HUM and FRY and a POKE in the EYE

ACTION GROUPS AGAINST CELL PHONE SITES NZ NEWSLETTER

Fortnight Ending Friday Mar 27

Monday Mar 16

• The Rutland and Stamford Mercury carries the following story
  
  
  
  • ?People power victory over phone mast plan’
  
  
  • http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/people-power-victory- over-phone.5068048.jp
  
  
  • A sports club decided to pull the plug on an 18m mast after reviewing a 200 signature petition from the residents.
  
  
  • The Chairman said
    
    
    
    • ?the club had always taken an open-minded approach to the proposal?
    
    
    • ?Good relations with the community were a vital consideration?
    
    
    • We don’t want to upset the neighbours and their concerns were taken into account?
  
  
  • If only we could get the Waiheke Bowling Club executive to talk with the Chairman of the Blackstones Sports and Social Club in Stamford (UK)


• Representatives of the Waiheke Community Board meet with representatives of Telecom, Vodafone and NZ Communications in a meeting facilitated by the Auckland City Council
  
  
  
  • Major outcomes
    
    
    
    • Telecom 12 metre tower project for the Bowling Club is on hold because of the technology changes Telecom is considering
    
    
    • It appeared the Vodafone Bowling Club project was different to what the community believed.
      
      
      
      • In the new plans the south mast is ½ metre taller than the plans that consent was given.
      
      
      • A photomontage is supplied showing the two masts but the view is from the blank side of the roof so the true height of the masts and the walkway is hidden by the roof ridge. It would be so nice to see what the real visual impact will be.
      
      
      • The phone companies agree to attend a 2 hour public forum on April 2 on Waiheke Island. Fantastic news, the chance for the residents to speak to the phone companies, it has only taken 8 months but it is better than no contact.
      
      
      • Attendees at meeting were:
        
        
        
        • Telecom: Caitlin Metz, Paul Leslie, Lisa Mulitalo, Mike Walczak
        
        
        • Vodafone : Justin Rae, Ross Langford
        
        
        • NZ Communications: Antony Royal

Saturday Mar 21

• An amazing email pops up. ?Unprecedented crisis in France’
  
  
  
  • There have been an unconfirmed 135 lawsuits filed in France in the last few days
  
  
  • An emergency meeting between certain ministers and mobile phone people was to take place on the 26^th and it is all driven by the public rejection of relay antennas.
  
  
  • Is this the future for the phone companies? Annoy their customers (the community) to a point where everybody files lawsuits?
  
  
  • I do have concerns about some of the information I receive so I always seek confirmation before passing on any emails. The word ?unconfirmed’ could mean a popularized story but it still shows what the future for the phone companies will be if they don’t get their acts together

Monday Mar 23

• Sad news from Titahi Bay (Wellington)


• Telecom releases a document from the Titahi Bay working group that doesn’t reflect 100% what was agreed. The residents were holding a public meeting to ?expose’ the spin in the released pamphlet because Telecom hasn’t followed through properly.
  
  
  
  • Examples of what is in the pamphlet
    
    
    
    • "The effects of radio frequency emissions have been extensively studied for many years and the overwhelming conclusion of international scientific opinion is that mobile phone sites do not cause any adverse health effects.
    
    
    • The New Zealand Standard has been developed by an independent panel of scientists, health professionals, community representatives, unions and industry. It is based on international guidelines and is very similar to the standards used in most countries around the world today.

Friday Mar 27

• Urgent news from Europe ? something about an alternative motion to the Ries Report
  
  
  
  • The email is reproduced below, please act on it as you see fit
  
  
  • Email safetowers@gmail.com and I will send you a copy of the new resolution

URGENT - New EU Resolution - alternative motion to the Ries Report

The Radiation Research Trust recently sent a call for everyone to lobby their MEP’s to support the Ries report on ?health concerns associated with EMFs.? The report is due to go before the entire EU parliament on 2^nd April. However, a new alternative resolution has been drawn up by Dr Caroline Lucas and Marie-Anne Isler Beguin on behalf of the Greens/EFA group as the Ries report included a late amendment calling for the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) to review the scientific adequacy of the EMF limits. This is unfortunate as other national or regional governments, in China, Switzerland, and Russia, as well as in at least nine EU Member States, have adopted ?preventive’ exposure limits, that is to say, lower than those advocated by SCENIHR. The scientific model used by SCENIHR calls for "beyond reasonable doubt". The time has come to open up communications with other stakeholders and scientists this is whey the Radiation Research Trust has called for a group of ?moderates? to come together from both sides of the debate. We recognise that scientists contribute, but actions should be defined by all stakeholders.

The Green Partly will therefore submit an alternative Resolution which replaces paragraph calling for (SCENIHR) to undertake the review. This is extremely important as (SCENIHR) currently recommend using the ICNIRP guidelines. A new scientific review needs to be done by both sides of the scientific debate.

To maximise the chances of the alternative resolution getting through, it would also be extremely helpful if everyone could lobby MEPs from other political groups - asking them to support the Greens / EFA alternative resolution.

We therefore urge you to encourage your MEP’s to support the Greens/EFA new ALTERNATIVE MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION concerning report A6-0089/2009

EU has a list of all MEPs in UK

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/ zoneList.do?country=GB&language=EN

It’s extremely quick to send an email to your MEP’s by logging onto www.writetothem.com http://www.writetothem.com

Thank you for your attention.

Eileen O’Connor

Radiation Research Trust

www.radiationresearch.org

SUMMARY OF THE PREVIOUS HUM AND FRY NEWSLETTER:

THE GOOD

• European Parliament votes 43 to 1 to support a resolution that recognises the increasing public concern, the resolution contains 29 points!


• An Israeli Magistrate Court Judge finds in favour of the residents vs Pelephone Company and fines the phone company 10,000 shekels

THE BAD

• Nothing Bad

And THE UGLY

• Atawhai (Nelson) playcentre may have to move as Nelson City Council supports Telecom’s decision that the site right next to an educational centre is the best place for a cellsite, even though Telecom’s 6^th Commitment is to avoid placing them next to educational centre!


• No response from the Waiheke Bowling Club to the follow-up letter asking for a meeting.

Too many antennas says Carl

(via Google News)

Too many antennas says Carl

A cluster of cellphone towers above a Kohimarama hair salon has caused a stir among residents.

Mobile network newcomer NZ Communications installed three antennas above Hedz Above Hair Design on Melanesia Rd last month, adding to the four existing Telecom antennas at the site.

St Heliers resident Carl Knox says he was concerned to see more towers.

"It’s like something from the CIA up there now," he says. "It’s unbelievable what they’ve done."

He says inconclusive studies into the possible effects of exposure to radio transmissions make people nervous.

"It’s such an unknown degree to what effect it has on the environment and people’s health. And to have them clustered like that is just unbelievable. They’re just so intrusive to the neighbourhood."

Salon owner Diane Smith says working beneath the transmitters makes her uneasy.

"I’m not very happy about it," she says. "I’d like to see written proof that the radiation levels aren’t dangerous."

Mr Knox says he was shocked when he phoned the Auckland City Council and was told the towers did not require resource consent.

"You’ve got to get consent for all kinds of things. If you want to do anything in your home there’s all kinds of red tape but they can do something like this."

Council regulatory planning manager Andrew Gysberts says in business areas, where the heights of the proposed antennas comply with the zoning rules, they can be established without resource consent.

"They’ve got to meet the national standards relating to radio frequency and they must comply with the noise restrictions of our district plan," he says.

"If they meet these standards they can be established without formal authorisation. But they still need a building consent."

Mr Knox says with an older population in the seaside suburb, many residents won’t benefit from the increased cellphone coverage.

"I just feel we’re losing control of our neighbourhoods to big business," he says.

"They’re giving the fingers to the people who live round here and the landlord is just chasing the dollar."

Cellphone companies are also free to place cellphone towers on the road reserve provided they comply with radio frequency, height and noise requirements, after a new national standard was passed last year.

HUM and FRY and a POKE in the EYE
ACTION GROUPS AGAINST CELL PHONE SITES NZ NEWSLETTER

Week Ending Friday Mar 13

Saturday Mar 7

• The Nelson Mail carries the following story
  
  
  
  • "Playcentre Could Move To Avoid Tower"
  
  
  • http://www.banthetower.co.nz/blogs/index.php/item/162#97
  
  
  • Our thoughts are with the Playcentre ? are our elected officials that scared of standing up for their constituents against big business? It was only in September that Nick Smith, now Minister for the Environment said ?putting one (a tower) on the corner of a playcentre as extreme? so where is he hiding now?
  
  
  • Hopefully the Council, the Government and Telecom will take note of the comments of the Israeli judge in the story listed in this newsletter under Thursday Mar 12. In the story the Israeli Telco expert recommended no towers within 50 metres of a kindergarten yet in NZ our authorities are advising otherwise, time for change?

Monday Mar 9

• Andrew (Waiheke) sent a follow up letter to the willing land owner at the centre of the Waiheke dispute, the Waiheke Bowling Club Executive.
  
  
  
  • The original letter, sent in Dec 2008, asked to be invited to their next meeting so he could present a 400+ signed letter to the Executive asking them to ask Vodafone not to proceed until Vodafone had undertaken full consultation with the community
  
  
  • The WBC (and Vodafone) display very little desire to engage and very little desire to sort out the mess which does not reflect well on either of them

Tuesday Mar 10

• News from Europe (extracts from an email received Mar 10, emphasis is mine)
  
  
  
  • In a 43-1 vote, the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted OVERWHELMINGLY a Resolution urging the European Commission to recognize growing public and scientific concern over health risks from electromagnetic fields. The Resolution will be voted on in plenary by the full Parliament on 26 March 2009.
  
  
  • The Resolution identified existing conditions that have led to the need for the Commission to take urgent notice and take action to address the exponential growth of new technologies that may place societies at increased health risks, and to review the scientific basis and adequacy of the EMF limits.
  
  
  • The Resolution consists of 29 Points!
  
  
  • Is it possible NZ will piggyback on the European actions?
  
  
  • Email safetowers@gmail.com for a copy of the complete email

• Report from Europe
  
  
  
  • A scientific study published in the journal Neurotoxicology finds that people who live around mobile phone base stations (cell towers) are at risk for developing neuropsychiatric problems and changes in neurobehavioral function
  
  
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi= B6W81-4KJ6KKX-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_ sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_ urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=57c2eaceb51ce742b7333f95f8c203 f5
  
  
  • I like the recommendation - using of NBTB (neurobehavioral test battery) for regular assessment and early detection of biological effects among inhabitants around the stations ? maybe it’s something NZ could introduce as an early alert system
  
  
  • I note the study was published in 2007 so it isn’t ?new’ news

Thursday Mar 12

• News from Israel
  
  
  
  • A verdict by Judge Malka Aviv in the Israeli Magistrate’s Court puts in words what we all think ? the ?best ? quote: (emphasis is mine)
  
  
  • "In addition, the defendants’ (the telco) expert approves that there is a recommendation not to install antennas at distance of 50 meters of kinder gardens. I (the judge) will not hide my shock. Is the (telco) expert ready, under this twisting, between recommendation and standard, to risk the health of children??
  
  
  • The full email is at the foot of this newsletter

SUMMARY OF THE PREVIOUS HUM AND FRY NEWSLETTER:

THE GOOD

• Waiheke petition presented to Parliament

THE BAD

• Nothing Bad

And THE UGLY

• Vodafone not very forthcoming in first Dannemora (Auckland) workshop

ISRAELI MAGISRATE’S COURT RULING email




Subject: Important Verdict in Israel - against cellular company

? 007359/03

Judge: Malka Aviv

24/02/2009

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

An important verdict was given in Israel, residents vs. Pelephone company.

Representing the prosecutors - Prof Elihu Richter

Representing the defendants - Dr. Menahem Margaliot, a state worker who runs the laboratory that calibrates all the measurement devices that are used to measure radiation of cellular antennas (coi, conflict of interest).

Some quotes of the judge:

"considering the fact that today it’s clear that different types of radiation have an effect on the human body - in order for me to reject the prosecution - the defendants must show me clear evidence [emphasis of the judge] that non ionizing radiation does not increase the risk of getting sick, and not base it on the determination that "today there is no clear evidence" [judge’s emphasis] that radiation increases the risk of getting sick".

"In addition, the defendants’ expert approves that there is a recommendation not to install antennas at distance of 50 meters of kinder gardens. The expert does bother to clarify that this is a recommendation and not a standard yet, and I wonder on this answer and will not hide my shock. Is the expert ready, under this twisting, between recommendation and standard, to risk the health of children?

"The expert of the defendants adds and approves that in the place there were erected not less than 7 antennas. At the same breath he clarifies that all his checks in the expert opinion which were filed by him, were done only for 2 antennas. And I wonder - how did the defendant erect 7 antennas in residence area, at a distance of touch of the prosecutor’s house near kinder garden without bothering to check all the antennas and their radiation level.

"From the above material I was convinced that the prosecution had solid and reasonable basis to assume that the antennas are a health risk for them. I don’t demand from the prosecutors more than that, as I mentioned above. A proof beyond 50% is not achievable in this area. It is enough for me that the prosecutors succeeded in pointing out on reasonable risk from those antennas.

From here the load moves on the defendant to prove that this risk does not exist, even not a reasonable risk. That being near antennas, for long hours, is not dangerous at all and there is no chance of harm or damage as a result of the radiation. The defendants did not succeed in lifting this load. On the contrary, the defendants themselves, directly or indirectly, did actions in order to reduce the risk of radiation. It is enough to show that they themselves are aware of the existence of the risk. According the material in front of me, I would be surprised if someone of the defendants would be ready to raise their children in the house of the prosecutors.

I accept the version of the prosecution, the defendants will pay the prosecutors 10,000 shekels for expenses.

Letter from Sue Grey to Telecom 12/03/2009.



Hi Paul
I saw your recent letter to the Editor in the Nelson Mail which I optimistically took as indicating that Telecom now accepts it would be inappropriate to build its proposed celltower next to Atawhai Playcentre.
You are likely aware that there have been some very important developments in recent months including a resolution by the European Union to significantly reduce the permitted level for EMR emissions, a huge reduction in the permitted level for EMR emissions in Belgium and findings by various French courts that existing celltowers must be moved because of lack of confidence about their safety.
The documentation I now have from the Nelson City Council shows that the effects of a celltower were never considered or assessed before the Atawhai Exchange site was designated for telecommunication purposes, because the expectation was that the site would continue to be used for only the same type of telephone exchange activities as those which existed at the time of the designation.
Your Alcatel expert advisors/partners in the proposed 3G rollout, acknowledged during the on site Open Day that they had not assessed the effects of the proposed celltower on the houses on the adjacent hill (above the Atawhai 4 Square) because they had done only a ?desk top? study without knowing the local topography.
Your advisor, Dr Black, admitted during the ?Open Day? last year that the NZ Standard 2772:1 1999 is founded on the assumption that there are no chronic effects from EMR. This assumption is clearly incorrect, and every day we receive more information and evidence from around the world of the adverse health and environmental effects of EMR.
You now understand the very serious concerns of our the Atawhai Community about the proposed celltower next to our Playcentre, the likelihood that this important community facility will have to close if your celltower proceeds and the commitment of our community to stop this happening.
Bearing in mind all of the above, we would be very grateful if Telecom would confirm that it respects the views of our community and now agrees that the Atawhai Exchange site is inappropriate and unacceptable for a celltower and that Telecom will not build a celltower on that site.
We invite you to take this stand for our children and our community.
Kind regards
Sue Grey LLB(Hons), BSc, RSH Dip PHI

• The Waiheke petition is presented to Parliament - very exciting - took all of 5 seconds to read out the prayer but it’s 5 seconds of fame we didn’t have before
  
  
  
  • The petition has been sent to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee where it joins the Atawhai petition. The volume of dissention is growing!

• Received a report on the Dannemora (Auckland) workshop with Vodafone.
  
  
  
  • The residents were very disappointed, the workshop was more of an adversarial combat session than a co-operative, collaborative session.
    
  • You would think Vodafone would want to work with the community to come up with an acceptable set of solutions rather than try to beat their message home with a big stick

• News from Parliament - the clerk of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee said it’s all ?secret’ at the moment - whatever that means.
  
  
  
  • Fingers crossed ?secret’ means good for New Zealanders (i.e. better consultation processes, valid standards and a reform of the NES)
  
  
• Andrew (Waiheke) spoke on the local Waiheke radio, here is the link to the podcast, click on the blue words Vocal Local to open the podcast http://www.waihekeradio.org.nz/node/348

• Last week was the news about the French Court of Appeal decision ordering a cellphone tower to be removed because it constitutes an ?exceptional nuisance’
  
  
  
  • This link is the best news link to date

• Brussels sets new limit for exposure to electromagnetic fields at 3 V/m² ~ 2.5 mW/cm²

• Nothing Bad

• Tower in France is ordered to be removed because it constitutes an ?exceptional nuisance’
  
• Auckland City Council CEO advises his replies to the Ombudsman’s office were incorrect, it was an inadvertent mistake