This is not a Tree is one man’s journey to understand the new grid of cell towers, and cell sites that have sprung up all around us. “This is not a tree” questions the notion that cell phones in our pocket, up to our head, wifi at home, work, schools, and cell towers are perfectly safe.
Tag: cell towers
Stop cell towers on 73 public schools in Prince George’s County
Parents and residents in Prince George’s County Maryland have started a campaign “Safe Schools for Prince George’s County” to stop the construction of cell towers on 73 school grounds citing safety, property devaluation, lack of community notice, zoning issues, and health issues from wireless radiation exposure. Several cell towers are moving forward despite community opposition.
Many parents had no idea of these plans for their child’s school. Residents near schools were also not notified. Parents are rightly concerned about their children’s health.
Dr. Martha Herbert, pediatric neurologist and neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School
“EMF/RFR from wifi and cell towers can exert a disorganizing effect on the ability to learn and remember, and can also be destabilizing to immune and metabolic function. This will make it harder for some children to learn, particularly those who are already having problems in the first place.”
The Coalition is calling for a cancellation of all cell-tower contracts.
Sign their petition: Stop Cell Towers on Prince George’s County Schools
Visit their website for more information: http://www.SafeSchoolsPG.org
Contact them to donate or help out: safeschoolspg@gmail.com
US Department of the Interior warns: communication towers threaten birds
In a letter about a new nation wide wi-fi deployment (called *FirstNet), the US Department of the Interior states the wireless proposal threatens birds, and is not consistent with current information and laws that protect birds. They called for an environmental review.
Two hundred forty one bird species are at mortality risk from both tower collisions and from exposure to the radiation towers emit. This includes birds that are endangered or threatened, Birds of Conservation Concern, migratory birds, and eagles. They estimate up to 6.8 million bird deaths a year may result from collisions with towers.
Studies of radiation impacts on wild birds documented nest abandonment, plumage deterioration and death. Birds studied included House Sparrows, White Storks, Collared Doves, and other species. Studies in laboratories of chick embryos documented heart attacks and death.
In their letter, The Dept of the Interior criticizes the FCC’s radiation safety guidelines stating,“the electromagnetic radiation standards used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to be based on thermal heating, a criterion now nearly 30 years out of date and inapplicable today.”
For more information see Dept of Interior letter and background: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/us_doi_comments.pdf
*In 2010 President Obama called for a new nationwide wireless network. FirstNet is that broadband initiative. See background proposal and More info on FirstNet.
“The world is going wireless and we must not fall behind. ” President Barack Obama
See this website for a compilation of studies on effects on wildlife http://www.emfresearch.com/emf-wildlife/
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.
Planet Radiation: Interview with Eileen O’Connor
Eileen O’Connor is the Director for the Radiation Research Trust (RRT), Founder board member for the International EMF Alliance, Stakeholder for the EU Commission Dialogue Group and Member of the UK Health Protection Agency, EMF Discussion Group.
Eileen is interviewed by Rev. Alison Levesely of Divine Conversations on UnTangled FM. “This conversation will be challenging and a no holds barred frank conversation about the radiation we are living with on our planet. What are the options open to you and what can you do about this invisible nightmare that is causing untold damage?”
Protect Monarch Butterflies from radiation
On August 21, 2013 the city of Pacific Grove will hear an appeal on the placement of an AT&T 4G cell tower next to the Monarch Butterfly sanctuary.
Pacific Grove is an overwintering area for the monarch butterfly. Each year, these butterflies migrate thousands of miles from Canada to Pacific Grove and other special places in the Western Hemisphere. They arrive and stay through several reproductive cycles, and then continue their travels.
Pacific Grove has an ordinance specifically protecting monarch butterflies. It has a small area set aside for the butterflies as a sanctuary, but the butterflies roost and feed in trees in the surrounding area. Many travel books feature this sanctuary to attract visitors from all around the world.
AT&T wants to put a permanent set of cellular 4G antennas at Wilkie’s Inn, (1038 Lighthouse Avenue) next to the butterfly sanctuary. This is one of the few monarch habitats the butterflies rely on.
Here’s two studies that indicate insects are harmed by radiation. Food collection and response to pheromones in an ant species exposed to electromagnetic radiation found exposure to radiation caused colony deterioration and affected social insects’ behavior and physiology. Another study Oxidative and genotoxic effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields in the earthworm Eisenia fetida found radiation caused genotoxic effects and DNA damage in earthworms.
Please take action to help stop these antennas in Pacific Grove, California. Sign this petition by Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Read more and sign the petition.
UPDATE: The city Pacific Grove council voted against the butterflies. The petition author writes, “Thank you to the hundreds of supporters on this issue. Sad to say (but not surprised) that all but one of the city council members voted for the cell antennas to be built near one of the rare monarch butterfly overwintering sites in Pacific Grove. AT&T must’ve made the incentive worth while.The city is supposed to protect the butterfly sanctuary and didn’t.”
Cell tower collapses near San Ramon California
A 20-30 foot cell tower laden with radio, cellular and microwave antennas has toppled. KTVU news reports that “supporting wires holding up a large radio tower were cut, possibly with bolt cutters, causing it to collapse”. The tower was located on Rocky Ridge near San Ramon and Danville. The police suspect vandalism.
