'We are glad to announce the 2nd Workshop on Cell Phone/Tower Radiation Hazards and Solutions to be held on 9th July 2012 at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) organized by Prof. Girish Kumar, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, IIT Bombay. The first workshop was held on 20th Nov 2011 at VMCC, IIT Bombay. More than 100 people had attended the workshop including several representatives from cellular industry, doctors, researchers, concerned citizens and eminent Bollywood celebrity supporting the cause. The objective is to create awareness of health risk associated with long term cell phone/ tower radiation exposure, harmful biological effects on plants growth, animals, bees and insects and also to explore the recent advances in this field.

Invitation:

"I will like to invite you for the 2nd Workshop on "Cell phone/tower radiation hazards and solutions" being organized at IIT Bombay on July 9, 2012 (Monday) from 9 am to 6pm.  

Registration fee: Rs. 6,000 (includes Cell Tower Radiation Monitor) (RS. 6,000 = USD 120)

You can see the details at:
http://www.ee.iitb.ac.in/~mwave/workshop2

"Please forward it to all your known people.
With regards.

Girish Kumar
Professor, Electrical Engineering Department
I.I.T. Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076, INDIA
Tel. - (022) 2576 7436, Fax - (022) 2572 3707
email- gkumar@ee.iitb.ac.in
Blog - http://profgirishkumar.blogspot.in/

"The Ashland City Council has approved an opt-out option for residents who don't want radio frequency wave-emitting utility meters at their homes -- and they won't be charged hefty fees for their decision.

"The council adopted the opt-out policy on Tuesday night and directed city staff not to charge proposed fees of $120 to opt out, plus $20 each month during the time a home doesn't have a so-called "smart meter . . .

The effective date of these directions, which was initially 1st April 2012, has been extended to 1st September 2012

"Indian government has extended by five months the deadline for cutting radiation from cellphone towers by 90%, the government informed the Lok Sabha today.

"The directive cutting radiation limits for cellphone towers was issued after a multi-year consultation between the government, the industry, scientific bodies and consumer associations.

"The directive was supposed to come into effect in April this year. But this has now been extended to September 1, minister of state for communication and IT Milind Deora said.

"He said the step was taken after the government got 'representations' from cellular operators and their associations.

"Representations were received from Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) expressing concerns on lowering of EMF radiation norms," he said . . .

"When a current is passed through the antenna, it emits 'pulses' of energy, which travel through the air to great distances. "Higher energy EMR, such as gamma and beta rays, tend to behave more like particles -- traveling in straight lines etc.. Lower energy radiation, such as the Microwaves used by the cellphone industry, travel more like waves in water, moving in an enveloping or spreading motion.

"As a result, microwave radiation from cellphone towers is able to reach inside homes and vehicles and penetrate light objects.

"While higher energy (higher frequency) radiation is known to cause cancer, no one is quite sure where to draw the line . . .

"Is a rise in brain tumours linked to the radiation sources we hold so close to our heads? Experts can't agree on the answer.

 "Allegations of lobbying, bad science, not enough science, conflicts of interest, political inertia, scaremongering and lawsuits: the debate surrounding the safety of mobile phones has it all. With more than 5 billion users worldwide, mobile phones have undoubtedly become central to modern life in just two decades, but could they be a health hazard? . . .

"Scientists at the Children with Cancer conference in London this week will advocate that governments adopt the 'precautionary principle' - advising phone users to take simple steps to protect themselves and their children from potential, not proven, long term health risks of electromagnetic fields - especially head cancers.

"They will call for urgent research into new Office of National Statistics figures that suggest a 50 per cent increase in frontal and temporal lobe tumours - the areas of the brain most susceptible to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones - between 1999 and 2009 . . .

 "The Department of Health currently has a confusing online-only leaflet which states that there is no immediate concern but under-16s should be encouraged to minimise phone use and if concerned about risks, choose hands free kits or texting.

"In stark contrast France has banned phones from primary schools and advertising targeted at children, and companies must provide headsets with every phone.

"Israel recently became the latest of a very small, but growing number of governments to introduce legislation requiring all mobile phones and adverts to come with a health alert:

"Warning - the Health Ministry cautions that heavy use and carrying the device next to the body may increase the risk of cancer, especially among children."

"The law, which last month passed its first reading, also seeks to ban, like with tobacco, companies from marketing to children . . .

"The research is split almost 50:50, on whether mobile phones pose a health hazard or not. But the balance changes if funding sources are considered, with around three quarters of the 'negative' studies - no health risks - funded by industry . . .

"Most current studies are at least part funded by industry, or involve researchers with industry links . . .

"This is the largest technological experiment in the history of our species and we're trying to bury our head in sand about the potential risks to cells, organs, reproduction, the immune system, behaviour, risks we still know next to nothing about . . .

"Senator Bob Hartwell's bill, S.214, was passed by the House! "With No Monthly Opt Out Fee ever, it removes the financial obstacle that hindered many from doing so. Now there's no downside to opting out. We can preserve our health, privacy and protect our environment from an invisible, insidious form of air pollution - microwave radiation. Vermont is the first state to remove the fee altogether.

"Apparently the situation in the House last week was very fluid with a lot of last minute maneuvering around some controversial issues like the CVPS $21,000,000 windfall, but in the end it all worked to our advantage. In addition to the removal of the Opt Out fee, the bill as passed also requires the PSB and Health Commissioner to retain an independent expert to monitor health impacts going forward, report any security breaches and report any energy savings. (See bill below)

"A huge thanks to everyone who helped and contributed their time and effort, we made a difference . . .

"Computer hackers have managed to breach some of the top secret systems within the Ministry of Defence, the military's head of cyber-security has revealed.

"Major General Jonathan Shaw told the Guardian the number of successful attacks was hard to quantify but they had added urgency to efforts to beef up protection around the MoD's networks.

"The number of serious incidents is quite small, but it is there," he said. "And those are the ones we know about. The likelihood is there are problems in there we don't know about."

"Government computer systems come under daily attack, but though Shaw would not say how or by whom, this is the first admission that the MoD's own systems have been breached . . .

May 1, 2012

"The UK government has outlined what it is doing to prepare for major solar storms.

"Yesterday, the government published a response to the Defence Committee's report on the developing threat of Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP). EMP can appear in the event of extreme Space Weather, as well as a result of a nuclear explosion or a specifically-developed, non-nuclear weapon.

"The report stated that EMP poses "known and significant" risks to the UK infrastructure, including National Grid and satellite networks . . .

Space Pulse

"The report suggested the UK needs to be prepared in case of another "Carrington event". In 1859, the most powerful Solar Storm in recorded history resulted in widespread failure of telegraph systems and magnetic activity on earth was so high that Aurorae were seen over the Caribbean. The Carrington event has been widely seen as the "worst case scenario" of a Solar Storm.

"Severe space weather would be expected to have moderate to significant effects upon a range of technologies and infrastructure, including communications systems, electronic circuits and power grids, the report acknowledged. Even if another Carrington event does not happen, smaller solar storms will inevitably take place, which could have serious consequences.

"In the energy sector, the Government is working closely with industry through the Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C) to establish the potential impact of severe space weather on the power grid . . .

"Sue Brinchman of La Mesa says she wept upon hearing the news she's sought for 18 months--that San Diego Gas & Electric customers can restore their old analog meters and get rid of their wireless "smart meters."

"The opt-out plan was given final approval Thursday by the state Public Utilities Commission.

"I hung up and teared up, letting go some emotions that have been pent up since December 2010," she said Thursday afternoon.

"The opt-out plan was requested by the San Diego-based Utility Consumers Action Network, and also applies to Southern California Edison customers.

"Among the strongest advocates of the plan was Brinchman, director of the Center for Electrosmog Prevention, who in August 2011 posted the first of nearly two dozen blogs on Patch.com.

"I have already called SDG&E to demand that they remove both the smart gas meter and the smart electric meter from my home," Brinchman said. "For once, they responded kindly and did not tell me [the smart meters] were mandatory.

"I look forward to sleeping in a bed, which I haven't done for a year and a half. I will actually be able to go into my own bedroom and get the clothes in there, enjoy that place that used to be a place of comfort and rest, not a source of nightmarish headaches and pain. . . .

"A scientific conference starting in London today will urge governments across the world to support independent research into the possibility that using mobile phones encourages the growth of head cancers.

"The Children with Cancer conference will highlight figures just published by the Office of National Statistics, which show a 50 per cent increase in frontal and temporal lobe tumours between 1999 and 2009 . . .

• "An immediate moratorium on "smart meter" installation until these serious public health issues are resolved. Continuing with their installation would be extremely irresponsible. 

• "Modify the revised proposed decision to include hearings on health impact in the second proceedings, along with cost evaluation and community wide opt-out. 

• "Provide immediate relief to those requesting it and restore the analog meters.