Here’s an opportunity to spread the word! A flyer is the best way to educate people who are new to the information. You can print this flyer on 8.5 x14′ paper, or find details on how to order color flyers from stopsmartmeters.org.
California Coalition to Stop Smart Meters, a new group formed to educate utility customers about the risks of Smart Meters, and to ultimately eliminate these hazardous devices from homes and businesses throughout the state, has produced a new flyer: Smart Utility Meters- Are They Smart For You? This flyer is also available in black and white.
This new flyer details the basic Smart Meter hazards: privacy, security, health impacts, risk of fire and more.
The National Campaign to Stop Smart Meters and Wireless Radiation Protection Coalition are urging members of the public to do the truly smart thing: plan your own event to demonstrate against ‘smart’ meters on October 4! See http://actiondaytostopsmartmeters.org for materials and more information on planning an event, and for locations and times of events being planned around the country and internationally.
The main demonstration in Washington DC begins at 10:00 am Oct. 4th at the GridWeek conference outside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W., Washington, DC.
Australia news- A former senior telecom technical officer, after learning cell tower radiation was dangerous (and losing his job for writing about it), attacked a cell tower with a tank and spent 20 months in jail. He now helps people with EMF mitigation.
The Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC), an industry group, has published a video “Separating the Facts from the Fiction about Smart Meter”. PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, BC Hydro, PEPCO, BGE, FPL, other utility companies and Smart Meter manufacturers like Landis and Gyr, Itron, Silver Springs Network, GE, Aclara, are SGCC members. Affiliate members are utility regulators including Public Utility Commissions from California, Colorado, Texas, and including big environmental groups like EDF and NRDC.
This video attempts to counter legitimate Smart Meter complaints and serious problems. They start by saying there’s misinformation about Smart Meters floating about the internet (displaying a panic button) and they plan to set the record straight. “Let’s get down to business” is a key introductory phrase. Promoting Smart Meters IS their business.
Industry fiction: Smart Meters don’t know how you’re using power
FACT: Smart Meters “…can be used to pinpoint the use of most major household appliances. Such detailed information about the in-home activities of electricity customers can thus be used to piece together a fairly detailed picture of an individual’s daily life or routine.”
Industry fiction: “Most of the time your meter is idle”
FACT: One PG&E Smart Meter can transmit up to 190,000 pulses a day. PG&E’s Big Confession
Industry fiction: “Your power company has kept your data private for decades.”
FACT: PG&E released names, email addresses and private online conversations they gathered by deception to the media. They redacted PG&E and third party names, and emails and left open customer data, at the same time claiming privacy was a great value to them. PG&E’s spying may cost them
Industry fiction:”Smart Meters will allow you to make choices that limit your bills.”
FACT: Over-billing complaints have been reported widely after Smart Meters are installed. Customers in Bakersfield CA were so outraged about overcharging they filed a class action lawsuit against PG&E. See complaints. See also:PG&E admits billing errors, offers scanty refund
Industry fiction: Science doesn’t support the claim thatRF causes cancer
FACT:The World Health Organization classified RF radiation as a 2b Carcinogen, same as DDT and lead.
Industry fiction: A household radio transmits RF
FACT: A household radio receives RF, it is not an RF transmitter.
Industry fiction: Smart Meters create less exposure to RF radiation than a microwave, cell phone, wi-fi.
FACT: Daniel Hirsch, a UC researcher, has calculated that smart meters expose you to more than 100 times the full body, cumulative exposure as a cell phone.
Industry fiction: “Even if you cozied up to a Smart Meter all day, it would require you to snuggle up to one for 375 years before it would equal the exposure of having a daily 15 minute cell phone call over the course of one year.”
FACT:Smart Meters can exceed FCC safety guidelines (Sage reports)
Industry fiction: Read the Hobbit instead of worrying that the” Smart Meter is the fourth horseman of the apocalypse that will wreak havoc on your life”
FACT: Lawsuits are being filed against Smart Meters in several states, California, Maine, Hawaii, Texas, Illinois and more. Utility Regulators in Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania are investigating Smart Meter related fires.
Smart Meters are designed to work in a mesh network, transmitting radio frequency (RF) radiation pulses from home to home. If too many customers refuse, the mesh system can fail. Having to provide customers a choice, has become a serious problem for the industry. The industry, with support from regulators are penalizing customers for non-compliance by charging them to opt out. The Smart Grid program which was initiated by the federal government, was designed to be offered, but not forced on customers.
Environmental and activist groups are fighting smart meters in states across the US, Canada, Australia, and England. Join a group in your area.
Initial comments on the video indicate Smart Consumers aren’t buying the industry propaganda:
“The most ridiculous aspect is that they call themselves “Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative” yet they’re 100% INDUSTRY! If you needed iron clad evidence of intent to deceive, I don’t think you could do much better than that.”
“This video reminds me of a video I just watched on youtube titled “Cigarettes are good for you.flv” a must see!”
“Mislabeled as science, this video is the stupidest thing I have heard or seen.”
“Wow, what a bunch of lies! I sure hope people see through this garbage!”
On August 28, 2012, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) issued a decision approving a representative complaint (akin to a class action) against BC Hydro on behalf of “those persons allegedly diagnosed with electromagnetic hypersensitivity and who have been advised to avoid exposure to wireless technology”.
The Tribunal approved the representation of that class by the Citizens for Safe Technology Society, which it found to have authority to bring the representative complaint. The Society may be contacted at www.citizensforsafetechnology.org by any person wishing to join in the complaint.
The Tribunal found that the complaint brought by the Citizens for Safe Technology Society properly alleges a breach of the Human Rights Code in that it alleges a disability, adverse treatment in respect of a service customarily available to the public, and a nexus or connection between the disability and the adverse treatment. By way of the Complaint, the Citizens for Safe Technology Society seeks:
A declaration that BC Hydro has discriminated against each person in the Class by failing to provide each person in the Class with an unconditional written commitment that BC Hydro will refrain from installing and/or operating a wireless smart meter at the individual’s place of residence and/or residential complex.
An order that BC Hydro cease and desist forthwith from the said discrimination by offering to refrain from installing and/or operating a wireless smart meter at the individual’s place of residence and/or residential complex.
On May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields a 2B carcinogen, same as DDT and lead. The emissions generated by the Smart Meters fall under this classification of emissions and risk.
The Citizens for Safe Technology Society is currently fundraising to bring a tort action against BC Hydro so as to prohibit the imposition of microwave emitting smart meters on BC residents regardless of whether they have electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Yesterday on KPFA 94.1 Layna Berman, host of Your Own Health and Fitness talks with EMF Safety Network director Sandi Maurer about Smart Meters, and the legal action against the utilities and regulators in California. Covered is both a review of the basic Smart Meter problems and complaints, and some new information about how the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and PG&E have never addressed or resolved the serious complaints, but only offered an opt-out with penalty fees.
Here’s an opportunity to spread the word! A flyer is the best way to educate people who are new to the information. You can print this flyer on 8.5 x14′ paper, or find details on how to order color flyers from stopsmartmeters.org.
