Newsletter (15 November 2003)

A complaint based on violation of Article 34 of EMRK has been filed in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Press release

14. November 2003

Buergerwelle Germany (incorporated society), Umbrella Organization of the Citizens and Initiatives for the Protection against Electrosmog: 1. Chairman Siegfried Zwerenz, 2. Chairman Barbara Eidling, Mailing address: Lindenweg 10, D-95643 Tirschenreuth, phone 0049-(0)9631-795736, fax 0049-(0)9631-795734, e-mail pr@buergerwelle.de, Internet http://www.buergerwelle.de , information phone: Barbara Eidling phone 0049-(0)8171-18898

A complaint based on violation of Article 34 of EMRK (please see note at end) has been filed in November in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. It has been filed by one of our members and his wife against the Federal Republic of Germany for violating Article 34 of EMRK in the sentence given by the Federal Institutional Court, AZ, on the plaintiffs' case which is identified as: 1 BvR 943/03.

The plaintiffs proved by full medical appraisals that their physical wellbeing and overall health have been substantially impaired since the operation of cellphone antennae which were placed on a water reservoir in front of their dwelling. The plaintiffs have been exposed twenty four hours a day for over three years to high frequency magnetic radiation from these mobile phone antennas.

Despite the very detailed statement of the attorney of the complaint leaders, Professor Dr. Klaus Kniep, Heilbronn, Germany, the BGH (see note below) expressed in the framework of a non-admission complaint and despite of the right for a fair procedure, that this proceeding should not be carried on and therefore refused the chance for the evolution of the right,. The stated legal situation is found however with a multiplicity of cases. Therefore the revision should have been allowed for the evolution of the right. Regrettably however neither the BGH (see note below) nor the Federal Constitutional Court expressed themselves to this fundamental question.

A consultant engaged by the plaintiffs to investigate the biological impact of these radiativ emissions from the cellphone antennas concluded that the said radiative emissions can cause disturbances and health damage in human biological systems. The consultant's conclusions are consistent with the health effects suffered by the plaintiffs. Despite the very detailed statement of the plaintiffs' attorney, the BGH (see note below) decided that the proceedings should be discontinued.

It must be pointed out that the plaintiffs have a right to live but this right has been violated by the permanent health impairment caused by the mobile phone antennae at the water reservoir which is in close proximity to the plaintiffs' dwelling.

Also, the plaintiffs right to a fair procedure which is protected by article 6 EMRK was not complied with by the federal constitutional court. Consequently the plaintiffs are now seeking redress at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Notes:

EMRK stands for „Europaeische Menschen-Rechte-Konvention” or “European Human Rights Convention”

BGH stands for “Bundesgerichtshof” which is the Federal Supreme Court of Germany.

Translation German/English Omega with help of Imelda O'Connor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WLAN radiation and health hazard distances

Message from Dr. Miguel Muntané

----- Original Message -----

From: Don Maisch

Concerns over WLANS in the classroom

(From Alasdair Philips)

In the past week I have had two emails from parents concerned over the introduction of Wireless computer networks in their respective schools. Besides the paper at

http://members.dodo.com.au/~maisch/emfacts/wlans.html

Alasdair Philips from Power Watch in the UK has written the following on the topic.

Don Maisch

http://www.powerwatch.org.uk

4th November 2003

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and Bluetooth

We are very concerned about the use of WLANs in internet cafés, hotels, schools, colleges and other public and private places. These emit a constant stream of pulsing low-level microwaves that we believe will cause some people to experience adverse health effects.

Each computer that logs onto the WLAN network also emits pulsing microwaves so that in a classroom or an internet café the background electropollution level rises considerably. Here is a personal story from a UK medical doctor (we have full contact details): "Last July, out of the blue I developed a disruption to my heart rhythm. As a qualified Doctor I considered possible causes, such as caffeine intake, tiredness, high blood pressure, or the onset of menopausal symptoms. Being slight of frame, with normal to low blood pressure and excellent general health, I reasoned the ectopic beats and variable pulse rate would probably go away with a reduction in my tea and coffee, and a little rest. Over the next 6 weeks, the arrhythmia continued to the point where I was aware of it for the majority of the day. I also experienced disturbance to my sleep, waking in the early hours and then being unable to fall asleep again. From the tightness of my upper chest I knew I was not getting enough oxygen. I was very reluctant to consult my GP, aware of the investigations it would initiate, and also of the many drugs in the armoury for treating arrhythmias with their multitude of side effects. There was no precipitating factor I could identify that would afflict a fit 49 year old, with no pre-existing heart or respiratory problems, in this way. On the verge of making an appointment with my GP, I linked the onset of my symptoms to our acquisition of a laptop with a wireless modem (NET GEAR and is a Wireless ADSL Modem Gateway DG824M) situated in the hallway. This "base station" had been transmitting microwaves 24 hours/day at a frequency of 2.4GHz, extending to a radius of 150 feet. These (and similar) are being placed in the foyers of airports, and hotels, in GP's surgeries, coffee shops and student halls of residence, so individuals can use their laptops with the minimum of fuss. We disconnected the wireless base station, replacing it with a fixed line. Within 3 weeks I was totally free of any abnormality as detected by pulse or symptoms, my sleep settled back to normal, as did my energy.

On consideration, during the summer others in my family of 5 have been abnormally fatigued with disturbed sleep patterns. My 18 year old daughter had an episode of extreme dizziness lasting a whole day after close contact with the transmitter. My 22 year old son similarly experienced vomiting and vertigo, disabling him for a day after spending 2 hours within feet of the apparatus.

If this is how it affects a healthy family of adults over a short period of time, what will be the consequences on a cross-section of the general population, let alone those with heart problems or pacemakers, the pregnant and the young? What is the real price of convenience?

F.F. MB ChB"

According to various European groups (e.g. FEB) for the electrically sensitive, some people are disturbed by pulsing microwave fields as low as 0.01 volts per metre. The recent Dutch Government funded TNO study into base station signals (see www.powerwatch.org.uk website for details) found that there were statistically significant cognitive and adverse well-being changes in 'ordinary' people subjected to just 20 minutes exposure of 1 volt/metre of 3G base station signal. A typical minimum 'safety factor' would be 10, so that means a precautionary maximum of 0.1 volts per metre or less. WLAN nodes typically emit either up to 100 mW or 500 mW. To keep to a maximum of 0.1 V/m would mean keeping at least (respectively) 17 or 40 metres away from the node. This is usually impractical.

WLAN cards in computers (including laptops with built in WLAN capability) typically emit 1 to 2.5 mW. This will exceed the suggested 0.1 V/m precautionary maximum of pulsing microwaves for over one metre around the computer and produce up to 1 V/m at 40 cm from the keyboard and screen where the person (e.g. school pupil) will be working. Any classroom with 10, or so, WLAN computers will be awash with a sea of pulsing microwave pollution. Sensitive people will be adversely affected.

The Swedish FEB website ( www.feb.se ) gives some details of the problems of electrosensitivity (ES). From the few formal scientific investigations that have been done into this it appears that people who are sensitive to other things (e.g. chemicals, pollen, noise, etc) are also more likely to sensitive to electromagnetic fields. They suggest that between 3% and 10% of people exhibit symptoms of electrosensitivity (undiagnosed as to their cause in most cases).

Typical problems include headaches, loss of concentration, attention deficit, hyperactivity, poorly functioning immune system, unusual levels of fatigue and general lack of well-being as defined by the World Health Organisation.

We do not have a problem with traditional wired LAN networks (e.g. Ethernet, etc), and that is what we strongly recommend is installed in schools and colleges. However, increasingly, organisations are installing WLANs as they see them as cheaper (because fixed wiring is not necessary) and more versatile as one fixed node can often cover several classrooms and pupils can carry their WLAN enabled laptops from class to class. If schools plan their internet and intranet (the schools local network) access sensibly it should not be necessary to have large numbers of networked computers in most classrooms.

It is often said that most teenagers have and use their own mobile phones. This is true, but it is also against current UK Government Department of Health advice for under 16 year olds. We also believe that mobile phone use is affecting the behaviour and attention span of young people, though there have not been formal scientific studies into this. Two scientific studies have shown cognitive changes in people using mobile phones - it has acted as a brain activity stimulant in the short term (one 20 minute exposure), but concerns were expressed than ongoing stimulation could well produce adverse effects in the longer term. However most youngsters mainly use their handsets for sending and receiving SMS text messages and so have only occasional exposure. Sitting for several periods a day in a room of WLAN enabled computers is a much more serious chronic exposure.

If schools insist on installing wireless networks, then we say that is essential that teaching and care staff are formally warned to look out for adverse changes among pupils and a formal reporting system implemented so that the school keeps records of any perceived adverse effects.

We also strongly recommend that there should be extra classrooms set aside where pupils who are sensitive to pulsing microwave electropollution may work free from the polluting WLAN connected laptops and wall or ceiling mounted WLAN nodes. It is NOT adequate just to place them in one corner of the classroom - they will still be irradiated to an unacceptable level.

The following table showing increasing levels of concern (similar to guidance for WLAN frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz). The "equivalent speed" is for easy comparison with the Salzburg 1998 Guidance.

1800 MHz (1.8 GHz) Public Exposure Guidelines Equivalent

c.f. speed

(abbreviated table) uW/m2 Volts/m m.p.h.

ICNIRP (1998), WHO 9 000 000 58 2847

Italy, Russia, PRChina, Switzerland, Lichtenstein 100 000 6 300

Belgium (Wallonia), Luxembourg 24 000 3 147

Italy (single frequency), Salzburg 1998 (sum GSM) 1 000 0.6 30

EU-Parl, GD Wissenschaft, STOA GSM (2001) 100 0.2 9

Salzburg GSM/3G etc outside houses (2002) 10 0.06 3

Salzburg GSM/3G etc inside houses (2002) 1 0.02 1

Buergerforum BRD proposal, waking areas (1999) 1 0.02 1

Written by Alasdair Philips, Director of Powerwatch.

and

The following article is from: http://www.emfbioeffects.org Go to the "Links and Books" then scroll near the end to the "Commentary" section.

Don Maisch

WLAN - The Wireless Local Area Network

The most recent technological advancement for general access to information is now being considered for use within our schools. However, the Wireless Local Area Network, commonly known as WLAN, is readily distinguishable from previous generation computer or information access systems by virtue of the fact that the WLAN is an ultra-high frequency, (UHF), radiation emissive communication means.

Radiation emission is essential to the functioning of the WLAN. By contrast, wired computers and computer networks do not require high frequency radiation to function. The UHF radiation emitting nature of the WLAN nodes place them squarely amidst the ongoing scientific research investigation of the biological effects of microwave radiation emitting devices.

It is generally accepted in the scientific community that exposure to and absorption of high-frequency radiation, such as that emitted by cell phones, portable phones, and WLANs may result in undesirable biologic effects in humans. In some instances, as has been reported in the scientific literature, the biological effects may be deleterious and possibly lead to irreparable damage to humans.

The published scientific literature indicates that the level of UHF/microwave radiation to which humans may be safely exposed is not yet known. WLANs emit radiation at levels that are in excess of those that have been reported to cause biological damage to human cells.

We are further concerned at the prospect that there may be created a long-term liability unless the system providers indemnify the school district against all future claims of injury related to WLAN radiation exposures that occur while students, faculty, staff, or administrators were/are exposed.

Our understanding is that educational systems exist for the express purpose of educating children placed in their care by parents and guardians who do not anticipate that that care will include exposure of their children to potentially harmful biological agents.

We urgently request that our administrators will not fall victim to marketing ploys or unsubstantiated claims of safety. We further propose that prior to any determination to deploy a WLAN within our school systems, a full disclosure of known biological effects resulting from radiation exposures, which WLAN users may be expected to encounter, will be made by the WLAN system providers and to all parents and guardians to effect an informed consent.

In summation, we propose that in conformance with the aforementioned indemnity, the WLAN service providers should further represent that the scientific research basis is developed to the extent that all possible mechanisms of physical interaction of the WLAN are known. Anything short of such a representation must be justification for determining that implementing a WLAN at this time is premature and relegates those exposed to the status of experimental test subject. Instead, let us first become certain that the district has fulfilled its primary function, which is to educate. The time for the WLAN has not yet arrived.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appreciate receiving newsletter

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate receiving this newsletter. Please keep up the good work.

Katherine Albrecht, CASPIAN

http://www.spychips.orghttp://www.boycottGillette.org