World-News

You will be pleased to know that the record note of the March 2nd meeting is now posted on the HPA web site. The address is given below:

http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/emfdg/index.htm

It was a positive start for the 1st meeting, the HPA acknowledged the condition of hypersensitivity exists and that it affects some people in the population. The numbers of people affected in the UK are, however, largely unknown but it was thought by some members to be more than a few per million and could be a few per hundred. Hypersensitivity is known to be a serious problem for some people and these need help. I believe the numbers are far greater than a few per 100 and have concerns for children who will absorb a larger amount of radiation.

RPD staff agreed that advice on exposure guidelines needed to reflect the current scientific evidence. Any guidelines recommended by ICNIRP or other bodies would continue to be challenged to ensure that this is the case. Read the minutes for further details, I’m sure you will find some useful information. The next meeting is due to be scheduled in October.


Best wishes

Eileen O’Connor
EM Radiation Research Trust
http://www.radiationresearch.org

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Health Protection Agency - EMF Discussion Group (EMFDG)
http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/1889579/

26/04/2006 12:12

Worried Perth parents are threatening a boycott of their chosen school in protest at plans to build a mobile phone mast close to school grounds. It follows the Scottish Executive's controversial decision to allow the building of the mast - despite Perth and Kinross Council previously rejecting the application on health grounds.

Sisters Moina McLaren and Fiona Whyte are both considering drastic action over the education of their children. Plans are being pushed through to build a g3 mobile phone mast just a few hundred yards from three schools.

It is claimed there are health concerns which have not been addressed, and Fiona is contemplating moving out of the area altogether.

A campaign against the building of the mast was thought to be won when Perth and Kinross council threw out the application 12 months ago, but the Scottish Executive have recently overturned that decision.

Craig McGhee says Fiona and Moina share concerns with hundreds of parents whose children attend Oakbank Primary, Perth High School and Perth Academy.

No one from Hutchinson, the company behind the phone mast, was available for comment.

http://northtonight.grampiantv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1_1_1&newsid=8734

Apart from Telegraph article there is on page 15 of Daily Mail, 26 April an article by Julie Wheldon, Science Correspondent. There was an item in yesterdays Evening Standard by political correspondent Nicholas Cecil. Not only does it mention ministers considering new public health warnings over the potential dangers of living near electricity pylons, it has Dr Jill Meara of HPA saying that people should stay away from such devices (house hold appliances e.g. kettles, computers and microwaves) if they have a condition called "electrical sensitivity". It goes on to say that according to an official report victims apparently experience "real, unpleasant and sometimes disabling symptoms" such as headaches or fatigue". It even has Dr Michael Clark of HPA stating "We formally suggested that the Government should consider precautionary measures". I can hardly believe it all.

I can't get the scanner to work but shall have another go this evening. I am going to get a copy of every newspaper today.

Best wishes,

Yasmin Skelt,
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire,
England

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What intrigues me about the Telegraph article is the statement: "...whilst the research found a statistical association, it did not establish a causal link and other scientists were sceptical of the findings". Isn't a 'statistical association' quite sufficient to necessitate appropriate remedial action? 'Other scientists' cannot be sceptical about the statistical association because it exists. So exactly what are they are sceptical about? The need for precautionary measures? Perhaps the inability of science to establish a causal link merely reflects the shortcomings of many so-called experts working in the field.

Secondly, I note that whilst Alastair and some other members of Sage want the exclusion zone based on the actual strength of EMFs, representatives of the National Grid and Ofgen favour a simple 230ft range. How illuminating! The latter view couldn't be driven solely by the cost of adopting the former option - could it?

Bah, humbug!

David Baron

By Robert Fisk

Residents protest at the site earmarked for the mast Residents protest at the site earmarked for the mast BR3768-03

CAMPAIGNERS are blaming the council for a mobile phone mast planning "fiasco".

Residents living near the corner of St Paul's Wood Road and Beddington Road, St Paul's Cray, were horrified to see workers digging a hole for a T-Mobile phone mast.

They believed the mobile phone giant was not allowed to put the mast up after a planning application was rejected by Bromley Council in August last year.

The council rejected the application after receiving a petition containing about 200 signatures and numerous letters.

However, T-Mobile appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and the mast was approved in February.

Residents say they would have objected if they had known the company had got approval but say Bromley Council did not send out any letters to tell them about it.

Mother-of-three Sam Anderson, 35, of Thorndon Close, St Paul's Cray, said: "It is a complete fiasco.

"Everybody is absolutely disgusted and could not believe the mast is going up.

"The council says it was taken out of their hands but we weren't told about it.

"All the residents are very angry about the way this has been done."

Dawn Somers, 47, of White-webbs Way, St Paul's Cray, said: "I'm fuming about it. The first we knew was when the hole was being dug."

Mrs Anderson says Bromley Council told her more than 100 letters were sent out to homes in the area informing residents T-Mobile had won the appeal.

She says everyone she has spoken to says they did not receive a letter.

Ward councillor Colin Willetts has vowed to fight the Planning Inspectorate's decision.

He said: "We believe the decision is unfair. No matter what, we will still be appealing."

A Bromley Council spokesman said: "We refused permission because we believed the mast would cause undue clutter. But the Planning Inspectorate felt the mast posed no harmful effect to the street scene."

10:32am Tuesday 25th April 2006

© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/display.var.740658.0.residents_fuming_at_unfair_mast.php

Perthshire Advertiser

Apr 25 2006

Gordon Bannerman

ANXIOUS parents are threatening to boycott local schools after the Scottish Executive controversially approved plans for a phone mast in Perth’s Oakbank.

Despite a 550-strong petition and hostility from Perth and Kinross Council, the executive gave the go-ahead to Hutchison 3G’s plans at an appeal.

The decision has provoked an outcry in the Fair City – and the Oakbank Mast Action Group have vowed to continue their fight against the proposals. Derek Seath, of the OMAG, yesterday revealed an appeal to the Court of Session is on the cards and delaying tactics are being mapped out to carry on the fight.

Parents with children at nearby schools are furious at the Holyrood stamp of approval for a 15-metre mast beside the reservoir park.

And sisters Moina McLaren and Fiona Whyte yesterday revealed they were contemplating drastic action rather than send their 11-year-old youngsters to Perth High next year.

Fiona said: “I’m furious about this decision and I’m certainly not alone. I feel so strongly about it that I am preparing to sell up and move somewhere outwith the high school catchment area.

“I was one of the many who signed the initial petition but not for one moment did I expect the Scottish Executive to reverse the council’s decision.

“I certainly hope it doesn’t end here but I am not prepared to risk the health of my child. The mobile phone companies might say there is no cancer risk but that’s what the tobacco companies once said about cigarettes.”

Fiona’s Oakbank Road home will go on the market if the reservoir park mast is erected but she admitted: “This might well have an impact on property prices in the area but I will move out of Oakbank and ensure Phoebe doesn’t go to the high school. I feel very strongly about this issue. It’s ridiculous and really quite unbelievable.”

Moina, Brompton Terrace, echoed her sister’s concerns, saying: “Until this happened my son Rory was to be going to the high school next summer and his younger sister Lucia would have followed in a few years’ time.

“But if this mast does go up so close to the schools I will be looking at our options. I’m not prepared to take risks with their health.

“I was amazed by the Scottish Executive decision. How can they say it is alright to erect a mast in a residential area and so close to the schools? In the USA they won’t allow them in heavily populated areas so why is it tolerated here?

“I am not alone in perceiving it as a threat. I’m sure other parents will be thinking of taking their children away from the nearby schools.”

Mr Seath observed: “It’s a very real concern that parents will seek to move children out of schools in the area.”

owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2006

http://tinyurl.com/o4uox

By John Brenan
Apr 25, 2006

Car alarms and central locking systems are being sent haywire in the Black Country by a mysterious radio frequency blocking their signals.

In two neighbouring streets dozens of bemused drivers have suffered with the fault, with some spending days locked out of their cars.

Communications regulator Ofcom has said the problem also affects other areas and says it will investigate following complaints.

Problems were first noticed a month ago in Quarry Bank leaving drivers dumbfounded about how to solve the problem.

They think a nearby radio transmitter or new mobile phone mast could be to blame.

Peter Hunt, of Thorns Avenue, said he could not gain access to his Toyota Yaris - but his wife's Yaris, parked beside it, was fine.

He added: "I went out and couldn't unlock the car so I changed the battery and it was still the same. It lasted for about 10 days and then suddenly started working."

Ian and Carole Rushton, of Cider Avenue, said they could not get into their Land Rover for a day and that the problem returned this weekend.

Mrs Rushton said: "I need to for work and can't get into the car. On Saturday we couldn't go to the St George's Day celebrations in Dudley and it is really annoying."

Neighbour Leslie Tromans said problems with his daughter's Peugeot 306 began a week ago.

"It's worrying because you just don't know whether you are going to get into the car or not.

"It could be a dangerous situation too if there was an emergency," he said.

A spokeswoman for Ofcom, the communications regulator that looks into problems with frequency signals, said an investigator would be sent out once complaints are logged.

Complaints can be logged with Ofcom on 0207 9813040.

© Express & Star Ltd, 1997-2006

http://www.expressandstar.com/articles/news/es/article_89528.php

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Mystery as car alarms go haywire
http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/index.php?p=450

NEXUS janvier-février 2006 les grands dossiers Santé Par Annie Lobé, journaliste d'investigation scientifique "WiFi, DECT, MOBILES, Sans fil, mais pas sans risques"

http://www.next-up.org/pdf/Nexus_nr42_sans_fil_mais_pas_sans_risques_extrait.pdf

"The FCC's exposure guideline is considered protective of effects arising from a thermal mechanism but not from all possible mechanisms. Therefore, the generalization by many that the guidelines protect human beings from harm by any or all mechanisms is not justified"

Norbert Hankin, Key EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)scientist USA.

From: Cell Phones Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age. Dr. George Carlo. Carroll &Graff 2001.


ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) is reviewing its safety Guidelines for exposure to EMR. (April 06.) Safe levels of exposure to all forms of radiation have been lowered continuously since the 1920s.


They seem to get it wrong every time!


Informant: Eileen O'Connor

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ICNIRP EMF exposure guidelines to be revised
http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/1822415/

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