"THEY have long feared that a mobile phone mast has been causing cancer in their village. Now the residents of Benajarafe have scored a massive victory by having it removed.

"After a two year battle, Vodafone has been ordered to take down the controversial transmitter.

"The locals are adamant that the mast, which stands just metres from their houses was the reason for a high incidence of recent cancer deaths.

"Of the nearly 400 residents there have been a staggering 50 cases of cancer with more than 30 people dying in recent years.

"Many others claim to have been suffering from insomnia, headaches, depression and memory disorders due to the mast . . .

 
"It's been 9 months since the WHO warned of a cell phone and mobile tower radiation leading to increased risks of cancer.So what has the government done to protect you and raise awareness on the potential risks and do's and dont's. The issue of radiation itself that we are exploring covers two major areas. The first - radiation from mobile phone towers that have cropped up all over cities over the last decade posing a huge health risk. The second is radiation from cellphone that you and me are exposed to on a day to day basis out of regular usage and which there's seemingly no getting away from."

Public to Meet Over Bronte Cell Tower
"Say No to Cell  Towers in Residential Neighbourhoods" website

"Microwave cell phone antennas should not be placed on or near fire halls. These brave firefighters risk their lives to protect us and our property. During fires they can be exposed to potentially toxic fumes, some of which may be carcinogenic. This is a risk they train for and are willing to take. They should not be asked to work at a firehall that exposes them to microwave radiation for the benefit of a cellular provider. Microwave radiation has been classified as a possible human carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

"Studies show that microwave radiation can interact with chemicals to give an even deadlier mixture. Cancer cells can become more aggressive and multiply rapidly when mice are exposed to both a cancer causing substance and microwave radiation at the same time. This does not bode well for fire fighters.

"Fire fighters already take many risks to make our world a safer place. Let's ensure that their place of work, is as safe and healthy as possible."

"...Of the nearly 400 residents there have been a staggering 50 cases of cancer with more than 30 people dying in recent years. Many others claim to have been suffering from insomnia, headaches, depression and memory disorders due to the mast..."

"On January 11, the EMF Safety Network filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court against the City of Sebastopol, Verizon, and Crown Castle alleging the City's decision to approve a 4G cell tower expansion was in violation of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). According to the Sebastopol attorney, the city has a "hold harmless" clause in their contract with Verizon which requires Verizon to pay for all litigation costs related to the cell tower.

"Sebastopol is located adjacent to an internationally recognized wetlands preserve, the Laguna De Santa Rosa. The City filed a CEQA exemption for the project stating there would be "negligible or no expansion of use", calling it a "minor alteration." EMF Safety Network lawyer Rose Zoia argued their exemption claims were false. The addition of 3 and 4 G panels to the cell tower will add significant radio frequency (RF) exposure to the downtown area and extend nine miles into the Laguna.

"Sebastopol's Telecommunications Ordinance states, " No telecommunications facility shall be sited such that its presence threatens the health and safety of migratory birds." . . .

"Some Mississauga residents are wondering, as the company looks over a number of church properties in the city to locate cell phone towers.

"The company has already found its calling in one location: Kingdom Glory Church on North Sheridan Way, where the phone tower doubles as a soaring cross.

"Now, Bell Mobility has proposed a 31-metre tower at nearby Clarkson Road Presbyterian Church . . .

Includes: Origins, Technology, Placement, Health, Government Revenue and Rejoinder to Disparagement, Phone Company Responses, Government Regulation, and extensive References

"Debriefing spies during The Cold War extended my military education into the full diversity of stealth microwave warfare and communication systems. I was previously aware of reports concerning dead birds in and around communication bases. On examination these birds were found to be cooked. Microwaves are the preferred medium for communication, over radiowaves, due to their superior penetrative properties and ability to carry more information.

"Our Government and the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP) classify microwaves as electromagnetic waves from 300 M Hz to 300 G Hz. (NRPB 2004).

"To my knowledge, 'microwave or radiowave sickness' was first reported in August 1932 with the symptoms of: severe tiredness, fatigue, fitful sleep, headaches, intolerability and high susceptibility to infection (Hecht, 2007). These symptoms were reported to be from athermal effects. Obviating these health risks mediated by what ever mechanisms seemed to be the rationale for those setting safety levels (Marino, 1995). Marino writes: '..... the present de facto in arriving at a determination of a safe exposure.' Marino's research (Marino, 1995 op.cit) was based on EMF exposure -radar and radios -on service personnel during World War II.

"During the Cold War the US Embassy in Moscow was irradiated with low level microwaves for many years; why and how is really outside the scope of this article. The consequences of this irradiation were multiple cancers / leukaemias and other illnesses among embassy staff and families. Professor John R Goldsmith, MD wrote the investigative report on this incident (Goldsmith, 1997). Professor Goldsmith wrote a corollary to his initial publication (Goldsmith ii -undated) where he described modern communications as 'The End of Innocence'. . .

"I congratulate you on choosing Cadillac Place in the middle of an industrial site to place your new 60-meter Telus microwave telecommunications tower with Alcatel-Lucent antenna.

"However, I do hope you realize you will be irradiating a brand-new old folks home, a veterinary clinic, chiropractic clinic, two shopping malls, a fish packing plant, and a brand-new housing development with microwave radiation--a Class 2B carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization--and no doubt setting off some kind of harmonic interference with the nearby Hydro substation which will undoubtedly amplify the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of your microwave antennas . . .

"You have no right to subject me to known carcinogens without my informed written consent; only my physician has that right and only if I give it to him. I have not given you this consent, and to my knowledge, neither has anyone else.

"If you, Mr. MacFarlane, want to sit inside a microwave oven (aka radar range) turned on Low for the rest of your life, go right ahead. I want no part of it. None. And you have no right to force it upon me . . .

Local councils need to take steps to defend the health, safety and human rights of their constituents. They need to represent the people in their ridings, and people need to speak up for their rights.

According to Bill 23-2008 of the British Columbia Public Health Act, section 83 (1), Section 83 (1), a municipality must take action when it learns of something that could be harmful to its residents. It must notify the Minister of Health or take immediate action.

We can't say it strongly enough: Approach local councils NOW, and demand safe neighbourhoods!
If you don't, the change we need won't happen.