Wi-Fi Radiation in Schools

Can You See It Now?
by Deb Mayer, paaoregon.org, 27 June 2018

Artist rendition of typical house showing WiFi radiation

Over the past few weeks, Oregonians have been asking questions and seeking answers as to the safety of WiFi radiation -- especially in schools. Nearly 500 people from Ashland, Eugene, and Portland attended events to find out more about health risks. They also are demanding information about smart meters on their homes and the roll-out of the new 5G technology. Communities around the state are making decisions on how to address the problem. On Monday, June 11th, I delivered testimony to the Portland Public School Committee on Teaching and Learning about the harmful health effects of WiFi radiation in schools -- especially on young children. This is what I packed into my three minute time allotment:

Switzerland: Mobile Telephony: War of the Waves

UPDATE:  30 June 2018:   Current video "Radiation from 5G antennas - a health risk?" from DW.com, with the participation of Dr. Carlos Quinto, member of the Federation of Swiss Doctors, one of the very few doctors to mention the NTP cell phone radiation studies in early March.

Dr. Carlos Beat Quinto, member of the central committee
of the Federation of Swiss Doctors (FMH) - which
has some 30,000 members

On March 5, 2018, the Council of States, Swiss Parliament, voted once again on revision of the Ordinance on Protection against Non-Ionizing Radiation (ORNI). By a vote of 22 to 21 with 2 abstentions, the Council said “no” to the Motion,“Avoiding the collapse of mobile networks and securing the country's digital future" and thus rejected an increase in the limit values for mobile phone antennas.

A number of associations concerned about the effects of radiofrequency radiation on people and the environment were against the motion: Doctors for the Protection of the Environment, Federation of Swiss Doctors, Union of Swiss Farmers, HabitatDurable, Swiss Federation of Patients. and advocacy groups. During the debate prior to the vote, some of the deputies mentioned having received several hundred letters and copies of scientific studies from people concerned about health, including electrosensitive persons.

The following article appeared in Migros Magazine, which has a readership of over 700,000 persons.

Press Release: Appeal for the Withdrawal of More than 250 Mobile Phone Models in France, Europe and Internationally

This press release contains links to the list of the 250 mobile phones to be withdrawn or updated, and the composition of the Scientific Committee of the association.

Appeal for the withdrawal of more than 250 mobile phone models in France, Europe and internationally
phonegatealert.org, 29 June 2018

Our press briefing was held Thursday 28 June 2018 in Paris. Dr. Marc Arazi, President of the NGO, Phonegate Alert, together with two members of the scientific committee, Dr. Devra Davis (USA), President of the NGO, the Environmental Health Trust, and Dr. Annie Sasco, former chief of a research unit, at IARC-WHO, called for the withdrawal of millions of mobile phones that present a risk to health, particularly of children.

Dr. Arazi briefly recalled the important steps marking the alert launched in July 2016. He then presented the association that was recently created on his initiative in March 2018, its international purpose and the composition of the scientific committee, which includes some of the internationally renowned personalities who are studying the potential links between electromagnetic waves and health.

Council of Europe: Draft Guidelines to Promote, Protect and Fulfil Children's Rights in the Digital Environment Make No Mention of Children's Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation

RE-POSTED JUNE 2018:    To date, we cannot find a finalized version of this document.  The right to health and well-being is a fundamental right for all human beings. It seems to be neglected in this draft document, in the context of exposure to radiofrequency radiation.  Children, with their smaller bodies, are more vulnerable  to the dangers of this type of radiation and must especially be protected.

The Council of Europe has issued a draft document, comments due by 4 September 2017: "Guidelines to promote, protect and fulfil children’s rights in the digital environment", applying to all children under the age of 18 in the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe. It seems to cover subjects such as child sexual abuse, bullying, protection of personal data, etc. and to promote digital education. After a quick perusal of the document, we see no mention of the mental and physical risks of exposing children to the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by digital technology. The right to health and well-being is a fundamental human right that seems to be neglected in this document, in the context of EMR exposure.

No Cell Phones in School!

Opinion published 27 June 2018 by the Swiss newspaper "24heures" on cell phones in schools and Phonegate. (translation)

No cell phones in school!

Re. article entitled "Schools are looking for a tool to replace WhatsApp" (24heures, 23 June 2018)

From the start of the 2018 school year in France, the use of cell phones will be banned for students in primary and secondary schools. This is a commendable decision also taken by the Government of Rwanda; and the United Kingdom and New South Wales in Australia, are considering a ban because cell phones are a source of distraction and cyberbullying.

According to the new European regulation on data protection, the age limit for using of WhatsApp has been raised from 13 to 16. This regulation governs Switzerland, as does another on the measurement of SAR (the amount of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) received by users of mobile devices) which has reduced the measuring distance between the device and the body. The measurements of the French National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) have revealed that many mobile phones exceed the limit values for the SAR trunk when tested in contact and thus, the Agency has begun to have phones withdrawn from the market or requested updates. These phones emit too much RFR when they are used or kept (in a pants pocket or bra) in contact with the skin.

Massachusetts: Family Appeals Ruling in Fay School WiFi Sickness Case

Family appeals ruling in Fay School WiFi sickness case 
by Scott O’Connell, Telegram & Gazette Staff, 25 June 2018

WORCESTER – The parents who lost their lawsuit against a Southboro private school whose wireless internet they alleged sickened their son have appealed the decision, federal court records show.

The plaintiffs, identified only as “Mother” and “Father” and their son “G” in the original complaint, lost their civil action against the Fay School two weeks ago when a U.S. District Court judge rejected their last remaining claim of retaliation in the case.

The family submitted a notice of appeal of that decision, as well as a previous court ruling against their case, in U.S. District Court in Worcester on Friday, according to the docket for the case.

Thermostats, Locks and Lights: Digital Tools of Domestic Abuse

Thermostats, Locks and Lights: Digital Tools of Domestic Abuse
By Nellie Bowles, The New York Times, 23 June 2018

(Photo): In training sessions on domestic violence and technology, people have started asking about how to handle the use of connected home devices in abuse situations, said Erica Olsen, director of the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence.CreditTony Luong for The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO — The people who called into the help hotlines and domestic violence shelters said they felt as if they were going crazy.

One woman had turned on her air-conditioner, but said it then switched off without her touching it. Another said the code numbers of the digital lock at her front door changed every day and she could not figure out why. Still another told an abuse help line that she kept hearing the doorbell ring, but no one was there.

United Kingdom: Bristol University Suicides Were Not a Failure in Care, Says Academic

Our comment:  The city of Bristol has been running the first public trials of 5G technology since March this year.  Is there a connection between exposure to this new technology and the abnormally high number of suicides at Bristol University?  The university is conducting research on 5G technology. 

James Thomson, 20 took his life in his second year at
Bristol University.  SWNS

Bristol University suicides were not a failure in care, says academic
Jack Malvern, The Times, 22 June 2018

A spate of student suicides has been caused by a “cluster effect” rather than failings in pastoral care, an academic at Bristol University has said.

David Gunnell, professor of epidemiology at the university and a leading authority on suicide research, said that it was his instinct that the link between the ten deaths since October 2016 was the result of a phenomenon in which one death in a community can influence another.

Parents of students who killed themselves while studying at the university reacted to the suggestion with anger and distress. They argue that Bristol’s response to the deaths, including plans to spend £1 million on a programme to improve its provision of pastoral care, highlight current shortcomings.

Natural Resources Defense Council Takes Action Against FCC Regarding 5G Small Cell Tower Installation

Natural Resources Defense Council Takes Action Against FCC Regarding 5G Small Cell Tower Installation — Requesting Statements From Concerned Citizens.
By B.N. Frank, activistpost.com, 19 June 2018

The NRDC is challenging the legality of the March 30, 2018 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order exempting “small wireless facilities” from environmental review.

According to Arthur Firstenburg from the Cell Tower Task Force, The NRDC is requesting statements be sent to them about biological and environmental harm caused by 5G and other wireless infrastructure.

These statements are necessary to sue the FCC in court and invalidate the FCC’s recent action.

Statements should be emailed by July 2, 2018 to nrdcinfo@nrdc.org with “Reference Case No. 18-1135” in the subject line.

In September 2017, 180 scientists and doctors demanded a moratorium on the installation of 5G small cell tower infrastructure due to biological and environmental risks.

Spain: Scientific Conferences Stop 5G in Segovia: the Negative Impact on Health of Future Telecommunications Networks

Scientific Conferences Stop 5G in Segovia: the negative impact on health of future telecommunications networks
By Electro and Chemical Sensitive for the Right to Health (EQSDS) (translation)

Experts predict an increase in health problems associated with increased electromagnetic pollution

Society is still not aware of the health impact of technological development models at the service of industrial interests.


This weekend, June 16 and 17, the 1st Scientific Conference on 5G and Health took place in Segovia. In coordination with the Stop 5G Platform, the Electro and Chemical Sensitive Association for the Right to Health organized the event. During the morning, at the former Faculty of Education, in front of some 200 people from different places, experts in electromagnetic fields and health sciences gave an overview of the implications of the excessive development of radiofrequency transmission technologies. Among the speakers were Dr. Annie Sasco, former director of epidemiology at IARC and Ceferino Maestu, director of the Bioelectromagnetism Laboratory at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. In the afternoon, a Human Chain was formed in the center of the city that ended with the reading of a Manifesto in the Plaza Mayor. The Human Chain wore a woven scarf 300 meters long symbolizing the balance between the traditional and the modern through the safe use of technology. At the end of the tour, shoes were placed on the ground as a reminder of those affected who for health or economic reasons could not attend.