Electromagnetic Sense Ireland

Please send a submission to ComReg by 5pm, this Wednesday, 11th May 2022

In March 2021, Openeir (Eir) issued a White Paper called Copper Switch-Off – Leaving a Legacy for the Future, detailing the plan to migrate from the traditional copper landline network to internet based digital telecommunications, which will mean switching off and decommissioning all our landlines and eventually removing the copper network altogether https://www.openeir.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/White-paper_Leaving-a-Legacy.pdf

On 28th March 2022, ComReg published a 69 page document, Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure, https://www.comreg.ie/media/2022/04/ComReg-2213R.pdf calling for input and responses from stakeholders. There was no publicity about this, no information on any Govt websites or in the media.

Please take part in this consultation and tell ComReg why traditional copper landlines must not be removed and that there should be a choice to use either the copper landline network or digital networks.  INFORMATION HERE https://www.comreg.ie/framework-for-the-migration-from-legacy-infrastructure-to-modern-infrastructure/

Responses should be clearly marked with subject Reference: Submission re ComReg 22/13

Responses by: 5pm on 11 May 2022

Email responses to: products@comreg.ie or by post

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WHAT IS THE COPPER SWITCH-OFF?

The plan is that all telephone landlines will be utilised through the fibre network only, using data over the internet or Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Over the last few years, some people have already chosen to give up their landlines in favour of mobiles, or use VoIP connected to their broadband. However, there will be negative consequences to getting rid of existing copper landlines altogether and having only digital telecommunications.

People should have the choice.

· If the internet goes down, for whatever reason; a power outage caused by storms, maintenance work, cut off by electricity suppliers, sabotage, hackers etc, digital VoIP landlines will not work – unless you have your own back-up power.

Copper landlines have, more often than not, stayed working during power outages as they are independent of home electrical power and the main electricity grid and have their own exchange and power generators. This has been the case for decades.

In fact, in a Consumer Survey carried out by ComReg in 2021 they found that: 41% of those with a traditional fixed landline with no power cable have a misperception that their service will not work in a power outage https://www.comreg.ie/media/2021/12/ComReg-21143a.pdf

· If there is no power or internet connection for a few hours or longer, the alternatives are having a power supply back up or a charged up mobile phone (that’s assuming nearby mobile phone masts still get power in a power cut). Everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, should have immediate access to emergency services. Lives will be put at risk if the more reliable landlines are removed.

· Having to use or have a mobile or smart phone instead of a copper landline is not a viable option for some people, including:

• Those of us who do not have or want a mobile phone due to adverse effects on our health and being unable to tolerate using them or being near any wireless/smart devices.

• Others who have made the choice not to have smart phones.

• Elderly people who are not able to use a mobile or smart device, and more comfortable with traditional landlines.

• Not everyone wants, needs or is able to use a mobile phone and no should have to get one, and pay a monthly contract, when we have a safer and more reliable existing network.

There are some people who do not want, or need, broadband installations at their homes either which would be necessary to facilitate VoIP landlines. Current traditional fixed telephone landlines are what most of us have, are used to and they are the most reliable telecommunications technology.

· It is very important to have the option of turning off our routers (and wifi) at night or when out or not in use, as a safety measure and to avoid wastage of energy. The new system would mean either that when people turn off their routers, they would also be turning off their home phone system, or there would be no option to turn it off at all, neither of which is acceptable.

· Many older and vulnerable people rely on Emergency Response wearable alarms which need to be connected to their home landlines, in case of an emergency and to feel more secure in their own homes. It is not known if all these systems will still work on VoIP when installed, but they definitely will not work if there is a power cut or the internet goes down. How will a vulnerable person call for help if they don’t have power, a working landline or a mobile phone? And what if they don’t have a charged mobile phone or mobile coverage? All this will cause considerable anxiety to many. It could also be used as an excuse to install even more mobile phone masts and base stations.

· As well as Emergency Response systems, the changeover may also impact burglar alarms and other systems connected to landlines. There is uncertainty around this and it seems from Openeir’s White Paper that customers and the providers of these systems will have to work this out for themselves. (p 14)

· The copper landline network is already fully in place and has worked successfully for decades. It doesn’t make economic or environmental sense to remove it and it would be extremely wasteful to discontinue and rip out this national, efficient, safe and important service. Maintaining the existing network would be more beneficial for the environment, our security, safety and health, than a network that needs to be plugged in and requires more data and energy consumption.

· VOIP lines are less secure than traditional landlines and can be hacked more easily.

‘It is easier for hackers and eavesdroppers to intercept VoIP data, thereby breaching your privacy. The packets are disseminated over the internet through unsecured channels and are easily intercepted at any node. Moreover, since the data is digital, it can be stored and manipulated in ways that PSTN data cannot.’ https://www.lifewire.com/are-you-calls-secure-on-landline…

· Traditional landlines provide clearer, cleaner reception and sound quality than mobile calls or VoIP digital calls which generally have interference and poorer sound. There will be a lot of data traffic on VoIP internet lines, competing with internet usage, streaming, downloading, uploading, online meetings etc, etc

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The following are from UK where the changeover is already in progress and copper landlines decommissioned in some areas, but due to public concerns and pressure it has been temporarily halted by BT.

Is the proposed axing of landlines by 2025 a betrayal of the most vulnerable? https://www.mailplus.co.uk/…/is-the-proposed-axing-of…

BT to end landline phones sparking fears for millions of vulnerable and elderly people https://www.mirror.co.uk/…/bt-end-landline-phones…

Why axing landlines is a betrayal of the most vulnerable: The brave new world of digital phone lines means many could be cut off https://www.msn.com/…/dame-esther-rantzen…/ar-AAVnSUj

House of Commons Digital Telephone Switchover https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/…/CBP…

UK Petition to Save Landlines https://www.ipetitions.com/…/save-our-landlines-help-us…

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COMREG’S CONSULTATION IS OPEN until Wednesday 11th May 5pm. PLEASE SEND THEM A MESSAGE : KEEP OUR COPPER LANDLINES https://www.comreg.ie/framework-for-the-migration-from…/–

On 12th March 2012, members of the European Parliament issued the following :

WRITTEN DECLARATION

pursuant to Rule 123 of the Rules of Procedure

on the recognition of multiple chemical sensitivity and electrohypersensitivity in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)

Raül Romeva i Rueda, Kriton Arsenis, Willy Meyer, Michèle Rivasi,
Oreste Ross

Click to access eu-parl-icd-11.pdf

With thanks to Dr. Leendert Vriens, Physicist and Lyn McLean, Director of EMR Australia

Perhaps you’d like to know more about the radiofrequency (wireless) radiation that’s generally present in our homes and communities. You might be wondering:

• how do we know whether wireless radiation is harmful?

• what about 5G? Is it a risk to our health?

• could wireless radiation be more dangerous than the radiation we get from natural sources, such as the sun?

• even if it’s non-ionizing?

• can it harm our bodies, even though it doesn’t heat them? (Australian and international standards are based on preventing the heating effects of radiation.)

• do these standards protect us?

• what can we do to protect ourselves and our families?

Leendert Vriens

See More including full text of inteview :
https://www.stopumts.nl/doc.php/Artikelen/12813/redir  and/or
https://emraustralia.com.au/blogs/news-1/insights-on-wireless-radiation-from-a-physicist  .

The Finnish Electrosensitivity Foundation has awarded Professor Dariusz Leszczynski with a grant to study EHS.

Details of the study and how to take part:  https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2022/04/11/grant-awarded-leszczynskis-ehs-project-has-started-and-is-looking-for-additional-volunteers/

At this point, some 120+ EHS persons from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA, have volunteered and they will receive today e-mail with series of preliminary questions.

However, the more volunteers participate in the project, the more robust and reliable conclusions on EHS can be made.

If you are person suffering of EHS and

• you have been diagnosed to have EHS by physician, or
• you have been examined by physician but EHS diagnosis has not been made

and you are interested in participation in this EHS project,  fill out the questionnaire and email to  Prof Leszczynski at blogbrhp@gmail.com

https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2022/04/11/grant-awarded-leszczynskis-ehs-project-has-started-and-is-looking-for-additional-volunteers/

With many thanks to, Lyn McLean, Director, EMR Australia PL
“Frequencies used in Telecommunications – An Integrated Radiobiological Assessment”

By Yuri G. Grigoriev, translated by ORSAA [Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association Inc]

The book can be downloaded for free: https://bit.ly/GrigorievBook (198 page pdf)

One of the world’s leading authorities on wireless radiation has documented the risks of 5G radiation in “the first book on 5G that outlines the potential dangers of 5G technology, both in Russia and overseas.”

The book, written by Professor Yuri Grigoriev shortly before his death, was recently translated into English by the Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association (ORSAA) and can now be downloaded for free.

Many countries (including Australia) base their radiation standards on Guidelines developed by the International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). In the book, Prof Grigoriev points out that ICNIRP is not necessarily a credible body, and its members are not impartial scientists. The ICNIRP Guidelines, he believes, are inadequate because they are only designed to protect people from the heating effects of radiation. But even this, they don’t do properly.      [Note: In the U.S., the radio frequency radiation guidelines adopted by the FCC are similar to those of ICNIRP.]

Among the problems with these guidelines are that:

• they don’t prevent unacceptable increases in temperature

• they don’t restrict the intensity of spikes of radiation

• a person would have to hold a 5G mobile phone 8 cm from their head or body to comply with them.

Grigoriev says ‘ICNIRP members persist in arguing that the thousands of peer-reviewed studies that have found biological or medical consequences from chronic exposure to non-thermal EMF levels are insufficient to warrant stricter safety regulations.’

Grigoriev refers to studies showing harmful effects of 5G millimetre waves (MMWs). They include:

• demyelination of nerve cells

• changes to cell membranes, including changes to ion channels

• inhibition of cell cycle progression

• changes to levels of enzyme and proteins in the brain’s hippocampus

• double-strand breaks in DNA

• effects on reproduction

• changes to the sensitivity of the skin

• effects on peripheral and central nervous systems

• effects on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands and changes to cortisol and testosterone hormones

• changes to heart rate

• changes to immune function

• degranulation of mast cells in the skin (that can cause allergic-type symptoms).

Grigoriev says that individuals react differently to exposure, and this can make it difficult for observers to draw conclusions and can lead to errors in assessing the impacts of radiation.

He writes, “From our evaluation of the results of preliminary studies on the possible impacts on the health of the population of the 5G MMW-exposures alone …, we consider it reasonable to expect the following adverse effects: impacts on normal functioning in the critical organs of the skin and eyes; mediated systemic reactions in the body as a whole; and, most notable, impacts to the nervous and immune systems.”

Grigoriev refers to calls by doctors, scientists and administrations in different countries to halt the roll-out of 5G until it can be demonstrated to be safe. He says, ‘Irradiation of the human population by MMWs without the appropriate precautionary standards is clearly immoral – in the same way as conducting or observing an experiment would be, when it has the possibility of developing pathological processes; eg, according to the notion: ‘Wait and see … then we will be able to establish proper standards.’ Of course, by then, it will be too late!”

Click to access frequencies_used_in_telecommunications__an_integrated_radiobiological_assessment.pdf

THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO 5.30pm on 8th APRIL 2022

THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 5.30 pm ON THURSDAY, 31 MARCH 2022

Please take this opportunity to let the government know your concerns about the roll-out of 5G (all populated areas covered by 2030) and densification of all wireless and ‘smart’ technology across Ireland, as well as a planned removal of all traditional telephone landlines (Copper Switch-Off)

https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/d6f0e-consultation-on-the-digital-connectivity-strategy/

For help and information on making a submission see:

ES-Ireland’s submission HERE and  Mast Watch Ireland HERE

and Ireland for Safe Technology HERE

DIGITAL STRATEGY SUBMISSION – ES-IRELAND

Closing date for submissions from the public is Thursday, 31st March 2022 at 5.30 pm

Details to participate and voice your own views are here https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/d6f0e-consultation-on-the-digital-connectivity-strategy/

Source Article https://www.degruyter.com

Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies

Christian Brabant, Anton Geerinck, Charlotte Beaudart, Ezio Tirelli, Christophe Geuzaine, Olivier Bruyère.

From the Journal –  Reviews on Environmental Health. Published online March 15, 2022. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0112.

Full study can be read and shared from  https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/reveh-2021-0112/html?fbclid=IwAR1wGkbOXYJoEzhxGV01U04IfYIx7wh0RXNlqqxlL-MmdXSEyCLotf14bNY

https://signstop5g.eu/en#sign

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE

Wireless radiation is neither safe nor healthy

Authors: Lennart Hardell and Tarmo Koppel

From the journal Reviews on Environmental Health

https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0169