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author: jailbushCould Dow Chemical set up a plant in downtown Portland? Well, Wi-Max technology is wi fion steroids that will blast every portlander in our homes whether we subscribe to it or not andthis technology is at least 3x's as harsh as the average cell tower. They must be stopped or thegenetic integrity of our children may be at risk. Thousands of studies worldwide (not oneongoingstudy in the u.s.!!) confirm that thisunregulated technology poses a devastating healthrisk thatsome scientists predict will overtak e tobacco and asbestos combined. Check outBioinitiative Report and www.wirelesswatchblog.com
If you would like to know more about this, write to oregonskywatch@gmail.com and check out the site: www.wirelesswatchblog.com We are organizing a class action suit against thecompany and the Mayor and City Council for allowing this to be set up here.Wi-fi faces health concernsPrint All Articles Letter to the editor Podcast Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.comon11 December 2003, 22:00by staff The mobile telephone industry spent many years - and millions of dollars - fighting chargesthat wireless handsets could cause brain cancer. Now it looks like the budding wi-fi movementcould face its own legal crisis with lawsuits alleging that 802.11 networks can cause similarphysical problems.A few families in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, have filed a class-action lawsuitagainst Oak Park Elementary School's District 97. They assert that wireless local-areanetworks (WLAN) in the school buildings expose their children to potential harm. Their suitpoints to a "substantial body of evidence that high frequency electro-magnetic radiation posessubstantial and serious health risks, particularly to growing children." The suit does not seek financial damages, but an end to the use of wi-fi in the neighborhood's schools.
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The Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group with members including Intel, Microsoft, Philips, andIBM, is aware of the suit, and says it will continue to pay attention to developments. "It'snatural when you hear about litigation for people to take notice," says Alliance chairmanDennis Eaton. "Members are sensitive to the amount of time and effort that might have to bespent defending themselves."The small suit could have big ramifications, particularly with wi-fi vendors. Global sales of 802.11 networks reached almost $1.3 billion through the first three quarters of this year,according to market research firm Dell'Oro Group. Tens of millions of people use thetechnology now, and the company predicts that the number will grow to 707 million by 2008,says Pyramid Research.Furthermore, as public hotspots invade hotels, airports, and coffee shops, an enormous numberof people could claim to be adversely and unknowingly affected by WLANs. That is a keypoint of the lawsuit. "We have not established a level that can be considered safe or eventolerably safe," says Ron Baiman, one of the parents who filed the lawsuit. "Our thinking isthat it is certainly prudent at this point not to use these in public schools."Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), October 10, 2006CONSENSUS STATEMENT ON ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION -- DRAFT[Rachel's introduction: The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) has beenbuilding consensus on the need for precautionary measures to avert harm from electromagneticradiation. Here is their draft statement.]We, the undersigned, are members of the CHE-EMF Working Group within the Collaborativeon Health and the Environment (CHE), together with like-minded colleagues from science,medicine and environmental health.We believe there are legitimate health concerns regarding exposure to radiofrequencyelectromagnetic radiation (EMR), which has rapidly become one of the most pervasiveenvironmental exposures in modern life. These concerns are based on the weight of evidencespanning decades of scientific research on radiofrequency (RF) radiation from countriesaround the world. The radiofrequency radiation sources addressed in this Consensus Statementare those from newer wireless technologies such as cell phones and cordless phones, celltowers/antennas, WI-FI networks, WI-MAX, as well as Broadband Radiofrequency Internetoverelectrical power lines (BPL).We recognize that there are significant uncertainties about the long- term health effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation. However, prudent policy requires acting on the bestavailable scientific evidence. Then, based on the Precautionary Principle, which is anoverarching guide for decision making when dealing with credible threats of harm andscientific uncertainty, policies to protect public health can be adopted.Asa way of implementing the Precautionary Principle, there should be an ongoing investmentin research, as well as funding for a transparent, participatory policy analysis of alternatives,when there is reason to believe that there may be a significant risk from current or proposedtechnologies. The principle states that "when an activity raises threats of harm to the
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environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if somecause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." These precautionarymeasures may include but are not necessarily limited to making investments in research andpolicy analysis. We are deeply concerned that there is insufficient non-industry fundingsupport for critical research, given the potential public health consequences of involuntary andchronic exposure to radiofrequency radiation.The following four examples show how the Precautionary Principle has been implemented.* Scientists in the United Kingdom recommend that no child under the age of 8 years old use acellphone. Research evidence shows that children are more vulnerable than adults to harmfrom other environmental exposures (such as chemicals), and the same may be true of radiofrequency radiation exposures.* The International Association of Fire Fighters passed a resolution in 2004, calling for amoratorium on new cell phone antennas on fire stations and a study of the health effects of theseinstallations. The Chairman of the Russian National Committee for Non-IonizingRadiation Protection (RNCNIRP), Yuri Grigoriev, advised that cellular communication isstrongly contraindicated for children and teenagers. The Canadian Public Health Officer,David Butler-Jones, advised Canadians to limit their and their children's use of cell phonesuntil science resolves uncertainties about long-term health effects.* More research is needed on the health/biological effects, the level of current and futureexposure, and the feasibility, cost and exposure implications of these technologies, as well asalternatives and modifications to current technology.* While research continues, we believe there is sufficient evidence to recommendprecautionary measures that people can take to protect their health, and the health of theirfamilies, co-workers and communities. We recommend the following measures:Use a corded phone/land line if possible, which does not involve RF exposure. Emergency useof cell phones is not discouraged but land lines should be used for normal day-to-daycommunication needs.If you use a cell phone, use an earpiece/headset or the "speaker phone" setting, which greatlyreduces the RF exposure because the phone is not held next to your head and brain. Using textmessaging is also a good way to reduce RF exposure.Be aware that the cell phone radiates to some degree even when in "standby" mode. You canavoid this radiation by either keeping the phone off (using it as an answering machine), orawayfrom your body.Using a cordless phone outdoors to alert you to an incoming call is handy, but returning insideto use a corded phone/land line to conduct the conversation is advisable.Bef ore adopting WI-FI wireless networks in workplaces, schools and cities, the extent of exposure and possible health effects should be publicly discussed. Although convenient, WI-FIwireless networks create pervasive, continuous, involuntary exposure to radiofrequencyradiation. Preferable alternatives to wireless technology for voice and data transmission,including cable and fiber-optic technologies (that produce no radiofrequency radiation), should
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