W.E.E.P. News
Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution News
7 June 2011
Egypt
Giza residents block railroad to protest cell phone tower
UID>/INBOX>67663">Al-Masry Al-Youm
Hundreds of people have blocked railway movement in Giza to protest a cell phone tower in their village, security sources said. Residents of Bamha village in Ayyat, Giza, started gathering at the railroad on Sunday to call for dismantling the tower, ...
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/465139
David
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Hans Karow
Coalition to Reduce Electropollution (CORE)
16488 Schaad Road
Lake Country, BC, V4V 1B1
British Columbia Utilities Commission
Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Box 250
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2N3
Attn: Erica Hamilton, Secretary
June 2, 2011
Dear Ms Hamilton,
Re: procedures involving smart meters including but not limited to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Smart Meter and Infrastructure Regulatory Account F2011 Expenditures Application BCUC Project BCUC Order G-78-11
http://www.bcuc.com/ApplicationView.aspx?ApplicationId=306
Various IRs' questions from other parties, especially submitted by lawyers on behalf of their clients have not been responded by BCHydro (Applicant) as being "out of scope" in subject hearing. Clearly an indication that the whole Smart Meter Project (SMP) have not been addressed / tested / reviewed in detailed of every nature by the Commission and either parties other than the Applicant.
Under the regulatory guidelines (see also Enclosure below) with any utility project the Commission has the legal mandate, especially upon concern from and in the interest of the general public
"…Overall, the Commission has a duty to protect the public interest…
…..The Commission's specific functions include:…
…..assessing utility proposals to extend existing facilities or build new facilities (Section 45); "
Understanding Utility Regulation: A Participants Guide to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Chapter 2, Page 9
http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/2011/DOC_3939_ParticpantGuide_July2002.pdf
According to the regulatory guidelines it is illegal for BC Hydro to be excluded from fulfilling its oversight responsibilities? But if the government continues to exclude it from oversight(Clean Energy Act, 2008-Utilities Commission Amendment Act), then responsibility for any complaints would also be outside the responsibility of the BCUC.
CORE respectfully requests, that the Commission re-open all proceedings in where the SMP is involved, and /or schedule evidentiary hearings that allow all parties the opportunity
- to present evidence and testimony on RF health, environmental, legal and safety impacts,
- to review actual SMP performance, including cost effectiveness of Smart Meter installations, energy conservation achieved, reliability, interference, privacy and security risks, and fire hazards,
- to have the relevant acts and tariffs amended to allow individual customers on special request the right to opt out of the SMP (smart meter installation).
The scope of the Commission's review of opting out shall include the possibility of disabling the RF function of existing Smart Meters, removal or disabling of repeater equipment, use of shielded cable or fiber optics to transmit data, and alternative meter reading protocols.
The Commission is also respectfully requested to impose an immediate moratorium on any utility company's installation of new smart meters pending completion and decision of the evidentiary hearings, and/or Commission review.
Respectfully submitted
Hans Karow, CORE, Registered Intervener
ENCLOSURE to letter to BCUC dated June 2, 2011
Hans Karow
Coalition to Reduce Electropollution (CORE)
16488 Schaad Road
Lake Country, BC, V4V 1B1
British Columbia Utilities Commission
Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Box 250
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2N3
Attn: Erica Hamilton, Secretary
May 30, 2011
Dear Ms Hamilton,
Re: procedures involving smart meters including but not limited to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Smart Meter and Infrastructure Regulatory Account F2011 Expenditures Application BCUC Project BCUC Order G-78-11
http://www.bcuc.com/ApplicationView.aspx?ApplicationId=306
1. As a registered intervener possibly acting also in the interest of
- uninformed BC Hydro customer
- uninformed public at large
- uninformed Members of BC Legislature Assembly
I herewith do file a complaint to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) regarding the proposed BC Hydro Smart Meter Project (SMP) and any present or future SMP of other utility companies.
2. Apparently the Clean Energy Act contained the rules that capital projects like smart meters did not have to have a review by the BCUC: no health assessment, no cost-benefit analysis, no environmental impact review. The proposed installation of SM was mandated, without public consultation or debate in the legislature, as part of the Clean Energy Act 2010 [1].
The Commission is asked to order BC Hydro – as well as any other BC utility - to cease and desist work and any other further preparation with the planned installation of smart meters (SM) until the following issues have been addressed:
- to invite and engage the public at large in a proper public process to ensure concerns may be raised and be dealt with,
- to have BC Hydro and other utility companies resolve any issues which may be raised by the public during an information process and public hearing,
- to have BC Hydro and other utility companies forward all complaints they have received to BCUC from any and all sources concerning any and all impacts of proposed smart meter installations and any information about other known possible more cost-efficient and/or safer options that were available but had not been addressed adequately in the preceding procedural process.
- It is clear that utility companies have the legal authority by way of easements, permits, approvals and contracts to enter customers' property to service and read meters. However it is equally clear that BCHydro and other utility companies were remiss in not providing sufficient consultation and public input on the smart meter microwave radiation's negative health and legal impacts on property owners in the immediate vicinity of installed smart meters.
3. Additional comments and concerns:
3.1 BCUC, as an independent regulatory agency of the Provincial Government, operates under and administers the Utilities Commission Act [2] .
The Commission's primary responsibility is the regulation of the energy utilities under its jurisdiction to ensure that the rates charged for energy are fair, just and reasonable, and that utilities provide safe, adequate and secure service to their customers. Normally the Commission calls for public hearings in case of new projects, i.e. new power lines, substation, relocations of those etc. and the general public is invited to take part in such proceeding:
"…The Commission values public input in the issues for which it is responsible, and has prepared this Guide to help you to become more involved in our various activities."
Understanding Utility Regulation: A Participants Guide to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Chapter 1, Page 1, [3]
"…Decisions that attract public controversy may require the more structured public participation processes of administrative tribunals to ensure fair and equal treatment of all affected and interested parties…"
Understanding Utility Regulation: A Participants Guide to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Chapter 2, Page 4,
"…Overall, the Commission has a duty to protect the public interest…
…..The Commission's specific functions include:…
…..assessing utility proposals to extend existing facilities or build new facilities (Section 45); "
Understanding Utility Regulation: A Participants Guide to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Chapter 2, Page 9,
"…Finally, a member of the public can file a complaint with the Commission on a matter that is of particular concern to them. For example, a utility customer may
complain to the Commission that the utility should obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity before constructing its next project. There are differences in the ways in which utility applications, generic reviews, and complaints are handled by the Commission. Nevertheless, the Commission has developed common mechanisms for public participation during the course of each of these three types of regulatory proceedings. An important component of public participation is the provision of reasonable notice of a hearing to utility customers and other interested parties. This is discussed in Chapter 4, p. 29, "The Public Hearing Process".
Understanding Utility Regulation: A Participants Guide to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Chapter 3, Page 11,
Having cited the above, why has the general public . the very customers, so far not been involved with the SMP, speaking now of the smart meter as appliance to be installed with a huge cost involved?
3.2 Although BILL 15 — 2008 UTILITIES COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT [4] gives the Commission and BCHydro and other utilities certain power to circumvent public involvement, nevertheless the human rights i.e.
- Canadian Human Rights Act [5] administered by the Canadian Human Rights Commission [6]
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights [7]
are protected, preceding, and paramount over the BC Clean Energy Act and the 2008 Utilities Amendment Act.
3.3 Based on the body of research and existing evidence electromagnetic radiation from wireless appliances, including smart meters, are associated with adverse biological effect.
3.4 Based on the fact that these basic human rights issues were not discussed –obviously not even considered- during the debate of the Clean Energy Act in the Legislative Assembly nor during the proceedings to follow, not one party (Ministers, MLAs, BC Hydro, BCUC) has addressed the electromagnetic radiation pollution emanating from wireless smart meters. Obviously, this failure violates
- constitutional and common/civil law rights (trespass, civil assault, personal injury, civil battery and a taking of their property rights if done ignorantly, arbitrarily, wantonly willfully and without due process of law)
- criminal law rights (assault, bodily harm, intimidation, defense of property, mischief, common nuisance, causing bodily harm by criminal negligence).
4. It is requested that a public hearing be held with a fair regulatory time table to allow sufficient media announcement (with wording in plain dummy language), sufficient time (3-4 months) to find experts (legal, medical, researchers)
5. Due to lack of financial and legal resources, it is also requested that costs of experts of concerned people's choice be covered under the Commission's Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guideline [8].
Respectfully submitted
Hans Karow, CORE, Registered Intervener
[1] http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th2nd/1st_read/gov17-1.htm
[2] http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96473_01
[3] http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/2011/DOC_3939_ParticpantGuide_July2002.pdf
[4] http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/1st_read/gov15-1.htm
[5] http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/page-1.html#h-2
[6] http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/default-eng.aspx
[7] http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
[8] http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/2011/DOC_5014_G-72-07_PACA_2007_Guidelines.pdf
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Till Alla/Dear All,
En ny debattartikel/A new commentary article:
Manzetti S, Johansson O, "Kreftframkallende monstermaster. Store kraftmaster kan direkte påvirke menneskers helse" ("Carcinogenic monster masts.
Large power line towers can directly affect human health", in Norwegian), Dagbladet 6/6 2011
(Please, note that we asked them to edit certain parts but it was not done.)
Mved många vänliga hälsningar/With my very best regards
vännen/Yours sincerely
Olle
(Olle Johansson, assoc. prof.
The Experimental Dermatology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
&
Professor
The Royal Institute of Technology
100 44 Stockholm
Sweden)
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Dariusz Leszczynski's blog on IARC
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To President of the Institute Prof. Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, e-mail: rektorssekreterare@ki.se
Cc: Staffan Cullheim, Chairman, Department of Neuroscience, e-mail: Staffan.Cullheim@ki.se
Dear Sirs,
In Our NGO, Associació Oikos Ambiental in Spain, are very concerned on the situation about not allowing Ph Olle Johansson to work in the research area of health effects of EMFs.
Instead of "cautionary" not allowing Olle Johansson to work in this research area of health effects of EMFs, instead it ought to be ensured and greatly expanded - in this way we would, in agreement with the Precautionary Principle, be sure not to put mankind's head in a future snare of radiation damage, cancer, neurological disease, learning disorders, etc.
It is a pure scandal, what is now happening. To leave people with a disability in the lurch is not only unethical but also completely in contrast to the "UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities" and "The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights" and its "Communication from Commission to the Council and Parliament on the transfer of the European framework agreement on harassment and violence at work ". Any discrimination on grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.
One might add that it is, since November 8, 2007, a legal obligation not to humiliate or discriminate against anyone, whether in the form of one-time events. The current on-going situation is such a pure discrimination against all persons with EHS! It would be correct instead to increase the present research facility on the basis of the requirements of the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities. So, why we are going in the opposite direction if
IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS ?
and other scientists warn of the health effects of EMFs from the RF & Microwave, not only in Europe but all over the world
CNN, Sanjay Gupta Coverage Cell Phones/Brain Cancer
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/20/gupta-cell-phones-brain-tumors-and-a-wired-earpiece/
Persons with the disability EHS must not be brought down by a lack of finances or a rental fee, nor by arbitrary moving carousels. The UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities is very clear on this point. Research and investigation shall take place until full accessibility is attained.
Sweden, and its government, verbally support the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities. Now was the time to also support these people's rights by action...but they, and their relatives, were left out in the cold.
We wish you could change your mind and you are able to do much better for millions of very hopeful persons around the world as the Karolinka Institut is the home of the Nobel Medicine Prize
With respect,
Sg.Patricia-Montserrat Ferrer
from Spain
Sue
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5 Easy Ways to Get a Restful Night's Sleep
A big sleep disruptor in the bedroom might be exposure to electronic devices, wireless technology, and other forms of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Aside from feeling buzzed, Dr. Magda Havas, a leader in the movement against unrestrained wireless ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-greer/is-your-bedroom-toxic-5-e_b_871801.html
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Interministerial on EMF - India
http://www.dot.gov.in/miscellaneous/IMC%20Report/IMC%20Report.pdf
Kirsten
Web site www.weepinitiative.org e-mail contactweep@weepinitiative.org
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W.E.E.P. – The Canadian initiative to stop Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution
