New outlet for anti mast/cell phone publicity

Today I bought a copy of magaxine "The Green Parent" (subtitled "Raising kids with conscience") to see if it could be used to raise awareness about masts, cell phones, baby monitors etc. It definitely could! They publish articles and items on organic/healthy/veggie food, allergies, organisations, events, healthy birth and child rearing, chemicals, etc etc etc. It went upmarket a while ago due to increased demand. The current letters page has 5 letters - longest 285 words - but I don't know the maximum. They also publish shorts on bits and pieces and longer articles - ideal for PRs.

I suggest we write to them focussing on the harm microwaves do to children. The email address is info@thegreenparent.co.uk . Tel 01273 424802. Website http://www.thegreenparent.co.uk

Best

Gary

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Wednesday, June 22, 2005 1:44 PM

Good idea Gary.

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From Karen Barratt

Thanks Gary. I will add to our press contacts list but I've also emailed them and sent them the website link to a press release from some months ago (Telecoms target children). Have suggested they do a feature on this, us or any related topic. Will let you know what feedback we get.

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Mobile Phones & Cancer
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/773175/

Residents have chalked up a second victory in their fight against mobile phone masts.

People living near the A2 in Arbuthnot Lane, Bexley, were delighted when the council's planning committee turned down an application by Hutchison 3G(UK) for a mast and equipment on a grassed area in Torbrook Close.

Last year they fought off another application from T-Mobile for a mast in Iris Avenue, just the other side of the A2.

On behalf of the residents, Ian Lowe outlined their fears about the effects of microwave radiation from the mast on residents and especially children.

He reminded councillors: "We already have to live with the blight of the A2."

Councillors unanimously rejected the plan without discussion, because the company had not been able to show it was the only viable site and also because of the damage it would do to the street.

11:04am Tuesday 21st June 2005

by Jolene Hill

This is Local London

BROMLEY Council is to take on the Government over laws which see mobile phone masts imposed on communities against the wishes of planners.

But campaigners who have fought against the masts in the borough say it is too little too late.

In an official letter to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) the council states its concerns at the "present inability through the planning process to act in the best interests of local residents".

Currently Bromley Council has to follow Government guidelines when granting applications for masts, even if residents are fiercely opposed.

Masts under 15m do not require planning permission, making it difficult to control clusters springing up in residential areas.

It says the 56-day period for councils to consider an application before it is automatically accepted is not enough to carry out adequate consultation within the community.

The letter was prompted by a proposal from Orpington councillor Chris Maines at the council meeting on June 14, who asked the Government publish up-to-date health advice on masts.

He is also calling for planning permission to be required for all but the tiniest signal boosters and public consultation be improved.

Orpington Residents Against Masts (RAM) has welcomed the action but says it should have happened long ago.

Member Sue Green said: "I'm pleased to hear this but it's a case of too little too late. It should have happened four years ago."

The council is also enlisting the help of the borough's MPs.

Orpington MP John Horam said: "This is essential and I will be writing in support of Bromley Council.

"It is wrong masts which are almost 15ft high do not require planning permission."

The independent Stewart Committee, headed by Sir William Stewart in 2000, recommended tighter planning laws as a precaution because the effects of the masts were still unknown.

This was echoed by the new chairman of the committee Professor Lawrie Challis in January, who says the health risk cannot be ruled out because not enough research has been conducted.

Omega there is enough research been conducted. See under:
http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_science.html

11:05am Tuesday 21st June 2005

Bromley News Shopper

reprinted 21.06.05

By Samantha Payne

A SCIENTIFIC researcher says residents are being directly affected by high levels of mobile mast radiation found in their homes.

Ingrid Dickenson, director of scientific studies at anti-phone mast group Mast Sanity, recorded high levels of the radiation in four homes near to the 3G mast antennaes in Chislehurst Road , Orpington.

Residents, who have been campaigning for four years to remove the phone mast, say they have been suffering from headaches, sleeplessness and dizziness.

Mrs Dickenson says these symptoms, which also include tinnitus and nose bleeds, are the effects of non-thermal mobile mast radiation.

Susan Green, 40, and her 10-year-old son Christian, have been experiencing the symptoms since the 3G antennaes were put up in March.

They say the link between the masts and their ill health was confirmed a fortnight ago when they were switched off for a week's maintenance and their complaints disappeared.

Mrs Dickenson has been working on phone mast emissions with radiation experts from Europe and America since 1995.

She says the Government's current advice on mobile masts is misguided.

Mrs Dickenson said: "They say mobile phone radiation is not high enough to heat the body so is therefore safe.

"The National Radiological Protection Board is stubbornly refusing to look at the non-thermal effects.

"But non-thermal radiation does have a real effect, with the first symptoms being sleep disturbance, headaches and nosebleeds."

Mrs Green said: "I was not expecting the readings to be sky high. The news is devastating for me and my son."

Her next door neighbour Heather Lewis said: "My family have been suffering from headaches and sleeplessness.

"Mrs Dickenson's readings showed our bedroom was saturated with pulse radiation.

"I'm now going to buy metallic blinds to stop the radiation from coming through the window."

1:59pm Wednesday 4th May 2005


http://omega.twoday.net/stories/676803/
http://www.orpingtonram.co.uk/index.php?f=data_media_coverage&a=0
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/ and
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster

Preston Today

Hundreds of campaigning residents were celebrating today after a mobile phone company was banned from erecting a mast in their neighbourhood.

Planning bosses at Preston Council turned down an application from T-Mobile for a 14.7m mast on Granton Walk, Ingol, Preston. It followed a mass objection from people in the area concerned about their health and its closeness to homes, schools and a church.

They were also worried that it could become a target for vandalism. A total of 268 people put their names to two petitions and a further 21 sent letters of objection to the council.

T-Mobile wanted to erect the mast, looking like a telegraph pole, next to a parade of shops with flats above.

A report to the planning committee said: "The proposed mast would be situated in a prominent position close to residential properties and, by way of its siting and appearance, would be detrimental to the amenities of local residents and passers-by.

"It would be uncomfortably close to neighbouring residents and such a prominent mast would be visually intrusive.

"A number of objections raised have concerned the perceived threat to health associated with such developments."

The application, which included three antennae, a transmission dish and equipment cabinets, was unanimously rejected by members of the planning committee.

Terence Felton, 75, who lives on Tag Lane , opposite the proposed site, said: "Nobody can say whether it's going affect health or not. "There were certain people who said if it goes up it would be straight down. "If it's been stopped, then I'm pleased."

Omega one can say that it's having health effects. See under:
http://omega.twoday.net/topics/Wissenschaft+zu+Mobilfunk/ and
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Cancer+Cluster

Mr Felton, who runs Felton's Yard, an army surplus store on Lincoln Street , off Deepdale Road , Preston , said: "I'm in business and I can't put signs up in the street."

On behalf of the residents, Coun Bill Shannon, who represents Ingol, raised the matter with the planning committee. He said: "Twelve months ago we had two masts in Ingol – we now have five."

Coun Shannon said he had also met bosses from T-Mobile and drove round the area with them to look at alternative sites on wasteland, away from homes.

An application for a 12m high mast outside St Margaret's Church, on nearby Tag Lane, was refused in February 2003 for similar reasons.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "We are disappointed with the decision as we work hard with local communities and planning authorities to find suitable locations for the siting of masts. "We will review the situation, however. We have not decided on next steps at this stage."

e-mail: emma.broom@lep.co.uk

21 June 2005

by Nic Brunetti

Enfield Independant

OBJECTORS to a controversial phone mast have won their battle against the planning decision that allowed it to go up just metres from their homes.

Residents felt so strongly about the T-Mobile mast in Wycombe Road that they submitted their case for judicial review by the High Court in an attempt to get the decision quashed.

Homeowner Jennifer Redman, 67, who lives near the mast, was told in February that the value of her home had plummeted by £45,000 since its arrival.

The mast was approved under delegated powers by Wycombe District Council back in November last year.

But the Free Press can now reveal that the matter has been dealt with outside court, and that both parties have agreed to a consent order, which will reverse the planning decision.

The case was submitted by leader of the residents, David Reynolds, whose legal team challenged the council decision directly.

He said: "I'll just be happy when they take the mast away. I'm very grateful for the neighbours' support.

"We were right in our position and it took a lot of detective work to actually find the mistakes that should have been exposed by Wycombe."

The decision, which will become official once it is read out in the High Court, means that unless a new planning application by T-Mobile is successful, the mast will have to be taken down altogether.

T-Mobile refused to comment at this stage or say whether they were planning to resubmit their application.

Lawyers acting for Mr Reynolds claimed that the approval given by the council was flawed, because it failed to take into account other sites in the area that could have accommodated the mast.

This includes a site at Bencombe Farm which, they claimed, was not sufficiently considered because T-Mobile had looked at incorrect grid references of the location.

Lawyers were also unhappy that Great Marlow School , in Bobmore Lane , which is just 150 metres from the mast, was not consulted by the council despite a government report saying that radiation beams of the "greatest intensity" strike the ground between 50 and 200 metres.

In legal arguments, the council said it did take objections into account, including suggestions of other possible sites for the mast.

It also said that in terms of policy, it was not its responsibility to question the need for the mast. Through their own "standard procedure", they had decided not to contact the school over the application.

Dan Rosenberg, of Public Interest Lawyers, acting for Mr Reynolds, added: "The council did not consult the school, the application contained inaccuracies and the operator even got grid references of neighbouring masts wrong.

"It is correct that such a decision affecting so many people should be looked at again."

The council has been ordered to pay Mr Reynolds' legal costs as part of the consent order, which he claims could reach around £18,000.

A council spokesman added: "In this instance it was deemed that a speedy and effective resolution should be sought and as such the council entered into negotiations with all parties to successfully produce the Consent Order."

3:35pm Monday 20th June 2005

18 June 2005 18:22

I had thought of asking Geldof whether he'd consider fronting the national campaign! Seemed like a good idea at the time ... those 3G masts affecting my judgement, no doubt! Still - it might be worth a shot? Sue Green, ORAM

Amanda Wesley

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If he's more concerned about Africa, maybe we should send him stuff on the devastating consequences cobalt mining for mobiles has had in the Congo. I don't have the info myself though.

Gary

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Dear Gary,

I have references for Congo and Coltan. I shall dig out tomorrow. The media just do not cover it. Think South Africans should learn from UKs mistakes.

Best Yasmin

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Sent: 20 June 2005 15:32

Or the shit that's going down in SA, where schools are the preferred site for masts and Vodacom have described the Transvaal as a land of milk and honey!

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Dear Sue.

Do ask him.

He might come round when things are explained.

He has not got a 3G in his backyard, like us, but if he understands and feels so strongly that it is not fair for African people to be tortured, the why would he not want to help his neighbors when they are.

If he only has a passion for far away people and places, he´ll say plain NO.

Best regards.

Agnes
http://www.mast-victims.org

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The info I got is from Project Censored 2003 Page 93. Dena Montague writes "nearly four million people dead in four years of ware in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the world remains silent in the fact of an abominable atrocity."

The area is beginning to be reported now in 2005, but hardly any reference to the mineral tantalum (also known as coltan). The price has got up because it is used to make mobile phones. DRC has 80% of world's coltan reserves. She suggests web reports of http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm ; Washington Post reporter Karl Vick did one of the first reports on story of coltan mining ; http://www.allafrica.com/ . Also magazines New African Magazine and Africa Confidential. I believe there has been two documentaries on British television in recent years but I missed them both. In Europe I believe there has been a campaign "No Blood On My Mobile" to stop people mindlessly buying the latest mobile and so keeping the demand for coltan high.

It would be interesting to hear Geldof's comments on Congo and coltan, if he knows there is a link. And all the other stars who help promote mobile phone companies.

Best wishes, Yasmin Skelt Chorleywood, England.

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Google about "Coltan mining" under:
http://tinyurl.com/7bgpp

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George Monbiot: Bards of the powerful:

Far from challenging the G8's role in Africa's poverty, Geldof and Bono are giving legitimacy to those responsible.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9215.htm

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To: geldofinfo@msn.com
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 4:43 PM
Subject: African Governments inflict radiation poisoning on helpless population

Bob Geldof

We urgently request your attention to an appalling social experiment being conducted on the people of Africa by their corrupt Governments, whereby they are being continually bombarded with radiation in their own homes and schools. Thousands of people are already showing the effects of radiation sickness - headaches, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, nose bleeds etc - at what their Governments profess to be 'safe' levels of exposure, and the long-term consequences for the population will be increased miscarriage/foetal abnormalities, increased incidents of childhood leukaemia, increases in all types of cancer etc. But their Governments have taken huge bribes by way of taxes and licencing fees worth billions and billions of pounds from the multinational companies that are behind this experiment, and the influence of these companies is all-pervading - they sponsor every major public event and subscribe heavily to all media. Their monstrous, hideous transmitters are breeding randomly and prolifically throughout this once beautiful country, and those who are brave enough to attempt to fight their onslaught - to protect their children - are ridiculed or ignored, and find that they have no voice and there is no justice for them.

We are sure, Mr Geldof, that you would not knowingly or willingly sanction such an abuse of power, and that you and your friends and colleagues will undoubtedly rage against this sickening corporate assault and vandalism. And with your formidable charisma and commitment, we have little doubt that you would succeed in shaming the African Governments into reigning in the activities of these corporate monsters.

But such is the power and influence of these vast companies, they have even managed to infiltrate Live8. They ensured maximum profit and publicity by controlling the voting for tickets to this event, and now we learn that one of their number is a major sponsor.

You see, this is not happening in Africa, Mr Geldof, it is happening right here in your own country. The companies involved are the multinational telecommunications giants to whom Live8 have awarded the contract for ticket sales and with whom you have agreed the said sponsorship deal. The victims of their social experiment are my family, and many, many other families like ours who find themselves living within the shadows of their monstrous masts, and dealing with the devastating impact upon their health caused by the radiation these masts emit. And our Government - despite their own scientific advisers urging them to take a precautionary approach to the siting of these masts - refuse to listen to our fears, and seem hellbent on supporting these companies with the roll out of their deadly technology. Seems to us that - like the tobacco and drinks industries that preceded it - the mobile telecommunications industry is this Government's cash cow, and they are milking it for all it is worth. Thanks to Live8's actions, the cow just got considerably fatter.

And there I was a few weeks ago - when I first heard about Live8 - fantasising that, with your vision, you would be the ideal person to support our cause. Still, I find it very hard to believe that you, of all people, have knowingly 'sold out' to this industry.

Susan Green
Orpington Residents Against Masts
7 Cabul Cottages
New Road
Orpington
Kent
BR6 0DX

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Sat, 25 Jun 2005 22:56:25 +0100 (BST)
From: fergusson sue
Subject: cobalt mining in Africa To: geldofinfo@msn.com

Dear Sir Bob Geldorf,

to add to emails sent to you by members of Mast Sanity I would like to add that one of the worst examples of human exploitation is in Africa where the mobile phone company corporates use slave labour to mine cobalt used in the micro chips in mobile phones. The people are very ill and dying in their droves from the very hard taskmasters who are employed to oversee the mining. I would beg you to take close look at these issues before tying yourself to the mobile phone corporations.

Regards Sue Fergusson, member of Mast Sanity.

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Tell famous people to behave ethically where mobile phones and masts are concerned http://omega.twoday.net/stories/774731/

http://www.beartown.co.uk/newsviewer.asp?ID=19803

Congleton, Cheshire

20.06.05

Anxious residents in Congleton are urging the council to reject plans for a mobile telephone mast amid fears for children's health.

Concern is mounting that a built-up area heavily populated by young families could be dangerously exposed to radioactive emissions if a base station earmarked for a site near the railway station gets the go-ahead.

Although experts have yet to find firm evidence linking telephone masts to illness, the CW12 residents group, which has carried out extensive research examining the health risks posed by radioactivity, said that children were vulnerable to tumours and even cancer.

Omega this statement is plain and simple not true. See further under: http://omega.twoday.net/stories/771911/

The health alert was sounded after telecommunications firm Vodafone confirmed it would be seeking planning permission in the coming weeks to install a 15m. mast and an equipment cabin outside the Railway Hotel on Biddulph Road.

It comes just months after a Government report advised against mobile phone masts being put up near schools.

This week, campaigners were planning to meet borough council leader Roland Domleo to inform him of the health risks involved.

Ian Hawkes, (60), who lives in nearby Fenton Close, has been looking into the effects of radiation on health for the past five years and has written a booklet warning of the risks.

He said: "I am concerned over the effects the mast would have on the health of the children, as well as the rest of the residents in the neighbourhood.

Evidence

"There is more and more evidence to support D.N.A. damage, tumours, and non-benign cancer being caused. or at least aggravated by, exposure to this type of radiation.

"It doesn't matter if it's high levels of exposure over a short time or low levels over a long time, in the end the result will be same."

Coun. Domleo vowed to "make sure every concern is considered", although he admitted he could not intervene with the planning procedure at this stage.

"I am surprised at the location of this site, which is why I want to make sure that every concern is fully considered," he said.

"It does concern me that there are people living very close to this site, particularly as health risks associated with telephone masts have not been confirmed or totally denied."

In a statement, Vodafone said the development "would not have any significant impact on any residential dwellings".

Also responding to residents claims that the mast would be an "eyesore" and a "blight to the community", it added: "Visual impact on the surrounding area has been kept to an absolute minimum and it is considered that an ultra slim line street works monopole will be an unobtrusive form on the existing land use."

Earlier this year widespread public concern prompted the Government to ask experts to investigate possible links between radiation exposure and illness.

The Independent Expert Group on Mobile 'Phones found from extensive research that children's developing nervous systems and thinner skulls made them likely to be more vulnerable to exposure than adults.

The report, by board chairman Sir William Stewart, also cited E.U.-backed tests which showed radiation was able to damage D.N.A. in human cells and a Swedish study linking long-term exposure to acoustic neuroma, a benign tumour deemed serious because of its positioning next to the brain.

scotthesketh@chronicleseries.com

Date Published: Monday 20 June 2005

This is Hampshire

A WINCHESTER couple say they will be reporting Hampshire County Council to the local government ombudsman over its decision to block their bid to buy a piece of land where a controversial phone mast is due to be sited.

Alan and Anne Saunders, who live in Chilbolton Avenue, are accusing the council of "mismanagement" of their application to buy the plot at Byron Avenue .

They want to know why, after accepting a £500 deposit, along with their formal request for legal rights over the land, the council "dragged its feet", notified phones giant, Orange, which has planning permission for a 39ft mast, and then decided, after all, not to sell it.

At a specially-convened meeting on Monday, cabinet members accepted the recommendation of Alison Quant, director of environment and head of corporate affairs, not to extinguish highways rights - and to refund the couple's deposit.

Mr Saunders, together with mast campaigners, Karen Barratt and Michael Etherington, spoke at the meeting.

They said the land was not used by pedestrians or cyclists as it was part of the verge and there was pavement in front of it.

They added that the land had been maintained by residents for nearly 30 years.

They pointed out that residents had planted on the land and it was used as a safe play area for children and was not in any way needed for high ways use.

Mr Saunders also added that should the land come into his possession there would be a legally binding covenant ensuring that no fencing would be erected on the site and nothing would be built there.

However, councillors thought the foliage was too overgrown and posed a risk to pedestrians and cyclists and the land should remain in council hands so that it could be maintained properly.

They also agreed with chief executive, Peter Robertson, that, should the land go to Mr Saunders, the county would have no control over it and would not be able to uphold any covenant agreement.

After the meeting Mrs Barratt said: "The decision is no surprise - we are used to being dismissed. Whatever they say about highways issues, we know councillors are nervous about what Orange might do and we're not giving up now."

Mr Saunders said: "It was ultimately predictable. They had a meeting two weeks ago which preempted this decision. It was just a democratic show. We are going to report them all to the ombudsman because of the way they proceeded with this.

"If we hadn't gone to the press, there would have been no meeting."

Mr Robertson said that it was Mrs and Mrs Saunders' right to report the council to the ombudsman if they so wished.

More than 300 mobile phone masts are dotted across the county's towns and villages, a Shropshire Star investigation reveals today.

Full coverage in tonight's paper

They can be found at schools, hospitals, farms and businesses all over Shropshire - and the number of masts is rising every month.

Using the new Freedom of Information Act, we asked every council in the area where mobile phone masts are situated.

After trawling through planning registers and hundreds of maps, the Shropshire Star can now give readers a detailed view of the network of masts operating around the county.