World-News

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1779393,00.html

From Chris

Thought you might "like" the article below from yesterdays Guardian newspaper. Check out number six on the list. The article was published yesterday and is written by a thirty something twit of a journo who has no experience of esmog, and appears to be just regurgitate the party line of scientists.

Should you wish to complain to the guardian after read inf section 6, here is the information on how to do so from their website: How to contact the Guardian's readers' editor. It is the policy of the Guardian to correct significant errors as soon as possible and the paper has appointed a Readers' Editor to deal with questions and complaints from readers. The Guardian also has an Ombudsman to represent the interests of readers where the Readers Editor is unable to resolve a problem to the satisfaction of all parties.

Please quote the date of the article you have read. Readers may contact the office of the readers' editor by telephoning +44 (0) 20 7713 4736 between 11am and 5pm Monday to Friday excluding UK public holidays.

Email: reader@guardian.co.uk
Fax: 020-7239 9997.
Ian Mayes
The Guardian
119 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3ER


Chris


Read the report in today’s Guardian news paper, I’ve enclosed my reply.

Guardian Unlimited | Science | Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1779393,00.html


Best wishes

Eileen


-----Original Message-----
From: Eileen O'Connor
eileen@smokestackltd.co.uk
Sent: 20 May 2006 14:06
To: bad.science@guardian.co.uk
Subject: Message for Ben Goldacre


Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible

Guardian Unlimited | Science | Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1779393,00.html

Ben Goldacre
Saturday May 20, 2006
The Guardian


Dear Mr Goldacre

I was disappointed to read your article in the paper today; it saddens me as I along with many people have genuinely suffered as a result of living 100 metres from a phone mast for over seven years. If only I had the opportunity to know what I know now, I might not have gone on to develop breast cancer at the age of 38 and would have realised the years of sleep problems had been connected to exposure to microwave radiation.

Thankfully Powerwatch offer a much needed and honest service, the main advice given by Alasdair Philips is to use mobile phones for emergency use only. If people followed this advice, we wouldn’t have a need for as many masts and the industry might adopt safer technology with more urgency. I’m sure you wouldn’t choose to have a mast outside the bedroom of your child.

Please find enclosed the latest information I have put together and make time to listen to the Dr George Carlo interview.

Dr George Carlo’s interview on EMF-Omega-News 13. May 2006 http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1957891/

If his predictions are right by 2015 we will be seeing the biggest health disaster the world has ever seen with 1 in 4 people experiencing health problems as a result of using mobile phones, especially children.

Your Cell Phone is Dangerous. A Special Radio Interview with Dr. George Carlo Dr. George Carlo, Ph.D, M.S., J.D, respected epidemiologist and public health scientist, headed the $28.5 million research program funded by the cell phone industry. Dr. Carlo has appeared on 20/20, 60 Minutes, World News Tonight, CBS News with Dan Rather and The Today's Show, as well as on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. In July 2006, a documentary film of his work will be released in major theatres.

Association Vallisoletana de Afectad@s por las Antennas de Telecommunications - AVAATE

Best wishes

Eileen O’Connor
Trustee – EM Radiation Research Trust

--------

Please find enclosed a letter from Jean Philips to Ben Goldacre following today’s report.

Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible

Guardian Unlimited | Science | Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible

Ben Goldacre Saturday May 20, 2006

Best wishes

Eileen O’Connor


Dear Ben Goldacre,

I have been copied into some of the electronic communication that has been happening recently on the subject of electrical sensitivity.

My name is Jean Philips. I have been working with my husband Alasdair Philips for some 15 years, investigating the health effects attributed to the action of electromagnetic fields. We have a website http://www.powerwatch.org.uk and are affiliated to no government or industry. We are completely independent. I am also a trustee of Electrosensitivity-UK.

During this time I have become increasingly aware of the small, but significant number of people (about 3% of the population at a conservative estimate) who describe symptoms, which have been mentioned in other communications, which become worse in the presence of some EMF frequencies. They have been in contact with me through email, telephone or by letter.

There are a number of these who have other problems including psychiatric ones, probably a little greater than the percentage you would find in the population as a whole. I have about 10 years experience of working with people with psychiatric problems, and can usually recognise the overlap. I believe that the higher percentage is due to the fact that problems of recognition of, what to the sufferer is a very real problem, can lead to depression and anxiety, rather than these being the cause of the problem. I guess it is why they tend to turn to complementary practitioners who do not pass judgements as readily as many GPs.

The fact that some of these people are otherwise ill, does not rule out the fact that they may be electrically sensitive. By far the majority of people do not have any degree of psychiatric disorder, and are reacting to elecyromagnetic field exposure with physiological, neurological and cognitive changes that can make life incredibly difficult. There is a scale of sensitivity, and fortunately most people who have the symptoms are not at the extreme end.

This variation in severity can be a problem when studying the condition. EHS is not a clear-cut, yes you have it, no you don't sort of condition. Some people, like Gro Harlem Brundtland only react to mobile phone radiation, even if quite severely. She may be able to spend hours in front of a computer, remain unaffected by mobile phone mast radiation and be able to work under fluorescent lights all day without developing a headache.

EHS sufferers appear to react to different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, some to low frequency emissions (computers, fluorescent lights,etc.), some to high frequency (mobile phones, digital cordless phones, mobile phone masts, etc.) and some to both. Some will be slightly affected and others are unable to tolerate the sort of field levels that maybe you and I would tolerate happily for weeks on end. Sensitivity can develop suddenly, out of the blue, and can be initiated by non-EMFs, a common trigger being an unusual chemical reaction that results in chemical as well as electrical sensitivity.

I will be briefer, as you don't want a lecture, and this feels like it is becoming one.

Exposure levels in studies are difficult to standardise and will describe the people not sensitive to those frequencies or strengths that are being used, as not sensitive at all. People who are very sensitive cannot take part as they are too badly affected. I have spoken to many people who have had to drop out of the Rubin study and the ongoing Essex University study, because they were so ill after the first exposure they could not continue. There are other technical problems with many of the studies. Alasdair has advised on some and the protocols have been changed to correct the errors.

The study commissioned by the HPA which reported in 2005 (Definition, Epidemiology and Management of Electrical Sensitivity), included in section 4.5.5 that people with EHS when asked what helped reduce their symptoms on a rating scale of 1-6, where 6 was most effective, reported

4.5 - disconnecting electricity
4.3 - removing indoor source
4.2 - avoiding exposure.

This seems to be worth investigating further. Why does this work so well, if there is no involvement of EMFs? It is a question that needs looking into, as the other factors listed were not as effective at reducing symptoms.

It is difficult to curb personal passion at times, when you hear as I do, and others who represent people with EHS, many of whom are too ill to represent themselves, do, about the dreadful suffering that many people endure, made worse by disbelief and sometimes ridicule. It did not help the sufferers of ME and Gulf War Syndrome to be told it was all in the mind.

I am happy to speak to you further should you wish to do so.

Yours sincerely

Jean Philips

--------

Hello Ben,

With regard to your one-sided article http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1779393,00.html
you suggest people to ask to be radiated by masts all night - very interesting. You ignore the difference between masts and phones: people don't talk on the phone all night, but masts radiate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and one cannot control it. In contrast, one can turn off the mobile phone- How is that for a "sober analysis of the data"? If you think mobile phones power is a negative thing - then why don't you just suggest people to limit their exopsure time to the phone instead of inviting a private antenna near their house? The answer may be in your sentence "critiques of character and finance are a poor substitute for a sober analysis of the data." The evidence based fact is that you did not disclose to the readers whether you are you paid by the companies. I suspect you used this argument as a red herring for not dealing with the real data (see below - the actual studies on masts) BECAUSE you have something to hide. Otherwise why don't you just simply and honestly reveal to the readers: are you paid by the industry or not?

I will invite a private antenna after you do that in reality, not by spreading irresponsible words on the paper.

BTW did you check with Alasdair Philips' COM device, how much your phone emits? I am sure you will change your tone after you do that.

And finally, here is a sober analysis of the data: http://www.starweave.com/masts/


Regards

Iris Atzmon.

--------

REPLY TO THE GUARDIAN

It is really shocking how Mr Goldacre is so happy to denigrate what Powerwatch are saying by implying that they are trying to persuade people to buy their products by scaring people!

Why is it acceptable to believe what the phone industry and government are saying when they stand to benefit in billions of pounds of profit from the industry?

Why belittle an individual who has to earn his money for his research somehow and can't get any from the industry or government as they don't like what he is saying?

I am very pleased that Powerwatch are providing us with some true information as to the science of the dangers of microwave radiation on living beings. It is the government and industry who are not to be trusted.

What would happen if there were a problem? Can you really see the government or industry admitting it? What about the law suits? What about the profits? What about the billions the government have got from the phone industry, how would they give it back?

Open your eyes and look at the research, there is plenty of it but don't ask the government to give it to you, look for the real researchers , ask them. You are supposed to be a journalist after all.

What did the tobacco industry say 30 years ago?

I have a physics degree and the independent research makes perfect sense.

I have bought Powerwatch's products and managed to shield the radiation out of my Mothers flat.

She has suffered ever since she moved in 1999 from a host of illnesses and been on deaths door 3 times in the last 6 years.

Last year when I became aware of the effects of microwave radiation after doing some research on the subject I bought a radiation monitor and took it to her house and found it full of radiation (below the guidelines as it always is).

All my mother's symptoms fitted with what doctors in Germany are describing.

She has had a blood test in Germany and a hair analysis and radiation damage is confirmed.

You can't say it is psychological since we did not know of these effects until one year ago after she was already very ill. We also didn't know there was a phone mast near her flat as it is on a rooftop and 500m away from her flat so we didn't notice it.

Since we have shielded her flat my mother is improving. She is 79 so conventional wisdom would not expect her to regain her energy!

Last year she was so fatigued that she could only get up 1 day in 7. Now she is out late at night with her friends. Her auto-immune lung disease has stabilised, her immune system is strengthened, her appetite has come back, the pains in her head gone and her sleep returned to normal.

If you stubbenly refuse to repeat in your paper anything but the industry/government view then you can't be surprised if people assume you are an industry spokesman. There are may people out there who know a lot more about the subject than you do. You won't even publish any letters like mine in the paper. I wonder why?

Yours

Sarah



Concerning: Phone mast on every street?
From: SylviaWright
Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 14:17:51 EDT
To: bad.science@guardian.co.uk

OK - maybe you are just trying to wind up everyone who is concerned about mobile phone masts into a frenzy - I want to tell you IT'S WORKED!!

I won't waste time and effort answering all of your extravagent statements, but suffice to say that one can choose whether to use the phone (low signal or high) - but one cannot choose to lose the mast (or turn it off) - it will be pulsing away 24/7 - just in case anyone wants to make the usual inane mindless calls we hear wherever we go.

I really wish you "science correspondents" would consult people (Powerwatch being one - HPA another) who know the facts and not just play to the gallery.


Regards

Sylvia Wright


From Mast Sanity/Mast Network

--------

----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Weatherall
To: bad.science@guardian.co.uk
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 7:42 PM
Subject: Cell phone masts do severely harm people.


Ben Goldacre

It would be useful for you to speak to people who are harmed by cell phone masts before you write any more articles on the subject.

In Canada I know of several people who have been severely harmed by the effects of electro magnetic radiation. Their lives have been devastated by what they have been through and how they are still being harmed every day.

I have attached a few documents that may help you to understand the situation better.

If you are going to write stories when you are ignorant of the facts, it is better not to write at all, you are misinforming people who need to know.


Yours sincerely

Martin Weatherall
Ontario,
Canada.



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Goldacre
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Goldacre

Mobile phone giant O2 has applied to put up a 41ft phone mast near two primary schools in Shrewsbury, just weeks after a bid for a similar mast was thrown out.

The company has submitted a planning application to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council to erect a mast next to the junction of Copthorne Park and Copthorne Road.

It is described as a slimline street works style monopole telecommunications mast with three antenna and ancillary equipment cabin. It would be built close to Woodfield County Infant School and St George’s Junior School.

O2 claims it would help meet increasing demands on its network. But the proposal looks set to attract criticism, coming weeks after O2’s bid to build a riverside mast in Shrewsbury was thrown out by councillors.

Copthorne Park residents Tom and Elizabeth Ferris have already sent a letter of objection to the borough council, calling the proposal “lunacy” and grossly irresponsible given its proximity to the schools.

However Jim Stevenson, community relations manager for O2 said: “The masts are completely safe. As far as we are concerned people need have no fear at all.”

Omega this is not true. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

The full version of this article appears in the Shrewsbury edition of tonight’s Shropshire Star.

© 2003-06 Shropshire Newspapers Ltd

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=45639

The Age newspaper,
Melbourne Australia
By Adam Morton
May 19, 2006

ELECTRICAL workers will refuse to work on or near operational mobile phone towers in Victoria until safety standards are introduced, fearing exposure to electromagnetic radiation causes cancer.

The Electrical Trades Union ban came as preliminary testing at RMIT University’s business school found no evidence that rooftop phone towers caused brain tumours in seven staff since 1999.

While medical experts said there was no proven link between phone towers and cancer, fears rose after it was revealed that tumours were found in staff working on the top floor.

Electrical union state secretary Dean Mighell said there was overseas evidence linking tumours to long-term electromagnetic radiation exposure, whether from high-voltage power lines or phone towers.

“Saying it is inconclusive is not good enough,” he said. “It needs to be conclusive that it’s safe, and when there is so much evidence saying it’s not, we think it is time the telecommunications industry adopts the same standards as the power industry and protects workers and residents.”

Mr Mighell urged communications companies to adopt regulations forcing electrical workers to wear protective equipment, carry radiation meters and work on towers for limited periods.

City authorities have sought council control over medium-sized phone towers through planning permits. There are 169 mobile phone network masts in the Melbourne CBD.

RMIT vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner said the university would pay for past and present staff who worked in the building to see an occupational phys-ician.

She said the number of illnesses linked to the building remained at seven, despite more than 150 calls to its medical help line and claims the academics’ union knew of a possible death.

“There have been no further cases identified at present but there are undoubtedly people who have come forward and investigations will be under way,” she said.

Business staff were told a decision on whether they would be asked to return to work on the top floor of the 17-storey building would not be made until final test results were available earlynext week.

At least one senior, long-term employee yesterday told a staff meeting he would not work on the top floor again, regardless of the test results.

The university offered to move staff from the top two floors eight days ago after five tumours were discovered in a month, following earlier cases in 1999 and 2001.

Testing includes radiation, air and water quality and surface contamination.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association said that while public safety was paramount to the mobile telecommunications industry, there was no credible scientific evidence of health effects from living or working near a mobile phone tower.

Chief executive Chris Althaus said the ETU’s move was unjustified and unwarranted.

He said the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency had recently confirmed the safety of mobile phone towers, having researched 60 mobile base stations across Australia last year. The agency found that on average, the exposure level was many thousands of times less than the national safety limit in places where the levels were expected to be at their highest.

Mr Althaus said agency studies had noted AM radio contributed about 91 per cent of radio frequency emissions while mobile phone towers contributed only 1.4 per cent.

Source: http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/index.php?p=470

--------

Wednesbury Action for the Removal of Telephone masts.

http://www.w-a-r-t.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Check this out.
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200605/r85677_251510.mp3


Peter


Informant: Eileen O'Connor

18 May 2006

Residents are fighting plans to install a seven-metre-high mobile phone mast just 100 metres from two schools.

Seventy-eight Blackfen residents attended a meeting on Monday night to find out more about the application by T-Mobile.

The company submitted an application to Bexley council to install the mast at the junction of Days Lane, Berwick Crescent and Fen Grove on April 26.

Residents are concerned that the mast will be too close to Days Lane Primary School in Days Lane and Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School in Holbeach Gardens. They say installing the mast so near the schools will endanger the health of the children.

Paul Crudge, 36, of Berwick Crescent, who is leading the campaign against the mast, said: "The siting is the main objection, but there are also the unknown effects the mast could have on people's health. We are also concerned about the devaluation of our houses. A local estate agent has said we could be looking at losing £10,000 to £20,000 on the price of our homes if the mast is installed."

Mr Crudge, a father of two, added: "We don't object to technology - we all have mobile phones - it's just the siting of the mast that concerns us. There has to be somewhere more suitable to put it." Objectors have until May 26 to send their views on the application to the council. Protestors are urging residents to send in letters of objection.

Barry Turner-Smith, community relations officer for T-Mobile, said residents had nothing to fear because all the company's telephone stations met the precautionary guidelines recommended in the 2000 Stewart Report.

Omega read "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?" under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

He said the World Health Organisation had not found any scientific evidence that radio-frequency fields produced by mobile phone masts posed health risks to the public.

Omega this is not true. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

He added: "If that organisation says it's safe then we will follow that".

For more about the campaign, go to http://www.notransmitter.co.uk.

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/q3dhb

By Karen Bate

Concerns have been raised about the safety guidelines governing radiation exposure to the public from mobile phone base stations

TIME is running out for the residents of Ashley Heath, near Ringwood, to lodge their objections against a plan to put up a 30-metre high mobile phone mast in the village.

Mobile phone company Orange PCS Ltd wants to build the mast comprising three antennae, four microwave dishes, six equipment cabinets, an electricity meter and associated fencing on land at the rear of the Forestry Commission office, just off Horton Road.

Objectors to the proposal have only until tomorrow to lodge their protests in writing with East Dorset district council.

Plans for the mast have already upset some residents and St Leonards and St Ives parish councillors, who have fears about its implications on their health, as well as the prospect of living in the shadow of such a "large" structure.

Parish clerk Ann Jacobs said: "The mast is too close to residential areas, it is too dominant and is a sensitive structure, with adverse implications in respect of public health."

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party Euro-MP for South East England, warned that safety guidelines for phone masts are inadequate.

She said: "Research conducted on behalf of the European Parliament has demonstrated those safety guidelines governing the exposure of radiation to the public from mobile phone base stations are inadequate.

"In the face of real health risks we should adopt the precautionary principle and stop allowing masts to be built at sites which are close to residential areas."

Ms Lucas added: "However, the planning laws make it difficult for local authorities to take risks to human health into account when deciding whether to give phone operators permission to erect masts.

"The government must review the legislation and require local councils to adopt the precautionary principle, when considering the siting of mobile phone masts."

If approved, the Ashley Heath mast would be the second to be built in the village.

Residents at Sunnyside Caravan Park already live within metres of a BT Cellnet mast, which caused controversy when it was in the planning stages.

East Dorset district council spokesman James Brightman said of the Orange mast application: "It is par for the course, although 30 metres is pretty tall. The government require 21 days for objections to be voiced and the time frame is considered to be satisfactory."

The council confirmed that there have been no objections from either Dorset county highways or the East Dorset tree officer.

A spokesman for the Forestry Commission said that an agreement had been reached in principle with Orange and the phone mast was going through the planning stages.

When asked if the commission had any concerns about the health implications for its employees at the Ashley Heath branch, the spokesperson said: "None, because the mast is around 80 yards away."

11:29am today

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/journalnewsindex/display.var.764324.0.clock_ticks_on_mast_decision.php

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2006/phone-mast-17-05-06.shtml



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Burnham-On-Sea

Heard on CBC News May 17th 06, (The natives in Nunavut are suddenly complaining of headaches, nausea and dizziness). The Natives in Nunavut Canada now enjoy Free WiFi. ComGuard CTS launched the system April 6.. The government is checking their homes for -------------MOLD.--------The natives want new homes.

Robert

Sukattuq Online http://support.comguardcts.com/forums/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=21

The Canadian Headache Broadcasting Corporation-RER

In the Great North, the small capital of Iqaluit has free Wi-Fi
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060419.gtiqaluit0419/BNStory/Technology/home

Free Wi-Fi in Nunavut, Canada
http://wifinetnews.com/archives/006496.html


Informant: Martin Weatherall

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Health risks of Wi-Fi and WLAN on our health
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1122031/