XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: 40%®Çonned@cda.ca   
      
   Well, the jury's out on this kind of wireless technology - and the health   
   concerns associated   
   with them.  And yeah, Cancer is a growing health threat - not a diminishing   
   one.   
   ________________________________________________   
      
   July 28, 2011 Globe and Mail Update   
      
   Elizabeth May wages war against WiFi   
      
   The Green Party is waging war against WiFi pollution, and Elizabeth May is   
   leading by example.   
   Ms. May, who was the first Green candidate to win a seat in the House of   
   Commons in the last   
   election, took to Twitter on Wednesday lay out her concerns over   
   "electromagnetic frequencies."   
   The Green Party's main targets are so-called wireless "smart meters," which   
   are set to come into   
   use in British Columbia to monitor the use of electricity.   
      
   Writing on her Twitter account she was glad not to have WiFi at home, and   
   joined ranks with   
   parents who are concerned about the increased access to wireless Internet   
   hookups in schools   
   across Canada.   
      
   "It is very disturbing how quickly WiFi has moved into schools as it is   
   children who are the   
   most vulnerable," said Ms. May.   
      
   Faced with critical reactions from some of her 28,700 followers, Ms. May said   
   the World Health   
   Organization lists electromagnetic frequencies as a "possible human   
   carcinogen."   
      
   "I do not act without scientific info," she said, as she called on Canadian   
   authorities to adopt   
   stronger controls on WiFi that are in place in Europe.   
      
   However, Ms. May's comments on the fact that the use of WiFi might be related   
   to the   
   "disappearance of pollinating insects" fuelled attacks over the soundness of   
   her views.   
      
   Still, the Green Party issued a news release shortly after Ms. May took on the   
   issue in social   
   media, calling for the cancellation of plans to introduce smart meters in   
   British Columbia.   
      
   "Wireless technology poses a potential risk to health and the environment and   
   further research   
   that is independent of industry funding is needed," the Green Party said in   
   its news release.   
      
   The federal Greens are supporting the B.C. Greens on this file, relying on the   
   studies of Magda   
   Havas, an Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent   
   University.   
      
   "With more frequencies being used, with the levels of radiation increasing,   
   and with so little   
   research on the long-term, low-level effects of this technology, we are   
   creating a potential   
   time bomb," Ms. Havas said. "If smart meters are placed on every home, they   
   will increase our   
   exposure to radio frequency radiation - a potential human carcinogen - and   
   this is both unwise   
   and unsafe."   
      
   BC Hydro recently received its first shipment of smart meters, which transmit   
   information about   
   energy use several times a day. The smart meters will replace el   
   ctro-mechanical meters in every   
   home and business in the province by the end of 2012.   
      
   Given health concerns, BC Hydro has decided to allow customers to relocate the   
   meters on their   
   properties at their own cost.   
      
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   "There are people who adamantly believe there are [health concerns.] They are   
   our customers and   
   we want to be respectful and ... responsive. We will do what is reasonable   
   and, to the best of   
   our ability, try to find a mutually acceptable solution," Gary Murphy, chief   
   project officer for   
   the $930-million program, said earlier this month.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)