Please circulate the attached W.E.E.P. Press Release widely...
Thanks
David
Dr. David Fancy
Department of Dramatic Arts
Brock University
St Catharines
Ontario
L2S 3A1
905-688-5550, ext 3584
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Leading Scientist Calls for Health Canada to Respond to Growing Evidence That Many of Our Modern Electrical Conveniences Are Making Us Sick
Dr. Martin Blank in Toronto May 27 to present new research claiming EMFs (electromagnetic fields) are leading to ill health including electrosenitivities, chronic diseases and cancer.
May 19, 2009, Toronto – New information on public health concerns and scientific evidence for risks from cell phones and other wireless devices was published recently in current issue of the scientific journal Pathophysiology.
Research Professor and Editor Martin Blank PhD (Associate Professor, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY) says, "This special issue of Pathophysiology is about the human body's sensitivity to EMF signals in the environment, e.g., EMF effects on DNA, effects on the brain from cell phone radiation."
Dr. Blank is a leading member The BionInitative Working Group – an international group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professionals who published the 600 page 2007 Bioinitiative Report on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health.
Dr. Blank states, "EMFs in the environment may lead to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and breast cancer" and also that "The scientific evidence tells us that our safety standards are inadequate, and that we must protect ourselves from exposure to EMF due to power lines, cell phones and the like."
The authors of the 2007 Bioinitiative Report are a global consortium of scientists engaged in an extensive literature review of existing scientific
research focused on the biological, health, and environmental effects of electromagnetic emissions. This group has called for an extensive reduction of current exposure levels from devices such as, power lines, computers, wireless networks, cordless portable phones, cell phone, cell towers, radio and television antenna.
Health Canada Not Responding To Evidence
Experts believe that the science backing up Canada's current safety regulations for electromagnetic emissions is very outdated and that the electromagnetic environment most Canadians are exposed to in their daily lives is having a negative effect on their health.
However, to date, Health Canada has not responded to this growing body of scientific evidence in this area, except to reiterate the position that there is not yet sufficient proof to warrant a change in regulations. (There is reason for further investigating potential conflicts of interest with regard to Health Canada's interactions with the wireless industry.
WEEP Initiative Asked to Present Report To Health Canada
The members of Canada's WEEP Initiative – an advocacy group attempting to limit Wireless, Electrical, and Electromagnetic Pollution – have been asked by the members of the BioInitiative Working Group to present a copy of the 2007 BioInitiative Report to the Canadian Government, specifically to Leona Aglukkaq, the Federal Minister of Health.
Dean Allison, Conservative MP for Niagara-West Glanbook has delivered an open letter of invitation from WEEP to the Minister of Health, requesting a meeting to discuss the new information in the report and the important health issues it exposes for Canadians. WEEP would like to extend an invitation to the Minister of Health to meet with Dr. Blank while he is in Canada this month.
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Press Conference Scheduled for May 27, 2009 in Toronto
On May 27th WEEP is hosting Dr. Martin Blank for an information session/press conference on the science behind the biological and health effects of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF).
Dr Martin Blank – Dr. Blank is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Physiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY and is the former President and Full Member of Bioelectromagnetics Society. Dr Blank's research examines the various ways in which human-made electromagnetic fields used in many of our day to day appliances and telecommunications devices interrupt regular biological functioning. He is a co-author of the influential Bioinitiative report that has led to regulatory change for electromagnetic emissions in Europe, and is the issue editor for Pathophysiology's current issue dedicated to the health and biological effects of electromagnetic emissions.
Details: May 27, 3-4 pm, Blue Jay Room, Rennaissance Toronto Hotel Downtown,
1 Blue Jays Way
Interviews with Dr. Blank can be scheduled in advance for the evening of May 26 or before 3:00 pm on May 27. Also available to represent other aspects of the danger of EMF pollution are:
Martin Weatherall – Retired Police officer with twenty eight years with the Toronto Police Service. Seventeen of those years were served within the Forensic Identification Service, mostly involved in major crime scene investigation (CSI). Martin developed electro hyper-sensitivity (EHS) and cancer after moving into a country home with serious electrical pollution issues. He has spent the last five and a half years investigating the cause of his illness, and health effects of electrical and electromagnetic pollution on the public. Mr Weatherall is one of the original forming members of the WEEP Initiative.
Kevin Byrne – Kevin Byrne is a technical writer who, in his mid-40s, began experiencing serious pain that he could not attribute to any specific source. Eventually, through extensive research, Kevin determined that the source was in fact electromagnetic pollution. Once he had researched ways of remediating exposure and making his own pain go away, he dedicated himself to helping others. He now runs a company specializing in EMF home inspections and remediation. Kevin Byrne is president of EMF Solutions Canada(www.EMFSolutions.ca) . Kevin is an EHS victim, victim's advocate and activist. Kevin is also publisher of www.DirtyElectricity.ca, a website dedicated to exposing the latest information and solutions concerning Dirty Electricity, EMF pollution, radio frequency (RF) radiation and it's associated health effects.
For More Information and To Schedule Interviews, Contact:
Lisa Matheson
WEEP Initiative
(905) 688-7738
The WEEP Initiative
About WEEP
Canada's WEEP Initiative is a non-profit advocacy group attempting to stop Wireless, Electrical, and Electromagnetic Pollution. For more information visit our website www.weepinitiative.org.
WEEP is concerned that all Health Canada employees may not be being appropriately advised on the potential severity of the issue of electromagnetic emissions at levels at which Canadians are currently exposed. The BioInitiative Report presents significant evidence to the effect that Canada's current guidelines do not sufficiently protect human health.
WEEP Calls for Action
The members of WEEP feel that close scrutiny of the BioInitiative Report, the recent issue of Pathophysiology, and examples of legal and regulatory work being done internationally, in the company of ourselves and a number of research scientists working in this area, will compel Health Canada to take precautionary steps towards better protecting Canadians. This does not have to be an overwhelming problem. Technological solutions can be found to prevent many of the EMF related challenges we are facing.
We call on Health Canada to fulfill its mandate to protect the health of Canadians and take leadership on this multifaceted issue.
To protect Canadians Health Canada and the Federal Government must:
- Inform the public of the potential health risks associated with electromagnetic fields (EMF) and how to practice prudent use and prudent
avoidance.
- Better regulate the manufacturers of EMF producing devices.
- Better regulate Industry Canada and cell and wireless carriers.
- Clean up 'dirty' electricity and remediate ground current.
- Locate power lines and cell towers away from schools and the general public wherever possible.
- Ask for the development safer communications networks by using fiber optics as opposed to wireless networks.
- Investigate potential conflicts of interest between Health Canada and the wireless industry.
Contacts & Links
WEEP Initiative www.weepinitative.org
International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
www.ijppp.org
The Bininitiative Report www.bioinitiative.org
For more information and links to relevant news articles, scientific reports, etc., visit the WEEP website.
EMFs and Our Health – Additional Information
Paracelus Clinic, Switzerland, February 2009 – The medical Director at the famed Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland stated his belief that the current "electromagnetic load" is a real hidden factor in many illnesses. He estimated that 3-8% of the overall populations in developed countries experience serious electrohypersensitivity symptoms today and 35% experience mild symptoms. These estimates are consistent with estimates provided by a leading scientist here in Canada.
US Congress, November 3, 2008 – Dennis Kucinich, the Chairman of the US Congressional Domestic Policy Subcommittee requested that the Federal
Communications Commission, who regulate safety levels for electromagnetic emissions in the United States, reconsider their regulatory frameworks since
"current data are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions concerning the adequacy of [existing] guideline to be protective against non-thermal effects of chronic exposures" such as those engendered by living or working in proximity to cell towers, radio broadcast antenna, DECT cordless phones, overlapping home and/or public wireless networks, or by children sleeping with their cell phones under their pillows at night.
European Parliament, September 4, 2008 – the European Parliament voted 522 to 16 to encourage Member States "to take into account the Member States' best practices and thus to set stricter exposure limits for all equipment which emits electromagnetic fields in the frequencies between 0.1 MHz and 300 GHz."
Dr. Magda Havas, Trent University – A Canadian scientist, Magda Havas (Trent University) has made significant links between dirty electricity (radio frequencies on our power lines) and headaches and to diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis and to asthma and ADD in children.
Response from Canadians – Recently, a major Canadian television network investigating the health concerns surrounding compact fluorescent lights said they received over 500 emails and phone calls saying these lights were making them ill.
International Resolutions & Appeals – Scientists and doctors around the world are concerned about existing guidelines that do not appear to be protecting the general population. As a result they have signed various Resolutions and Appeals calling for a review of these guidelines and for governments to take steps to protect the health and welfare of their people. These Resolutions include the Salzburg Resolution (2000, Austria); Catania Resolution (2002 Italy); Freiburger Appeal (2002, Germany); Irish Doctors' Environmental Association (2005, Ireland); Helsinki appeal (2005, Finland); Benevento Resolution (2006, Italy); Bioinitiative Report (2007, USA); and the Venice Appeal (2008, Italy).
WHO Conference, 2004 – In 2004, the World Health Organization held a conference in Prague on Electrical Sensitivity and they defined electrical sensitivity as: ". . . a phenomenon where individuals experience adverse health effects while using or being in the vicinity of devices emanating electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic fields (EMFs)." " . . . EHS is a real and sometimes a debilitating problem for the affected persons . . . Their exposures are generally several orders of magnitude under the limits in internationally accepted standards."
Canadian Human Rights Commission – Reports on The Canadian Human Rights Commission website acknowledge that electrical sensitivity, like other environmental sensitivities, is a disability. The reports advocate reduction of exposure levels to prevent other from developing this disability.
Potential Conflict of Interest Exposed – Dr. James McNamee research scientist, Consumer & Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, may well be a conflict of interest situation as a result of his other professional roles. Dr. McNamee was on the Board of Directors for the Bioelectromagnetics Society, with his term ending 2008. This Society's newsletter is funded by Motorola, and its editor is Dr. Mays Swicord, director of EMR research for Motorola. McNamee is the EMR specialist on the editorial board of Radiation Research. Over the last 16 years, only one positive paper on microwave genotoxicity has appeared in Radiation Research. 80% of the negative papers published in Radiation Research were paid for by either industry or the U.S. Air Force.
Note: Please view the 'attached' full version of this document which has WEEP logos and internet links.
