EMF Safety Network – Page 25 – We envision a world free of EMF pollution where children, communities, and nature thrive!

Dad’s win school wi-fi battle

New Zealand dad’s concerned for the health and safety of school children have a won a battle against a local school to have the wi-fi removed and use wired connections instead.

Damon Wyman and David Bird led a campaign to remove the wireless system from Te Horo School and replace it with cable-based internet due to concerns it could cause cancer and other health problems.

Damon is the father of Ethan who died from a brain tumor and had attended the local school. His son was exposed to Wi-Fi at school, and he also slept with an Internet-connected iPod under his pillow at night.

The school sent a survey to parents, and after reviewing the results agreed to remove the wi-fi in the junior classrooms.

FCC’s Tom Wheeler in Oakland CA. on January 9

On Thursday January 9th, 2014 at 7pm- Thomas Wheeler, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be waiting to hear from you in Oakland, CA.

According to the event hosts, Voices for Internet Freedom, Wheeler “needs to hear how policies on media ownership, the Internet and journalism affect our nation’s most vulnerable communities. This is our chance to tell him face to face about the kind of media system that best meets our needs — and to advocate for the health and well-being of our families and our communities.”

The FCC sets the safety guidelines for electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by a myriad of products, from cell phones, towers, wi-fi, smart meters and baby monitors. The US government has partnered with industry to bring us all these products under the disguise of safety- where truly the safety does not exist.

Wheeler has serious conflicts of interest:

Wheeler chaired the CTIA, the Wireless Association, which includes Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile;
Wheeler chaired the National Cable Television Association, which includes Comcast, Time Warner, and others;
Wheeler was the director of Core Capital Partners LP, a venture capital firm that manages $350 million in the high-growth technology sector- they rely on friendly regulation at the FCC;
Wheeler is listed on Fierce Wireless’ top ten list of people who helped shape the wireless industry.

This event will feature a panel discussion, commentary from community members, and remarks from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, California Public Utilities Commissioner Sandoval, and other guests.

Jury awards Vermont couple $1million in cell tower lawsuit

A jury awarded a million dollars to Olga Julinska and Felix Kniazev in a big win against Vermont Electric Power Corp for building a communications tower right next to their mountain top property.

Julinska and Kniasev are artists who purchased the mountaintop home as much for its inspiring 360 degree view as for the privacy it afforded. They said the jury verdict was a victory for themselves and every other Vermont resident bullied by an imminent domain process that takes property for public good without always compensating property owners fairly.

CPUC delays smart meter opt-out proceeding

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) just extended the deadline for the smart meter opt-out proceeding to Feb 6, 2014. By statutory deadline it was supposed to conclude within 18 months, or on Dec. 8, 2013. They are extending it for 60 days, but I’ll be surprised if they complete it within that time, as they must address community opt-out, and need to write proposed decisions on the legal briefs and opening briefs. The reasons they cite for the delay include the issues are complex and they need more time to resolve.

Cell phones linked to anxiety, lower grades, and unhappiness

Almost everywhere you look someone has a cell phone pressed to their ear, or has one in their hand. Students depend on the devices to connect with friends and family.

A recent study led by Kent State University researchers, surveyed more than 500 undergraduate students from 82 different majors. They recorded daily cell phone use along with anxiety and happiness levels. In addition student grades were included in the study.

Results were students who used their cell phones more had lower grades, higher anxiety, and less happiness relative to their peers who used the cell phone less.

Earlier this year, Kent researchers linked cell phone use to poor student fitness. These results suggest that people should be encouraged to reduce their cell phone use! Or, better yet, use them for emergencies only!

Safety tips for cell and cordless phone use: Learn more

Dr. Mercola’s comments on this study include raising awareness about second hand radiation effects.

Dr. Mercola writes: “Respect Others Who Are More Sensitive: Some people who have become sensitive can feel the effects of others’ cell phones, iPads, and other gadgets in the same room, even when it is on but not being used. If you are in a meeting, on public transportation, in a courtroom or other public places, such as a doctor’s office, keep your cell phone turned off out of consideration for the “secondhand radiation” effects. Children are also more vulnerable, so please avoid using your cell phone near children.”

Too much wi-fi on airplanes

Amy O’Hair investigates just how much wi-fi radiation is on a Southwest Airlines flight. She’s using a cornet meter. She finds out- its too much! (For wi-fi safety testing humans are compared to sacks of potatoes.) One solution: Ask the airlines for a device free zone on the plane, away from the routers. Alaska Airlines has some routes that are still wi-fi free.

Can cell phones cause autism?

Most people do not know that cell phones and wireless devices can affect unborn children. A new study reports exposures from electromagnetic fields and wireless radiation may contribute to autism. Autism now affects about one in 88 children with a staggering cost estimated at $137 billion per year in the US.

In the 1970’s, before widespread use of cell phones autism was a comparatively rare health issue. Today, autism is so prevalent that the Centers for Disease Control call it a national health crisis.

Co-authors Dr. Martha Herbert and Cindy Sage have integrated the results of over 550 scientific studies that report biological effects of electromagnetic radiation and wireless exposures, and of common biology and brain problems in autism.

Many of the behavioral and biological characteristics seen in autism are similar or identical to those produced by typical daily exposures to cell and cordless phone radiation, cell towers, baby monitors, wireless tablets, WI-FI and other sources of pulsed electromagnetic radiation. But, personal choices can make a big difference in lowering exposure for pregnant women, infants and the whole family.

Dr. Martha Herbert, PhD, MD of Harvard Medical School and a pediatric neurologist with Massachusetts General Hospital says “such exposures can have a disorganizing effect on the brain’s ability to learn and remember, and can be destabilizing to immune and metabolic function”.

Children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental toxins, and can be affected in-utero as well as during the rapid growth of early childhood. Brain and nervous system in young children appear to be particularly sensitive.

The CHE EMF Working Group hosted a teleconference call with Cindy Sage and Dr. Herbert.

Students demonstrate wireless hazards at Science Faire

Two young scientists researched and studied wireless health risks for science fair projects. One student was interested in the controversy surrounding wi-fi and whether it should be in schools or not. She found fruit flies exposed to industrial wi-fi had genome mutations. Another student researched mobile phone radiation and warns about brain cancer, insomnia and other health problems.

In May of 2013 a team of Danish 9th grade girls did a science study on wi-fi and found watercress seeds would not grow near a wi-fi router.

The students placed six trays filled with water cress in a room without radiation, and six trays in another room next to two wi-fi routers. Over the next 12 days, the girls observed, measured, weighed and photographed their results. The cress seeds placed near the routers had not grown, whereas the cress seeds in the other room, away from the routers, thrived.

The experiment earned the girls top honors in a regional science competition and the interest of scientists around the world. Full story here: Student Science Experiment Finds Plants won’t Grow near Wi-Fi Router