The new HPA-RPD (NRPB) report on ES has been delayed and is now expected to be published in the first week of October. We believe that this forthcoming Health Protection Agency Report will acknowledge ES / EHS as a multi-faceted syndrome, and set the scene for it being a recognised valid diagnosis and calls for more research into treatment and causes.

Click here for the full news story
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/news/20050923_electrosensitivity.asp

I sent some evidence re. effects and symptoms to Kenneth Lane, and this was his sarcastic(?) response. I included :_

1) The symptoms suffered by residents eg chronic insomnia and headaches; nausea and vertigo; earache, hearing loss and tinnitus; nose bleeds; ulcerated mouths and throats; severe rashes; raised white blood cell count; strokes etc. etc.

2) I also included the spiralling of red bloodcells after using mobile phones and:-

3) Dr. Neil Cherry's evidence re the reduction of melatonin in animals and humans in the presence of EMR.

Where did I go wrong? How do you think I should respond? Or should I not bother? I'm seething.

Here is my latest to Patricia Hewitt. More advice please -is there anything wrong with it; should I add/take out anything; or write to somone different? (This is just my tactic of writing to any new names which come up in relation to the Dept. of health etc. and she is new to the post of Secretary of Health). Should I cc anyone else ( I shall give copies to the local councils and our branch of the Health Protection Agency.


172 Common Road
Kensworth
Beds.
LU6 2PH
22nd Sept. 2005

For the Attention of:-

The Right Honourable Patricia Hewitt
The Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall

London

SW1A 2NS

Dear Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt,

I have seen the letter to Mr. Brian Farrelly (Clerk to our Parish Council) with regard to the Orange mast, which has caused damage to health in Kensworth for the last four years, from your Customer Service Centre and dated 22nd August 2005, for which I thank Victoria Lindsay. I note one or two points in this letter which need clarification.

Page 1.

1) If the Dept. of Health is unable to intervene on behalf of the Electorate when their health is being destroyed, what is the purpose of it and why is the Government spending money on it?

2) There is no consultation regarding the positioning of masts, which are mostly arbitrarily placed wherever ‘phone companies want them. South Beds District Council refusal of planning permission for the Orange mast to be placed in Kensworth was overruled by Planning in Bristol and against the wishes of residents who have suffered symptoms ever since the mast was placed in Sept 2001 – 4 years ago and they are still suffering.

(Russian scientists tell us that after three years exposure, effects from EMR become permanent. Certainly symptoms are worsening and apparently spreading in Kensworth, as serious symptoms are now found 100 metres from the mast, namely raised white blood cell count in two ladies living opposite each other for which their doctors can find no cause.)

The needs of the Electorate are constantly dismissed as ‘concerns’ whilst no effort is made to either verify effects or to prove their symptoms have nothing to do with emissions. Until we found the reason for the symptoms suffered in Kensworth and the historical, incontrovertible proof of effects, we had concerns; now people know that the mast is the source of their symptoms and ask, please, for the level of emissions to be considerably lowered.

Why are no scientific tests being carried out in situ where the effects are felt? Are the authorities afraid to discover the truth?

Professor Norbert Leitgeb, consultant member of the ICNIRP is carrying out such tests in Austria and has found a link between EMR frequency emissions and symptoms, he does not yet consider this to be proof. How much proof do we need when we have the following? :-

a) Russian evidence from 1930s of symptoms in relation to EMR emissions amongst workers in the industry.

b) The death of the American ambassador in Moscow, Walter J.Stoessel from a leukaemia-like disease; many embassy staff with 40% raised white blood cell count, their children with blood anomalies and all with other symptoms when the ambassador’s office was bombarded with 1 to 4 milliwatts of EMR (much lower than the then American ‘safe’ level of 10 milliwatts) throughout the 60s and 70s.

(When American doctors took buccal smears from embassy staff they were not told that evidence of cellular damage was being sought. Certainly there have been recent findings of damage to chromosomes, DNA and human sperm and recent tests have shown that red blood cells spiral during and after the use of mobile phones. Raised blood pressure, strokes, nosebleeds and heart attacks have been suffered near the mast in Kensworth).

c) Scientific tests in Schwarzenburg in the 1990s proved the reduction of melatonin in animals and humans in the presence of EMR emissions. (See Dr. Neil Cherry’s document on the subject). Dr. Cherry blamed his early death upon his constant proximity to masts and emissions during his investigations. I dare not spend any more time near the mast in Kensworth, because I feel so ill in the houses of residents there.

d) The Freiburger appeal from German doctors noting the preponderance of symptoms near masts etc. etc.

e) The same symptoms are found wherever pulsed EMR frequency emissions are present

f) More recently, there has been found a connection between interference with calcium in the human body.

Why are all these findings being ignored?

g) I have heard a little about the ‘investigation’ going on in Essex, where people are exposed to mobile handset use for a few minutes. This is ludicrous (‘though even this brief exposure affected someone I know of who endured the test, risking even more damage to his health in the hope of giving the necessary proof of effects!) as when I acquired my first mobile phone in the 80s I talked for hours to my friends in the evenings during the free time allowed and began to get pain in my ears and the side of my head and I know many people still talk for hours on their mobiles. My phone is off all the time now except for emergencies e.g. when miles from home I locked the car keys in the boot and was able to get help using the phone. I am not against this technology – I like it! BUT - it must be safe for all of us to use and it is NOT!

2) Quote: ‘The Balance of evidence to date (from the NRPB and the ICNIRP) suggests that exposures to MRF radiation below NTPB/ICNIRP guidelines do not cause adverse health effects to the general population.’

Which evidence? Effects in homes have not been investigated - that would be evidence, especially as the fact that symptoms are the same wherever emissions have effects proves a link.

When are the NRPB (now the Radiological Protection Division!) going to carry out investigations in the homes of any of the people who are suffering severe insomnia; headaches, nausea and vertigo; earache, tinnitus and hearing loss, nose bleeds, rashes, lowered immunity, cancer, strokes or heart attacks where masts have been activated? If the Swiss could do it in the 1990s I’m sure we have the technology to do it now!

As Secretary of State for Health, surely your request for such investigations would be listened to. I request urgent action to be taken to help all the people who are suffering and to prevent more suffering, misery and deaths from cancer around masts.


Yours sincerely,
Parish Councillor
Mrs. Gillian Lyden.

CC. The House of Lords; Tony Blair; John Prescott; Andrew Selous M.P; George Hooker, Dept of Health;The ICNIRP; The Radiological Protection Division; Professor Lawrie Challis; Orange; Cllr. Richard Stay; Cllrs M. Mustoe and B. Harris.



Re: health problems
From: Kenneth Lane <kenneth.lane1@ntlworld.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 17:50:20 +0100

Dear Mrs Lyden Thank you for sending me so much material. I doubt whether a sixth form science class would be impressed and I certainly understand why responsible authorities ignore it as you say. Unfortunately gullible mambers of the public may think there is cause for concern and would be less willing to buy property in this area.

Kenneth Lane

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

From: GILLARROW@aol.com
To: kenneth.lane1@ntlworld.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 10:14 PM
Subject: Proof that EMR causes health problems

Subj: Pandora Project Date: 11/08/04 23:04:19 GMT Daylight Time

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I thought you should see this evidence, which all authorities responsible for placing or allowing masts to be placed near homes are ignoring. As far as I can tell, the only emissions being tested are the thermal emissions, whilst the ones causing all the health problems (and interfering with electrical /electronic hospital and 'plane equipment) are non-thermal low radiofrequency emissions. Human bodies are full of electrical energy (our brains activate muscles etc with electrical impulses) therefore it is commonsense that non-thermal emissions can also interfere with the workings of any bodies which 'get in the way' so to speak.

1. Evidence of Effects upon Health of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Radio-waves.

Please compare symptoms herein with those noted near Orange mast in Kensworth. Project Pandora Historically the Soviet Union has invested huge sums of money and time investigating microwaves and their effects. In 1952, while the Cold War was showing no signs of thawing, there was a secret meeting at the Sandia Corporation in New Mexico between U.S. and Soviet scientists involving the exchange of information regarding the biological hazards and safety levels of EMR. The Soviets possessed the greater preponderance of information, and the American scientists were too pigheaded to take it seriously. In subsequent meetings, the Soviet scientists continued to stress the seriousness of the risks, while American scientists downplayed their importance and so humiliated them. Shortly after the last Sandia meeting, the Soviets began covertly directing RADAR like microwave beams at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, not only gathering intelligence but using embassy workers as guinea pigs for low-level EMR experiments and a means to prove their claims. Washington, D.C. was initially oddly quiescent, regarding the Moscow embassy bombardment. The U.S. government woke up to the reality of psychotronics when from 1960 to 1965, the directe electromag- netic and microwave emissions at the U.S embassy caused a wide range of physical and mental illness among many U.S. personnel serving there. Casualties include the eventual death of the U.S. Ambassador, Walter J. Stoessel himself.

Dr Stephen Possony a one time Science Advisor to the Department of Defense, now retired, said: "After the death of our ambassador in Moscow, due to contracting leukemia, and a couple of other employees, it suddenly dawned on us to have a real careful look at what was happening there." Discovered in 1962, these complex set of electromagnetic signals were investigated by the CIA, which hired a consultant, Milton Zaret, and code named the research "Project Pandora". According to Zaret, the Moscow signal was composed of several frequencies, and was focused each day precisely upon the Ambassador's office, U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The intensity of the bombardment was not made public, but when the State Department finally admitted the existence of the signal, it announced that it was fairly low . **

**(In a book by Paul Brodeur, ‘The Zapping of America, the signal was 1 to 4 milliwatts - far below the ‘safe’ 10 milliwatt level then current in America!)

These signals were measured in the short "S" and long "L" spectrum had extremely complex modulations with a pattern of variations, some of which were quite random. A Top Secret Eyes Only memorandum, dated 20 December 1966 from ARPA shows the significance of this project. This memorandum summarizes the initial results obtained from this program. The White House has directed, through USIB [U.S. Intelligence Board] that int- ensive investigative research be conducted within the State Department, CIA and DoD to attempt to determine what the threat is. This national program has been coordinat- ed by the State Department and was code named TUMS. ARPA is represented and is conducting research on a selective portion of the overall program concerned with one of the potential threats, that of the effects of low level electromagnetic radiation on man.

Project PANDORA was to include a number of parallel projects, such as Projects TUMS, MUTS, and BAZAR, involving the CIA, Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA), the State Department, the Navy and the Army. They were tasked to study the effects of the emitted Soviet microwaves on animals and humans. In April 1976 the Secretary of State Henry Kissinger sent the following telegram to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow which summarized the conclusions of the study of the Moscow signal. Subject: Radiation and UHF and Electromagnetic Dangers Beginning in 1960 the Soviet Union directed the high frequency beams of radiation at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow which were calculated up intelligence but cause physiological effects on personnel. The effects the Soviets calculated to achieve in the personnel serving (at least as early as 1960) included

A) Malaise (B) Irritability, (C) Extreme fatigue. At this time the Soviets believed that the induced effects were temporary. Subsequently, it has been verified that the effects are not temporary. Definitely tied to such radiation and the UHF/VHF electromagnetic waves are: (A) Cataracts, (B) Blood changes that induce heart attacks, (C) Malignancies, (D) Circulatory problems, and (E) Permanent deterioration of the nervous syste

B) In most cases the after-effects do not become evident until long after exposure - a decade or more.There was concensus among Soviet EMR researchers that a beam such as the Moscow signal was destined to produce blurred vision and loss of mental concentration.

C) The Boston Globe reported that the American ambassador had not only developed a leukemia like blood disease, but also suffered from bleeding eyes and chronic headaches. Under the CIA's Project Pandora, monkeys were brought into the embassy and exposed to the Moscow signal; they were found to have developed blood composition anomalies and unusual chromosome counts.

D) Embassy personnel were found to have a 40 percent higher than average white blood cell count. While Operation Pandora's data gathering proceeded, embassy personnel continued working in the facility and were not informed of the bombardment until 10 years later. Embassy employees were eventually granted a 20 percent hardship allowance for their service in an unhealthful post. Throughout the period of bombardment, the CIA used the opportunity to gather data on psychological and biological effects of the beams on our American personnel.

The U.S. government has carefully studied the electromagnetic signatures and examined health affects of the Moscow signal radiation. The job was turned over to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA is now developing and testing new electromagnetic antipersonnel weaponry.

British policemen are now suffering from insomnia, headaches, nausea, vertigo and hearing loss whilst using handsets with the new Tetra masts. As have villagers in Kensworth (as well as painful, bloodshot eyes; nose-bleeds; strokes etc.) ever since the Orange mast was activated. LIST OF SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED IN KENSWORTH - STILL ONGOING AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS! (September 14th. 2005 NOW FOUR YEARS) INSOMNIA-NIGHT AFTER NIGHT - only relieved by going away on holiday OR TO STAY WITH RELATIVES. EXHAUSTION (of course). CONTINUAL DAILY HEADACHES. SORE, BLOODSHOT EYES. VERTIGO AND NAUSEA. EARACHE AND TINNITUS. (These 6 symptoms are the most common symptoms, and are suffered by all the people closest to the mast)

EXTREME THIRST WITH ULCERATED MOUTHS AND THROATS; RAISED BLOOD PRESSURE, STROKES and heart attack (1 man had two strokes -1 when the mast was first activated in autumn 2002 and a worse one when it was re-activated after being off for the whole of April 2002, he is now disabled).

NOSEBLEEDS - most recently a man visiting his parents (IN KENSWORTH) woke with his pillow soaked in blood on Christmas day. When the same thing happened on Boxing day he took his family away vowing never to return until the mast was taken away. A 16 year old boy 100m from the mast is suffering frequent, heavy nosebleeds which continued even after his nose was cauterised.

RASHES. A 15 year old girl (+ insomnia, headaches and depression) whose symptoms continue whatever treatment she has from the doctor/hospital (her dog keeps developing small tumours on its paws which have to be removed by the vet - otherwise the dog constantly chews its paws.

On Sunday June 27th, I learnt that 2 ladies having been ill and doctors unable to find the cause have finally both been diagnosed with a raised white bloodcell count - see 'PANDORA'. One of these ladies became a widow last week, when her 51 yr old husband had a massive heart attack and died suddenly. The other also has insomnia, headaches and feels tired and ill all the time.

In your document re: Pubic health you say that changes in brain activity, reaction times and insomnia are 'small effects!!! Not near the Orange mast in Kensworth, or, I expect in all the other groups of people suffering in the same way all over the UK and all over the World!

I asked you before, and I ask you again, " Have you been into the houses of those who are enduring this torture?" I have! My partner has begged me not to do so again, but unless I find out who and how many are suffering what, I shall be unable to speak for them as they have requested. I have felt the symptoms briefly in varying degrees depending upon the relationship of each house to the mast. One feels a downward dragging internal sensation, starting in the head with giddiness and passing down through the torso into the gut (leaving a feeling of nausea and weakness) into the legs. At the worst one's shoulders droop and there is an irresistible urge to lie down and rest, in these houses I cannot bear to stay longer than 15 to 20 minutes. I experienced exactly the same sensation when in my car on top of the Arndale shopping centre car-park in Luton waiting to get out. I looked up and saw there were 4 or 5 masts above my head.

Other questions I asked were:-

"Why are people suffering all this pain not tested and treated for effects as are the workmen in association with RF occupations?" and 'Why set up laboratory tests when the damage is being suffered in their own homes?

Will you please listen to people who say they are ill since masts have been erected near their homes and monitor these effects? Is it not your function to protect us all from harm to our health?

I have more evidence, but it would fill a book.

(This article was originally sent to the NRPB – now the Health Protection Agency AND WHO HAVE NOW ANNOUNCED THAT SYMPTOMS ARE CAUSED BY MASTS, MOBILE PHONES, OVERHEAD POWER LINES ETC.) I rest my case,

Yours sincerely

Gillian Lyden

14th Sept. 2005

From: Eileen O'Connor
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:08 AM

Dear Colleagues:

In early October, for the first time in 20 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) will assemble a panel to recommend a new set of exposure guidelines for power-frequency EMFs.

Few people have beard about the meeting. Yet, the electric utility industry will be there in force, sitting in on, and no doubt participating in, the weeklong deliberations.

Five years ago, the Committee of Experts on Tobacco Industry Documents issued a 260-page report documenting the tobacco industry¹s strategies to undermine the work of the WHO. (The full report is available at:

http://www.who.int/tobacco/media/en/who_inquiry.pdf )

In response, the WHO issued 15 pages of recommendations on how to make sure its work is never subverted again. Go to:
http://www.who.int/tobacco/media/en/InquiryDGres2.pdf

Yet, it seems that the WHO is unable to apply the hard lessons it learned from tobacco to other potentially harmful agents. Instead, the WHO now simply invites the industry to be part of the process.

We have posted on our Web site the names and affiliations of those who Mike Repacholi, the head of the WHO EMF project, has invited to observe the task group meeting in Geneva. You will also find the full list of panel members. Simply go to:
http://www.microwavenews.com/fromthefield.html#whoehc


Best,

Louis Slesin, PhD
Editor, Microwave News
A Report on Non-Ionizing Radiation
Phone: +1 (212) 517-2800; Fax: +1 (212) 734-0316
E-mail: mwn@pobox.com
Internet: http://www.microwavenews.com
Mail: 155 East 77th Street, Suite 3D
New York, NY 10021, U.S.A.



Petition to remove Dr. Mike Repacholi
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/877606/

Comment: Surrey Mirror

Sep 22 2005

WHILE the debate continues as to whether or not there are any health risks attached to mobile phone masts, they continue to turn up around the country like the proverbial bad penny.

At present the World Health Organisation has no evidence that masts are harmful and, when opposing installations, residents are only too aware that this alarming possibility is still not grounds for refusal.

It is only a possibility and, to win their case, residents are best advised to battle the plans on grounds of siting and detriment to the character of the area.

Those living in the Ringley Park Avenue area of Reigate know this and so will be taking up the cudgel on these grounds in a bid to stop Hutchison 3G UK Ltd from putting a radio base station and mast in the avenue.

At the same time, residents are excited about the imminent release of a report from the Government's Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Lynn Myall, whose home at The Chase is most affected by the proposal, is keen for people to know about the HPA findings, which are reported to acknowledge for the first time that people can suffer adversely from being exposed to electromagnetic fields.

Many of her neighbours, including the nearby Dunottar School, are also worried and await the report, expected to make Britain second only to Sweden in formally acknowledging the dangers of electromagnetic fields.

Let us hope the residents win their fight to save the historic and beautiful Ringley Park Avenue from mast development on aesthetic grounds.

At the same time, let's not forget there are others around the country who claim mobile phone masts have made them ill.

Wandsworth Guardian 21.09.05

A mobile phone company is set to steamroll over public opinion by erecting a mast next to schools and a health centre in Southfields.

The Southfields community is powerless to stop Vodafone putting up a 13.4m mast in Revelstoke Road.

The telecommunications equipment would emit radiation despite Wimbledon Park Primary School, two nurseries and the Revelstoke Road Surgery lying within a 300 yard radius.

Vodafone has applied for prior approval from Merton Council. The council can only prevent masts going up if they are more than 15m or are next to sensitive locations such as conservation areas and listed buildings.

It means the council is virtually powerless to stop the Vodafone mast and will have to grant approval on the September 22 deadline.

Nationwide mast planning guidance has come down as a government directive.

Wimbledon Park Councillor Tariq Ahmad said hundreds of signatures had been collected against the mast.

Coun Ahmad said: "More recent guidance out of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister calls for extensive consultation and taking into the account the views of residents, particularly where children are being impacted.

"Recent reports are showing there is a link between mobile phone masts and detrimental effects on children."

However a Vodafone spokeswoman stressed the radiation limits complied with international guidelines.

Omega see "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?"
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

She said: "If you we want to use our mobile phone service in cities we must have masts with that to work."

--------

There's a primary school in Brighton that has had over 20 masts just 70 metres away for years and at exactly the same height. For just over a year they've also had an active TETRA from the same cluster. I've measured the microwaves around the playground on my EnvironCom and they show 4 - 6 vpm. I've tried to speak to the Headmistress but she just treats me like a crank.

Best Gary

--------

Gary,

I almost wish I hadn't read this, but I did, so send me the details and we'll see if she treats me like a crank, too.

Being on the advice line you hear a lot of things that tug at your heart, make you cry, or make you angry. You kind of get used to being exposed to so much, and are surprized to hear people remark on how calm you are. Then out of the blue a few words sets off all the upset and anger and you burn with rage, weep a thousand tears, and then you are back to normal again. I can't remember the last time I went through that, but the 20 masts just 70 m away from little children, plus on TETRA, did it for me tonight. I hoped Agnes' story might have that effect because I knew I was due for a blow out, but I read it avidly and nothing happened. I thought I had hardened up and I hated the idea of it.

So thank you,Gary, for this. What helps me most in doing the advice line is the wonderful people out there. Those who helps us to spread the word; call in to tell us how they are doing or to say thank you; those whom I can ask to visit someone nearby for one reason or another and they do it willingly; the courage of the sick; the kindness and generosity of spirit of the poor; the offers; the sacrifices; the open and honest humans who remind us that there is so much goodness in this awful situation we all find ourselves in.

So Gary, let's educate this woman who is supposed to be a guardian of our children!

Sandi

My experience is that shielding reduces the intensity, but does not change the structure (frequency, modulation/pulsation) of the radiation. So, if it is the structure making you sick, you could still get sick if the intensity is relatively low but still too high for you (if you are 'hypersensitive', this means you easily sense symptoms caused by consequences of effects of the radiation).

The structure of UMTS without traffic is not the same as with traffic.

In my sleeping case of Faraday (metal wire mesh 1 x 1 millimeter) in the sousterrain the measurement is 0,1 mikroWatt/m2 (about 0,007 V/m). I sleep well but inside I 'hear' microwaves (outside I do not, I suppose there the 'pressure' is too strong). The masts are at a distance of 350 metres, but still produce 0,7 V/m (about 1500 mikroWatt/m2) in the street. When I was in a village (no masts within five kilometres) where the measurement outside was 0,1 mikroWatt/m2 (without shielding), I did not 'hear' microwaves.

Shielding is good but does not take away the structure of the radiation.

Frans

Base stations on British Midlands Airways planes
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=363033&in_page_id=1770

--------

The airbus has a dodgy reputation, computors overiding what the pilot has inputted and if you saw the one that landed with its front nose wheel the wrong way around [that was an airbus on the news this morning and they say it isn't the first time this has happened] I hate to think what might eventually happen't with a phone mast there as well. I feel sorry for the poor crew!

sue g

--------

But interesting that only a few days ago the press were running the concerns about so many unexplained air crashes, in some cases where the pilot had been using a mobile. The hypothesis was that instrumentation recording altitude was affected by the mobile and continued to misrecord after the call, leading pilots to fly into the ground.

This article today illustrates what a mad way of life we have come to lead: not only is the plane no longer fast enough, even that interrupts the ability to carry on working. For what?! Is it really so wasteful of life to spend it talking to fellow passengers? Just think, they could be discussing the contribution of air travel to climate change, or the impact of chemtrails! Or how to make life more enjoyable and in tune with the planet. Much more useful.

Andy

--------

Addition to the below: Israel is going to be one of the first countries that enables Wi-Fi on the plane. El Al (the Israeli airline company) has just signed the deal. It's 2.45 GHz, and it enables you to do very important things on the plane, like radiating your neighbour. Who knows if it can't cause technical problems to the plane, just not long ago the navigation of a plane was disrupted by a passenger talking on his mobile. I think I will choose Lufthansa...

Iris Atzmon.


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

From: Eileen O'Connor
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 11:54 AM
Subject: mobile phone base stations in Bmi planes -Daily Mail report 21/9/05.

letters@dailymail.co.uk

I would like to encourage everyone to wri te letters to the daily mail, in response to the enclosed article.


Many thanks

Eileen



DAILY MAIL 'Hello, I'm just on a plane...'

11:25am 21st September 2005

Airline passengers could soon be able to continue their mobile phone conversations in-flight, as a UK carrier becomes the first to allow mobiles to be used in a new trial.

Calls are currently banned in case signals interfere with a plane's navigation system.

Bmi (formerly British Midland Airways) will start the trial on an Airbus A320 late next year. The target market for bmi will be mainly business travellers flying out of Heathrow airport to UK destinations such as Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast, and to European destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels and Dublin.

The mobile signals will be diverted to a base station in the cabin and then sent directly to a satellite before they have a chance to interfere with onboard computers.

Bmi chief executive Nigel Turner said: "Our research tells us that our premium passengers have two key concerns. These are getting quickly through the airport and the ability to be able to carry on working during their journey."

To introduce the use of in-flight mobiles, bmi has signed a deal with OnAir, a joint venture involving planemakers Airbus, information company Sita and US software company Tenzing which pioneered in-flight email.
To introduce the use of in-flight mobiles, bmi has signed a deal with OnAir, a joint venture involving planemakers Airbus, information company Sita and US software company Tenzing which pioneered in-flight email.

Would you like to use your phone mid-flight, or does the prospect fill you with dismay? Tell us what you think using the reader comments link below

View reader comments or add your own
http://comments.dailymail.co.uk/dailymail/usercomments/viewArticleComments?in_article_id=363033&articleName=%2527Hello%252C%20I%2527m%20just%20on%20a%20plane...%2527&articlePath=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.dailym

--------

Mobile phones allowed in European skies

Trials with British Midland and Air Portugal
By Jan Libbenga
Published Thursday 22nd September 2005 12:37 GMT

British Midland and TAP Air Portugal will permit passengers to use their mobile phones in the air next year, the two European airlines said this week.

Both companies will use base-station technology developed by OnAir, the Airbus-backed rival to Boeing's Connexion. OnAir uses pico-cell base-stations from Siemens, coupled with software from TriaGnoSys. The kit will be installed in 2006 with a view to commencing a trial service late in the year.

Initially, only a couple of aircraft will be equipped with the system. TAP will use OnAir on its single-aisle Airbus 321, and BMI on the Airbus 320. The target market for BMI will include business and leisure travellers to its destinations in Europe out of London's Heathrow, including Manchester, Belfast Edinburgh, Paris and Amsterdam. Travellers can use all GSM and GPRS handsets, including Blackberry devices.

However, there are a couple of restrictions. Passengers can use their phones only from 10,000ft - they will still not be able to use wireless devices during take off and landing. Charges have yet to be determined, but rates will be in line with current international roaming charges, OnAir said.

Burnley Express

20.09.05

CAMPAIGNERS against phone masts are holding a public meeting at Padiham Town Hall tomorrow in light of vital new evidence that says exposure to microwave radiation can damage health.

Just days after Burnley Council granted permission for another mast near the Prairie playing fields campaigners say they want people to go along and hear the true facts.

The group, Together Against Masts (TAM), has been campaigning for six years against the insensitive siting of mobile phone masts and highlighting "the dangers to all living beings" from exposure to the microwave radiation emitted day and night.

Chairman Mr Dennis Cannon said: "We have shown independent research and provided anecdotal evidence from individuals claiming to be affected by this radiation. Symptoms have ranged from cancers, brain tumours at the upper end to general complaints, such as migraines, nausea, tingling sensations and sleep disorders.

All of these have been refuted by the Government without exception, claiming that there was no proof of any adverse biological effects and, without offering alternative evidence to show the technology was safe, they have pressed ahead and brushed aside people's objections to install more and more masts, particularly with the 3G system, which with its shorter range requires many more masts even closer to residential properties. All this to allow access to the internet, online games and taking and transmitting pictures."

But he says the Government has now admitted that there are biological effects which cause some people illness.

Earlier this month national newspaper reports said that the Health Protection Agency (HPA) which took over the duties of the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB) admitted for the first time that exposure to microwave radiation can damage health. Mr Cannon says a report from NRPB next month will acknowledge that exposure to this radiation could be causing headaches, joint pain, depression and fatigue in certain people. "While this still falls short of admitting that terminal illnesses can result from exposure, how can they explain their stance for the last six years that there were no adverse biological effects. In any event how can it be right for anyone to have such radiation brought into their homes, without their consent and resulting in them suffering any ailment? All this for commercial gain for phone operators and the Government," he said.

He added that further evidence has come from Germany where blood tests have been devised which show any effects from exposure to EMF radiation. As yet the UK has not developed its own test but it will be available here this month.

"Costs for this test have been quoted at £125 and anyone wishing to have one should contact me for details. "If you live close to a mast and suffer a new ailment, then it would be well worthwhile considering getting checked out, " said Mr Cannon.

Tomorrow's TAM meeting starts at 7-30 p.m. at Padiham Town Hall.

Sep 20 2005

By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PLANNERS have given their backing to plans for a mobile phone mast on a church.

Residents have voiced objections to the proposals for Lindley Parish Church.

More than 50 people packed into a public meeting earlier this month.

But officers at Kirklees Council are now saying the bid is well within guidelines and should be allowed to go ahead.

A report said: "The three antennae are to be mounted externally on the church tower and painted to match its masonry.

"The transmission dish would be located on the inside of the parapet.

"The agent says the proposed works are reversible and would not result in any residual harm to the building."

A decision on their recommendation will be made by councillors on Thursday.

It is the third bid for a mast by Hutchison 3G, which runs the 3 network, after two earlier applications were withdrawn.

The church in Lidget Street, which dates from 1829, would get an annual rent of about £6,000.

Objectors point out the tower is near Lindley Junior School and say the mast bid should be thrown out on health grounds.

But council planners say the apparatus complies with Government guidelines on exposure to radio frequencies.

Omega see "Base Stations, operating within strict national and international Guidelines, do not present a Health Risk?"
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

Hutchison 3G said the equipment was discreet and the plan was in line with Government planning policy that encouraged operators to use existing structures

Redditch Advertiser

RESIDENTS were celebrating this week after a controversial planning application for a 22.5m phone mast near a Matchborough school was thrown out by councillors.

At a planning meeting last Tuesday, councillors backed their officers' recommendations to refuse the plan at Neon House, Bartleet Road, Washford, because they said it would have a detrimental affect on the surrounding area.

Neighbours had organised a petition against the mast on health grounds, and because the plan would involve the felling of protected trees.

They also objected to it being erected near to an existing 20m high mast.

Phil Henshaw of Frankton Close said: "We're very pleased the plans were refused."

He said he spoke at the meeting praising the town's beauty and appealing to councillors to call a halt to the proliferation of masts in the area.

Councillor Juliet Brunner said she was delighted at the decision to refuse the proposal.

Forbidden from speaking directly to the committee, she submitted her objection letter alongside one from Arrow Vale headteacher Peter Woodman and numerous others, including a petition of 83 local residents

Speaking afterwards she said: "This decision is a tribute to people power - the local community united to make their views known."

Mrs Brunner added: "There are enough phone masts in the area. It is time now for these phone companies to look seriously at finding alternatives."

She said thanks should go to Phil Henshaw who worked tirelessly to ensure the views of his neighbours were taken into consideration.