Newsletter (23 January 2004)

Call for phone masts freeze

Elin Jones believes Tetra mast applications should be put on hold

A mid Wales Assembly member has called for phone masts, which will improve communications within police forces, to be put on hold over health risk fears.

Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones wants all mast applications to be frozen. On Monday, Ms Jones will meet residents of a Ceredigion village angered over plans for a Tetra communication mast.

More than 30 protestors gathered at Ceredigion county hall at Aberaeron before a planning meeting last Wednesday where councillors voted in favour of placing the mast on farmland near the village. "The National Radiological Protection Board have admitted that they cannot be 100% certain that these masts are safe," said Ms Jones. "Police officers in England who are using the tetra system have already reported health worries since the system came into use.

The mast will be erected a few hundred metres from the village. "It is clear then that the minister [Carwyn Jones] should impose a moratorium on applications to erect these masts until more reports into the possible health risks of tetra masts are published."

Residents across Britain have campaigned against the masts as they believe the technology used in them can cause cancer and interfere with the body's natural internal communication mechanisms, leading to ill health.

Kevin Jones, spokesman for the Gilfachreda protest group, said there was a lot of fear in the village about the mast and worry it could reduce the value of people's homes. "Nine of these masts around Britain have been sabotaged and people in this area also feel very strongly against the mast."

The application by AirwavemmO2 received 40 letters of objections from local people, and a petition with 523 names. Protestors made their feelings known before Wednesday's planning meeting

Mr Jones also claimed there had been several errors in the discussion of the application. "Councillors were told that all residential properties surrounding the site were informed by letter about the planning application but this is incorrect," he said. "Many Gilfachreda residents did not receive letters and some of those that were sent were also wrongly dated."

A Ceredigion council spokesman said: "We are carefully considering the matters raised to ensure that a correct and appropriate response is given. "This will be done as soon as possible."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/3405977.stm

Informant: Robert Riedlinger

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We beat the Phone Tower!

The following message, dated 23 January 2004, shows what a concerted community action CAN achieve when they keep up the pressure. Federal is a small community, part of Noosa Shire Council, Queensland, Australia. You can contact Brenda Gladwood Secretary, Federal SSP&C Association at: tezza@optusnet.com.au

Don

GREAT NEWS!

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you know that the mobile phone base station Vodafone was proposing to erect behind Federal State Primary School has been stopped. The Federal State School P&C Association, residents of the small community of Federal and the wider community have been protesting this tower for 2 years. This tower was originally part of the Commonwealth Government's into black spots on highways project but it was exempted from this contract last year - after much protesting and lobbying. Vodafone then continued to pursue this site as a commercial venture. Our local Noosa Shire Council rejected their application and we were in the initial stages of court proceedings when Vodafone's newly appointed Queensland General Manager decided against going ahead with this site. It has been a long, hard battle and no-one involved can quite believe that we have won.

I’d just like to thank everyone who offered us direction and support. We certainly appreciated it. We were so very naive when we started out.

If any other communities or schools are facing the same situation we did, we are more than happy to share what we’ve learnt and to assist however we can.

Thanks again everyone! HIP HIP HOORAY!

Brenda Gladwood

Secretary, Federal SS P&C Association

Comments:

Yes Brenda, this is wonderful news. I thought of you when I read it in the paper. I am very pleased for the school community but more importantly for the health of the students. Everyone involved should be very proud of the lessons they have taught the students of Federal about standing up for what you believe in, the strength that unity of purpose brings, the importance of community and last but not least that perhaps we can't all change the world, but we can start with our little corner of it.

These are pretty good values your state school community has passed on. Congratulations and all the best for the future.

I will pass on this news to my collegues at QCPCA (Qld Council of Parents' and Citizens' Assoc).

Kerri

Informant: Don Maisch

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FIGHT ELECTRONIC TERRORISM

House Bill 4513 would define a “harmful electronic or electromagnetic device” as a device that does, or that was designed to, emit or radiate an electronic or electromagnetic pulse, current, beam, signal, or microwave intended to cause harm to others or cause damage to, destroy, or disrupt any electronic or telecommunications system or device including, but not limited to, a computer, computer network, or computer system.

House Bill 4514 would make it a crime to manufacture, deliver, possess, transport, place, use, or release a harmful electronic or electromagnetic device for an unlawful purpose. Penalties range from a 15 year felony with a $10,000 fine to a life sentence without parole and a $40,000 fine depending on the injuries sustained by the victim/s.

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/senatewatch/120903.htm

Source: http://www.findefux.de/forum/read.php4?f=84&i=820&t=820

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Public Hearng in Berkeley went well; City will decide in one week

Dear Fellows:

 

 There is a site where you can watch the entire hearing. I do not know about that site yet, but will let you know as soon as I find out its URL.

I have heard that residents had very strong presentations, and as usual, Sprint presented lies. If I hear more about the hearing, I will report here.

 So, everyone will be in suspense for a week. Larry be patient.

I would like to thank all who have supported the Berkeley community. Your e-mails to the Berkeley City Council from all over the globe have been very effective. It takes lots of effort to educate council members and municipalities.

Radi

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House of horrors

www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/house_of_horrors.pdf

Informant: Don Maisch

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Why spending billions to go on Mars when our planet is slowly dying?

From: gaia@womensearlyart.net (gaia)

Subject: Blue Planet / Red Planet

Date: 16 Jan 2004

The great physics genius, Stephen Hawkings, has said that planet Earth will look like Venus in just 100 years if nothing is done today to stop global warming. Space exploration is our destiny, but Earth is our home here and now, and without a home mankind will never get to hear the music of the stars or explore the reaches and mysteries of our solar system.

An out of control U.S. government is spending billions of dollars on collecting rock samples from Mars, while blinding themselves to the environmental tragedy outlined in the Kyoto Protocol!! Where is everybody? Why is there no outcry!!

We live on an exotic, ancient, enchanting blue planet, and we need a great deal of money to begin healing this Earth. Let's demand that world governments, beginning with the U.S., accept environmental concerns as our first and overriding priority. Only by aggressively seizing the mantle of environmental stewardship can we save our planetary home, a home we share with millions of species who are headed toward extinction in this very century, because of a lack of human wisdom and caring.

Sarah L. Whitworth

Informant: Carol Wolman

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Scientists abandon AI project after seeing The Matrix

http://www.theonion.com/4003/top_story.html

Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

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Clean energy and efficiency investments would create 3.3 million jobs, says study

An alliance of labor, environmental, civil rights, business, and political leaders in the United States have laid out a vision for a "New Apollo Project" to create 3.3 million new jobs and achieve energy independence in 10 years.

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-01-20/s_12200.asp

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Supreme Court says EPA can overrule state in clean air case

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-01-21-scotus-pollution_x.htm

Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

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Methyl Bromide Ban

http://www.i-sis.org.uk

Living energies mini-series

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/