't take away his unlimited data plan. "You may not be very surprised to hear that the one thing Hirshon, whose first cell phone was the groundbreaking 1996 Motorola StarTAC, doesn't spend much time worrying about is whether his heavy cell phone use will give him brain cancer. . . "

Woozy from Wi-Fi

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

'Electrosensitive' say modern life makes them ill

"Much of modern life -- the buzzing of cell phones, the humming of laptops, the ubiquity of wifi -- is enough to give anyone a headache. But what if electromagnetic waves really did make you sick?

"For people who call themselves "electrosensitive," life in our plugged-in world is becoming increasingly unbearable. As they define it, electrosensitivity syndrome is characterized by headaches, rashes, nausea, fatigue and even fainting when sufferers come too close to electromagnetic radiation.

"Although electrosensitivity is not recognized as a medical diagnosis, it's a condition those in Europe are especially concerned about -- in fact, earlier this month, leaders from the Council of Europe pushed to ban cell phones and wifi in schools, the Telegraph reported . . . "

MPUC votes to require smart meter opt-out program for consumers

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Maine Public Utilities Commission"The Maine Public Utilities Commission voted to require Central Maine Power (CMP) to offer an opt-out program for customers who choose not to have a standard smart meter installed as part of CMP's smart meter program. Customers in CMP service territory will have two new opt-out options: the availability of the smart meter with its transmitter turned off and the ability to retain the existing (or analog) meter. . ."

How Electromagnetically-Induced Cell Leakage May Cause Autism

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Andrew Goldsworthy - Imperial College London Department of Biological Sciences"There has been a 60-fold increase in ASD in recent years, which cannot be accounted for by improvements in diagnostic methods and can only be explained by changes in the environment. This increase corresponds in time to the proliferation of mobile telecommunications, WiFi, and microwave ovens as well as extremely low frequency fields (ELF) from mains wiring and domestic appliances. We can now explain this in terms of electromagnetically-induced membrane leakage leading to brain hyperactivity and abnormal brain development . . ."

Opposition stops tower

Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Tri-City News - Port Coquitlam, B.C."Rogers Communications has withdrawn a controversial proposal that would have located a cell tower antenna in Port Coquitlam's Greenmount Park after months of opposition from area residents. "The gallery at PoCo city hall erupted in applause after Mayor Greg Moore read a statement from Rogers during a council meeting Tuesday night. The company said after lengthy consultations with city officials and the community, it would be looking at other options for the placement of a cell tower. "We certainly did not expect this," Peter Endisch, one of the opponents of the cell tower, said in an email. "We were hoping for this but we did not expect this. . . "Had the tower gone forward, it would have been located 120 m from Coquitlam River elementary school, well within the 305 m buffer set out by School District 43. . ."

Resolution 1815 - Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment". . . In light of the above considerations, the Assembly recommends that the member states of the Council of Europe:

8.1. in general terms
8.2. concerning the private use of mobile phones, DECT phones, WiFi, WLAN and WIMAX for computers and other wireless devices such as baby phones:
8.3. concerning the protection of children:
8.4. concerning the planning of electric power lines and relay antenna base stations:
8.5. concerning risk assessment and precautions:

Smart Meters: Stopping The Invasion! - PG&E (Video)

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

side by side meter test / meter cages / moratorium / opt-out

Researchers Say New Studies Confirm Cell Phone Hazards

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"Stunning proof" ignored in North America, scientists sayCell Phone Hazards "Now, a group of international researchers meeting in Istanbul, Turkey has released what they call "stunning proof" that confirms findings from the Council of Europe -- pulsed digital signals from cell phones disrupt DNA, impair brain function and lower sperm count. "A meeting convened by Environmental Health Trust, with the Turkish cancer society, and Gazi University, revealed the new research that the scientists say shows damage to DNA, brain and sperm. "Nesrin Seyhan, an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) and NATO and head of the Biophysics Department and Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory at Gazi University in Ankara, presented findings that he says confirm the warning that just four hours of exposure to cell phone radiation disrupts the ability of human brain cells to repair damaged genes."Insect studies "A research team at the University of Athens said insect studies have demonstrated that acute exposure to GSM (Global System for Mobile) signals brings about DNA fragmentation in insects' ovarian cells, and consequently a large reduction in the reproductive capacity of the insects. Further studies, they said, demonstrated that long exposures induced cell death to the insects in the study. . ."

Hummingbirds Are Disappearing World Wide

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

North and South American species of hummingbirds have reached critical levels.Look out your window. Do you see any hummingbirds? Chances are you don't. Chances are you haven't seen one in quite awhile. A recent study and population census, led by Ornithologist Dr. Leonard Trayner and other researchers from Scranton University found the population numbers for all North and South American species of hummingbirds have reached critical levels. In some areas the birds have disappeared completely. In others, populations have been reduced by as much as 90%.

Field of Cell Phone Tower Beams - Sweetwater Union High School District

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

San Diego (U.S.)"Otay Ranch High School houses five cell phone towers. Sweetwater Union High School District makes $500,000 a year to host 32 such towers. "Is the Sweetwater Union High School District playing roulette with students' health? The district has signed lucrative contracts with communication companies that allow them to place 32 cell phone towers on campuses throughout the southernmost part of the county. Otay Ranch High School, located on the east side of Chula Vista, has 5 towers arrayed around its football field. San Ysidro High has 4 on campus, and two of the district's middle schools have towers. If cell phone towers pose no health risks, why does the European Union recommend they be kept clear of schools? And why does the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, ban them? . . . "In the 1970s and 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency began studying radio frequency radiation, and after finding cause for concern in the results of laboratory animal research, it undertook to establish guidelines to protect the public. But the agency ran into opposition, and in 1995, the Senate Committee on Appropriations cut the program's budget and stated, "The committee believes [the Environmental Protection Agency] should not engage in [electromagnetic field] activities.". . . "The following year, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The act set the standards for emissions and included Section 704 (a), which made it illegal for any community to consider health or environment in regulating cell towers. Los Angeles Unified School District is demanding that section of the law be revised. . . "Though the risk of adverse health effects from exposure to cell phone towers on campuses is uncertain, the cash they generate each year for the district's 42,000 students can be calculated: about $12 per student."

MOBI-KIDS

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Study on Communication Technology, Environment and Brain Tumours in Young PeopleMOBI-KIDS is an international case-control study which aims to assess the potential associations between use of communication devices and other environmental risk factors and brain tumours in young people. The study is funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement 226873- the MOBI-KIDS Project.

STOP THE R.A.N COVERUP -Sydney, Australia

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Royal Australian Navy"Landmark legal action has been launched against the Defence Force to prove a sailor's death from a brain tumour was caused by a ship's radar. "Leading Seaman Bosun's Mate Peter Beckwith served with the Royal Australian Navy for seven years - three spent on board the HMAS Newcastle - where he was positioned right in front of the radar. "He was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001 at the age of 23 after suffering a series of "turns" and nose bleeds. "An MRI scan revealed an apple-sized tumour on his right temple lobe and just two days later he underwent surgery in Melbourne to remove the mass. "Neurologist Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld told the Beckwiths the tumour could well have been caused by non-ionising radiation - the same as that emitted by mobile phones, microwaves and radars . . . "Slater and Gordon solicitor Ben Mason said there was sufficient scientific and medical evidence to support the claim asserting that Mr Beckwith's brain tumour arose out of his exposure to non-ionising radiation and, in particular, radar. "The only financial assistance Mrs Beckwith has received to date has been from volunteer organisation Legacy, which helped pay for her husband's funeral when the navy refused."

New Stunning Evidence that Cell Phone Radiation Damages the Brain, DNA, and Reproductive Health

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Public Health, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD - May 23, 2011"Prof. Seyhan's work confirms and strengthens the finding that just four hours of exposure to RF-EMF disrupts the ability of human brain cells to repair damaged genes. Other new important work from Australia shows damage to human sperm. "We are deeply concerned about what this could mean for public health," noted Prof Seyhan. "This work provides a warning signal to all of us. The evidence justifies precautionary measures to reduce the risks for everyone of us," says Prof. Wilhelm Mosgoeller from the Medical University of Vienna who has led European research teams, who found that RF-EMF induce DNA breaks. New studies carried out by scientists in Turkey, Russia and Israel, have investigated a variety of biological effects triggered by cell phones. Two years after false accusations against scientists who described DNA breaks, now the recent results finally show that exposure induced DNA breaks are real. . . "

Mauvaises ondes (en Francais)

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Inodores et invisibles, les ondes electromagnetiques sont pourtant partout. Mais sont-elles dangereuses?A groundbreaking investigative report from France that exposes the truth for all to see. It has been reported that this video will be removed from circulation, as telecommunications companies are concerned it will damage their reputation . . .Mauvaises ondes

Letter to Canadian Government re ICNIRP and WHO conflict of interest

Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

World Health Organization and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection" . . . All of this evidence has been consistently ignored by your office and Health Canada. You and Beth Pieterson continue to tell the public there is no evidence of harm, often referring to the WHO and ICNIRP as the source for your statements. Among other things, both of you have said that Safety Code 6 is safe and is among the best in the world. You and Health Canada consistently mislead the public. "Attached is only the latest report on the conflict of interest which is so pervasive in these agencies . . ."Attached report:

Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer - IARC's integrity in question?

Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Powerwatch / International EMF AlliancePowerwatch joins with IEMFA and concerned scientists around the world to call for a postponement of the coming decision on carcinogenicity of radiofrequency (RF) and microwaves (MW) by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In collaboration with the International EMF Alliance (IEMFA), scientists from Europe, North America, Australia and Israel have sent an Open Letter to Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), calling for a postponement of the forthcoming meeting May 24-31, 2011 in Lyon, France, "Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part II: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field [includes mobile telephones]" at which determination of the carcinogenicity of cell phones and wireless technologies will be made.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT THE WHO (World Health Organization)

Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Leading expert Anders Ahlbom linked to the Telecom IndustryProfessor Ahlbom, who is supposed to chair the expert group on epidemiology at the upcoming IARC evaluation of the carcinogenicity of mobile phone radiation, is the co-founder of "Gunnar Ahlbom AB" a Brussels-based lobby firm aiming to assist the telecom industry on EU regulations, public affairs and corporate communications.See also a letter written to Canadian Government regarding the conflict of interest at the WHO, and political responsibility to take it into account.Update: May 23, 2011:IARC Drops Anders Ahlbom from RF Cancer PanelThe International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has removed Anders Ahlbom of the Karolinska Institute from its panel of experts which is set to evaluate the cancer risks posed by mobile phones. The committee will meet in Lyon, France, for a week beginning this coming Tuesday, May 24. In an e-mail sent out earlier today, Ahlbom wrote, "IARC has excluded me from the RF Working Group because of 'possible perception of conflict of interest'."IARC moved quickly after learning that Ahlbom is a director of his brother's consulting firm, Gunnar Ahlbom AB. The company, which is based in Brussels, was established to help clients on telecom issues, with an emphasis on environmental and energy regulations. Read the whole story at:http://www.microwavenews.com/Ahlbom.html

Warning - Your Brain Exposed (Video)

Sat, 21 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

CNN report and interviews

Cell Phones May Make Men Less "Manly"

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Queens University research on cell phones and infertility "FCC may need to take another look at its minimum electromagnetic waves requirements for cell phones.""Men trying to have children may want to think twice before taking smartphone calls, according to recent research, which questions the effect of mobile devices on humans and even on overall planetary health. "Cell phones may negatively affect male fertility, suggests a recent study that connects smartphone usage to lower levels of luteinizing hormone, or LH, an important reproductive chemical produced in the brain's pituitary gland. . ."

Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Phones: Health Effect on Children and Teenagers

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

RESOLUTION OF RUSSIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON NONIONIZING RADIATION PROTECTION April, 2011This Resolution was approved by members of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP) at its Committee session on 3 March 2011. The Resolution evolved from scientific statements adopted by RNCNIRP in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009, taking into account contemporary views and actual scientific data. The Resolution represents a viewpoint of the professional scientific community and is meant for public dissemination, for the consumers of the mobile telecommunications services, as well as for the legislative and executive authorities who develop and implement health protection, environmental, communication, scientific and safety policies.

The Smart Meter Rebellion

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Rosalind Peterson"Across the United States a quiet rebellion is starting to gain momentum as reports about SMART METERS have begun to find their way into local newspapers, radio, and television news. In California, as Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), began to roll-out their SMART Meter installation program, residents began to learn more about these meters, in many cases learning this lesson the hard way as their bills skyrocketed upward at alarming rates. "Health questions began to increase, not only about the meters themselves, but the cell towers needed for transmission of the SMART Meter signals, and the SMART Meter Relay Antennas that have begun to show up across California. Many are asking their local, city, and state elected representatives to stop this process until all impacts can be evaluated. We know that these types of SMART Meter signals may disrupt pacemakers and other similar medical devices. And it should be clear that hospitals, which ask cell-phone users to turn off their cell phones in hospitals, are protected from these types of signal . . ."

Council of Europe: The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Parliamentary Assembly Report - Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional AffairsContents

Introduction
Background to the debate
Growing concerns in Europe
Effects on the environment: plants, insects, animals
Biological effects of electromagnetic fields in medicine
Therapeutic use of electric currents or electromagnetic waves
Technological progress and economic growth at the expense of environment and health protection
Contending forces and arguments: the dispute over the incidence of biological effects and over threshold values
Scientific studies and arguments pursued by associations and NGOs, by groupings of scientists, by the European Environment Agency and by the European Parliament
Conclusions

European Parliament - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

DRAFT REPORT on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fieldsMOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields Explanatory Statement

The health impact of electromagnetic waves: what is the issue?
European recommendations barely observed by Member States.
Votes of 10 March 1999 and 4 September 2008: Parliament is staying the course.
The Interphone study: a textbook case.

PUC approves 'smart' meter opt-out options

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Public Utilities Commission - Maine (US)

If this can be done in Maine, it can be done anywhere. Speak up.HALLOWELL -- Central Maine Power Co. customers who don't want wireless smart meters installed at their homes and businesses will have options, following a landmark decision at the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

People can opt out of the program by keeping their existing, analog meters, or having a modified smart meter installed with its wireless transmitter turned off, the PUC decided. Customers also have the option of moving a wireless smart meter to another location on their property.

Both CMP and the PUC say they're unaware of any other state where utility regulators have approved a smart-meter opt out plan, although one is being considered in California. Because smart meters have become controversial around the country among a vocal and well-organized minority of customers, today's decision was expected to be watched closely elsewhere.

The plan was approved during deliberations on a consolidated smart-meter complaint case by two of the three PUC commissioners, Vendean Vafiades and David Littell. The PUC's new chairman, Thomas Welch, most recently worked for a law firm that represented CMP and didn't participate in the decision.

Phoning It In? - National Journal

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Some of the federal government's own scientists say that it's not doing enough to determine whether cell phones pose a health risk."Cell phones are everywhere--glued to ears, in children's backpacks, even replacing landlines in millions of homes. Yet the federal government's oversight of cell-phone safety--in particular, the potential health risks of long-term use--is at best informal and at worst slipshod . . ."All of the big cell-phone companies, from Apple to Motorola, include extensive, fine-print warnings--tucked deep inside their product packaging--about the radiation emitted from their devices. But when the city of San Francisco tried to require manufacturers to provide some of that warning information to potential customers before they purchase, the wireless industry sued the city. The case is still pending in federal court . . ."

Health Effects in the vicinity of Radio/TV towers and mobile phone base stations

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. Neil Cherry - Lincoln University, New Zealand, September 6, 2002"Because the biological mechanisms for cell phone radiation mimics that of EMR, and the dose-response relationships have a threshold of ZERO, and this includes genetic damage, there is extremely strong evidence to conclude that: Cell sites radio/TV towers and radars are risk factors for:

Cancer across all body organs, especially brain tumour, breast cancer and leukaemia,
Cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack and heart disease,
Neurological effects, including sleep disturbance, learning difficulties, senility, depression and suicide.
Miscarriage, congenital malformation, Sudden Infant Death syndrome, early childhood cancer, especially Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

". . . There is robust evidence that EMR is genotoxic across the RF/MW spectrum, including radiation from radars, radio and TV stations, appliances, cellphones and cellphone base stations. To date [2002] over 50 studies have shown adverse biological or human health effects specifically from cell phone radiation. "The evidence presented here shows that EMR is a Ubiquitous Universal Genotoxic Carcinogen. That is, EMR exposes everyone and causes significant elevation of cancer rates across many body organs, with no safe threshold. This is because of the combination of the DNA damaging biological mechanism of individual cells and the reduction of melatonin through a very sensitive brain interaction resonant process, reducing the cell damage repair rate and increasing the free radical damage rate. "These research results to date clearly show that cell phones and cell phone radiation are a strong risk factor for all of the adverse health effects identified for EMR because they share the same biological mechanisms. The greatest risk is to cell phone users because of the high exposure to their heads and the great sensitivity of brain tissue and brain processes. In the general population the combination of exposure to telecommunication signals, cell cordless phones, cellphone direct and passive exposure, cellphone bases station antennas saturating society, many disease and mortality rates are rising from these sources . . ."

Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Sat, 7 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The problem of conflict of interest & commercial influence in WHO agencies and the need for public interest representationEveryone should read this article, especially the information contained on Page 6 and onward, to see that data showing cancer links has been suppressed, and continues to be hidden from scrutiny. The WHO and ICNIRP are attempting to control the results of the upcoming meeting in Lyon, France. Lawyers should be involved in this, as is it not criminal to hide evidence of harm?"Conclusion: Who represents the public interest? It is acknowledged that in an ever increasingly globalized world the reliance on international organisations to set standards to protect public health is an irrefutable fact of modern life. It is also a fact that international organizations, such as the WHO and its various agencies charged with this task need to be "eternally vigilant" to ensure that their organisations are never co-opted by any industrial sector that would attempt to place their commercial interests above public health. "This paper presents the case that maintaining complete independence from industry vested interests is essential for maintaining scientific objectivity and credibility for WHO affiliated international agencies. This is especially important for the IAEA considering the global public health importance of its Monograph initiative. "In relation to the May 2011 IARC meeting on RF/MW, if industry is allowed to participate in the process at any level, it is essential to balance this in equal measure by also including organizations representing the public interest. In a supposedly democratic society this should be self-evident."

Meter demonstration of RF radiation pulses from PG&E 'smart' meters and cell antenna (Video)

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

First analyser reading: two "Smart Meters" / Second reading: cell antenna - April 22, 2011

Campaign against Mobile Phone Masts (Video)

Thu, 5 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Rowan Anti-Antenna Group- Muswell Hill (U.K.)

Comments on Record from Recent GPC (Green Party of Canada) Workshop

Thu, 5 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Wireless Radiation Safety Council"Be it resolved that human exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and to radio frequency radiation (RFR) should meet or exceed German 2009 standards."

EMF Scientific Workshops - presentation papers 2006 through 2010

Wed, 4 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Smart Networks Summit - (New Zealand, Australia) Energy Networks AssociationThis link is an amazing compendium of papers presented at international conferences on this issue. 2010: The annual ENA EMF Scientific Workshop for 2010 was held at the Jasper Hotel in Melbourne on 23 November. The main address, "Why do kids get leukaemia?" was presented by Professor John Dockerty from the Dunedin School of Medicine in New Zealand.2009: The theme of the workshop was "A new Australian EMF Standard." The main address, An overview of the new ARPANSA EMF Standard, was presented by Colin Roy and Lindsay Martin of ARPANSA, and Andrew Wood of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. 2008: The theme of the workshop was "Standard Setting for Power Frequency EMF." The guest speaker was Professor Andrew Wood of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne and Chairman ARPANSA ELF Standard Working Group. There were nine other presentations on topics related to EMF. 2006: The workshop was well attended by some 62 registrants from industry, government and the public. The theme of the Workshop was "Standard Setting for Power Frequency EMF." The guest speaker was Associate Professor Andrew Wood of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne and Chairman of the ARPANSA Standard Working Group who spoke on EMF Science and the Development of the ARPANSA ELF Standard. There were eight other speakers on topics related to EMF issues.

EMR observance event planning kit - information, strategies, templates

Tue, 3 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Electromagnetic Awareness Month - May, 2011 (U.S.)

Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Overview
How to Promote Awareness
Governor Proclamation Templates
Developing Awareness in Schools
Information Packet: Health Care Provider Education
Other Ideas for Community Awareness
Generic Template for Issuing a Press Release
Awareness Through Media Coverage
EMR Fact Sheet

The mission of MCS America (MCSA) is to propagate medical, legal, and social recognition for multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) as a disorder of organic biological origin induced by toxic environmental insults; to provide support and referral services to the individuals with all illnesses of environmental origin; and to ensure that environmental toxicants are identified, reduced, regulated, and enforced through lobbying for effective legislation.

Smart Meters Focus of Santa Barbara Forum

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Panelists voice concerns about consumer rights, protections and privacy

"National experts led a discussion Thursday night on the dangers of smart meters at a "Get Smart" town hall forum . . .

"The panel said that smart meters, or meters that can record the electricity a household uses by the second, are replacing old electric meters without permission at the user's cost. Southern California Edison has said it plans to install the smart meters throughout the area by 2012 or sooner.

"According to event organizers, the SCE had agreed to send a representative to the forum, but that the company pulled out at the last minute.

"The forum, organized by the Santa Barbara Tea Party and which drew in more than 300 people, featured Supervisor Anthony Farrrington, D-Lake County, Dr. Mark Toney of TURN, Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen; Cindy Sage of Sage Associates, author Orlean Koehle and Joshua Hart of Stop Smart Meters.

"The panel discussed issues ranging from the effects of smart meter installations on constitutional rights, health, privacy, national security and the environment. Much of the panelists' discussion revolved around the implementation and installation of the smart meters without asking for consent. . ."

Interview: Biological Effects of Cell Phones and Wireless Technologies

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Karl Maret, MDKarl Maret, MD is President of the Dove Health Alliance, a nonprofit foundation based in Aptos, California, focused on the creation and promotion of global research and education networks in Energy Medicine. He practices complementary medical modalities including nutrition, functional medicine and energy medicine at the Dove Center for Integral Medicine in Aptos, CA. Trained in both electrical and biomedical engineering before his medical studies in Canada, he also completed a 4 year post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of California San Diego, where he developed all the instrumentation for the successful American Medical Research Expedition to Mt. Everest in 1981. He is a partner in Heart-Mind Communications, currently co-authoring a book on heart wellness. He is a former director of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine and currently serves on the ISSSEEM Wisdom Council. He has presented at many international conferences including annual presentations at the German Society for Energy and Informational Medicine for the last 10 years, and recently has begun educating physician groups specifically on the biological impacts of communication technologies, such as cell phones, wireless technologies and 'smart' meters. He spoke recently at the Healthy Medicine Academy's Cancer Strategies Conference in Phoenix, AZ on "Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer". Here, Dr. Maret is interviewed by Camilla Rees, MBA on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields. He offers especially valuable perspective given he has both an extensive medical background and a background in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering.

Study: Evidence of Health Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation - Dr.Neil Cherry, Lincoln University, New Zealand

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Australian Senate Inquiry into Electromagnetic Radiation - September 8, 2000"To date 53 studies have shown adverse biological or human health effects specifically from cell phone radiation. These research results to date clearly show that cell phones and cell phone radiation are a strong risk factor for all of the adverse health effects identified for EMR because they share the same biological mechanisms. The greatest risk is to cell phone users because of the high exposure to their heads and the great sensitivity of brain tissue and brain processes. DNA damage accelerates cell death in the brain, advancing neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancer. Brain tumour is already an identified risk factor. Cell phones are carried on people's belts and in breast pockets. Hence liver cancer, breast cancer and testicular cancer became probable risk factors. "Altered attention and cognition, as well as the diversion of talking on a phone while driving is a significant risk factor for accidents and fatal accidents. "Some cardiac pacemakers are susceptible to active cell phone signals, recommending keeping cell phones away from hearts and pacemakers. "Because the biological mechanisms are shown and EMR has been observed to significantly increase the following effects, there is extremely strong evidence to conclude that cell phones are a risk factor for breast, liver, testicular and brain cancer. It is also probable that we will observe a very wide range of other effects including cardiac, neurological and reproductive illness and death. Since cell phone radiation cause many cell damages including interference with the brain's EEG and cardiac pace-makers, DNA and chromosome damage, all of these effects will also be caused by cell sites . . ."

Smart Meter? Her Heart's Not in It.

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Susan Foster worries that radio waves from new smart meters may aggravate her heart condition.When a San Diego Gas and Electric technician asked Susan Foster how the company could allay her concerns about smart meters, her reply left him speechless. "Can you get me a new heart?" Foster stood at her front door in her bathrobe one morning last spring, wondering why the utility company had sent an employee out after it had agreed not to install a smart meter on her Rancho Santa Fe home. Foster has a cardiac condition and fears that electromagnetic waves emitted by the devices, which use radio signals to transmit information about customer energy use to utilities -- and which do away with the need to send meter readers -- "could severely compound" her health problems.

Open Letter to Chancellor Merkel, Berlin, from German doctors, re WiMAX auction

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

November, 2006Dear Chancellor, we know that it is very late for our appeal, but not too late: Exercise all your influence and stop the auctioning-off of the WiMAX-Frequencies! "People on the run" - this could be the headline for what is now happening at various places in Germany. Eg. in Oberammergau, where new, extremely low frequency pulsed communications technologies from T-Mobile are being trialled. These also are inducing hitherto healthy people to seek protected areas, because they can no longer endure being in their own home. The Mayor is threatening to turn off the electricity supply to the T-Mobile transmitter, if the operator does not remove this technology again. "In December, the auctioning-off of WiMAX is due to take place, to a broadband wireless communications system in the region of 3.4 -3.6 Giga Hertz with a transmission range of up to 40 kilometres, that is due to be introduced over the whole area of Germany. The regions have already been zoned and it is already in operation in several regions. "With WiMAX, it involves a new type of technology, that, like GSM and UMTS, has not been researched in this form with respect to its long term risks for humans and that is not sufficiently covered with conventional measuring equipment. Although numerous studies indicate GSM and UMTS damage, the population are now to be exposed to a new technology!"

International Congress: Mobile Telephony, Wi-Fi and Wi-Max: are there health risks?

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release - Conference set for June 14, 2011 in RomeA.M.I.C.A. presents a congress in which scientists, lawyers and legislators will make an evaluation of health risks associated to wireless devices and discuss about the regulation of electro smog, at ten years after the anniversary of the Law 36/2001. The Association for Environmental and Chronic Toxic Injury (A.M.I.C.A.) presents the international congress "Mobile Telephony, Wi-Fi and Wi-Max: are there health risks?" that will be held at Palazzo Marini - Sala delle Conferenze, Via del Pozzetto, 158 - Rome (near San Silvestro Sq.) on the 14th June 2011.

Landmark Smart Meter Forum in Santa Barbara on April 28th

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

GET SMART Town Hall Forum - First Smart Meter Forum in Southern CaliforniaWe hope you will come to the Forum. The panelists are some of the best experts on the subject in the country, and, once you hear what they have to say, you will be able to converse with your neighbors and friends confidently about them. (We also have invited the head of Edison's smart meter program.) If you would like to attend our event on 4/28, please RSVP. There is limited seating, and we expect many.

World expert explains link between EMF and human disease, radiation in Ireland 1,000 times higher than recommendation

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. Gerd Oberfeld, April 9, 2011"In Ireland, at present, all references - including the Department of the Environment and the Irish Cancer Society - are to ICNIRP guidelines which are 1,000 times higher and for a short duration only. Nowhere is there reference to the BioInitiative recommendation or to long term exposure. "In a mere six years half of us will become electromagnetically sensitive. A prediction by Salzburg's Dr. Gerd Oberfeld who addressed the Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA) April 9, parallels the prediction by the Royal College of Physicians last year which predicted that half the Irish population will have "some form of cancer" by the year 2025. "Dr. Oberfeld spoke at the Eithne Naylor / Enda Dalton Memorial Lecture on the topic of "Electromagnetic Pollution and Our Environment" sponsored by IDEA. He has practiced environmental medicine with the Office of the Provincial Government of Salzburg Provincial Health Directorate, Department of Health, Hygiene and Environmental Medicine since 1992 and speaker for the Austrian Medical Association on health issues since 1994 . . .""Oberfeld is credited with the policy implemented the city of Salzburg which has maintained the city as having the lowest electromagnetic radiation levels in Europe . . ."

Non-Ionizing and Ionizing Radiation
Five Types of Electromagnetic Frequencies
The Evidence for Causing Disease
Safety Standards: Risky Business or Business Risk
The Latest Hard Science Alzheimer's?
Don't Forget the Other Effects
Good News - Bad News. Are We Using the Ionisphere to Cook?
More Bad News (CFL's)

Parents Against Wi-Fi Gagged by School Board - Peterborough, Ontario

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release - Wireless Radiation Safety Council (WRSC)" . . . A group of concerned parents trying to convince their school Board to remained plugged into the internet with cables, instead of switching on risky microwave transmitters and boosters (WiFi), have been effectively silenced by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. "The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board says the parents may not officially address the Board because their intention is to object to the WiFi system . . ."

PG&E eases stance on CEO package, SmartMeters

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Business Report - California"Mired in multiple controversies, PG&E Corp. on Monday tried to quiet critics on two fronts. "The company reported that its customers won't have to pay for chief executive Peter Darbee's $34.8 million retirement package, widely attacked as lavish after Darbee announced his retirement last week. Instead, the cash will come from PG&E profits. "In addition, the company granted a temporary reprieve to people who don't want the new SmartMeters from Pacific Gas and Electric Co., PG&E Corp.'s subsidiary. Customers can now keep their old electricity and gas meters until state regulators approve a SmartMeter opt-out plan later this year, a company spokesman said Monday. "Neither step will mend PG&E's strained relations with the public or politicians. But some of the company's most vocal critics said on Monday that they were pleased to see PG&E management take complaints seriously . . . "The delay, however, won't satisfy SmartMeter opponents. They consider PG&E's proposed opt-out plan inadequate, because people who get their transmitters turned off will still be exposed to radiation from SmartMeters at nearby homes. Delaying installation doesn't help, said Joshua Hart, with the group Stop Smart Meters. "The only thing that is going to get us toward a solution is to retain the analog meters and allow people who have been sickened by the SmartMeters to get their analog meters returned," Hart said."

Audio Archives- Interviews with experts

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King Jr.

Thomas M. Rau, MD Medical Director Paracelsus Clinic, Switzerland.
Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD Director, Klinghardt Academy of Neurobiology Expert in the health consequences of electromagnetic fields and leading educator of physicians.
Sam Milham, MD, MPH Pioneer in studying electromagnetic factors in health and author of "Dirty Electricity: Electrification and the Diseases of Civilization."
Karl Maret, MD President, Dove Health Alliance Physician and Electrical and BioMedical Engineer
Olle Johansson, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Professor, Royal Institute of Technology; Authored Bioinitiative Report's section on EMF and the immune system.
Jerry L. Phillips, PhD Director of the Science Learning Center University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Henry Lai, PhD Research Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington.
B. Blake Levitt Award-winning science journalist and Author, Electromagnetic Fields, A Consumer's Guide To The Issues And How To Protect Ourselves, the classic book in this field. Member, Bioelectromagnetics Society.
Magda Havas, PhD Associate Professor, Environment & Resource Studies, Trent University, Canada. Expert in radiofrequency radiation, electromagnetic fields, dirty electricity and ground current.
Whitney North Seymour, Jr., Esq. Retired Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; Former New York State Senator & United States Attorney, Southern District of NY Co-Founder, Natural Resources Defense Council
Lloyd Morgan, B.Sc. Lead Author, "Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern, Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone" Member, International EMF Collaborative Scientist and Member, Bioelectromagnetics Society Senior Fellow, Environmental Health Trust Brain Tumor Survivor
Vicki Warren, BSEE, CIE, CERSA, BBEC Past Executive Director, Institute for Bau Biology & Ecology
Lawrence J. Gust, Electrical Engineer, BBEC & MBA Board President, Institute for Bau Biology & Ecology

CBS 5 Investigates Smart Meter Complaints (Video)

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

PG&E's rate increases and communication failures - February, 2010

VIDEO and media report: Kids' eyes offer earliest signs of heart disease

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Australian study"A groundbreaking new study finds that children who spend the most time watching television or playing video games instead of exercising have narrower arteries in the back of their eyes -- an early indication that the kids are on the road to heart disease. "The study is the first of its kind, using changes in the arteries in the retina as a marker of blood-pressure changes that could signal heart trouble down the road. "The researchers from the University of Sydney looked at nearly 1,500 children six and seven years old. They had their parents answer a 193-item questionnaire, reporting the number of hours spent each week in indoor and outdoor physical activity, as well as on sedentary activity such as watching television, video games, computer time and reading. The researchers then took digital photographs of the backs of children's eyes and calculated the average narrowing in the vessels . . ."

MY LEGAL RIGHT: Smart Meter SIGN

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

directions for a home-made sign to laminate and displayAlso available: My Democratic Right and My Human RightI have already sent my letter to B.C. Hydro registering my unwillingness to have a wireless "Smart Meter" mounted on my property. I have obtained a doctor's note recommending that RF devices are detrimental to my health, and counterproductive to existing health conditions. As well, I have placed a sign directly on my existing meter stating my wish to keep it, and the reasons why.Now, in anticipation of the continuing likelihood of B.C. Hydro's (Corix) Smart Meter installer's upcoming visit, I have also made a 'NO SMART METER" sign (attached) for my front lawn. My local Staples has laminated two copies of my home-made sign in #10 weight, stiff and sturdy, and suitable for rain, wind, sleet and sun . . . Not large, but bright and clear. $2.69 for each 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. I have cut the longer side of a three-sided wire coat hanger in half, bending the resulting two sides downward to form "legs," leaving the hook at the top. I have taped the top hook of the transformed coat hanger securely to the back of one of the laminated sheets and then matched up the second laminated sheet with the first, using strapping tape to seal the edges. I now have a two-sided sign that makes my feelings obvious enough to register my wishes with the installer, and with anyone else walking along my street. There is also a reference to this website as a source of information. I plan to talk to neighbours and friends and encourage them to learn more about the issue, before approaching my local City Council with information. It's a good start! The sign can be copied and displayed in other inventive ways. A larger sign would be better, but more expensive and would require an alternate plan. . . Staples tells me that they laminate sheets larger than 8 1/2 x 14 at a cost of $2.49 per square foot.

Daniel Hirsch: Smart Meters 100x Radiation Exposure of a Cell Phone

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

U.S. interview, applicable to CanadaDan Hirsch is an expert on Nuclear Policy at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is also President of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, a non-profit nuclear policy organization, founded in 1970, which focuses on issues of nuclear safety, waste disposal, proliferation, and disarmament. Mr. Hirsch has been active in addressing the contamination at the Santa Susana field laboratory, site of a partial meltdown just north of Los Angeles, shutting down the Hanford nuclear reactor. He has also been active in stopping U.S. plutonium production and ending the dumping of radioactive waste into the oceans, improving nuclear-plant security against terrorism, and stopping the space nuclear component of the missile defense program. Mr. Hirsch reviewed the report on smart meters and health requested by the state legislature and found some very disturbing anomalies. Credible and timely information.

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Chinese Put Cancer of the Parotid Gland on Center Stage

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Beijing study - cell phone use and epithelial parotid gland malignanciesChinese researchers in Beijing are seeing some of the highest rates of cancer ever reported in any cell phone study. They have found that long-term, heavy users have rates of malignant parotid gland tumors that are seven to 13 times higher than might otherwise be expected.

Saanich School District's Revised Computer Policies as of April, 2011

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Final Amendments - Use of Technology and Information SystemsSaanich School District has taken a brave and pro-active step in its approach to Wi-Fi and other wireless devices. It has moved to recognize the insufficiencies in Health Canada's Safety Code 6, and act on the Precautionary Principle to put in place a policy favouring wired connections in schools.This final copy of the "Use of Technology and Information Systems" from the Policy Development Committee of School District #63, Saanich, B.C. contains their newly revised Wi-Fi policy. This policy resulted from thoughtful examination of requests and information submitted by parents, trustees, administrators and other community members. Evident is a collective willingness to consider alternatives to wireless Internet, particularly in elementary schools, and to work together to reach positive compromises that take into account the importance of access to Internet within safer parameters. In particular, note pages 10, 11 and 14, which have specific reference to the newly adopted and adapted Wi-Fi policy.

Risk for companies in rise of consumer IT

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The National Conversation - Business at The NationalHealth experts increasingly fear the growing use of consumer electronics gadgets is causing harm, but the damage manufacturers face may be in court. ". . . Many students have become dependent on devices. Deprived of access to social-networking sites such as Facebook, students found it hard to connect with friends or even find their way around without the help of smartphone applications using the satellite-based global positioning system. For some, reading the time on an ordinary analogue clock was difficult . . ."But even fears of long-term psychological damage pale beside research indicating users of mobile phones may be increasing their chances of developing brain cancer. This compounds long-standing fears concerning the levels of electromagnetic radiation generated by the millions of mobile phone masts sprouting in towns, cities and villages across the world. . . ."

Papal Cancer - Vatican Radio to Blame?

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"Well yes says the supreme court of Italy. For all of you Catholic readers, calm down, as far as I know the Pope is just fine. It is not like he calls me everyday to say hi, and I am still waiting for a ride in the Pope Mobile, but for the most part the Pope and I get along just fine, and he is [in] great health. "Of course we do have our spats, we don't see eye to eye on contraception, and he gets a little surly when you bring up the subject of gay marriage. Rumor has it that he so incensed that he no longer watches the Ellen DeGeneres program (and I know that was one of his favorites). So what is the scoop on cancer?"

Wireless Radiation Safety Council - Avis aux medias OK

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Le Conseil pour des Radiations Sans-fil Securitaires ( CRSS) interpelle les chefs des partis federaux sur les risques de l'exposition aux radiations micro-ondes des technologies sans fil."Lundi 18 avril 2011, Queen's Park, Le Conseil pour des Radiations Sans-fil Securitaires interpelle les dirigeants federaux sur les risques sanitaires de la technologie sans fil en affichant un premier bulletin de rendement pour chacun des cinq principaux partis politiques federaux . . ."

Wireless Radiation Safety Council to challenge Federal leaders on wireless health risks

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Mothers of children affected by wireless fear for the health and safety of their children will speakTORONTO, April 17 /CNW/ - On Monday, April 18, 2011 at Queen's Park the Wireless Radiation Safety Council (WRSC) will challenge the Federal leaders on wireless health risks in releasing its first-ever Report Card on five major federal political parties.Mothers of children affected by wireless radiation in public and private schools will describe why they fear the health and safety of their children is being compromised.Members of the WRSC also will outline a series of questions posed in open letters to the leaders of the five major federal political parties.WRSC members also will discuss their creative proposals for moving forward after the May 2nd Federal Election, including an innovative suggestion to use mirror legislation to address the gaps and overlaps that plague the current regulatory system.

WRSC - Statement by Kathy McDermid, occupational therapist and parent, Peterborough, Ontario

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Wireless Radiation Safety Council"My name is Kathy McDermid, and I am the parent of two children who attend James Strath P. S. in Peterborough. I am here to speak to the fact that our school board is committing grave ethical transgressions in implementing its plan to install wireless internet, or Wi-Fi, in its schools. "I am not a doctor or a scientist, although I am a health care professional. I believe my professional background enables me to speak with some knowledge about medical ethics. Medical ethics are a set of principles that guide the practice of medicine and medical research. It is a vast field, which rests on three pillars: The Precautionary Principle, Informed Consent, and Transparency. "The precautionary principle is a core value of the health sciences - we recognize it most readily as part of the doctors' Hippocratic Oath, which states "First, do no harm." " . . . These are not the school board's children we are talking about. They are MINE. The school board is quite literally planning to do unauthorized, unethical research - without transparency, without consent, and completely ignoring the precautionary principle - on my children, and on every other child who attends one of its schools. The school board DOES NOT have the right to experiment on my children. It DOES NOT have the right to make decisions that may affect my children's health, now and in the future. And it DOES NOT have the right to decide whether the level of risk associated with prolonged Wi-Fi exposure is acceptable for my children. Only I have that right. And I say "NO."

Letter re Wi-Fi in Schools from Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

TO: Chairman and Trustees of Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board Education Centre"The heart is a delicate and complex electromagnetic organ that can be adversely affected by exogenous signals from wireless technology and microwave radiation. For this reason it is unwise to expose students and teachers to Wi-Fi radiation for internet access, especially when safer alternative wired options are available . . ."

Attachment #1: Use of Wireless Technology

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Report to the Chairperson and Members of the Business and Facilities Standing Committee from John Dance, Superintendent of Education, February 9, 2011". . . The importance of the use of technology in our schools is significant in our agenda to advance student learning. It is also important for the SCDSB to provide safe and supportive environments for all of our students, our staff and our community. The report from Dr. Muc reinforces that the wireless technology in use in the SCDSB is safe."

Attachment #2: Evaluation of RF and Microwave Levels at Mountainview Elementary School and Collingwood Collegiate Institute, Collingwood Ontario

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. A.M Muc, Radiation Health and Safety Consulting, November 25, 2010"Concerns about radiofrequency (RF) and microwave health and safety issues for students at Mountainview Elementary School (MES), Collingwood, Ontario, were raised with the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) as it began to roll out wireless local area network (LAN also called WiFi) internet access services. The concerns focus on wireless routers used to provide connections to the Internet for computers on school property and about the exposure of computer (particularly laptop) users, especially children and young adults . . ."

Open Letter: Wi-Fi in Schools is both Negligent and Dangerous.

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Dr. Magda Havas, B.Sc., Ph.D. ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE STUDIES PROGRAMOpen Letter: WiFi in Schools is both Negligent and Dangerous. "Chairperson and Trustees, I write this open letter to bring your attention to the potential harm you may be doing to both students and staff at schools in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board because of your eager rush to install wireless internet access. By your actions, you will expose young children (and their teachers) to microwave radiation for 6 hours each school day, 5 days a week, for 40 weeks each year. This exposure will be 1200 hours each year, year after year. Never in history have children been exposed to such high levels of microwave radiation. No studies have tested either the short-term or long-term effects of this microwave exposure on children. Indeed, if I wanted to conduct such human experiments at Trent University, they would be deemed unethical and I would be denied permission to proceed!. . ."

FULL BioInitiative Report - Released August 31, 2007

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF) "The Organizing Committee thanks the participants of the BioIniative Working Group for their integrity and intellectual courage in dealing with this controversial and important topic; and for devoting the time and energy to produce their chapters. The information and conclusions in each chapter are the responsibilities of the authors of that chapter. "The Group has produced what the authors hope will be a benchmark for good science and public health policy planning. It documents bioeffects, adverse health effects and public health conclusions about impacts of non-ionizing radiation (electromagnetic fields including extremely-low frequency ELF-EMF and radiofrequency/microwave or RF-EMF fields). "Societal decisions about this body of science have global implications. Good public health policy depends on acting soon enough, but not without cause, and with enough information to guide intelligent actions. To a great degree, it is the definition of the standard of evidence used to judge the scientific reports that shapes this debate. Disagreement about when the evidence is sufficient to take action has more to do with the outcome of various reviews and standard-setting proceedings than any other single factor. Whatever "standard of evidence" is selected to assess the strength of the science will deeply influence the outcome of decisions on public policy. "We are at a critical juncture in this world-wide debate. The answers lie not only in the various branches of science; but necessarily depend on the involvement of public health and policy professionals, the regulatory, legal and environmental protection sectors, and the public sector. "This has been a long-term collaboration of international scientists employing a multi-disciplinary approach to problem assessment and solving. Our work has necessarily relied on tools and approaches across the physical, biological and engineering sciences; and those of the environmental scientist and public health professional. Only when taken together can we see the whole and begin to take steps that can prevent possible harm and protect future generations. . . "

DEADLINE PAST: For Distribution: KEEP PHONES GREEN & WIRED

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Information and talking points to help you write your own personal comment to the FCC to preserve landline telephone serviceDeadline for letters and submissions passed April 17"The FCC proposal to eliminate many telephone landlines would profoundly impact the nation. Citizens needed much more opportunity to discuss the issue and create regulations that protect our population and our environment as new technologies are introduced to our society. . . "Citizens must be allowed the choice to keep landline phones. Landlines are safe, secure, reliable and affordable. Mobile phones have not been proven safe. "Citizens have the right to choose a landline phone. We have the right to opt out of wireless devices. If the FCC's proposal passes, we will be denied the right to choose a landline . . . "

Questions for MP's from the Wireless Communication Safety Council

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Specific questions intended to identify political candidates supportive or unsupportive of efforts to change Federal policy regarding telecommunication industry issuesWe will be asking the leaders of the parties to respond, and to include these issues in their platforms. As responses are received, website report cards for each party will reflect positions taken: 1. Parental Rights to Protect Children 2. Employee's Right to Protect Self 3. Public Health Surveillance System 4. Electrical Sensitivity or Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) 5. Municipalities' Constitutional Powers 6. Safety Code 6 7. Corporate Manslaughter ActFor updates or input, find link to Wireless Communication Safety Council on this website under "Links".

BWCA cellphone tower lawsuit heads to trial

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

AT&T MinneapolisAn environmental group is going to court to try to block AT&T's plan to build a 450-foot cellphone tower near the edge of the BWCA wilderness area on the Minnesota border with Ontario. "When campers in the remote Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness look up on a clear night, they expect to see spectacular starry skies, the Milky Way, maybe even some meteors or the Northern Lights. They don't expect to see a flashing red light from the top of a cellphone tower. "That's why an environmental group is going to court Monday to try to block AT&T's plan to build a 450-foot tower near the edge of the pristine wilderness area on Minnesota's border with Ontario. "The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness says the flashing lights would be visible from several lakes and waterways within the BWCA. It also says the tower would endanger birds ranging from eagles to warblers. The group says AT&T's own study shows the company could provide nearly as much coverage with a 199-foot tower, or two smaller towers, that wouldn't despoil the wilderness experience. "AT&T Mobility LLC counters that one tall tower would do the best job of extending cellphone service to residents and cabins east of the gateway town of Ely and allowing paddlers in remote areas to call for help in emergencies. "We see this as a test case between nature and technology and how we're going to balance that," said Paul Danicic, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. He said it should be possible to both protect the wilderness and meet the needs of people who live on the edge of it . . ."

PRESS RELEASE: Wireless Radiation Safety Council Gives Failing Grade to Harper Conservatives

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Toronto: to be announced at a public lecture on 21st Century Education, The Hazards of a Wireless School"The Harper Conservatives took home an F for failing to protect children`s health, the Wireless Radiation Safety Council announced today . . . "The Wireless Radiation Safety Council is our national coalition, and it will take all of us to make the difference we all want . . ."

Maine Public Utilities Commission rejects complaint against CMP 'smart' electric meters (U.S.A.)

Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Legislative panel considers bills regulating new metersAUGUSTA -- "The Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday rejected a complaint that sought reconsideration of the commission's 2010 approval of Central Maine Power Co.'s "smart" electric meter program./ "The complaint was one of seven before the commission that oppose the CMP program. The others are still pending./ "At the Statehouse, meanwhile, two bills before the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy would regulate the way the new meters are rolled out to customers."The PUC said in its ruling that "there is nothing in law that would compel the Commission to expend the substantial amount of resources that would be necessary to create a forum for the debate and resolution of issues regarding the health impacts of wireless smart meters or to find another body to conduct such an investigation, and we decline to do so."

Smart Meter Opt-Out

Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Letter from Cindy Sage to the California Public Utilities Commission - April 5, 2011 "The proposal by PG&E that responds to consumer demand for wireless smart meter opt-out is cynical, callous and greedy. I strenuously object to the proposed fees to opt-out. "Consumers should not have to pay PG&E back for its failed corporate strategy to implement smart meters ($2.2 billion and growing). Nor should consumers who now understand, no thanks to PG&E's propaganda campaign, that smart meters can violate FCC public safety standards and can cause severe health problems, excessive billing charges, risk personal information, endanger people with medical and metal implants, and make portions of private property off-limits for living . . ."

Environmental Health Trust Charges Federal Communications Commission with Stonewalling Freedom Of Information Act Request

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"Democracy is imperiled when the government withholds information from the public about our basic health and safety." Washington DC - April 6, 2011L. Lloyd Morgan, Senior Research Fellow for EHT, said, "It would appear that the FCC does not want to disclose its possible involvement with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA). "Environmental Health Trust (EHT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and controlling environmental health hazards, has filed an appeal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the FCC's refusal to disclose documents solicited by EHT on January 5, 2011 under the Freedom Of Information Act. The appeal was filed on EHT's behalf by the Washington, DC-based law firm Swankin & Turner. "In September 2009, the FCC abruptly removed advice on its website regarding the purchase of lower-SAR (specific absorption rate) cell phones. Additionally, although the FCC site continued to list steps that individuals can take to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation, the FCC began at this time to preface these tips with the following disclaimer: "The FCC does not endorse the need for these practices..." Subsequently, EHT filed a formal request to the FCC for copies of all correspondence leading to these changes to its website. However, the FCC did not supply the requested information . . ."

Cell Phones - Danger Calling?

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Green American - January, 2011"Read on before you dismiss the warnings about cell phones. There's real cause for concern behind the industry smokescreen."This is the first time I've written an introduction to one of our Green American features addressed directly to you, our members. I've always been content to let the subjects of our articles do most of the talking. But when it comes to cell phones, I don't want to just dole out research. If I could, I'd knock on each of your doors and ask you to take care with how you're using these devices. "Don't get me wrong. I like cell phones . . . "

A New Silent Spring?
Plant Doubt, Make More Money
A Leading Scientist Answers
Your Questions (and Doubts)
About Cell Phone Hazards
11 Ways to Protect Yourself
Kucinich to Introduce Cell Phone Bill
Who's Most At Risk?
A Call for Corporate Responsibility
Why It's Vital to Recycle That Cell Phone

Cell Phone Risk Flyer - Children and Adolescents

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Austrian Medical AssociationFrom "Physicians for a Healthy Environment" - an excellent brochure/flyer to download and distribute. Prints well back-to-back if set for horizontal, legal-sized paper, at 100% size. Trimming the sides slightly works perfectly for folding.

Increasing melanoma - too many skin damages or too few repairs?

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Swedish Research Summary: Orjan Hallberg, Olle Johansson - April, 2011"Skin melanoma is increasing since a long time in many Western countries. The object of this project was to apply modern problem solving theory to search for roots and causes of this increase. Increasing cancer rates can be due to too many cell damages or to too few repairs. So far, it has been assumed that the melanoma epidemic mainly is caused by increasing sun tanning habits. In order to explore this problem in more detail, we used cancer statistics from several countries over time and space. Detailed analysis of data obtained and a model study to evaluate the effects from increased damages or decreased repairs clearly indicate that the main reason behind the melanoma problem is a disturbed immune system. The possibility to introduce efficient corrective actions is apparent . . . "Conclusions: Based on the findings, facts and tests of hypotheses presented in this review, the main conclusion is that the melanoma epidemic is a result of the modern man-made environment that forces us to live and sleep in invisible but still unhealthy electromagnetic smog. There are many ways to improve the situation, both by measures taken in the home and by the society. But we need to stand up against the strong economic interests that rather want us to continue buying expensive spring beds, new mobile phones, and layers of sun cream over the whole body. The medical industry has no interest in reduced needs for cancer treatment and medications, and the various cancer foundations will support research on cancer treatment and medicines, but never support cancer prevention research, what so ever."

New Critical Problem with 'Smart' Meters: The Switching-Power Mode Supply (SPMS)

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PDT

new insights and advice for PG&E"Just when you thought it was safe to opt-out, ironically, now that PG&E is offering to disable the wireless RF function (for a hefty price) in their smart meters, we find that there's an another extremely critical problem with the meters. "Just when you thought you had mastered all the esoteric acronyms, and all the problems with 'smart' meters, here's one more: Switching-Mode Power Supply or SMPS. This new element in the 'smart' meter controversy deserves immediate full official and public attention. "In our on-going investigation into why so-called 'smart' meters being installed by PG&E against rising public opposition are causing so many people to be sick, and so many problems with other electric and electronic equipment, we have been fortunate to obtain the advice of electrical engineers . . ."

Microwave radiation dangers in your home (Video)

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Report and practical demonstration of Wi-Fi devices - Magda Havas October, 2010

Google Fiber: Palo Alto loses out to Kansas City

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Midwest community to get ultra high-speed Internet project instead of Silicon ValleyGoogle is funding Fibre Optic to a city which includes the schools - investing the money in the right place with fibre optic instead of the wrong place with wireless. Downloads that normally take over twenty minutes happen in five seconds or less when hardwired on fibre optic. This is the kind of technological support best for schools. "A Midwest city has beaten out all Silicon Valley contenders, including Palo Alto, to become Google's first fiber-optics-wired city, executives announced on Wednesday (March 30). "Kansas City, with a population of 145,786, was chosen out of 1,100 cities that applied in 2010 for the "Google Fiber for Communities" project, sponsored by the Mountain View tech giant. "The ultra high-speed fiber-to-the-home connections will provide Internet access at 100 times faster than typical broadband services, the company said. Fiber transmits light over fiber-optic cable -- a strand of glass as thin as a hair -- to send and receive data. It is far faster than electric signals sent over metal wires. "Palo Alto officials and technophiles aggressively wooed Google, creating a video and deluging the company with e-mail in support of bringing fiber to Palo Alto. The city sent a letter to the company last month seeking to further define its history and connections with Google in a last-ditch bid for the project. "But in the end, less tech-connected Kansas City won out . . ."

Wi-Fi in Schools FAQ

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Frequently Asked Questions (updated November 21, 2011)

1. What are the official warnings?
2. What are other countries doing?
3. What does a Precautionary Approach look like?
4. Is Wi-Fi safer than cell phone use?
5. Wi-Fi has been around for a few years - why haven't we seen a problem?
6. What do insurance companies say?
7. Should there be an Informed Consent procedure?
8. Do we need Wi-Fi to prepare children for the 21st century?
9. What can we do?

Print some up and keep them with you as you go about your day - Drop them off in health stores, schools, medical offices - everywhere you can. They are handy and easy to give to people on a regular basis.

PG&E unveils 'opt-out' plan for its controversial SmartMeter program (U.S.)

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Opting out of PG&E's SmartMeter program could come at a high price"After months of controversy, PG&E on Thursday unveiled an opt-out plan for its SmartMeter program that further enraged its critics, who said its high fees would punish the customers it was designed to help. "Barely meeting a deadline set by the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E released a plan that would give customers the option of having the wireless portion of the device turned off but force them to pay hundreds of dollars for the privilege. . ."

Maine State Representative Andrea Boland re-introduces bill requiring warning labels on cell phones with focus on non-thermal effects

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Press Release"The Children's Wireless Protection Act is calling for warning labels on cell phones, and an advisory notice to be posted by all cell phone retailers, warning users of the potential health hazards associated with cells phones and how to use them more safely."

Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Research study- Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Psychology and Human Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge/Harvard (December 2009)"When we judge an action as morally right or wrong, we rely on our capacity to infer the actor's mental states (e.g., beliefs, intentions). Here, we test the hypothesis that the right temporoparietal junction (RTPJ), an area involved in mental state reasoning, is necessary for making moral judgments. In two experiments, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to disrupt neural activity in the RTPJ transiently before moral judgment (experiment 1, offline stimulation) and during moral judgment (experiment 2, online stimulation). In both experiments, TMS to the RTPJ led participants to rely less on the actor's mental states. A particularly striking effect occurred for attempted harms (e.g., actors who intended but failed to do harm): Relative to TMS to a control site, TMS to the RTPJ caused participants to judge attempted harms as less morally forbidden and more morally permissible. Thus, interfering with activity in the RTPJ disrupts the capacity to use mental states in moral judgment, especially in the case of attempted harms . . ."

Trial Lawyers Gear Up for Attack on Cell Phone Industry

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Corporate Crime ReporterSo far, there have been only a handful of lawsuits. Lawsuits alleging personal injury - primarily brain cancers - from cell phone radiation.There are maybe a dozen or so cases pending in DC Superior Court. And studies on health effects from cell phone radiation are all over the board.But the trial lawyers are preparing to significantly ramp up cell phone litigation.Ever heard of the Cell Phone Radiation Litigation Group? No?That's because it was just set up under the auspices of the American Association for Justice - the trial lawyers trade group.

What they're covering up in Fukushima- Broadcast Interview Japan- Hirose Takashi

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident and the State of the MediaHirose Takashi has written a whole shelf full of books, mostly on the nuclear power industry and the military- industrial complex. Probably his best known book is Nuclear Power Plants for Tokyo in which he took the logic of the nuke promoters to its logical conclusion: if you are so sure that they're safe, why not build them in the center of the city, instead of hundreds of miles away where you lose half the electricity in the wires? He did the TV interview that is partly translated below somewhat against his present impulses . . . he told me that while it made sense to oppose nuclear power back then, now that the disaster has begun he would just as soon remain silent, but the lies they are telling on the radio and TV are so gross that he cannot remain silent. . . ." Douglas Lummis

Autoimmune Process after Long-Term Low-Level Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields - Russia

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Radiobiology and Radioecology - Research findings 2009/10 Parts 1,2,3,4,5Mobile Communications and Changes in Electromagnetic Conditions for the Population. Need for additional substantiation of existing Hygienic StandardsPart I Mobile Communications and Changes in Electromagnetic Conditions for the Population. Need for Additional Substantiation of Existing Hygienic StandardsAbstract--Mobile communications provides a new source of electromagnetic exposure for almost the whole population of Russia. For the first time in the history of civilization, the brain of mobile phone users is exposed to localized radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). Base stations are a factor in the exposure of the population. Existing standards for limiting exposure do not account for the role of base stations as a source of EMF and cannot guarantee the absence of adverse health effects. It has become necessary to obtain reliable information to expand databases for the development of new standards. As recommended by the World Health Organization, an additional experiment is performed under the supervision of foreign experts, which shows changes in autoimmune status in rats after long-term low-level RF EMF exposure with an incident power of 500 uW/cm2. Part 2 General Scheme and Conditions of the Experiment. Development of the RF Exposure Conditions Complying with the Experimental Tasks. Status of Animals during Long-Term Exposure.Abstract--The paper describes the conditions for handling and exposure to radiation of the experimental animals (Wistar rats) and the methods of statistical processing of the obtained data, which were used to determine the effect of long-term exposure of the animals to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (2450 MHz) of nonthermal intensity (500 uW/cm2) on autoimmune processes; the study was performed under the auspices of the World Health Organization. Part 3 The Effect of Long-Term Nonthermal RF EMF Exposure on Complement-Fixation Antibodies against Homologenous Tissue Abstract--The effect of long-term nonthermal EMF exposure of 2450 MHz (500 uW/cm2) on the level of antibodies against brain and liver tissues is studied on rats by the complement-fixation test (CFT) in the cold. It is found that a statistically significant increase in the level of antibodies against aqueous extracts of brain and liver tissues in blood serum is detected only on the 14th day after exposure is ended. Part 4 Oxidative Intracellular Stress Response to the Long-Term Rat Exposure to Nonthermal RF EMF Abstract--Forty eight male Wistar rats with initial weight of 200-220 g were exposed to EMF of 2450 MHz frequency and 500 uW/cm2 intensity for 7 h daily over a period of 30 days. On the seventh and 14th days after completion of exposure to the long-term EMF, enzyme immunoassay revealed a significant increase in the amount of specific antibodies of the IgM and IgG classes against the compounds yielded by interaction of amino acids with nitric oxide and its derivatives; tryptophan metabolites; azelaic acid; small-chain fatty acids; small-chain hydroxylated fatty acids; and palmitic, myristic, and oleic acids. Part 5 Study of the Influence of Blood Serum from Rats Exposed to Low-Level Electromagnetic Fields on Pregnancy and Fetal and Offspring Development Abstract--The work evaluates the possible adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal and offspring development arising from the injection of blood serum from rats exposed to microwaves at a power density of 500 uW/cm2 into intact female rats. The study is performed on 59 pregnant Wistar rats. Intrauterine mortality, embryo and fetal body weights, and placenta weight are used for the evaluation of embryo and fetal development. Generally accepted integral and specific parameters are used for the evaluation of the postnatal development of offspring during the first 30 days of life. It is shown that injection of blood serum from rats subjected to long-term RF exposure at 500 uW/cm2 into intact rats on the tenth day of pregnancy results in adverse effects on fetal and offspring development. Higher total in utero and postnatal mortality, as well as delayed offspring development, are recorded.

Oregon considers cellphone radiation label

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Washington Post - February 8, 2011"Oregon state Sen. Chip Shields on Monday introduced a bill that would require retailers to put warning labels on cellphones and packaging of wireless devices, advising consumers of possible risks associated with radio frequency exposure. "Shields, a Democrat who represents parts of Portland, introduced the legislation along with five other Democratic and Republican state lawmakers, amid growing concern that long-term exposure to cellphones could lead to health problems, including cancer, particularly among youth and children. San Francisco has adopted the nation's first ordinance requiring labeling of radiation data at retail stores -- a rule the wireless industry has fought with a lawsuit against the city . . . "The scientific consensus from these impartial health organizations is that there are no negative health effects from consumer use of wireless devices," said John Walls, CTIA's vice president of communications. "Warning labels would mislead consumers suggesting that wireless devices are not safe which contradicts the consensus of the leading federal and international health organizations." "The CTIA has successfully fought legislation in California and Maine over the past year, sending lobbyists to speak at public forums against warning labels. Apple, AT&T, Verizon and the CTIA have also hired locally based lobbyists to fight the legislation that could curb consumers' appetites for cellphones."

Cell Phone Proposal Makes its Way to Lawmakers - Oregon (Video)

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Warning Labels - Oregon News Bill (February, 2011)

Is Cell Phone Radiation Weakening the Brain?

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Environmental Health Trust"Our brains are protected by a natural protective layer that prevents it from absorbing harmful chemicals. As with almost all barriers, it is not 100% fail-safe."More than three decades ago, Allan H. Frey, working on an Office of Naval Research contract, discovered that microwave radiation-just like that now produced by cell phones-- relaxes the membrane around the brain . . . "Hearing about this phenomenon, two decades ago, Leif Salford, a neurosurgeon in Sweden, was spurred to ask two questions: 1. Could radio frequency exposure push chemotherapy into the brains of people with brain cancer? 2. How does cell phone exposure to the brain affect healthy, normal people around the world today who are regularly using cell phones?"

Chemical Castration - BPA, Pthalates, Pesticides - in bottles, cans, food, toys, receipts, etc. (Video)

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

video accessible in Canada only - January 2011

Dublin Declaration on Research into Health Effects of Non-Ionizing Radiation

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Alliance for Irish Radiation Protection"The Alliance for Irish Radiation Protection affirms the need of independent and fully financed research into the health effects of modern, man-made non-ionizing electromagnetic technology. "We assert that there are dangers attached to the use of this technology which are not being addressed. "Further, we assert that researchers are being silenced while others are being funded with the outcome of their research anticipated before the research commences . . ."Contrary to any sensible use of science, important and beneficial research bringing awareness about the dangers of electro magnetic radiation, is being suppressed by academic institutions.

Bordeaux teaches female MD lesson on International Women's Day: Athens and Karolinska play the same game on men

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

by John Weigel"There are few women on the planet equal to Dr. Annie Sasco, multiple degree-holding doctor, lecturer, humanitarian and mother. "For all her dedication, expertise and care for cancer and HIV sufferers, on International Women's Day, her offices were taken from her by the administration at the University of Bordeaux. Her offense? She participated in a conference before Canada's House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) a year ago outlining the dangers of low level electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, masts and wi-fi. Her crime was to offer words of support to those opposed to the proliferation of new technology without adequate regulations, warnings and safeguards. "Dr. Sasco's academic credentials are impeccable. Her medical degree (with honours) was followed by two masters degrees from Harvard where she also acquired a doctorate in Public Health in the field of Epidemiology. Ten years later in 1996 she received the highest university research degree in France researching the epidemiology for cancer prevention. It was precisely because of her world-wide reputation that the Next-up organization in France recommended her when Canadian conference organizers scoured the globe for experts to testify . . ."

The Problems with Smart Grids: Dumb and Dangerous

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

B. Blake Levitt and Chellis Glendinning"How is it that so many intelligent, inside-the-beltway environmentalists are buying into an eco-health-safety-finance debacle with the potential to increase energy consumption, endanger the environment, harm public health, diminish privacy, make the national utility grid more insecure, cause job losses, and make energy markets more speculative?"Answer: by not doing their homework."Welcome to the Smart Grid -- a government-funded money machine capable of intruding into every aspect of our lives. Smart Grid technologies -- initially funded to the tune of $3.4 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and slated to cost $11 billion through 2011 -- are enough to make even die-hard liberals demand a claw back of misspent tax dollars."On the surface, Smart Grids sound 'green' -- with promises of saving energy, creating new power-line corridors run on wind and solar, way-stations to power-up electric vehicles, energy-efficient upgrades to an aging power infrastructure, and real-time customer knowledge of electricity use . . ."

IARC Welcomes Industry to RF-Cancer Review

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

International Agency for Research on Cancer: Meeting May 24 - 31"The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has invited three industry operatives to sit in on its weeklong assessment of the cancer risks associated with exposure to wireless radiation and other sources of RF/microwave radiation. Representatives from CTIA, the Wireless Association, the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF) and the GSM Association will all be allowed to attend the IARC review. The meeting will be held in Lyon, France, May 24-31. "Two of the three, MMF's Joe Elder and CTIA's Mays Swicord used to work for Motorola's RF/MW research group in Florida. Jack Rowley will be there on behalf of the GSM trade group. The only other observers at the meeting will be Claire Marrant of France's Leon Berard Centre and Robert Nuttall of the Canadian Cancer Society."By the end of the meeting, IARC's invited participants will decide whether RF/MW radiation should be designated a possible or probable human carcinogen, or whether there isn't enough evidence to reach a conclusion. It is unlikely that RF/MW radiation will be designated as either a known human cancer agent or as cancer safe, the other two IARC classifications. The IARC panel will later issue a Monograph to explain the basis for its decision." Similar to having the tobacco industry decide if tobacco causes cancer, or the asbestos industry determine the safety of asbestos?

Doctors W.A.R.N.

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Doctors Wireless Radiation Network: Santa Fe, New Mexico"We, the undersigned Santa Fe Health Care Professionals, members of Doctors Wireless and Radiation Network (W.A.R.N.) have stepped forward because it is clear the Santa Fe community is unaware that EMR (electromagnetic radiation) issues are not being addressed by the Santa Fe City Council and the City Attorney staff. We would like to inform the community that there are known safety issues with exposure to wireless and cell tower radiation, which cannot be simply dismissed . . ."

Bad Reception: The Wireless Revolution in San Francisco (Video)

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Matt Gonzalez Takes on the Cell Phone Industry - 2003

Is Your Cell Phone's Radiation Level Safe? Don't Call the FCC

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Andrew Schneider - Senior Public Health Correspondent

". . . These meetings suggest evidence that cell phone industry lobbyists and lawyers are working to squelch any effort to provide their consumers with this information," Naidenko said. "There are real concerns about cell phone radiation and potential risks later in life, and that information should be presented before the device is purchased."

"The Government Accountability Office has faulted the FCC in the past for accepting industry recommendations without peer review by independent scientific experts.

"Many safety experts believe these cozy relationships demand transparency and peer review is vital. And it's not just the FCC . . ."

How Nuclear Reactors Work, and How They Fail

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Background, diagrams, photos, video and safety information"Several of Japan's nuclear power plants are experiencing serious damage from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Here's what you need to know to understand the news, as it happens. "Several of Japan's nuclear power plants, especially the Fukushima Naiishi plant in northeastern Japan, are experiencing serious problems in the wake of Friday's earthquake and tsunami. If you've been following the news, you've seen some pretty alarming stuff going on at this plant--terms like "explosion," "partial meltdown," "evacuation," and "radiation exposure." Scary stuff. Here's what you need to know to understand and keep up with the news unfolding in Japan . . ."

Proposal being drafted for a Smart Meter Opt-Out Program in California

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Opt-Out Video - Discussion underwaySacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) says it will comply with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on a Smart Meter opt out program. Michael Peevey's announcement came as good news to Smart Meter opponents. "It's clear the time has come for some kind of movement in the direction of customer opt-outs." Discussion is now underway about how customers could have their meters removed for a "reasonable cost."

CPUC says PG&E should allow smart meter opt-out

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

U.S.A. - San Francisco, CaliforniaImportant announcement: Regulator (California) instructs Business (PG&E) to honor customers' wishes. "PST San Francisco, CA (AP) -- California regulators will ask Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to set up a process so its customers can opt out of smart meters if they have concerns about the devices' potential health effects . . . "

Wisconsin Utilities Bullying Customers Over Smart Meters

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

First Do No Harm /blog"The nationwide roll-out of transmitting radio frequency utility meters, known as smart meters, has intensified since the federal push and funding for them came through the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Wisconsin utilities got $21.5 million of the $3.4 billion awarded for smart grid projects, including meter installation. But people who are sensitive to the effects of microwave radiation and electrical fields cannot tolerate the new source of emissions. And some Wisconsin utility companies have been bullying their paying customers who have resisted the installation of smart meters, or requested their removal for health reason. "In fact, the chronic bursts or pulsing of smart meters have not been proven to be biologically safe for anyone. Current federal standards are grossly out of date, not taking into account the growing levels of microwave radiation exposure people now get 24/7 from various sources. Furthermore, FDA/FCC standards are based solely on the heating effect of microwave radiation on a large, grown man, ignoring numerous studies that point to other effects, including irregular heartbeats, melatonin depletion, which affects sleep, and abnormal mast cell proliferation, which affects the immune system and inflammation levels."

Cell Phone Use and the Health of Children in the Danish National Birth Cohort

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

University of California, Los AngelesPUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE STATEMENT:"To date potential health effects of cell phone use [in children] have not been adequately examined. As this exposure is extremely prevalent, even very small effects of cell phone exposure could have a large public health impact. [We have reported an important result which needs replication: further information will have immediate policy implications.] If our findings are confirmed reducing exposure in this very vulnerable population is easily achievable."

Israel: Ministries oppose expansion of 4G mobile infrastructure pending review of radiation effects

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health". . . The directors general went on to say that they will oppose any intention to expand the mobile infrastructure to accommodate 4G phones until such time that the need and justification for such a move are examined in depth and in coordination with the two ministries."

The EHS Test - Could you be electrosensitive?

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

EM Radiation Research Trust (U.K.)Are EHS numbers increasing? An Austrian telephone study of a cross section of 526 people by Schroettner & Leitgeb (2008), showed that an increasing number of people suffer from non-specific health symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, difficulties in concentrating etc and attribute their ill health to electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) and electromagnetic pollution. It showed an EHS prevalence of 3.5% compared with 2% estimated in 1994. A UK survey by Stacy Elititi In 2006 Bioelectromagnetics, aimed at a randomly selected group of 20,000 people found a prevalence of 4% for symptoms attributed to electromagnetic exposure. Currently it is estimated that between 2.5% - 8% of the population could be suffering with a condition known as Electrosensitivity (ES). In Sweden, Electrosensitivity is officially regarded as a 'Functional Impairment'. ES victims are often unable to use their talents and capabilities to earn a living through denial of access to transport and places most people take for granted. With other forms of disability, society has taken the view that such a situation is unacceptable and legislated to ensure equal access and equal opportunities.UK Doctors are not trained to recognise electrosensitivity and could be misdiagnosing patients and treating them with medication for conditions such as headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, memory deficits, irregular heart beat, sleep problems and depression etc. There is a critical need to improve communication of the potential impact of electro-magnetic effects on the physical health of our society.

Microwave Radiation Affects the Heart

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Dr. Magda Havas' Pick of the Week 24"The early literature showing cardiovascular dysfunction among microwave workers, our study showing heart rate irregularities with pulsed microwave exposure at a fraction of international microwave exposure guidelines; the complaints of electrically hypersensitive individuals of heart irregularities; student complaints of heart flutters and a racing heart; and the increase in the rate of sudden cardiac arrest among young people to the point that schools are installing defibrillators cannot be ignored. Just as workers ought to be screened if they are going to work with microwave radiation, students ought to be screened each year at school to ensure that they do not have an underlying heart condition that may be exacerbated by Wi-Fi exposure. A heart flutter may be an early warning that something more serious can happen. Anyone who experiences a rapid or irregular heart rate that comes on suddenly with mild or no physical exertion when they are exposed to wireless technology should heed the warning, minimize their exposure as quickly as possible and visit a cardiologist."

Letter: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to Risk Assessment Work Group

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

June, 1999 - Nevada, USAThe question has been asked for a long while now. What stops these credible requests from being acted upon? "The members of the Radiofrequency Interagency Work Group (RFIAWG) have identified certain issues that we believe need to be addressed to provide a strong and credible rationale to support RF exposure guidelines . . . The issues, and related comments and questions relevant to the revision of the IEEE RF guidelines, are given in the enclosure. . . RF Guidelines Issues identified by members of the federal RF Interagency Work Group (RFIAWG) June 1999:

Biological basis for local SAR limit
Selection of an adverse effect level
Acute and chronic exposures
One tier vs two tier guidelines
Controlled vs uncontrolled
Uncertainty factors
Intensity or frequency modulated RF radiation
Time averaging
Lack of peak (or ceiling) limits for induced and contact current
Criteria for preventing hazards caused by transient discharges
Limits for exposure at microwave frequencies
Replication/Validation
Important Health Effects Literature Areas
Compatibility of RFR guidelines

Conflict of Interest and Bias in Health Advisory Committees

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Task Group - 2006"The potential problem of conflicts-of-interest biasing outcomes in papers submitted to bio-medical journals, including papers published in journals by expert advisory bodies, was an issue addressed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in November 2003. To quote from their "Uniform Requirements": "Conflict of interest exists when an author (or the author's institution), reviewer, or editor has financial or personal relationships that inappropriately influence (bias) his or her actions... The potential for conflict of interest can exist whether or not an individual believes that the relationship affects his or her scientific judgement. Financial relationships . . . are the most easily identifiable conflicts of interest and the most likely to undermine the credibility of the journal, the authors, and of science itself."This paper briefly examines this problem, using recent actions taken by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) International EMF Project and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) . . . " Don Maisch, EMFacts Information ServiceJournal of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, April, 2006

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Oppose Cell Towers/Antennas on Fire Stations

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Position on the Health Effects of RF/MW Radiation in Fire Department Facilities from Base Stations for Antennas and Towers for the Conduction of Cell Phone Transmissions"The International Association of Fire Fighters' position on locating cell towers commercial wireless infrastructure on fire department facilities, as adopted by its membership in August 2004 (1), is that the IAFF oppose the use of fire stations as base stations for towers and/or antennas for the conduction of cell phone transmissions until a study with the highest scientific merit and integrity on health effects of exposure to low-intensity RF/MW radiation is conducted and it is proven that such sitings are not hazardous to the health of our members. Further, the IAFF is investigating funding for a U.S. and Canadian study that would characterize exposures from RF/MW radiation in fire houses with and without cellular antennae, and examine the health status of the fire fighters as a function of their assignment in exposed or unexposed fire houses. Specifically, there is concern for the effects of radio frequency radiation on the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system, as well as other metabolic effects observed in preliminary studies . . . "

Cell Phone Radiation: Is It Dangerous?

Wed, 2 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Devra Davis PhD - Article in Huffington Post "To conclude that cell phones are safe misreads the science and misleads the people."

Dr. Martin Blank - Interview Face to Face at ICTV Victoria (Video)

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Associate Professor of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics; Columbia University

Critique of the WHO and ICNIRP standards

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Neil Cherry, Lincoln University, April 25, 2000"This critique was originally written when the New Zealand Ministries of Health and Environment proposed to adopt the ICNIRP Guideline as the Public Health Standard for Cell Site exposures. At the same time the New Zealand RF Standards Committee was proposing to use the ICNIRP Guideline as the New Zealand RF/MW Standard. ICNIRP is the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The ICNIRP RF/MW guideline and scientific assessment was published in Health Physics. The ICNIRP (1998) assessment of effects has been reviewed against the research literature cited and other published research. It is found that both the basic approach of ICNIRP and its treatment of the scientific research have serious flaws. The ICNIRP assessment is determined to maintain the RF-Thermal View and it rejects or omits all evidence that conflicts with this view. This may be termed "Constructive Dismissal" for a preconceived concept is used to inappropriately dismiss all evidence that challenges it. . . "

Open Letter: Warning Against Adverse Health Effects from the Operation of Digital Broadcast Television Stations (DVBT)

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

To U.S. Government from German Medical Authorities - February 12, 2009"In the US, digital broadcast television is scheduled to start operating on February 17, 2009. We write to you today because we wish to save you from the significant negative health consequences that have occurred here in Germany. In Germany, analog broadcast television stations have gradually been switching to digital broadcast signals since 2003. This switchover first took place in metropolitan areas. In those areas, however, the RF exposures in public places as well as at home continued to increase at the same time. As a result, the continuing declining health status of children, adolescents, and adults in urban areas could not be attributed to any single cause.On May 20, 2006, two digital broadcast television stations went on the air in the Hessian Rhoen area (Heidelstein, Kreuzberg), which until recently had enjoyed rather low mobile phone radiation exposure levels. Within a radius of more than 20 km, the following symptoms that occurred abruptly were reported . . . "

Research on Biological Effects of Radio Frequency Radiation in Eurasian Communist Countries, 1976

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Defense Intelligence Agency - US Army Medical Intelligence and InformationFebruary 24, 2011 - The Defense Intelligence Agency of the United States released a document referenced below that had a security classification as "confidential" and has since been "unclassified". This document may help us better understand why the U.S. military is interested in opposing a more protective guideline for microwave radiation.Abstract: This study was undertaken to provide a review and evaluation of the current Eurasian Communist country state-of-the-art in the area of the effects of radiowaves and microwaves. It generally covers the 1968-1975 period. The major topics include discussions of the effects on humans and animals. The study provides information on the general trends of research with special attention to possible military applications. Where appropriate, information on safety standards and research personalities and facilities is provided. If the more advanced nations of the West are strict in the enforcement of stringent exposure standards, there could be unfavorable effects on industrial output and military function.Clearly "industrial output and military function" came before health. To read more and download this document visit: http://www.magdahavas.com/2011/02/24/pick-of-the-week-23-research-on-biological-effects-of-radio-frequency-radiation-in-eurasian-communist-countries-1976/

Are Mobile Phones and other Wireless Appliances Safe? Athens, Greece (Video)

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Interview: Interaction of weak magnetic fields with living matter

Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure and Brain Glucose Metabolism

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Editorial: American Medical Association report of study by Lai and Hardell"The Majority of the Radio Frequency Energy emitted by a cellular telephone is absorbed by the hand and head of the user. The total energy absorbed is a function of the specific absorption rate, duration of use, and the manner in which the phone is used. In addition to concerns about potential harmful effect s of such exposure, such as the issue of risk of brain cancer, change in brain function related to cell phone radio frequencies also is of concern. Studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of cell phone use on brain electrical activities, neurophysiology, and behavior. The study by Volkow and colleagues in this issue of JAMA is the first investigation in humans of glucose metabolism in the brain after cell phone use . . ."

Cell phone exposure increases brain cell activity

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

CNN report on a new government-funded study - Journal of American Medical Association"The radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells, according to a new government-funded study. The effects of that brain activity are not known, said the researchers, who called for more study. Phones that were turned off did not create the same brain activity. The small study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, is the first to look specifically at how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones affects glucose metabolism, a normal function, in the brain."

Cell Phones: Just Like Cigarettes? (Video)

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Teens talk with other teens

Early Research on the Biological Effects of Microwave Radiation: 1940-1960

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Annals of Science 37 (1980)Summary: "Two overriding considerations shaped the development of early research on the biological effects of microwave radiation - possible medical application (diathermy) and uncertainty about the hazards of exposure to radar. Reports in the late 1940s and early 1950s of hazards resulting from microwave exposure led to the near abandonment of medical research related to microwave diathermy at the same time that military and industrial concern over hazards grew, culminating in the massive research effort known as 'the Tri-Service program' (1957-1960). Both the early focus on medical application and the later search for hazards played important roles in dictating how this field of research developed as a science." Contents: Introduction; Background 1885-1940; Early debates over thermal and non-thermal effects; The war years and after 1940-1953; Return to therapeutic interest; The discovery of medical hazards; Renewed concern 1903-1957; The military response to industrial concern; The Tri-Service era 1907-1960; Safety standards and the ending of the Tri-Service program; Conclusions.

Radiowaves may interfere with control of powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Department of Health and Human Services - September, 1994"This is to let you know that laboratory tests performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that radio waves can cause unintended motion of powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters. Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic energy. When this energy unintentionally affects the operation of a device, it is called "electromagnetic interference" (EMI).The following information summarizes what you should know about EMI . . . "

Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

American Medical Association - Preliminary CommunicationBrain Glucose Elevated by EMR "This is an important new study finding that cell phone radiation elevates brain glucose metabolism in the areas of the brain that get the most microwave radiation as measured in healthy human volunteers through PET scans following acute exposure. They showed elevated glucose metabolism after 40 minutes of exposure. Glucose metabolism can stimulate cell proliferation, and if cells are aberrant and proliferate, then cancer can arise. Increased glucose means that cells are activated and metabolizing at a higher rate, which is why they need more glucose. The BIG question is what does this mean for the long term for people who are using phones this much every day and begin to do so as toddlers or children. What is not in this paper is the long term impact of this sort of elevation of brain glucose and its implications for people with pre-existing cerebral cortex problems, like Parkinsons, autism, Alzheimers, brain injury . . ."Devra Davis

Space Weather - tracking x-ray solar activity in real time

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

links, updates and tips for avoiding magnetic storms in the bedroom"Some more information on how to check for space weather updates and to avoid human-made magnetic storms in the bedroom." Katharina Gustavs

Pooled analysis of case-control studies on malignant brain tumours and the use of mobile and cordless phones including living and deceased subjects

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

International Journal of Oncology". . . In conclusion, an increased risk was found for glioma and use of mobile or cordless phone. The risk increased with latency time and cumulative use in hours and was highest in subjects with first use before the age of 20."

Oregon Introduces Cell Phone Legislation

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Warnings and Promotions". . . The bill is in response to the increased public awareness of many independently funded scientific studies that do show a link between cell phone use and brain cancer, DNA and genetic damage, reproductive problems, dementia and other health problems. Cell phones were introduced to market with no pre-market safety testing by the FDA or the FCC. Senator Shields believes that Oregon is obligated to do what it can to protect its citizens from the potential hazards of cell phone use and that legislation is needed after comparing conflicting quotes from the FCC and FDA websites and cell phone manuals."FCC and FDA WEBSITE AS OF OCT, 2010 FCC: "The Commission has stressed repeatedly that it is not a health and safety agency and would defer to the judgment of these expert agencies with respect to determining appropriate levels of safe exposure to RF energy." ....."There is no federally developed national standard for safe levels of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy." FDA: "Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as mobile phones before marketing..."

Geomagnetic Storms: Association with Incidence of Depression as Measured by Hospital Admission

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Research Report - British Journal of Psychiatry, 1994"The hypothesis that geomagnetic storms may partly account for the seasonal variation in the incidence of depression, by acting as a precipitant of depressive illness in susceptible individuals, is supported by a statistically significant 36.2% increasein male hospital admissions with a diagnosis of depressed phase, manic-depressive illness in the second week following such storms compared with geomagnetically quiet control periods. There is a smaller but not statistically significant increase in female psychotic depression and non-psychotic depression admissions following storms. There was no correlation between geomagnetic storm levels and number of male admissions with psychotic depression, which is consistent with a threshold event affecting predisposed individuals. Phase advance in pineal circadian rhythms of melatonin synthesis may be a possible mechanism of causation or be present as a consequence of 5-hydroxytryptamine and adrenergic system dysfunction associated with geomagnetic disturbance. Effects on cell membrane permeability, calcium channel activity and retinal magneto-receptors are suggested as possible underlying biochemical mechanisms . . ."

Solar and geomagnetic activity, extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields and human health at the Earth's surface

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Research Study - Palmer, Rycroft and Cermack - August 2006"The possibility that conditions on the Sun and in the Earth's magnetosphere can affect human health at the Earth's surface has been debated for many decades. This work reviews the research undertaken in the field of heliobiology, focusing on the effect of variations of geomagnetic activity on human cardiovascular health. Data from previous research are analysed for their statistical significance, resulting in support for some studies and the undermining of others. Three conclusions are that geomagnetic effects are more pronounced at higher magnetic latitudes, that extremely high as well as extremely low values of geomagnetic activity seem to have adverse health effects and that a subset of the population (10-15%) is predisposed to adverse health due to geomagnetic variations . . . "

Solar Flare Eruptions Set to Reach Earth

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Science Report BBC News"Scientists around the world will be watching closely as three eruptions from the Sun reach the Earth over Thursday and Friday. These "coronal mass ejections" will slam into the Earth's magnetic shield. The waves of charged solar particles are the result of three solar flares directed at Earth in recent days, including the most powerful since 2006 . . . " Paul Rincon, Science Reporter BBC News"So, it will disrupt electricity supplies etc but needless to say, no mention of health Well, there is a wealth of data on health disruption. So, unfortunately we have a natural experiment. Do be on the look-out for factors known to be associated with solar flares (producing magnetic field pulses around 100 nanotesla, although I guess this is a biggy and up to 500 nT (0.5 microtesla). We are talking about depressive symptoms, heart beat irregularity, loss of sleep etc." Professor Denis Henshaw University of Bristol, UK

California Attorney Urges Further Study of Links Between Cell Phone Use and Strokes in Youth

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Environmental Health Trust Board Member Harry V. LehmannWashington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB) February 15, 2011 "Harry V. Lehmann, a distinguished California attorney and member of the board of Environmental Health Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks, today released a statement on the question of why greater numbers of young people are suffering strokes today compared to older people."

Precautionary Measures for EMF - Recommended Alternatives

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Practical Steps to Reduce Your Exposure - Wireless, Dirty Electricity, Power Lines, IonizingWarnings and Recommended Alternatives for: Microwave Radiation: Home Phones, Internet, Wi-Fi, Cell Tower/Mobile Phone Masts, External Wireless Radiation, Cell Phones, Microwave Ovens, E-book Readers, DECT Baby Monitors Intermediate Frequencies: Lights, switches, T.V. treadmill, Other Sources of Digital Harmonics Including Digital Displays, Projectors, Laptops, etc. Powerline, Magnetic and Electric: Computer Monitor, Alarm Clock, Laptop, Audio Headset, Lamps and Lightbulbs, Power Supply, Power Lines, Wall Wiring, Sewing Machine, Hair Dryer, Bed, Massage Chair, Electric Blanket, Cars and Buses Ionizing Radiation: Radon, Airplane Flights, X-Rays, UV LightPlus Links to Additional Information and Resources

Is your cellphone going to kill you?

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

What are the effects of electromagnetic fields on human health?"PHILADELPHIA - The dreadful 1995 film Johnny Mnemonic had few redeeming features, other than Keanu Reeves. It did, however, have one interesting idea: a fictional disease called "nerve attenuation syndrome" which was caused by overexposure to electromagnetic fields. In the film, people afflicted with "NAS" were subject to uncontrollable seizures, and were denied the cure for their ailment by a sinister corporation. In real life, we have yet to see a widespread plague brought about by technological devices (I'm not so sure about sinister corporations), but perhaps that day isn't too far away.Certainly, according to some scientists, the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) created by devices from lamps and hairdryers to mobile phones and wireless laptop are already doing irreparable harm to our collective health, causing cancer, genetic mutations, and a host of other problems. Other prominent scientists, however, insist that there is insufficient evidence to say that EMFs are a health problem, and accuse their peers of scaremongering. So where does this debate leave us hapless Wi-Fi-, Crackberry- and iPhone- addicted consumers? Should we be unplugging to save our brains, or are the predictions of EMF-naysayers as fictional as "NAS"?" Included in Felicity Duncan's article: definition of EMF's, the electromagnetic spectrum, evidence for and against

Occupational and residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and risk of brain tumors in adults

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

case-control study in Gironde, FranceThis study shows an increase in meningioma for those living or working closest to power lines or other ongoing telecommunications."The etiology of brain tumors remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: Among potential risk factors, exposure to electromagnetic fields is suspected. METHODS: We analyzed the relationship between residential and occupational exposure to electromagnetic field and brain tumors in adults . . . CONCLUSION: These data suggest that occupational or residential exposure to ELF may play a role in the occurrence of meningioma."

Smart Meter Deployment Plans and Proposals (U.S.)

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

map, table, referencesThis map and table summarize smart meter deployments for mass market customers, planned deployments, and proposals by investor-owned utilities and large public power utilities. Note that smart meter deployments by rural electric cooperatives, though extensive, are not included. IEE [Institute for Electrical Efficiency - Edison Foundation] estimates that approximately 65 million smart meters will be deployed by 2020, representing 50% of U.S. households.

Swiss Com Patent

Thu, 2 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PDT

Application, Claims, Charts and Search ReportSwiss Com is Switzerland's leading telecoms provider, with 5.8 million mobile customers and around 1.6 million broadband connections. It is partially owned by the Swiss Government and has an "A" top business viability rating from Standard & Poors for investment purposes. The following Swiss Com document has specific wording on pages 2/3 regarding DNA damage and other important health issues. Also, it was after the government reviewed and approved the Swiss Com patent that they recommended wired connections wherever possible, and definitely in homes, schools, and anywhere that people spend time. "The risk of damage to health through electrosmog has also become better understood as a result of more recent and improved studies. When, for example, human blood cells are irradiated with electromagnetic fields, clear damage to hereditary material has been demonstrated and there have been indications of an increased cancer risk . . " ". . . Thus it has been possible to show that mobile radio radiation can cause damage to genetic material, in particular in human white blood cells, whereby both the DNA itself is damaged and the number of chromosomes changed. This mutation can consequently lead to increased cancer risk. In particular, it could also be shown that this destruction is not dependent upon temperature increases, i. e. is non-thermal."

Electric fields are an essential and integral part of the functioning of a living brain

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

first hard neurological evidence that EMF's interfere with brain functionIn a new paper published in top journal Nature Neuroscience, neurobiologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have confirmed that very weak electric fields in brain tissue significantly affect neuronal behaviour. "This is really the first hard neurological evidence that suggests subjecting our heads to significant EMFs (especially from mobile phones) may well cause the interference (electromagnetic compatibility, EMC) problems that many people, including us, have suspected. "Conventional scientists" have long dismissed this possibility. It has potentially enormous implications for exposure guidelines. . ."

Letter to President Obama: Significant Error in Wireless Safety Reported to Canadian Parliament

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Thermografix Consulting CorporationI have attached a fax my office just sent to the President of the United States. It is important you share this, as I am so serious in everything in the letter. Yes, you can share it with school boards and whomever. Your job is important. Hold us accountable as professionals and administrators. Regards, Curtis Bennett Thermografix Consulting Corporation 250-765-9897

Reports documenting biological effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) at low intensities

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

Laboratory and epidemiological studies"All of the 40 reports listed below document biological effects or associations, many of them adverse or undesirable, at exposure to radio frequency radiation below the FCC guidelines for both power density (1000 microW/cm2) and specific absorption rate (0.08 W/kg). Of the 12 studies that provide power density data, 11 document effects below 41 microW/cm2 (scenario of a child using a laptop computer); 6 document effects below 6 microW/cm2 (exposure to multiple Wi-Fi antennas); and 3 document effects below 1 microW/cm2 (exposure to 1 Wi-Fi antenna) (22). People who suffer from EHS may be adversely affected by the radiation even if they are not using this technology. Users of this technology will have even higher exposure levels."

UC researchers: LED lights contain lead, arsenic

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST

New problems come to light re Light Emitting Diode lights"LED light bulbs are the green alternative to standard incandescent light bulbs, right? Wrong, says a new study from UC Irvine and UC Davis that suggests those good-for-the-environment light bulbs contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially toxic and hazardous substances. "LEDs are touted as the next generation of lighting," said Oladele Ogunseitan, the study's author and chair of UC Irvine's Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention. "But as we try to find better products that do not deplete energy resources or contribute to global warming, we have to be vigilant about the toxicity hazards of those marketed as replacements."

Effects on Behavior - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Conference (biologists, engineers, psychologists) D.R. Justesen

Thu, 30 Nov 1967 00:00:00 PST

Veterans Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri USA"Several years ago, the psychologist D. 0. Hebb appeared at an interdisciplinary symposium and read a paper entitled Alice in Wonderland, or, Psychology among the Biological Sciences. The thrust of Dr. Hebb's remarks is that the psychologist does not communicate as easily with his confreres in biology as does, for example, the geneticist with the botanist or the physiologist with the biologic chemist. That the psychologist speaks a technical language that differs from that of the biologists is a pervasive and mischief-making fact, although the burden of guilt is far from his alone. He deals with concepts and problems that are unique to the intact organism, particularly those that attach to what David Hume had the courage to call the "operations of the mind" (and what the modern experimental psychologist often clothes in such vagaries as "higher nervous activity"). To the extent that cognitive processes, sentience, thinking, emotions, and feelings, or however else you wish to label the mind's operations, enter into the organism's reactions to physical events in its internal or external environment, a problem is at hand that requires the minis- trations of the behavioral scientist. With respect to the many unresolved questions about the biologic effects of microwave radiation, the psychologist is not going to answer them by himself, neither is the biologist nor the engineer. Nor will these three would-be-resolvers of the microwave riddle make much headway until they learn to speak each other's languages and enter into those happy collaborations that alone will make for a successful quest."