SWEEP 18
An update of news on the topic electromagnetic pollution/emission in Canada
brought to you by the Canadian SWEEP Initiative (Safe Wireless Electric and
Electromagnetic Policy), an offshoot of the Breast Cancer Research and
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SIMCOE PRESENTATION JUNE 6th Submitted Kelly Morin-Currie
NEWFOUNDLAND SITUATION Submitted Sue Fusco
SCHOOL DISRUPTION Submitted by R. Riedlinger
WIFI UP NORTH Submitted Rob Riedlinger
WIRELESS IN TORONTO Submitted by Sue Fusco
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Submitted by Olle Johansson
OTHER RECENT MEDIA and LINKS Weatherall, Newton, Bowling. Dacre
SIMCOE PRESENTATION
Dr. Magda Havas and other speakers will present at an important Simcoe Town
Council meeting this coming Tuesday at 5pm. Local advocates have generated
significant publicity as they explore the relationship between recently sited
cell towers and health effects of local residents and the population of a
school. This is already a precedent setting case for Canada because of the
level of community involvement nad media attention.
Those within driving distance are encouraged to attend.
June 6th, 5pm
Town Council Chambers
50 Colborne Street
Simcoe, ON
(access at back off building on Talbot Street).
NEWFOUNDLAND SITUATION Submitted by Sue Fusco
Excerpt from Hansard notes from Newfoundland & Labrador House of Assembly on May
16, 2006
Questions raised by Yvonne Jones, MHA
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I was contacted by a thirty-eight-year-old woman who
found a lump in her breast in January. She tried to have a mammogram done in
this Province and was turned away because of her age. Now, four months later,
she has another and is finally able to have the important medical testing
done.
Will this government undertake a study of breast cancer in younger women in our
Province to determine if there is a statistical trend developing and to see if
they can be more proactive in improving this particular health issue?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are just as concerned
about cancer and the prevention of cancer as anybody in this Province.
Certainly, part of the cancer strategy, and even outside of the cancer
strategy, we will look at ways of trying to reduce cancer. What the member has
put forward, we will certainly look at that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, evidence exists from a professor at Trent University that there is
a connection between those who live near transformers and those who develop
cancer. Mr. Gerald Higgins of Norris Arm has brought forward much information
on this issue, as the minister knows. I ask him whether he or his department
have investigated a possible link and if he will make his findings available to
the public?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, as far as I am aware there has been no
investigation into that particular issue. I can look into it to find out if
there has been an investigation, and if there was I will certainly make those
findings available.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, an ad hoc survey that was conducted in the Province of
4,000 people indicated that only nine of those with cancer did not live near
transformers. Furthermore, there were 150 municipalities that were contacted
for the survey, and all of them indicated that the majority of those diagnosed
with cancer in their communities did, indeed, live near a transformer.
I think this is evidence enough to suggest that your department launch an
independent study into this to assess if there is a definite concern for those
people who are living near transformers in our Province, and I ask the minister
if he will have an investigation of this.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, as one example, it is very difficult to find any
house in the City of St. John's that is not near a transformer. There have been
studies done in other jurisdictions that I am aware of. Those studies have come
back without conclusive evidence that transformers cause cancer. That is not to
say that they don't, Mr. Speaker, and I am certainly not prepared to say that
they don't. We will look at whatever evidence is available in determining
whether or not cancer is indeed connected to transformers.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SCHOOL DISRUPTION Submitted by Rob Riedlinger
May 18, 2006
Serena Willoughby, Staff Writer, The Economist & sun and The Liberal
They're closing hallways, moving the basketball net and putting up fences at St.
Monica Catholic School in Markham, all to protect students from a threat
federal and provincial health authorities aren't sure exists.
An independent test ordered by the York Catholic District School Board found EMF
levels as high as 10 milligauss near a transformer at St. Monica. Some research
links prolonged exposure to "dirty electricity" at levels higher than two to
leukemia, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and attention
deficit disorder. But other research on EMFs, which are created wherever
electricity is generated such as in cellphones, computers and power lines,
indicated the link to health problems is unsubstantiated.
The board fenced off the transformer and closed other areas with high EMF
readings at St. Monica, although spokesperson Chris Cable wouldn't speculate on
whether similar precautions would be taken at other schools.
"Regardless of whether you believe (the research) or not, we at the board are
following a precautionary principle," Ms Cable said.
Dr. Magda Havas, a professor of Environmental Sciences at Trent University,
believes EMFs in schools are a major problem because schools use several kinds
of equipment that emit EMFs such as older model computers, fluorescent lighting
and public address systems.
DENIED CONNECTION
Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of EMFs, she said.
But Gloria Rachamin, a toxicologist with the public health division of the
Ontario Ministry of Health, denied the connection in a report to York public
health, the school board and parents.
"Overall, the scientific evidence does not support casual association between
EMF exposure and human health risks," she said.
"According to Health Canada . . . . there is no conclusive evidence of any harm
caused by exposures. at levels normally found in Canadian living and working
environments. It further indicates that, at present, there are no Canadian
government guidelines for exposure to EMF at extremely low frequencies since
the scientific evidence is not strong enough to conclude that typical exposures
cause health problems.
WFIF UP NORTH Submitted Rob Riedlinger
To all.
,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
Shortcut to: 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:
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
Shortcut to: http://wifinetnews.com/archives/006496.html
WIRELESS IN TORONTO Submitted by Sue FUsco
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1147729810840&call_pageid=968350130169&col=969483202845
City plans to study WiFi risks
Councillor raises concerns about impact on health
Says guidelines needed on clusters of telecom towers
TORONTO START May 16, 2006. 01:00 AM
DONOVAN VINCENT
CITY HALL BUREAU
Telecommunications towers for wireless networks and cellphones are increasing
across Toronto, and one councillor wants to know if there are health risks to
having them clustered in any one part of the city.
Toronto's medical officer of health, Dr. David McKeown, and city planning staff
are now looking into the question and plan to report back soon to the city's
board of health.
"Obviously wireless is the way of the future. In some parts of the city, in
particular the area I represent - Yonge and 401, Yonge and Sheppard - there's
potentially a large concentration of cellphone towers at the same spot where we
have a very high-density population," Councillor John Filion told the board
yesterday.
He later told reporters there are currently two applications for new cellphone
towers in the area, where two such towers already exist.
Filion (Ward 23, Willowdale), who chairs the board of health and put forward the
proposal calling for the study, said questions about standards and guidelines
for the concentration of towers need to be explored.
"Currently, there are no guidelines, no public consultation, really nothing. I'm
not sure what those guidelines should be, but I think we need to take a
thorough look at it," Filion said, adding he hopes the report will provide some
answers and guidance on how to proceed.
"It (the report) will be controversial, so I don't want them (staff) to come
forward in a rush. I want them to have a thorough examination," Filion said.
The study comes as Toronto prepares to be deluged with radio signals that will
allow Internet access anywhere downtown.
Over the next three years, Toronto Hydro intends to cover the city's core with
wireless fidelity (WiFi) coverage, allowing Internet users to log on to the
wireless network anywhere in that zone.
Some experts in Canada and the United States have dismissed the hazards posed by
these frequencies as negligible, saying people are constantly exposed to such
things as baby monitors, microwave ovens, remote controls and cordless phones
with no adverse health effects.
But others are suggesting a cautionary approach, saying it's too early to rule
out possible health effects because it takes years for illnesses like cancer to
become apparent.
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay shut down its wireless fidelity system on
parts of the campus over fears about the health consequences from exposure.
Filion, who admitted he's not up-to-date on all of the research on the subject,
said he's not opposed to services provided by the telecommunications industry.
He's just concerned about residents' safety.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Submitted by O. Johansse
The wireless society - is it a dangerous trap?
In February 2006 Götene's municipality in Västergötland, Sweden, put it's
wireless internet system into use. Right after this, 8 citizens got ill (heart
palpitations, breathing problems, nausea, headache, dizziness, etc.) and some
of them had to leave their home and settle down in the woods, in small
cottages. Against this background the question of wireless internet radiation
was discussed in the public service prime time TV program "Debatt", Tuesday May
23rd, 2006 by Hans Wiksell, professor at the Karolinska Institute, Olle
Johansson, assoc. prof. at the Karolinska nstitute, Lars Mjönes at the Swedish
Radiation Protection Authority, and Mona Nilsson, freelance writer. Host:
Lennart Persson.
Two main focuses were identified, one being about the handicap perspective of
electrohypersensitivity and the role of municipalities regarding accessibility
measures for persons with this functional impairment. A second focus dealt with
the scientific background, the build-up of various official authorities, like
the ICNIRP and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority, and the fact that
the experts who are critical - and are in majority in Sweden - are not allowed
to participate in scientific committees as well as writing reviews about this
issue. Hans Wiksell told the public that his personal opinion is that there are
no non-thermal effects, and Lars Mjönes claimed that there are no studies
showing any medical effects like those that people are experiencing. Arguments
challenging these views were given by Mona Nilsson and Olle Johansson.
The program can be viewed via this page until June 22nd:
http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=28904&a=593791
OTHER RECENT MEDIA and LINKS
Sbmitted by M. Weatherall; http://www.iddd.de/umtsno/60krebs5.htm#ack
(Note: Lots of good information about health problems associated with cell
phones etc.)
Submitted by Janet Newton:
Dr. Magda Havas was interviewed on KPFA radio, Tuesday MAY 30, 2006, Host of the
weekly radio show Your Own Health and Fitness is Layna Berman.
The show will be available for download from the KPFA archives for just one week
after broadcast, at
www.yourownhealthandfitness.org.
Sumitted by Milt Bowling
This is the URL for my radio interview on May 24, 2006.
www.animalvoices.org/dh-bowling-2006-05-24.mp3
Submitted by Sue Fusco:
http://www.pulse24.com/News_Features/Health/20060523-001/page.asp
In case you missed the news last night reporter Laura DiBattista of City TV did
a story on WiFi Concerns in Toronto.
Submmited by Anonymous:
New EHS Site out of the UK: www.sces.info
Submitted by Sarah Dacre:
Good coverage of electrosmog in the UK:
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article362557.ece