The Guardian
The Green Party of Canada supports a group of Charlottetown residents fighting construction of a Rogers cell tower in their neighbourhood and is dismayed that both Industry Canada and Rogers would proceed after the City of Charlottetown voted to not allow construction.
| Published: May 21. 2009 08:50AM |
Dr. Magda Havas spoke on 'electrosmog' at Cathedral Hall last night. An Associate Professor at Trent University, Canada, she conducts global research into electromagnetic fields and pollution. She said she hoped her visit to Bermuda would help raise awareness of its impact on public health.
"You have so many cell phones and antennas on such a small island here," she said.
"Very often governments will tell you that if the guidelines are exceeded it is perfectly safe, but that's not what scientific research is showing.
"Some people are very badly affected by ElectroSensitivity. The World Health Organisation recognised this as a serious illness in 2004, and these people are affected well below existing guidelines."
Dr. Havas said on average, three percent of the population is "very sensitive" to electromagnetic pollution. Those with Electro-HyperSensitivity (EHS) experience headaches, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, memory loss, sleeping problems, tinnitus and even skin disorders.
More than a third of the population 35 percent, are affected "moderately".
"Most people don't recognise it, they just don't feel well, but the symptoms are specifically related to the home, work, school or office environment you are in," said Dr. Havas.
"There are a number of things people can do to alleviate the symptoms. Use your cell phone less often and use it in speaker mode rather than holding it against your ear.
"And if it's in roaming mode you shouldn't use it at all. Pregnant women and young children should also minimise their use of such technology."
Dr. Havas said people can test radiation and electromagnetic pollution from their power sources with a simple device. They can then fit an electromagnetic filter, a capacitor which blocks high frequencies.
"We've done studies at schools in Toronto and in Minnesota and when we put these in schools, we found that 35 percent of teachers found their health improved, in that their headaches went away and they had more energy. The children's behaviour also improved," she said.
Two years ago Dr. Havas conducted tests at CedarBridge Academy and found the electromagnetic pollution was "very high".
She said: "We put in some filters for a week and the staff really noticed the difference. The grounds manager at the school has recently indicated he is very interested in the filters so we hope to do another report and that the school will act on it."
Dr. Havas said: "Electrosmog is constantly increasing due to the increase in wireless connections and cell phones in society.
"I am hoping to raise awareness, to let the authorities know that wireless technology and dirty electricity is not as safe as what has been presumed so far."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Eileen O'Connor
The following short film on the phone mast campaign has been made available on Youtube. It is four years old but is still very relevant today and captures the campaign in the
Please find new videos at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSrFdyJyNVM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
