THIS IS A FIGHT TO PROTECT CHILDREN ACROSS AUSTRALIA
Concerned community members are taking a battle from their local streets to Federal Parliament. They aim to change outdated legislation that allows modern 3G or Next G Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR) emitting towers near schools.
Until scientific studies prove 3G EMR is safe, mobile phone towers should be kept away from community-sensitive locations, such as schools.
Children absorb radiation at a much higher rate than adults.
There are no long term studies into the effects of emissions or radiation from the 3G network stations.
When telcos call towers "low impact" they are referring to the visual impact (not health impact).
Scientific evidence suggests there are health impacts for all of us living within a 500m radius of this facility.
A Highfields' lobby group will tell a Senate inquiry, the communications regulator should be compelled to investigate disputes over the location of mobile phone towers...
Greens’ bill would give people right of reply on phone towers
12 Apr 2012 - Channel Ten
Source: Ten News
Queenslanders opposed to the building of mobile phone towers have taken their fight to Canberra. Tomorrow they'll share their grievances with a senate inquiry...
Greens’ bill would give people right of reply on phone towers
From 07 Sep 2012 - greensmps.org.au
Source: greensmps.org.au
Communities need to have a say in where mobile phone towers are located, and not depend on the whim of telecommunications companies, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today...
A private members bill that would have forced mobile operators to consult more extensively with local communities before installing cell sites has been knocked back...
The House Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications has announced a public hearing in regard to the Inquiry into the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Community Consultation) Bill 2011. Sadly for those of us who do not live in Canberra (the majority of Australians), the hearing was held in Canberra on Friday, February 17, 10am-2.30pm.
NoTowersNearSchools is extremely disappointed to note the attendees that have been invited to participate in this hearing (Friday's program was only announced late Tuesday - 14.02.12). Of the 75 submissions made to this committee, the vast majority were from communities negatively affected by telcos and their inappropriate siting of mobile phone infrastructure.
NoTowersNearSchools specifically asked for the opportunity to present at a standing committee hearing. Many of the other submissions from members of the community did the same. Despite this, not a single community or community group from anywhere in the country has been invited to participate in this hearing process. Instead, we see a list of the same- old same-old organisations that have now had an opportunity to review the submissions made and build into their hearing presentation responses to the points raised in submissions. It certainly appears as though they are getting "two bites at the submission cherry" - while communities have been left voiceless (yet again).
With great anticipation, we await the outcome of this hearing. Until the final report is released, we remain hopeful that this process is a genuine examination of a real and alarming problem and that the politicians involved have the guts to do something that could make a real difference - and not be railroaded by the same government departments and industry lobby groups into reinforcing more of the same-old same-old. We can only hope that those called to appear before the committee have been summoned to face some intense questioning of their operating procedures. We truly hope these politicians will recognise that they are in their positions to represent people and communities and make decisions that reflect community concerns.
"PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION IS IN CONFLICT WITH SCIENCE" - public lecture
8 Dec 2011 - Harvard Law School
Source: Harvard Law School
On November 3, 2011, Dr. Franz Adlkofer addressed a Harvard Law School audience (as part of the lectures and events series hosted by the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics).
The lecture, entitled "Protection Against Radiation is in Conflict with Science" makes for powerful viewing and listening. It highlights many of the significant concerns that No Towers Near Schools has held for years - relating to health, funding for research and government's role in protecting its citizens.
In his lecture, Adlkofer discussed the difficulties he and other scientists face when presenting research on the carcinogenic effects of electromagnetic fields emanating from cell phones. He also discussed the institutional corruption which he says obstructs their research...
Part 1: An iTnews investigation from the front line.
Quakers Hill resident Kathi Janssens was "completely terrified" when she received a letter from Blacktown Council in Sydney's west notifying her of a proposed new mobile phone tower in the area....
Telstra’s Next G® Network upgrade in Bardon for LTE
The launch of Long Term Evolution 4G/LTE mobile broadband services on the Telstra’s Next G network means Australians have access to one of the world's most advanced mobile networks delivering some of the fastest download and upload speeds available anywhere. LTE is a national upgrade to Telstra’s Next G Network and uses the 1800MHz radio frequency spectrum previously used for 2G services.
Telstra will implement this technology at two sites in Bardon in the New Year, Bardon East at Norman Buchan Park (534 Rainworth Road) and Bardon South in Birdwood Terrace (ENERGEX Pole No. 14247)...
It might not be to everybody's liking but along with the rest of the country, western NSW is seeing a growing number of mobile phone towers pop up around the place...
This week Optus contacted NTNS and indicated that early in 2012 (but not during the school holidays) Optus will hold a public information session in regards to capacity and coverage issues that they have in the Bardon/Rosalie area.
Mr Ken Roberts (Optus QLD manager for Mobile Network Deployment) has assured NTNS that no site acquisition or lease agreements will be entered into prior to this public meeting.
Brookfield residents protest against mobile tower plans
28 Sep 2011 - The CourierMail
Source: The CourierMail
Brookfield residents have united in protest against a proposed Optus mobile tower they believe may have negative impacts on their health.
The planned tower location, at 63 Kintyre St, is across the road from a childcare centre and 200m from Kenmore State High School.
President of the OMT protest group Andre Van Zyl said they had collected more than 400 signatures opposing the location and would be lodging a formal response this week to Optus and engineering consultants Aurecon, who are assisting with the tower's planning.
"Our group is not anti-technology and innovation, we're simply saying we need better consultation and transparency of technical data and independent research regarding health issues," Mr Van Zyl said...
Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Community Consultation) Bill 2011
13 Sep 2011 - Andrew Wilkie
Source: AndrewWilkie.org
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has acted to give the community a greater say on the building of mobile phone towers.
Mr Wilkie today formally gave notice to Federal Parliament of his Private Members Bill for an Act to enhance community consultation in relation to the development of telecommunications facilities.
"I think the telecommunications industry has too much autonomy when siting and constructing mobile phone towers with the result that legitimate community concerns are often not addressed," he said. "That’s why I am looking to amend the Telecommunications Act. The proposed Optus tower in Sandy Bay is a good example of the problem and need for legislative reform.
Members of the community should not have to hold public rallies and lobby politicians just to be heard."
Mr Wilkie’s Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Community Consultation) Bill 2011 would give people within a 500m radius of proposed towers the right to lodge a complaint, extend the objection period from 10 to 30 business days and require poles and aerials to be viewed holistically when assessed...
New legislation to give communities a greater say in where mobile phone towers are installed has been given notice of by Greens Leader Bob Brown in the Senate today...
I have been contacted by communities around North Ryde and Ryde that have suddenly discovered a telecommunication tower or some other telecommunications equipment is about to be installed next to their homes, shopping village or schools, without their prior knowledge or consent....
PEOPLE power has halted the construction of a mobile phone tower in suburban Taroona.
Jubilant scenes erupted in the public gallery of the Kingborough Council chambers this week when the application to build a 30m tower in a park was rejected...
Ban mobile phones and wireless networks in schools, say European leaders
8 June 2011 - The Telegraph
Source: The Telegraph
Mobile phones and computers with wireless internet connections pose a risk to human health and should be banned from schools, a powerful European body has ruled...
The latest 3G mobile devices such as iPhones and other smart phones may deliver a lower dose of radiowaves to the brain than earlier models but frequent use could still cause cancer, a health expert says...
WHO study: mobile phones 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'
1 June 2011 - ABC Radio National
Source: ABC
Mobile phone users could be at an increased risk of brain cancer according to a study published by the World Health Organisation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has found that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields are 'possibly carcinogenic to humans.'
World Health Organization - Press Release No. 208 IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS.
31 May 2011
Lyon, France, May 31, 2011 -- The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer1, associated with wireless phone use.
MORE than 140 people fronted up to a community meeting about a proposed Optus mobile tower near Gooseberry Hill Primary School on Wednesday night.... Read in full in the Echo News >
Living safely in a world of electromagnetic pollution
Lyn McClean is Australia's foremost consumer advocate on the issue of EMR. An author and educator, she has been monitoring and writing on the subject for more than 15 years.
Read more and purchase on the EMR Australia website >
Community Battles - Gooseberry Hill
18 Dec 2010 - Echo News
Source: Echo News
Community livid over proposed tower
The proposed Optus mobile tower, 180m away from Gooseberry Hill Primary School, has the school community outraged as the public comment period draws to a close... Read in full in the Echo News >
Community Battles - Bicton
21 Sep 2010 - Melville Times
Source: Melville Times
Don't give us Perth's tallest phone tower, plead residents
Concerned residents opposed to Telstra’s plans to build what is believed to be the tallest phone tower in Perth.... Read in full at In My Community >
Community Battles - MULLALOO Tower Action Group
31 Aug 2010 - Joondalup Times
Source: Joondalup Times
MULLALOO Tower Action Group spokeswoman Julie Eady says the group opposes having a Telstra tower on top of Mullaloo Plaza because the site is 100 metres from Mullaloo Community Kindergarten... Read in full in the Joondalup Times >
Communities have their say in Canberra
Late last year, Bob Brown presented a Bill to the Senate (Telecommunications Amendment [Mobile Phone Towers] Bill 2011). On 09.02.12, it was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Telecommunications and the Committee is due to report on 09.05.12. Following our group's written submissions to the Committee in response to Senator Brown's Bill, NoTowersNearSchools was pleased to be invited to present there. Two members of our group flew to Canberra on 12.04.12 to do just this.
It was an amazing day at the hearing into Bob Brown's Bill. For communities anyway. NTNS was represented, as well as other community groups from around the country (one from Toowoomba, plus groups from Tas and northern NSW).
It wasn't such a good day, though, for the government agencies responsible for protecting Australians' health and welfare regarding mobile phone towers. When ARPANSA and ACMA representatives were questioned about critical issues including, health, regulation and application of the precautionary approach in the rollout of mobile phone infrastructure, they were unable to answer basic questions that senators put to them (questions derived from the submissions of, and presentations by, community groups, such as NTNS). These questions were not overly complex or, one would have thought, unexpected. And yet, senior representatives of the Government were left speechless and tongue-tied. It seems this is perhaps the first time they've been genuinely challenged in a forum in which they are compelled to answer on the claims they routinely make about mobile phone towers. And, when they were called to task on these claims, they simply had no answers.
Today it became alarmingly obvious that THERE IS NO WATCHDOG PROTECTING AUSTRALIANS in regard to the endless and accelerating rollout of mobile phone towers. Of course, our group has been saying this for two and a half years now. Today, though, the proof was there for all to see. In many, many regards, the government has no idea what the telcos are actually doing:
* The Government has no idea if the telcos are sticking to their claims re EMR output from towers (They revealed to the inquiry today that, of the 18,000 mobile phone towers in Australia, last year just 21 of them were audited to check the EMR outputs were as the telcos claimed they were. When only 0.001% of towers have been checked, monitoring big business to ensure the health of Australians appears to be of negligible concern to our Government. And that's just how many were checked. Of those, we are not sure how many met the initially claimed EMR output. We are also left wondering: With more and more towers going up all the time, will the Government be checking more and more towers, or will they just continue to leave it to the telcos to do whatever they please?).
* The Government has no idea what research is occurring around the world in terms of potential negative health effects from exposure to EMR (they confessed to the inquiry today that they only consider research that's written/presented in English! The thing is that there's a wealth of crucial, worrying research from non English-speaking countries that they are clearly ignoring, discounting, brushing aside without any consideration whatsoever).
* Regulation of telco operations is non-existant. When things go wrong (and they do in a frightening proportion of the cases), there is no one, no body, no government department, no contractor, no one overseeing that or regulating that.
NTNS sees this as a heartening development that seeks to protect the future health of all Australians and we hope it amounts to something substantial. At the very least, some important questions are being asked and vital answers are being demanded by people who must be answered. When the proceeding transcript and video become available, we will put up a link to those. Stay tuned for updates. We will definitely be watching this closely and keeping you informed of developments.
“The precautionary principle applies where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain and preliminary scientific evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern that the potentially dangerous effects on the environment, human, animal or plant health may be inconsistent with the high level of protection chosen.”
