World-News

Powerwatch News: 27/04/2006

http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20060427_hpa_emfdg.asp

Summary: At the personal request of Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA), a new discussion group has been set up to help develop suitable precautionary advice for the general public regarding exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The people invited to participate in this group have considerable expertise in relation to addressing possible health effects from exposure to EMFs. Sir William Chaired the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones which published “The Stewart Report” in May 2000.

The terms of reference for the work of the new discussion group are:

to provide a forum for considering possible health concerns related to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and to provide an input to the development of HPA advice.

It was agreed that the work of the Group would involve discussion of areas of public concern that relate to the work of HPA Radiation Protection Division and the development of its advice. It needs to ensure that its work concentrates on topics of direct relevance to HPA-RPD and that it does not duplicate the work of other Groups and Committees. The RPD has a primary responsibility to provide a scientific view of how various radiations across the EMF spectrum can affect public health. RPD also has a responsibility to ensure that when information is presented to the public, it should be informative and address any concerns.

Three main topics were discussed at the first meeting, held on the 2nd of March 2006. These were:

A recent RPD report on Electrical Sensitivity Exposures to Magnetic Fields from Power Frequencies A report from the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) on Power Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, Melatonin and the Risk of Breast Cancer.

Minutes for this first meeting have now been published by the HPA RPD and are available from here.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/emfdg/index.htm

Current Membership consists of:

Sir William Stewart, Chairman (Health Protection Agency)
Dr John Stather, Secretary (Health Protection Agency)
Mr Mike Bell (Chairman, EM Radiation Research Trust)
Dr Mike Clark (Health Protection Agency)
Mr Andy Davidson (Tetrawatch)
Mr Michael Dolan (Mobile Operators Association)
Professor Denis Henshaw (University of Bristol)
Mr George Hooker (Department of Health)
Dr Myron Maslanyj (Health Protection Agency)
Dr Jill Meara (Health Protection Agency)
Mr Alan Meyer (Mast Action UK Services)
Professor Mike O‚Carroll (Chairman, Revolt)
Mrs Eileen O‚Connor (EM Radiation Research Trust)
Mr Alasdair Philips (Powerwatch)
Professor Alan Preece (University of Bristol)
Mr Lee Searles (Local Government Association)
Dr Zenon Sienkiewicz (Health Protection Agency)
Mrs Anne Silk (Independent Consultant)
Dr John Swanson (National Grid Transco)
Mr Chris Woollams (CANCERactive)

Source: http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/index.php?p=446

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The HPA acknowledged the condition of hypersensitivity exists and that it affects some people in the population
http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/1878998/

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First Meeting of the HPA - Radiation Protection Division EMF Discussion Group

From Sylvie Hsem:

See full report at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/emfdg/emfdg_minutes_2_3_06.pdf

Chilton Thursday, 2 March 2006 Those Attending Sir William Stewart, Chairman (Health Protection Agency)…

Welcome and Work of the EMF Discussion Group…

Three main topics had been identified for discussion at the meeting. These were:

1 A recent RPD report on Electrical Sensitivity
2 Exposures to Magnetic Fields from Power Frequencies
3 A report from the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) on Power Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, Melatonin and the Risk of Breast Cancer

Each item was introduced by a member of HPA-RPD staff who summarised key points in the published reports. They were then opened for discussion by member of the EMFDG…

http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/index.php?p=510

By Carron Taylor

Love them or loathe them, mobile phones will likely be working at deep level Tube stations near you by 2008.

Transport for London (TfL), which manages the London Underground, is about to begin a two-month feasibility study looking at what is needed to install mobile phone transmitters underground.

A spokesman for TfL said it would be looking at four deep-level stations in central London to see what was needed for the scheme to operate, which would allow passengers to access digital broadcast services as well.

He said a survey into what passengers wanted, carried out over a year ago, revealed they wanted a phone signal on platforms and in station passageways, but not on Tubes or in tunnels.

He said: "We are very much led by what our passengers want. What we now need to do is investigate the issue of space."

He said once the technology had been looked at another survey into "passenger perceptions" would take place to find out how they would feel about the technology being extended to carriages.

"Our message would be if the technology was ever extended it would need to be respectful. It is an option if passengers want it, but if they did we would have to be acutely sensitive to those who did not," he said.

A spokeswoman from the anti-mast campaign group Mast Sanity spoke out against the development.

Sian Meredith said that when you are inside a metal box, in this case a Tube carriage, and people used their mobile phones they emited lots of microwave radiation.

She said: "Apart from a possible terrorist threat, who knows what we could be experiencing. It's highly irresponsible to have such emission levels in such an enclosed space, there's nowhere for it to escape."

Ms Meredith said another worrying factor concerned what protection was going to be afforded to train drivers and people with electro-sensitivity.

"There are ongoing surveys looking into the issue of microwave radiation which haven't made their conclusions yet. How can this technology be put in such a confined space without us knowing what the effects will be?" she added.

A spokesman for TfL said the technology would not be up and running before early 2008 but the contract would likely go out to tender next year.

What's your opinion? Email dtilley@london.newsquest.co.uk

12:31pm today

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/display.var.743864.0.calling_for_a_phone_signal.php

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My contribution... Sylvia

Betreff: Tube phone coverage
Von: SylviaWright
Datum: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:37:34 EDT
An: dtilley@london.newsquest.co.uk

I wonder if any decision maker has considered (or cares) whether the safety guidelines - such as they are - will be exceeded by dozens of people making mobile calls and using their laptops wirelessly at the same time within a confined metal box? Especially in view of the fact that 02 recently recalled on of its phones as it was in danger of catching fire!

Regards

Cllr Sylvia Wright


From Mast Sanity/Mast Network


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Mobile coverage for London Underground
http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/1844661/

27 April 2006

A MAN who is urging a mobile phone company to scrap plans to install a mast near a school is standing as an independent candidate in next week's elections.

Gary Cripps, a member of action group Orange Squash, has announced his plans to stand in the Lesnes Abbey Ward to 'give the people one voice'.

The 31-year-old salesman is standing in the elections in the hope of stopping more masts being installed near schools and hospitals.

The father-of-two locked horns with mobile phone giant Orange earlier this year, when they announced plans to install a mast near Bedonwell Junior School, Bedonwell Road, Belvedere.

He said: "It is not because we are a political group, but despite collecting thousands of petitions, large corporations and the government refuse to listen to the concerns of our communities.

"We believe the only way we can truly force the ear of governing bodies or organisations impacting our local environment is to voice our own, and our neighbours concerns, at the forthcoming local elections."

Mr Cripps also believes mobile phone companies should be made to pay for the use of the mast and not the taxpayer.

He added: "One of the main philosophies of Orange Squash is true cost of ownership. This means that the owners [of masts] and users should pay for all the costs and not the local residents."

Mr Cripps also expressed concern over the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge and the Belvedere Incinerator.

Orange is currently in a consultation period with members of Orange Squash and other residents over the proposed mast in Bedonwell Road.

Bosses at Orange are yet to decide if a planning application will be submitted to Bexley council.

Resident Alan Eaton, the brainchild behind Orange Squash, recently submitted a 200-signature petition to bosses at Orange.

For more details view http://www.orangesquash.org .

Copyright © 2006 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

http://tinyurl.com/h86vk

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Maybe we should all consider forming an Independent Anti mast campaign group for the next election. I feel completely the same as Gary, I was extremely disappointed as not one Sutton Coldfield Councillor attended SCRAM's AGM meeting on Friday, despite sending out invitations to all of them, what level of commitment does that show?

Good luck to Gary Cripps in this forth coming election, I wish he was standing for the local councillor's election here as he would certainly get my vote.

Eileen O'Connor
SCRAM (Seriously Concerned Residents Against Masts)
http://www.scram.uk.com

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I think it is great that someone is prepared to stand on this ticket. However, I have to say I don't hold out much hope for him to have very much influence, even if he is successfully elected.

Here in Burnley , we recently held a well attended public meeting. One Councillor, who is a member of the Development Control Committee, spoke from the audience, to express her belief that more precaution was needed in the planning process and that no masts should be placed close to Schools, Hospitals or Residences. She later told me that she had been told that by declaring her interest at a public meeting she had barred herself from considering any future mast planning applications. It seems that it is OK to vote if you support the idea of placing masts anywhere, but barred if you object. Further, Councillors in a particular ward, where a mast application is pending, cannot speak to a colleague who is on the Development Control Committee about that specific mast, as that would be considered to be lobbying. So much for democracy !

Incidentally, I heard some time ago that when John Prescott accepted the money for 3G licence fees and gave the operator three years to provide 80% coverage to the UK, he also said, albeit covertly, that during that 3 years they would have a virtual carte blanche to place masts where they wanted, but after then, the rules would be tightened. This places the Government in a position where they dare not change the rules or they would have the operators claiming their money back. Money that has already been spent. This would also explain why the Minister talked out the Curry Private Member's Bill in March.

Dennis Cannon



I had this from our council too about declaring an interest. This was Chris Maile's response:

'This story has circulated quite a bit lately and of course it is nonsense, at best an over zealous local planning authority, if any such dictate was to come out of the ODPM it would be challengeable as being ultra vires (without authority) indeed on average we get 30% of planning inspectors refuse mast applications technically in the name of Precott as the relevant Secretary of State.'

Sarah P


From Mast Sanity/Mast Network

From Karen Barratt

A chance for input ? I dread to think what a new leaflet will say.

Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 10:29 AM
Subject: MOBILE PHONES & HEALTH

Hi Karen,

I thought this link might interest you.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2006-04-25b.64843.h&s=mobile+phone#g64843.r0

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Hmm - how difficult it is to get the answers we want from the govt. I would like to have the question asked in a different way, perhaps 'When and how will the government come clean to the public about the uncertainty over health effects from mobile phones and masts, and about the major studies suggesting real problems and warning against complacency, e.g. studies x, y and z, since the publication of Stewart in 2000.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how we can get that sort of question tabled?

Sarah L

THE Planning Service is satisfied the equipment O2 proposes to install at Dromore's Barban Hill meets public health guidelines and has recommended the application be approved. O2 took its application to erect equipment at an existing Orange Radio Base Station in the Dromore Rugby Club grounds to the Planning Appeals Commission ahead of a Planning Service determination. But in a letter to Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, the Planning Service announced its opinion that the application be approved. This is despite two letters of objection to the plans. Divisional Planning Manager Hilary Heslip said that as long as the proposal was within the guidelines set down by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection it was not necessary for the Department to consider that aspect. While the letter said the planning system was not the place for determining health safeguards, it added that health issues were regarded as a material consideration and had been considered in formulating an opinion on the application. It was for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to decide what measures were necessary to protect public health, it said, and where emissions from mobile telecommunications equipment were concerned DHSSPS accepted the need for, and contributed financially towards, further research. However, DHSSPS considers the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure to electromagnetic fields, as accepted by the World Health Organisation, to be based on the best evidence available to date. "Accordingly," the letter went on, "where concern is raised about the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields, if the proposed development meets the ICNIRP guidelines in all respects it should not be necessary for the Department to consider this aspect further." The O2 application was accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity with ICNIRP Public Exposure Guidelines, stating that the proposal was within the international guidelines.

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

27 April 2006

All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press Digital Publishing.

http://www.dromoreleader.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3402&ArticleID=1468145

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WHO, EMF, Electromagnetic Radiation and Mobile Phones
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1194586/

Susie Goldacre, right, and Alex Tucker, of Rose Hill, tear up their protest poster describing the possible building of a mobile phone mast near Humphris Garage

It was a close call, but campaigners have won their fight to stop a phone company erecting a mast in their community.

Oxford City Council refused Vodafone permission to build a 10m mast outside Humphris Garage, Rose Hill, in October, but the phone company appealed against the decision.

However, campaigners heard this week that the planning inspectorate had thrown the appeal out on the grounds of visual impact and appearance, and inadequate consideration of alternative locations.

Resident Mike Knibbs, one of those who protested against the mast, said: "I'm delighted at the news. It would only have been 24m from my property and I'm sure those emissions are still questionable. It's a victory for common sense."

Fellow campaigner Susie Goldacre said: "It's very good news. Here's a situation where a community comes out in support of an environment that looks better and functions better, and it succeeds. It's thanks to all the people that supported us."

The application was initially recommended for approval by officers, but was turned down by the council's south east area committee after it heard that 350 letters of opposition had been received.

City councillor Ed Turner, who represents Rose Hill and Iffley, said: "I'm chuffed to bits. It's quite rare for a council to win an appeal after refusing something which officers had said should get the green light, but it would have been such a blot on the area.

"I was always sure we'd made the right decision and I'm glad the planning inspectorate agreed."

An appeal by T-mobile against refusal of permission for a mast about 400m away in Courtland Road, Rose Hill, was turned down last month.

In February, North Oxford residents protested against plans to install a mast to serve Vodafone and 02 inside SS Philip and James Church in Woodstock Road. The application was refused.

In November, children in Ardley-with-Fewcott, near Bicester, formed an action group and launched a petition against plans for a mast in Fritwell Road.

Last May, hundreds of signatures were collected against an application from Three for a phone mast on the tower of St Michael's and All Angel Church in Jack Straw's Lane, Oxford.

While this application was given permission, plans for another mast in Marston Road were turned down after strong opposition.

8:59am today

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.743011.0.mast_victory.php

By Claire Green

A STEP forward has been taken in a bid to stop mobile phone giant O2 from building a phone mast on Shoreditch Road.

Taunton Deane Council is planning to take out a discontinuance notice against the O2 mast in Shoreditch Road, but in order to do so it needs to get planning permission granted for an alternative site.

Following consultations with the council's telecommunications consultant and planning officer the council has found an alternative mast site that would serve the same area as the existing mast, but it would be in an area of land adjacent to the motorway, surrounded by trees, instead of in a street.

The application has been registered and a consultation will begin in the next few days, with the application hopefully completed in eight weeks.

Once a decision has been made, the planning committee will be able to consider serving a discontinuance order on O2 for the Shoreditch Road mast, in the knowledge of the like compensation claim O2 might make.

Cllr John Williams, leader of the council, said: "As an authority we have committed ourselves to robustly pursue this issue with the ultimate aim of having the mast relocated to a more suitable site.

"It is sad that a major company has shown such gross insensitivity to the local community, and used its power to attempt to bulldoze its way through the system without listening to the genuine concerns of the local community and of this authority.

"I understand the concerns and frustrations of the community, but I can assure them that we are doing all that is essential to ensure that, when we do take action against the mast owner, it will be affective."

7:14am today

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/display.var.742944.0.step_forward_for_o2_mast.php

South Warwickshire News

Apr 26 2006

VODAFONE could be dealt a triple whammy in Rugby today as plans for three mobile phone masts look set to be turned down.

A total of 330 people have objected to the proposals for masts in Shakespeare Gardens and Beech Drive, Bilton, and Hollowell Way, Brownsover, which would boost 3G coverage in the areas.

Planning officers say their recommendations to reject each of the 12metre (39ft) masts is based on their size and location, and has nothing to do with health considerations.

A report to the planning committee of Rugby Borough Council says if a health certificate is provided it is not necessary for the council to further consider the risks.

Cllr Claire Edwards (Lab, Brownsover South) who objected to the Hollowell Way plans, said: "It's about getting the balance between everybody having a mobile phone and not having a mast outside your home or in an area where it's intrusive.

"The fact that so many people have said they do not want them should be taken into account."

© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2006

http://tinyurl.com/znbs2

Folgende Meldung stand in der Siegener Zeitung vom 26.04.2006

Russland vernichtet 50000 Motorola-Handys

dpa Moskau. Zehn Tonnen Mobiltelefone werden in Russland wegen angeblich zu hoher elektromagnetischer Strahlung vernichtet. Die 50000 Motorola-Handys würden binnen zwölf Stunden in einer Müllverarbeitungsanlage bei Moskau entsorgt, sagte eine Sprecherin des Innenministeriums in Moskau gestern. Die in Brasilien, China und Singapur hergestellten Geräte übertreffen nach Angaben russischer Experten bei der Strahlung die Grenzwerte um das 2,5-Fache, meldete die Nachrichtenagentur Interfax. Motorola betont hingegen, dass sie den russischen Normen entsprächen und entsprechende Belege vorlägen.


Helmut Langenbach, Siegen