You have just heard Company X is planning on putting a cellphone tower on the roof of your kids’ school. The bad news is it isn’t going to be easy to stop them. The good news is there are numerous examples of community groups that have stopped cellphone installations. To help you get started two Canadian EMR educators have compiled the following key issues and strategies document to walk you through the process of stopping a cellphone transmitter installation in your community.
(1) Education
Background: Government and industry control all official information regarding the alleged safety of cell phones and their ubiquitous transmitters, and also override local control as to antenna siting and health issues. ‘Safe’ radiation limits are merely unenforced guidelines based on whether radiation levels are high enough to heat body tissue.
Non-thermal effects were not considered by standard-setting agencies in the creation of guidelines. Our Canadian value limits are set by industry for it's convenience, and fail to protect public health. Industry funds virtually all studies into the safety’ of wireless products.
As cell technology emerged, in 1984, cell phones (and their transmissions) were specifically exempted from pre-market health testing, in a proviso called the low power exclusion. Insurance companies, from 2004 to 2005, have refused to insure the cell phone industry against health damage claims. Many people worldwide are becoming sick from exposure to wireless technology radiations.
Seek out the views of independent experts. If you decide to stop the largest and most powerful industry in the world in it's tracks, be aware that no one — not the government at any level, nor most health authorities, unions, the corporate media, environmental organizations, nor any normally trustworthy source of information — will be of much help due to prevailing misinformation. You have to do this yourselves. However realize that, with appropriate commitment, you can stop the installation!
A knowledgeable, and determined community, able to form and hold a position, based on the truth about the devastating health effects caused by radio frequency radiation (RFR), can prevail. Cellular companies cannot defend themselves against claims that cell phones and transmitters cause adverse health effects —because they do.
There is too much evidence that RFR harms all life forms. They cannot withstand the negative publicity. Act fast. It is much easier to stop an installation, than to have one removed. Wireless companies have the habit of installing transmitters literally overnight, without any citizen consultation.
No matter what anyone tells you, a group of determined and knowledgeable citizens has great power, and can defeat any cell tower application.
(2) Start a petition immediately
"We the citizens of [place] demand that [the company] must demonstrate proof that cell phone radiation is safe for humans and animals, before any installation takes place..."
A petition has the effect of awakening, galvanizing and publicizing public awareness of the health hazards associated with an industry that distorts studies showing adverse impacts from wireless technology. And watch out for astroturfing — the creation of a manufactured citizens' group drumming up support for the transmitter, along with a company-organized and financed counter-petition campaign.
The central and unanimous position of the group should be that the cell phone company must prove that the electromagnetic radiation — EMR — emitted by their equipment, is safe before any discussion of transmitter siting. A community has the right to protect itself from a known health hazard.
Do not waver from this position, while at the same time showing a willingness to examine all evidence. The point is that neither Industry nor their collaborators at Health Canada, nor any other authority has demonstrated that cell phone technology is safe — indeed the opposite is true — as proven by thousands of studies spanning decades, indicating profound health impacts from this type of microwave radiation. Lack of legitimate proof of safety is the big chink in the Industry's armor. Keep repeating this point. Like Big Tobacco, the wireless industry studiously avoids discussion of health issues.
(3)Take action NOW
(A) Create a group and give it a concise and simple name such as ‘[Place] residents opposed to Cellphone Irradiation’. Develop a budget and a public presence.
(B) Identify the concern, and create a mission statement to address this concern, such as: ‘To halt all wireless development that will irradiate people and all life forms of [place] until this type of radio frequency radiation - RFR - is shown to be safe.’
(C) Telephone the company involved immediately. Determine their plan. Get the facts straight. Always be diplomatic but firm. State your concerns — always on behalf of the citizens' group. (Corporatism takes heed only of groups — never individuals). See that they commit to a public consultation process before proceeding. Reinforce the phone call with a letter, copy to local political reps, all media outlets in your area, plus any other authority. Give the company a contact number (preferably several numbers) and sign letters on behalf of the group.
(D) Telephone all government representatives and health officials. Inform them about the company plans and your group's concerns. Follow up with correspondence, and include reference to some of the many relevant studies showing adverse bioeffects from RFR exposure. Identify your allies and work with them. Do not get sidetracked or disheartened by their replies. All of the soothing or dismissive — vested interest — assurances from ‘internationally acclaimed’ paid or unpaid operatives and regulatory authorities, regarding the alleged safety of cell radiation, have huge gaps of credibility.
(E) Telephone and email media. File all their addresses. Explain the group's position against forced irradiation. Make news. Get big city press, radio, TV, list serves etc. to run stories. Control your message. Issue press releases as things develop.
(F) Create a one page leaflet, (both sides) and circulate this widely to inform the public. Keep it simple. State the need for a full and open public forum, listing health effects, studies, web sites, etc. They give your campaign more presence.
(G) Research the issue - use internet to see what other communities are doing. Join forces. Expect various levels of support and opposition from internet and other searches into health effects of electromagnetic radiation —EMR— when so much money hinges on available information. Read books on the subject. Get the terminology straight. A serious research effort shows you are capable of discerning and disseminating the truth about the devastating health effects caused by RFR. Often, the cell company will quietly withdraw to avoid publicity about their toxic technology. Stay vigilant, as they will return.
(4) Plan a well-publicized, well-prepared public meeting to keep the momentum going. Demand that all installation work be halted until the public process is completed. Refer to your public meeting in your communications. Government guidelines for cell phone antenna installations call for companies to engage in a consultation process. Require that they consult your local governing authorities; this is helpful in the event that local government might have the integrity and courage to address this difficult issue of public health protection. Contact all local politicians and health authorities to attend this meeting. Articulate your concerns about EMR health effects and your position that this installation cannot happen without an open public process.
Bring in the best independent (non Industry/Government) experts you can find that will represent the negative health effects case. This is a highly complex subject; it helps to have a guiding influence from people of integrity who have done the research. It is imperative to organize and control this meeting yourselves; do not let the company, nor local government chair this meeting; the group needs an effective and diplomatic chairperson from the community that will let all views be heard. Video the meeting. Be firm as to the need for company and government officials to attend.
In a free and democratic society, the fundamental right of citizens to protect their health and that of their loved ones supersedes all other (corporate) rights. No matter what anyone tells you, a group of determined and knowledgeable citizens has great power, and can defeat any cell tower application.
Walt McGinnis and Chris Anderson are independent experts in electromagnetic emissions. Walt and Chris have a strong commitment to a community’s right to informed consent about having cell phone towers, hydro lines and wireless internet in their backyards. Visit: http://emr.bc.ca/
© Walt McGinnis and Chris Anderson
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written by Diane Moore , November 25, 2009