Electromagnetic Sense Ireland

Social Exclusion due to Electromagnetic Pollution: A Belgian Perspective
By Gérald Hanotiaux

Excerpts selected and translated from the French

https://www.es-uk.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ES_WEB_240908.pdf

Click to access ES_WEB_240908.pdf

Source Article: Friends of the Irish Environment

https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/press-releases/three-west-cork-telecommunications-masts-face-high-court

PRESS RELEASE
FRIENDS OF THE IRISH ENVIRONMENT
TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2024: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three west cork telecommunications masts face high court Planning Appeals Board has ‘no expertise in telecommunications masts’

Three west cork telecommunications masts have been challenged in the High Court by the environmental charity Friends of the Irish Environment. While the organisation is ‘not opposed’ to the principle of the development of communications systems, the Reviews challenge the decisions of the Planning Appeals Board to overrule Cork County Council who found them to be in material contravention of the County Development Plan.

Challenges arise from the sale by Eircom of up to 400 ‘Eir Exchanges’.

All three challenges arise from the sale by Eircom of up to 400 ‘Eir Exchanges’ located across the State. Established by Telecom Éireann and before that its predecessor the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, the sites were originally built for the purposes of connecting fixed line telephones to the wider network. Due to their original function, they are therefore generally located in the vicinity of residential and what might be described as ‘built up’ areas.

Under a Licence Agreement, Eircom Limited has granted to Towercom the right to install, replace, alter, develop, strengthen, augment, upgrade and renew telecommunications masts and any other associated equipment on these sites. In July 2023 the John Laing Group, a British developer and operator of infrastructure projects, bought the Irish nationwide portfolio of 409 Eir Exchanges, with over half of the sites due to be upgraded or redeveloped over the next 10 years.

However, FIE points out that, Section 4.3 of 1996 Antenna Guidelines states “Only as a last resort should free-standing masts be located within or in the immediate surrounds of smaller towns or villages.”

Further telecoms masts under challenge across Ireland include Scariff, County Clare, Aughrim, County Galway, Balbriggan, County Dublin, Kilgarvan County Kerry, Kilbrittain, County Cork and Letterfrack, Co. Galway.

Planning Appeals Board has ‘no expertise in telecommunications masts’

The High Court action also questions An Bord Pleanála’s qualifications to approve telecommunications masts after an Access to Information on the Environment request revealed that the Board ‘has no internal expertise in relation to telecommunications engineering and have not commissioned external expertise in relation to telecommunications engineering.’

Heritage and Landscape must be protected: Eyeries, Bantry, Kinsale

In the case of Eyeries, the antennae, at the edge of the village, will intrude on a protected landscape and introduce an inescapable industrial element into one of the most beautiful locations on the Beara Peninsula. In Bantry, the location is with the town itself at the edge of the Chapel Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) 10 meters from Bantry’s Old Market House, a protected structure. In both cases, the Planning Authority and the Board’s Inspector recommended refusal.

In Kinsale, the proposed location, which was opposed by four local Church bodies, is located immediately adjacent to the historic town defences, which are regarded as a national monument. Beside the Old Wall of the Town in close proximity to Protected Structures and within an Architectural Conservation Area, its protection is subject to objectives of the Cork Development Plan 2022-2028.

Project Splitting

A core ground in all three cases is the failure of the planning authorities to accept that the development of the Eir Exchange portfolio of telecoms masts across the State constitutes a ‘project’ for the purposes of the EIA Directive. This furthermore engages the concept within EU law of what is colloquially known as ‘project splitting’. FIE Director Tony Lowes said that ’the lack of EIA is very concerning given the fact that all three proposed masts were recognised by the Council as impacting on elements of the environment required to be assessed under the EIA Directive.’
Court highlights ‘serious form of allegations being made against a planning authority.’

Mr Lowes explained that ‘the Reviews of masts across Ireland were originally triggered by irregularities within the Board that led to the resignation of Paul Hyde and the reorganisation of the Board with a Report from Ms Lorna Lynch SC. However,’ Mr Lowes continued, ‘we have noted with concern a recent judgment on July 29, 2024 when the Appeals Court overturned the High Court’s previous refusal to allow a challenge to a telecoms mast in Kells, County Kilkenny. It expressed concern over An Bord Pleanála’s previous decision making in relation to telecoms masts, stating that:

‘The outcome of the appeals is something that gives cause for concern, as does the widescale overriding of recommendations from inspectors appointed by the Board. Apart from cases of actual corruption, which it must be emphasised is not even alleged let alone sought to be proven in these proceedings, it is difficult to imagine a more serious form of allegations being made against a planning authority.’

‘FIE feels that it is important that the Board apply proper planning to its decision making in relation to telecoms masts. Even if the Board feels that there is a wider societal benefit from this type of technology, the Board does not have jurisdiction under the Planning Acts to rewrite planning policy. FIE will continue to monitor decision making of the Board in this regard’, Mr. Lowes said.

ENDS

Contact: Eoin Brady of FP Logue Solicitors 353 (0)86 8524598.

Editors Notes
The Appeals’ Court quashed Board’s permission for the mast in Kilkenny.:
Mr. Justice Brian O’Moore, High Court Record Number: 2022/1039 JR, Neutral Citation Number [2024] IECA 196
FIE’s legal cases are detailed online at
https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/court-cases/court-cases-information

https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/press-releases/three-west-cork-telecommunications-masts-face-high-court

Source: Joel Moskovitz, PhD, Electromagnetic Radiation Safety

https://www.saferemr.com/2024/09/biased-who-commissioned-review-claims.html

Dr. Oleg A. Grigoriev, Sept 11, 2024 

(Dr. Grigoriev, one of the world’s leading experts, emailed me this message regarding the Karipidis et al. (2024) review and gave me permission to post it.)

A group of little-known scientists have claimed responsibility for all cases of cancer associated with exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. These scientists claim that possible, probable, and proven cancer from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields does not exist and never can exist. Thus, responsibility for misleading consumers, industry, and healthcare systems lies with several specific authors.

They made this conclusion based on an analysis of other people’s articles, selected using a methodology not developed by them, using analysis criteria that they also did not develop. These scientists themselves are not known for their affiliation with scientific schools studying the biomedical effects of electromagnetism, their fundamental work in the field of biological effects of electromagnetic fields and hygiene is unknown. For an unknown reason, the scientists speak on behalf of the World Health Organization, whose employees remain silent and, in principle, do not have the authority (and competence) to make such categorical conclusions. As is well known, science has no categorical judgments, even geometry from the obvious Euclidean has become non-Euclidean, the theory of relativity has become relative. We do not discover “laws of nature”, but only generalize what is known. The physical nature of the electromagnetic field has been and remains a subject of discussion, as well as human nature and the role of natural electromagnetism and electricity in it.

The discussion of the carcinogenic potential of radio frequencies has become one of the topics of the international electromagnetic project after 1996, and we have repeatedly discussed this issue with the participants of the WHO project. I have been directly involved in discussions since 1997. Every specialist involved in experimental work using several species of animals, with volunteers, with hygiene and epidemiology understands how dangerous it is to make a categorical judgment “this exists” or “this does not exist”. We all need to be very careful when meeting the statements of such authors who “know the answer” in such a complex area for research as the bioeffects of the electromagnetic field.

Dr. Oleg A. Grigoriev 

Dr. Sc. (radiobiology), Ph.D.(radiobiology & hygiene of non-ionizing radiation)

Chairman, Russian National Committee for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

Member of the Board, Scientific Council for Radiobiology, Russian Academy of Sciences

Chairman, Non-Ionizing Radiation Section, Russian National Radiobiological Society

Chief Expert of the State Commission on Sanitary Rules (retired)

Member of the IAC WHO EMF Int Project – now WHO Non-ionizing Project (since 2004)

Member of the Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs

during 2020–2024

 

See more on Joel Moskovitz’s website Electromagnetic Radiation Safety (Saferemr.com)   :

https://www.saferemr.com/2024/09/biased-who-commissioned-review-claims.html

Source Article: https://www.eschoolnews.com/it-leadership/2024/08/01/wi-fi-rfr-safer-tech-classrooms/

Theodora Scarato, Rob Brown, MD, & Kent Chamberlin, PhD, Environmental Health Trust 

August 1, 2024

Wi-Fi radiation: Practical steps to implement safer tech in classrooms  

Updated 14/10/24

In light of the proposed ban or restricting of use of smartphones in classrooms and social media ban for children under 16, and because the government, schools, media, commentators, parents and others have made no mention of the negative health effects of radiofrequency microwave radiation from smartphones and wireless technology, here’s a reminder of just some of the many warnings, recommendations and studies regarding risks to children and young adults from mobile phones, smartphones, wifi, smart devices, for well over a decade.

Smartphones and other smart devices emit very high levels of radiation constantly, from the numerous antennas inside them sending and receiving signals back and forth to nearest wifi router, mobile phone mast and bluetooth devices, impacting not only the user but everyone nearby.

A typical smartphone has multiple antennas for wifi, for 2G, 3G and 4G (and 5G if a 5G phone), bluetooth, gps, and others. Even on standby and when not being used, smartphones and devices are emitting wireless radiation. (see video bottom of page).

Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to exposure to electromagnetic and RF microwave wireless radiation over their lifetimes, which can contribute to adverse biological, neurological, developmental and behavioural conditions.

Update: Minister Norma Foley has proposed that a staggering €9m be spent on pouches to keep student’s phones locked in while in classes. These Yondr pouches do not block signals so unless the smartphones are on airplane mode and turned off, they will still be transmitting RF microwave radiation (see video at end), as well as able to receive messages, texts, calls etc. Students will have their smartphones with them. Yondr pouches are designed to be opened with a special magnetic base only, but they are not tamper proof.

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Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2011

8.3. concerning the protection of children:

8.3.1. develop within different ministries (education, environment and health) targeted information campaigns aimed at teachers, parents and children to alert them to the specific risks of early, ill-considered and prolonged use of mobiles and other devices emitting microwaves;

8.3.2. for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by school children on school premises; see full text here

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Bioiniative Report 2012

“Precautionary measures are of particular importance in regard to children, who are generally more biologically sensitive, may be unable to protect themselves; and for whom such exposures may carry greater life-time health risks than they do for adults.”     https://bioinitiative.org/wpcontent/uploads/pdfs/sec23_2012_The_Precautionary_Principle.pdf

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Research

March 2023 – Scientific Paper on Children, Wireless Technology, and Health Effects by Renowned Experts in Environmental Health https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538544223000238?via%3Dihub

Children are more vulnerable to the damaging health effects from wireless microwave and electromagnetic radiation than adults. https://c4st.org/why-children-absorb-more-microwave-radiation-than-adults-the-consequences/

Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28504324/

Research on Children’s Vulnerability to Cell Phone Radio-frequency Radiation https://ehtrust.org/research-on-childrens-vulnerability-to-cell-phone-radio-frequency-radiation/

American Academy of Pediatrics (2013) – Letter to US Government Agencies, FCC & FDA, on Health Effects of Cell Phone & Wireless Radiation on Children.

The Stewart Report UK (2000) states that children absorb more energy per Kg of body weight from an external electromagnetic field than do adults.

Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression – Dr Martin Pall

New Clues on Colorectal Cancer Among Young Adults https://microwavenews.com/news-center/new-clues-colorectal-cancer-among-young-adults

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Professor Tom Butler, University College Cork

February 2019 – Paper on the Clear Evidence of the Risks to Children from Smartphone and WiFi Radio Frequency Radiation  https://www.radiationresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/On-the-Clear-Evidence-of-the-Risks-to-Children-from-Smartphone-and-WiFi-Radio-Frequency-Radiation-Final-20201.pdf

April 2019 – Why everyday wireless technology poses a health risk to children –   RTE.ie/Brainstorm

November 2019 – A Critical Review of Digital Technology in Education that should give Policy Makers and Educators Pause for Thought Digital-Technology-in-Education-Working-Paper-2019.pdf

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Ireland – Department of Health & Children (2011)

June 2011 “CHILDREN should only use mobile phones “for essential purposes” as they are far more vulnerable to cancer-causing radiation, according to advice from the Department of Health” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer https://web.archive.org/web/20110603205312/http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=19245

“We may not truly understand the health affects of mobile phones for many years. However, research does show that using mobile phones affects brain activity. There is general consensus that children are more vulnerable to radiation from mobile phones than adults. Therefore the sensible thing to do is to adopt a precautionary approach rather than wait to have the risks confirmed.”  Dept of Health Press Release Chief Medical Officer

In 2011, an un-enacted  Irish Mobile Phone Radiation Warning Bill 2011 indicated recognition of a need to introduce precautionary measures (especially for children and pregnant women). It was dropped by the Government Mobile Phone Bill 2011  Oireachtas.ie

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The International Declaration on the Human Rights of Children in the Digital Age

https://www.thechildrensdeclaration.org/the-declaration

Recognizing: 

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees nondiscrimination, devotion to the best interests of the child, the right to life, survival and development, and respect for the views of the child.  Other international appeals recognize additional or supplemental rights of children, such as the European Union Action on the Rights of the Child, and the Reykjavik Appeal on Wireless Technology in Schools. 

The existence of the legal rights of children is well recognized, but not adequately or uniformly enforced, especially when those rights conflict with powerful commercial interests. In this document we set out three fundamental legal rights of children regarding the deployment and use of technology: their right to be free from intentionally addictive devices, platforms and apps; their right to be free from harmful exposures to radiation; and their right to be free from commercial exploitation. 

The legal duty to protect children and enforce these rights on their behalf is the obligation of all adults, particularly parents, legal guardians and others in positions of authority. This protection of children is a basic legal principle that we believe will increasingly be recognized as a part of international customary law that can be recognized and implemented by every country on Earth. https://www.thechildrensdeclaration.org/

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This video shows the RF wireless radiation emitting from a smartphone while it is just on standby. Even on standby the levels are high.

The radiation levels will be much higher than this and continuous when the smartphone is being used for calls, internet access, streaming music, watching videos, whatsapping, messaging, etc.

Source Article: https://microwavenews.com

September 30, 2024

Five years ago, De-Kun Li, a senior epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, CA, offered a new possibility: carrying a cell phone below the waist. When placed in a pocket below the belt, the phone transmits RF radiation into the abdomen. Given that RF has been shown to cause cancer in animal experiments, Li thought it was a plausible risk factor. (This is what I wrote at the time.)

The idea didn’t catch on, but Li persisted and conducted a pilot study to test his hypothesis. It convinced him that he may be onto something.

It’s a small study, designed to survey 50 cases of EOCRC and 50 matched controls. He found that those who carried a phone below the waist were four times more likely to develop tumors…..

READ FULL ARTICLE, AND PLEASE SHARE FROM HERE https://microwavenews.com/news-center/new-clues-colorectal-cancer-among-young-adults

Phonegate Alert calls for a critical analysis of the recent WHO study on health risks of mobile phones

Paris, September 18, 2024 – The Phonegate Alert association demands a thorough and independent examination of the results of a recently published study by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study, which concludes there are no risks of brain cancer linked to mobile phone use, raises numerous questions about its methodology and impartiality….

https://phonegatealert.org/en/phonegate-alert-criticizes-who-study-mobile-phone-risks/

Phonegate Alert criticizes WHO study on mobile phone risks

Source Article: Microwave News

An international team of researchers, many with close ties to ICNIRP, is trying to put to rest the very possibility that RF radiation can lead to brain cancer —and, by extension, any type of cancer.

On August 30, they published a detailed systematic review of RF and cell phone epidemiological studies, which concludes that there is little evidence to justify continued concern over a possible cancer link.

The review, commissioned by the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) EMF Project, appears in the journal Environment International.

A few days later, Ken Karipidis, the lead author, posted a short summary to serve as a press release for the journal manuscript, which takes up 52 typeset pages of the journal.

…

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AND MORE ON MICROWAVE NEWS WEBSITE https://www.microwavenews.com/news-center/old-wine-new-bottles

Camilla Rees Presents on Wireless Risks at Metro D.C. MENSA Conference, Calls on MENSA Members to Join the Fight for Safe Technologies

“The Wireless Elephant in the Room: The Biological and Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields–and Steps We Can Take to Protect Our Health in a Wireless Age”

Source Article: Electromagnetic Health Blog 18/8/2024

Camilla Rees presented on wireless tech risks Saturday at the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. MENSA conference. Her talk was titled, “The Wireless Elephant in the Room: The Biological and Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields–and Steps We Can Take to Protect Our Health in a Wireless Age”.

Rees shared many studies with the high-IQ MENSA members showing biological and health risks from non-thermal (heating) exposures to wireless radiation, and mentioned several review studies by the U.S. government showing risk dating to the 1940s. They included studies by NASA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, EPA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute, Department of the Army, NIH/DoE, NIH/National Toxicology Program, as well as communication from the Department of Interior to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration indicating present exposure guidelines are outmoded and are inadequate to protect wildlife.

READ FULL ARTICLE https://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/camilla-rees-presents-on-wireless-risks-at-metro-d-c-mensa-conference-calls-on-mensa-members-to-join-the-fight-for-safe-technologies/

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IMPORTANT NOTE FROM ES-IRELAND. Rees and others call for Fibreoptic as an alternative to masts/towers.

However, many people have reported experiencing increased symptoms after fibreoptic internet cabling has been installed either to their homes or to their neighbours’ home, or even just in the area. Even with wifi disabled, people are still finding the installations are causing EMI interference or ‘dirty electricity’ and adding to their symptoms.

We therefore do not agree that Fibreoptic internet is a safe alternative to mobile/wireless masts, unless the EMI issue is addressed.

read why here

Why Do Fiber Optic Installations Increase Electrical Sensitivity? https://www.emfanalysis.com/fiber-optics-increasing-electrical-sensitivity/

Fiber Internet is Not a Panacea https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/69-fiber-internet-is-not-a-panacea/id1652241197?i=1000645391838

Published August 2024

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004744#aep-article-footnote-id1

Letter to the Editor of Environmental International from Michael Bevington, Chair of Trustees, Electrosensitivity UK, BM Box ES-UK, London WC1 3XX, United Kingdom

In response to this article published April 2024 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024001983?via%3Dihub

Letter to the Editor, Environment International ‘Available evidence shows adverse symptoms from acute non-thermal RF-EMF exposure’. Comment on: Bosch-Capblanch X et al., The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on human self-reported symptoms: A systematic review of human experimental studies, Envir Int. vol. 187, May 2024, 108612 

This review (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024) states in its Interpretation that “available evidence” suggests that acute non-thermal RF-EMF “does not cause symptoms”. However, this unqualified broad claim, while arguably valid if it had been limited to the 41 mainly negative studies reviewed, contradicts my experience over the last 16 years as a trustee of the charity Electrosensitivity UK, which since 2003 has sought to help people sensitised to RF-EMF. The review’s Interpretation is invalidated in three ways. Firstly, its parameters excluded much available evidence showing positive effects; secondly, the use of averaging hides individual cases which provide positive evidence; and, thirdly, its negative claim is contradicted by positive proof from other sources, including practical, judicial, legal and underwriting. 

…..

READ FULL LETTER HERE https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004744#aep-article-footnote-id1