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EMFacts Blog

    • 29 MAR 14

    Waves of uncertainty over wi-fi

    The Dominion Post New Zealand:

    Last updated 10:10 29/03/2014

    Excerpt

    After thousands of studies, the most that experts worldwide can determine is the radiation used for wi-fi networks, digital devices, cordless phones and cell phones is a “possible” cause of cancer. With such uncertainty, OLIVIA WANNAN asks if we are using this technology with enough caution.

    As in many countries around the world, the debate about long- wave radiation has come to a head in New Zealand through the recent introduction of wi-fi networks in schools.The energy waves have been harnessed for more than a century to bring radio and television to our home, track objects by radar, microwave our food, and connect us through texts, phone calls and the internet.Yet the World Health Organisation lists this radiation as a “possible” cause of cancer, based on research showing a link between heavy cellphone use and an increased risk of developing brain tumours.Kapiti Coast parent Damon Wyman is a vocal advocate for caution. He became aware of the possible health effects of wireless technology after losing his son Ethan, 10, to cancer last August.Ethan died 11 months after being diagnosed with two brain tumours. Three months earlier, he had been given a wi-fi connected iPad.His parents later discovered he had been falling asleep with the device under his pillow.Even though it was on standby, it was still emitting bursts of radiation as it tried to connect to the router, Mr Wyman said.Doctors who saw Ethan said the tumours appeared to be about four months old, Mr Wyman said. “We’re not saying that caused it, but it seems like a bit of a coincidence.”
    SNIP

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    • 28 MAR 14

    Unplugging from the smart grid soon to be a viable option for some

    While plans are well underway for a global smart grid which will be controlled by a few mega-corporations the continuing advances in solar power and storage battery technology are emerging as a significant threat to their plans for, rather than centralization, solar power fosters decentralization and local community control over their energy.

    While Energy distributers in Victoria, Aust, , Canada, the US and elsewhere are doing their worst by forcing smart meters on an unwilling populace, there may soon be a consumer counter-revolution underway. This is when it will soon be technically feasible to cut off from a centralised electricity grid althogether but still enjoy all the benefits of electrical power by using new technology solar energy. The following article is from the Climate Spectator, an Australian site and part of the Business Spectator.

    From the Climate Spectator

    When will people unplug?
    Tosh Szatow & Damien Moyse3 hours ago 1

    Research released in January by the energy services company Energy for the People and the not-for-profit Alternative Technology Association found that regional towns and new housing estates in Victoria could function viably without connecting to centralised electricity and, in some scenarios, centralised gas grids by 2020.

    Entitled What Happens When We Un-Plug: Exploring the Consumer and Market Implications of Viable Off-Grid Energy Supply, the research sits with a growing body of evidence, validating the hypothesis that viable stand-alone energy supply will be with us before 2020, including The Economics of Grid Defection by the Rocky Mountain Institute, research by Morgan Stanley into off-grid tipping points and, most recently, the views of the Independent Market Operator in Western Australia.

    SNIP

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    • 28 MAR 14

    Maine Releases Seriously Flawed and Biased Report on Smart Meter Health and Safety Issues

    From SkyVision Solutions

    Posted on March 27, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

    On March 26, 2014, three (3) hearing examiners for the state of Maine Public Utilities Commission released a seriously flawed and biased report (and Appendix) concluding that the “installation and operation of … smart meters and related devices and systems are consistent with [the utility’s] statutory obligation to furnish … safe, reasonable, and adequate service.” The report was issued in the form a draft Commission order. Affected parties have until April 11 to file comments or exceptions to the report.

    The hearing examiners expressed in the summary portion of the report that their conclusion regarding health and safety issues was based upon seven (7) findings. For purposes of this blog article, each finding will be listed and then an alternative finding (or counterpoint) will be provided that would more correctly and objectively describe a conclusion based upon the facts.

    Finding: “The radio frequency (RF) emissions from CMP’s smart meters and other AMI components comply with duly promulgated federal safety regulations and other RF emission standards;”

    Counterpoint: Current Federal RF exposure guidelines were never formulated to fully protect human health. In fact, they are only believed to protect against injury that may be caused by acute exposures that result in tissue heating or electric shock and burn. FCC exposure guidelines have no biological relevance to protect humans from chronic exposure to pulsed radiofrequency radiation emitted by devices such as smart meters. Therefore, RF emissions from installed smart meters are simply unregulated. As stated by the U.S. Department of Interior in a letter dated, February 7, 2014, “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.”
    SNIP

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    • 26 MAR 14

    ICNIRP’s procrustean hegemony under attack in the EC.

    In the following article, the GSMA (the telco trade association representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide), bemoans the fact that their planned rollout of 4G/LTE technology in the EC is being hampered by what they call “non-science based restrictions on mobile phone antennas in some member countries”. No doubt that GSMA is also worried about the future rollout of 5G.

    This shows that ICNIRP’s assurances of safety, based solely on thermal considerations, is seriously being questioned and rejected in the EC. Hopefully this ‘contagion’ will spread internationally. What is not said is that the EC doubts over ICNIRP flow directly from the widespread awareness of the Bioinitiative report.
    SNIP

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    • 25 MAR 14

    U.S. Dept. of Interior attacks FCC regarding Adverse Impact of Cell Tower Radiation on Wildlife

    The Department of Interior charges that the FCC standards for cell phone radiation are outmoded and no longer applicable as they do not adequately protect wildlife.

    PRLog (Press Release) – Mar. 24, 2014 – BERKELEY, Calif. — The Director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance of the United States Department of the Interior sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Department of Commerce that addresses the Interior Department’s concern that cell tower radiation has had negative impacts on the health of migratory birds and other wildlife.

    The Interior Department accused the Federal government of employing outdated radiation standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a Federal agency with no expertise in health. The standards are no longer applicable because they control only for overheating and do not protect organisms from the adverse effects of exposure to the low-intensity radiation produced by cell phones and cell towers:
    SNIP

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    • 24 MAR 14

    Have your say: SCENIHR extends its public submission deadline

    Notice from Cindy Sage on behalf of the Bioinitiative Working Group:

    The BioInitiative Working Group sent the below letter on March 7th to SCENIHR – DC SANCO about the limited public consultation input – and received their reply (also below) on March 13th.

    We’ve been able to open the comment process to email comments – rather than posting in the narrow format on-line. It opens the process to much more detailed (longer) assessments.
    And, to extensive referencing for our analysis, which is much needed.

    You can share this with others who have our same concerns about the process, and how it’s been opened up now.

    SNIP

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    • 18 MAR 14

    How industry manipulates “science” by promoting scientists who support their economic interests

    Lawyer Sue Grey’s below letter to the Editor of the New Zealand magazine North and South is in reply to a just published investigative article by NZ journalist Donna Chisholm. Titled with the leading intro.: “Science for Sale?: With scientists now expected to deliver more economic bang for each funding buck, Donna Chisholm asks if corporate funding is putting their integrity, and the direction of our science, at risk”

    But first a bit of background:

    In September 2011 New Zealand lawyer Sue Grey contacted me with a request to undertake a formal review of the MD thesis by Dr. David Black. As Black had refused to provide a copy for some reason, it took Grey a bit of digging around Auckland University to unearth a copy. It is important to note that it was largely on the strength of his thesis that Dr. Black was elected president of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and invited to be a consulting expert to ICNIRP. Despite these impressive appointments, however, there were serious deficiencies in his thesis.
    SNIP

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    • 17 MAR 14

    A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute

    This article dates from 2011 but still very relevant for today’s high-tech rollout in school. Well worth a read!

    Don

    *******************************************************************************************

    The Waldorf School in Los Altos, Calif., eschews technology

    Excerpt

    LOS ALTOS, Calif. – The chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to a nine-classroom school here. So do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard.

    But the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home.

    Schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, and many policy makers say it is foolish to do otherwise. But the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix.
    SNIP

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    • 14 MAR 14

    Is wireless technology in Swedish schools adversely affecting the kids?

    The answer to that is yes according to a new paper by Olle Johansson. Here is an English translation:

    Excerpt

    Thanks to the so-called PISA* (OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment) survey, in Sweden we now know: student scores in maths, reading comprehension and natural sciences are plummeting. The results are prompting rage in Swedish schools. Something is wrong.

    The government response is to force all students to go through another school year. In addition, a series of panic measures has been initiated by the authorities. But do not expect schools to be given peace and quiet, so that they may be able to figure out how to get things to work while dismantling those gadgets and administrative ‘reins’ that do not.

    For years schools have undergone a multitude of changes and been given new assignments, including being forced to monitor more grade control data and using new and more administration. Some changes are good, some bad. Changes include an enormous amount of computerized teaching where students via their apps, mobile phones and tablets are
    supposed to gain new knowledge. Pedagogy innovators have deleted textbooks and pencils, blackboards and pointers, and instead replaced them with new wireless e-readers
    and cell phones. Academics, such as myself, have many times – usually completely unheard – raised a warning finger to the educational establishment.

    Today it is very difficult to be a teacher and take responsibility for teaching in the classroom where students’ cell phones are constantly ringing, text messages are being
    sent back and forth, and surfing the entire time online or playing games through iPhones and iPads. All this when students really should be working on their school assignments.
    In Sweden, there have been several cases where the teacher was reprimanded because he or she “violated the students’ privacy” after taking cell phones from students, while
    other teachers have been criticized for being too strict with students for not allowing them to do what they want during school hours.
    SNIP

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    • 14 MAR 14

    AAEM on Australian smart meter case studies paper

    Excerpt (From October 2013 AAEM press release)

    Founded in 1965 as a non-profit medical association, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) is an international organization of physician and scientists interested in the complex relationship between the environment and health.

    AAEM physicians and physicians world-wide are treating patients who report adverse, debilitating health effects following the installation of smart meters,
    which emit electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) and radiofrequencies (RF). The peer reviewed, scientific literature demonstrates the correlation between EMF/RF exposure and neurological, cardiac, and pulmonary disease as well as reproductive disorders, immune dysfunction, cancer and other health conditions.

    The evidence is irrefutable. Despite this research, claims have been made that studies correlating smart meter emissions with adverse health effects do not exist. The AAEM has received a case series submitted by Dr. Federica Lamech, MBBS, Self-Reporting of Symptom Development from Exposure to Wireless Smart Meters’ Radiofrequency Fields in Victoria. AAEM supports this research. It is a well documented 92 case series that is scientifically valid. It clearly demonstrates adverse health effects in the human population from smart meter emissions. The symptoms reported in this case series closely correlate not only with the clinical findings of environmental physicians, but also with the scientific literature.

    Many of the symptoms reported including fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, dizziness and other symptoms have been shown to be triggered by electromagnetic field exposure under double blind, placebo controlled conditions. Symptoms in this case series also correlate with the Austrian Medical Association’s Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of EMF Related Health Problems.

    It is critically important to note that the data in this case series indicates that the “vast majority of cases” were not electromagnetically hypersensitive until after installation of smart meters. Dr. Lamech concludes that smart meters “may have unique characteristics that lower people’s threshold for symptom development”.

    SNIP

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    • 13 MAR 14

    Employee Smartphone Usage, Sleep and Productivity

    From People Diagnostix:Optimising Performance

    Smartphones are ubiquitous in modern life. They are an essential tool for communication, information storage and retrieval as well as entertainment. Many organisations supply smartphones, as well as similar technology (e.g. tablet PCs and laptops) to their employees in order improve productivity. There is no argument that this technology can expedite employee responses to time critical events and allow faster responses to internal and external customer enquiries. With their mobility, smartphone technology can allow employees to work regardless of the venue, or the availability of a desk. But does this technology come at a cost?

    Smartphones are almost perfectly designed to disrupt sleep. They typically keep individuals mentally stimulated, encourage poor sleep hygiene and expose them to blue light emitted from their luminous screens. This blue light exposure is key. About 15 years ago researchers discovered a new photoreceptor in the eye, called Melanopsin. Many are familiar with the “rods and cones” that provide our visual capabilities, however melanopsin, which are sensitive to a narrow band of blue light in the 460-480nm range, has been discovered to have unique effect on sleep by suppressing melatonin production. Melatonin is a circadian hormone that induces sleepiness at night, assists with getting to sleep, and obtaining deep, restorative sleep. A decrease in melatonin production at night typically creates sleep disturbances, but has also been linked with increased risk for diabetes and obesity, as well as increased risk for more serious diseases, such as breast cancer. Recently there have been a number of studies further investigating the impact of night time technology use, melatonin suppression, and subsequent impacts on sleep and next day performance.

    SNIP

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    • 12 MAR 14

    Cell Phone Addiction: Parents Glued To Smartphones Have ‘More Negative’ Interactions With Their Kids

    By Philip Ross
    on March 10 2014 7:24 PM

    For once, it’s parents and not youngsters who are being told to get their noses out of their smartphones. The reason? Thumbing through one’s phone incessantly could damage the parent-child bond.

    A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found that adults absorbed in their mobile devices were more likely to harshly scold their children’s behavior.

    Researchers from Boston Medical Center observed parents interacting with their children during meals in fast-food restaurants. They noted that one-third of the adults used their phones continuously during the meals, and 73 percent of them checked their devices at least once.

    When a parent who was glued to the phone was interrupted by a child, the parent was apt to react negatively, according to the study. One mother even kicked her child under the table after the child attempted to get her attention while she tapped away at her smartphone. Another mother ignored her child as he tried to lift her head from looking down at a tablet. Researchers believed the kids may have been acting out as a way to test limits or gain the parent’s attention.
    SNIP

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    • 11 MAR 14

    SCENIHR criticised over its inept approval on dental amalgam.

    In May 2008 SCENIHR issued a report titled, Safety of Dental Amalgam and Alternative Dental Restoration Materials for Patients and Users. The report concluded, in part: “We conclude that dental health can be adequately ensured by both types of material. All the materials are considered safe to use and they are all associated with very low rates of local adverse effects with no evidence of systemic disease.”
    SNIP
    HOWEVER, this report has come under extreme criticism from the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology – Europe (IAOMT), with its membership restricted to scientists, Medical doctors and dentists. The Scientific Advisory Committee of IAMOT issued a dissenting report on SCENIHR’s dismissing the toxic effects of mercury amalgams. SNIP. They concluded in part: “The SCENIHR report is best described as a Fishing Expedition rather than a scientific document; the omissions speak louder than the inclusions. The only logical interpretation is that the committee has selected data to support a predetermined conclusion as to the safety of dental amalgam.”
    SNIP
    And now the experts at SCENIHR are to give their opinion on the Potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. According to Dariusz Leszczynski (last message) it is looking like SCENIHR is about to do another almighty spin and dare to call it science.

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    • 10 MAR 14

    Dariusz Leszczynski: Very problematic SCENIHR Report

    From Dariusz Leszczynski’s blog Between A Rock and A Hard Place:

    I just finished reading the 2013 SCENIHR Report and got an overwhelming feeling of the utmost desperation. Evaluation of the scientific evidence is being distorted and SCENIHR provides an aura of “legitimacy” to this distortion. SCENIHR report has over 200 pages and it is not possible to mention all problems with it in this short blog. Here are few of the more grave problems with the SCENIHR report.

    Membership of the working group

    I do not know what procedure was applied when the membership of the working group of SCENIHR was assembled. What is clearly seen, is that the vast majority of scientists involved in the working group are known for the opinion that the current scientific evidence shows that RF exposures do not cause detrimental effects to human health. Such composition of the working group is, by itself, a reason for serious concern about possible bias in evaluation of the scientific evidence.

    SNIP

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    • 05 MAR 14

    A critique of the New Zealand report: “Health and Safety Aspects of Electricity Smart Meters”

    During a trip to New Zealand in November 2013 for a series of public presentations on issues raised by the introduction of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (Smart Meters) I was given two pieces of literature on smart meters in New Zealand.

    The first was copy of a statement titled “Smart Meters” issued by the Ministry of Health NZ in 2013. This statement claimed, among other things, that smart meter emissions are low, when compared to the New Zealand radiofrequency standard (NZS 2772.1:1999) and that smart meters ”only transmit periodically, using very brief signals.” This second claim is patently incorrect and is of concern that the Ministry of Health could get this fact so wrong as even a brief look at the available information on how smart meters work clearly shows that they do emit “very brief signals” but that they are emitted constantly throughout a 24 hour cycle. This will be discussed later in this paper.

    The second was a widely circulated report: Health and Safety Aspects of Electricity Smart Meters produced by New Zealand’s Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPEC) at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch in 2012. This report is now being circulated in New Zealand as evidence of the safety of smart meter technology. As the EPEC report claims to be addressing the health aspects of smart meter deployment in relation to the official radiofrequency exposure standard I address the following points:

    SNIP

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    • 04 MAR 14

    Research “firewalls” – The King is Naked!

    From Dariusz Leszczynski’s blog “Between a Rock and a Hard Place”, March 3, 2014:

    There is talk of “firewalls” between the industry funding research and the scientists executing this research. Are these firewalls providing a real independence of scientists from the funding industry or are they just for the sake of “keeping up appearances”? In practice, how reliable is the system of “firewalls”?

    In my opinion, the currently used system of “firewalls” does not work. Industry sponsors and sponsored scientists are intelligent people. Industry sponsors do not need to say “things” aloud and scientists understand “things” that are not said. In the situation of research data being very ambivalent, the interpretation of the meaning of the results is crucial and should not be in any way influenced by “things” not said…

    SNIP

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    • 03 MAR 14

    Australian Primary school opts not to install wi-fi

    From the Adelaide Advertiser, February 18, 2014

    Back to nature to bring out our best

    Martina Simos
    Education Writer

    UPPER Sturt Primary School is going without wi-fi in favour of valuing local bushland, but the decision does not compromise the value of the internet in children’s learning, an educator says.

    Principle Barb Jones said the decision for the school to not have wi-fi as part of its environmental and safety stance, was made in combination with the local community.

    When she arrived at the school of 27 students, parents approached her about their concerns over the long-term exposure to wi-fi, because research had been published about the possibility of health problems. After readingthe research, Ms Jones began a discussion with staff aaans it was decided not to install wi-fi but to data cabling instead. “The parents had done lots of research from Canada and they sent us information.” she said.

    “I looked at that research and I thought there was something there – especially for girls in the area of reproduction. This does not mean we do not value the internet or that children are unable to access the internet.”

    SNIP

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    • 27 FEB 14

    Greenwashing the Smart Grid: simply call it the EcoGrid

    At the forthcoming Smart Grid Australia (SGA) Conference, Parliament House, Canberra, 5th March 2014, a presentation is to be given about the EcoGrid project. Clever move on part of the European spin doctors. Greens leader Christine Milne is keynote speaker at the conference and she will be sure to like the concept of an environmentally friendly EcoGrid. However there is no difference between the EcoGrid and the Smart Grid except for the spelling. Its called Greenwashing.

    Here is an excerpt from the conference web site.

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    • 26 FEB 14

    BRHP Blog: WHO Knew: The Elephant in the Room – guest blog by Susan Foster

    From the blog of Dariusz Leszczynski.Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    This is the next in a series of guest blogs on BRHP. The opinions expressed in it are of Susan Foster herself. Publication of these opinions in BRHP does not imply that BRHP automatically agrees with or endorses these opinions. Publication of this, and other guest blogs, is an attempt to start an open debate and free […]
    SNIP

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    • 26 FEB 14

    Microwave News: Why Nothing Ever Changes

    Regular readers of Microwave News are aware
    of our common complaint that nothing ever changes.

    We decided take a close look at why and how this
    happens. Here we focus on what we thought would
    be a “breakthrough” research paper. Yet, this was
    another dead end.

    See how industry stacks the deck with a helping hand from the anti-EMF establishment.

    Read our latest post at
    http://microwavenews.com/news-center/lost-opportunities

    Best,
    Louis Slesin

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