For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Contact: Chas Offutt (202) 265-7337

Park Resists Calls for Removal

Washington, DC — Yellowstone National Park has informed state and federal historic preservation agencies that it is considering shortening and camouflaging the controversial cell phone tower overlooking the Old Faithful Historic District, according to a letter released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

In a letter dated June 18, 2004, Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis informed the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that the park was considering “removing an additional 20 feet of the tower” as well as “whether or not to camouflage the tower to improve the visual quality of the site.” The federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has opened an investigation on the legality of the cell tower for its “adverse effect” on the Old Faithful Historic District. The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office has lodged a similar complaint against the park for erecting a structure far different than what it described in the very limited public notices it circulated.

“Shortening the tower at Old Faithful by 20 feet will not make it any less ugly, less inappropriate or less illegal,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, whose organization has been faulting the National Park Service for allowing the telecommunication industry to determine the size and location of cell towers spreading throughout the national park system. “The superintendent is stepping around the central issue—should there be a cell tower at Old Faithful in the first place?”

By way of explanation, Superintendent Lewis writes, “the conditions that exist today at the location are different than those that existed [when the tower was built].” Apparently, the park did not anticipate that “burned tree snags” on the site would eventually fall over or be blown down. In addition, the park itself removed some of the visual cover “during maintenance work.”

Superintendent Lewis also announced a review of “the health and safety service levels for the public and the park.” The park has other cell towers and cannot isolate the calls enabled by the Old Faithful tower. Nor has the park examined alternative means of communications for visitors and staff or determined whether cell phones are needed for public safety. “The most disturbing part of this after-the-fact public safety justification is that it implies that Yellowstone is willing to provide cell coverage throughout the entire park and especially in the backcountry,” Ruch commented.

PEER is also targeting the exclusion of the public from decisions concerning the park. “After failing to post required notices for the tower when it was built, Yellowstone is repeating the error by doing its damage control in secret,” added Ruch, who obtained Lewis’s letter through a Freedom of Information Act request.

http://www.peer.org/press/475.html

http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/2004/Electromagnetic-Fields-EMF1jun04.htm


Informant: Alfonso Balmori

According to radio news, The High Court in Israel rejected today the appeal of Herzelia and Ramat Hasharon Municipalities, and gave the decision to the parliment to vote for a new law. (But the lobby of the cellular companies in the parliment is very very strong, it is hard to believe anything will happen there).

The appeal was filed two months ago in order to make the public and the local municipalities a part in the decisions of erecting cellular antennas in Israel. At the current situation the law is in favour of the cellular companies, and the public & local municipalities has no saying.

From the government answer to the court it is exposed that the government avoids on purpose from enforcing the law on criminal acts in the issue of cellular antennas.

The reason is that the state ministry for legal issues adviced the environment ministry to not enforce the law. Doubts were raised in the environment ministry about the existing law as a basis for managing the whole radiation issue.

More details will be published today on TV and tomorrow in the newspapers so I will update. Herzelia mayor is very angry, and Stelian Galberg (environment ministry) said on the radio that they cannot do anything, they just publish things so the public will know (that for example many of the antennas are illigal). He also said there is no connection between the radiation and cancer.

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It is exposed also that in Osafia there are no less than 188 cancer cases around antennas from celullar companies, Bezeq and the police. There are 15 antennas of 20 meters and 40 lower antennas, in two main streets. Of the 188, 83 died. In the history of Osafia there is no high cancer rate, until lately since the antennas have been erected. The people didn't have genetic background of cancer and they are from different ages.

The cellular companies: "Unfortunately, no one knows exactly the reason to cancer disease. The disease is known long ago before cellular devices existed in the world. There is no research in the world that can define exactly the source of this serious disease, and certainly there is no research that links the cellular [radiation] effects with cancer disease"

("Wild Radiation", Guy Leshem Yediot Ahronot 5.7.2004)

The high court ordered the government to give the court its position about the legislation in the issue of non-ionizing radiation within 4 months, before the high court will continue to discuss the appeal.
The appeal asked to cancel the current national programs for erecting antennas. Herzelia municipality says in the appeal that the programme ignores the municipality consideration and doesn't enable it to prevent the erection of antenna near public institutions like kindergardens and elderly houses.

Stelian Galberg from the Env. Ministry said on T.V that nobody wants a bus station near his house, but nobody asks him whether he wants a bus station or not, unless it's central bus stations. He also said that all the cellular antennas, including the ones in the street lamps and in the sun boilers are all in the Env. Ministry website, which is open to everyone.

Yael German, Mayor of Herzelia is angry because, as she said on T.V, she signs permissions that she doesn't agree with. She doesn't want to give to companies to erect cellular towers near the elderly but she does it because of the current law.

Message from Iris Atzmon

Here we go again with yet another unquestionably unbiased governmental investigation into how any of us could possibly claim to experience adverse bioeffects from something as convenient, lucrative, and indeed essential as cellphones! As submissions from members of our group to this committee couldn't but help our cause here is some relevant info for making contact:

Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 2002- 2007

Clerk to the Committee: Ronan Lenihan
Noel O'Flynn (Fianna Fáil) (Chairman)
Eamon Ryan (Green Party)

e-mail: ronan.lenihan@oireachtas.ie
Phone: + 353 (0) 1 618 3899
Fax: + 353 (0) 1 618 4123

Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Best, Imelda, Cork


THE IRISH TIMES

Mon, Jul 05, 04

Mobile phone safety to be investigated

Carl O'Brien


An Oireachtas committee is to investigate the potential adverse health effects of mobile phones following a number of scientific studies which raised fresh safety concerns.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is questioning medical experts and mobile company executives as part of its investigation, which is due to start in the autumn.

The committee chairman, Fianna Fáil TD Mr Noel O'Flynn, said yesterday there was a "moral obligation" to investigate health concerns given the contradictory findings of recent studies.

"This is an issue of paramount importance to citizens. It would be very wrong of us to ignore the potential hazards of mobile phones, and we would rightly fall in for heavy criticism if we did not investigate this issue," Mr O'Flynn said.

The 15-member committee has started gathering relevant international studies, which will form the basis for the investigation.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues related to mobile phones, is also expected to participate in the investigation.

A number of studies published in recent weeks and months have raised concerns over the effects of mobile phone use.

Research released at an international conference on the issue last week suggested that the sperm count of men who regularly carry and use mobile phones may be cut by up to 30 per cent.

Last month an expert workshop established by the World Health Organisation concluded that children were more sensitive to adverse health effects than other age groups.

The Department, however, says published information to date indicates there is no demonstrated adverse health effect from the use of mobile phones.

A similar investigation was held in recent years, by the Oireachtas Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport, relating to claims of a link between mobile phone masts and radiation.

After reviewing scientific literature and questioning mobile-phone company chiefs and residents' groups, the committee concluded there was no firm evidence to suggest the masts posed a significant health risk.

© The Irish Times

Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) video available

Currently in Australia as well as the US, trials are underway to start up what is called Broadband over Powerlines (BPL). In Australia it is being tested in Hobart, Tasmania (By Aurora Energy) and in Sydney by Main.Net in conjunction with Savant Corp.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/savantcorp/media.html.

Basically BPL is pumping RF at 1 to 80 megahertz into the power lines which broadband subscribers can then hook up to.

In the US the proponents who are pushing for BPL have as their paid spokesperson - good old GW Bush, who will speak for anything as long as the donation to his re-election campaign is high enough - God knows he will need all he can get. In another profession its called prostitution.

So is BPL the way of the future, or just another hairbrained quick-make-a-buck scheme? Are these the same guys who seriously proposed heating your home with microwaves????

The following information does not deal with any possible health issues but does pumping more RF into your house wiring sound like a really good thing?

Don Maisch


Broadband over Power Line video available
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/18/8/

See Video at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/18/8/BPL-and-HF-web.mpg


Broadband Fool's Gold
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/41546

Last month you signed a petition supporting Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility's campaign to remove the illegal construction of a 100-foot cell phone tower that overlooks Old Faithful. Your action pressured the Park Service to start backpedaling --The Park Service has admitted that it has no idea what and how many telecom facilities are being built in the parks.

Now, NPS has announced that it will conduct a nation wide inventory to determine the number and location of existing wireless communication facilities throughout the national park system (see below).

Though the Old Faithful tower still stands, despite violating both historical preservation laws and public notice requirements, it remains at the core of the debate. How did this eyesore occur?

While inventorying parks is a good, though belated, first step, the Park Service is still evading the central question, which is whether and where these facilities are appropriate on national park lands. How is it that only one of the 397 units of the national park system (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) has a plan for siting cell phone towers and other telecom facilities?

PEER exposed this issue and will continue to fight to assure that the scenery and serenity of our national parks are not put at the mercy of telecom companies. But we can't do it alone, we need your help. Join PEER to get answers to these questions.

Sincerely,

Chas Offutt
Communication & Outreach Director


NPS Conducts Inventory Of Wireless Communication Facilities

Though visible from almost every part of the Old Faithful Historic District, the 100-foot cell phone tower, unshielded by trees and without camouflage, has gone unnoticed since 2001. Currently, telecommunications companies determine the location, size and number of towers in deals with individual parks.

This past March, PEER unmasked the cell tower overlooking Old Faithful and its violation of both historical preservation laws and public notice requirements. NPS responded without a clear indication of exactly how many towers existed.

However, just last week, NPS sent a memo to all park superintendents asking them to report where existing wireless communication facilities are located in national parks. Though this inventory is a commendable first step, the Park Service is still evading the central question, which is whether and where these facilities are appropriate on national park lands.

Read the memo to park superintendents calling for an inventory
http://peermail.c.topica.com/maaclXdaa7GoAa8rxQKcaeQBg1/


Park Service Wants To Know Where Cell Towers Are Located

The National Park Service is asking all its superintendents to report where existing wireless communication facilities are located in national parks, according to a memo released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

http://chiefchambers.c.topica.com/maacmrIaa7JubbnLpaCeaeQBg1/


U.S. Historic Preservation Agency To Investigate Old Faithful Cell Phone Tower

The National Park Service must explain why it allowed construction of a 100-foot cell phone tower over Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in violation of both historical preservation laws and public notice requirements, according to a letter released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

http://chiefchambers.c.topica.com/maacmrIaa7JuSbnLpaCeaeQBg1/

Hi Klaus: I have been asked to widely distribute the following info on upcoming WHO meetings and to suggest that it would greatly benefit us to have sympathetic-to-our-cause representatives attend/participate in these:


"On the World Health Organization's website under their International EMF Program at http://www.who.int/peh-emf/meetings/en/ there are several meetings coming up, one of which is called WHO International Seminar and Working Group meeting on EMF Hypersensitivity at Prague, Czech Republic on October 25-27 2004.

Now that the WHO is at least acknolwedging the ES/EHS dilemma, I think the support groups need to push the WHO for an ICD code - ICD means International Classification of Diseases by the WHO. Then doctors would have a diagnosis code for it. Very important for getting disability benefits, etc."

Best, Imelda, Cork.

I hope folks recovering from brain problems, will STAY OFF of CELL PHONES!!!! NG


In the last 20 years (during the introduction of cell phones) the incidence of brain cancers went up 40%!

The media won't cover it - too much money involved.

In the meantime, brain dysfunction due to cell phone microwave radiation is affecting many people's metabolism and resistive capacity - immune system breakdown.

Advice: Stay at least 6 to 8 feet away from anyone on a cell phone.

Jerry Mittelman, DDS, FAPM



A Swedish study links mobile phones to brain damage in rats The safety of cellphones has been called into question, again.This time the scientific community is paying very close attention.

Last summer neurosurgeon Leif Salford and colleagues at Lund U. in Sweden published data showing for the first time an unambiguous link between microwave radiation emitted by GSM mobile phones (the most common type worldwide) and brain damage in rats. If Salford's results are confirmed by follow-up studies in the works at research facilities worldwide, including one run by the U.S. Air Force, the data could have serious implications for the one billion plus people glued to their cellphones. -E. Svubodo - Popular Science

The Dental Connection? A micro-waved brain would be associated with a weakened immune response system, affecting periodontal health, TMJ, digestion with concurrent nutritional depletion - every aspect of one's metabolism. The effects are additive - and could appear over an extended period of time.

Jerry Mittelman


Omega see also:

Brain tumours: the silent killer
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/235398/

Wi-Fi mobilize yours Chromosomes in Hospital
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/245599/