— For immediate release —
Thursday, May 19th, at 4pm, around twenty concerned parents and citizens
from Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam gathered in front of the Port
Coquitlam City Hall to send a clear and unmistakeable message to the
council that they are unwilling to sacrifice their park space for cell
towers and endanger the health of their kids. It was a peaceful, family
oriented rally, with lots of young kids present. The rally gathered at
the plaza in front of the city hall and proceeded around the block in a
march. It was greeted with many honks of support from car drivers and
many bystanders were curious what was going on.
The mayor, Greg Moore, emerged from a nearby coffee shop, avoiding the
crowd and not taking the time to talk to the protestors. Peter Endisch,
one of the organizers, shouted at him via a megaphone “Greg, you’ll be
voting ‘no’ on Tuesday, correct?”. The atmosphere was jubilant and the
parents were happy for an opportunity to express their views. “This
council is thinking of either violating or amending their own bylaw 3630
prohibiting cell towers in parks – it’s rather despicable. If you allow
one tower, many more will follow. Where do we draw the line? The
council’s trying to muddle the waters and finding all possible ways to
convince the public their own bylaws don’t apply. They’re fooling
absolutely no one” said Peter Endisch, also a director of Citizens for
Safe Technology, a non profit group educating the public on the dangers
of microwave technology and safe alternatives.
At the centre of the issue is a Rogers proposed cell tower in Greenmount
Park, PoCo. Opponents say the tower is not needed and parks should not
be sacrificed for private profit, especially since poco has so few of
them. Then there is the health issue, a hot button, since the tower will
be emitting radio waves 24/7. Parents and school board 43 oppose the
placement of the tower as well, since it would be mere 120m from the
Coquitlam River Elementary and almost as close to nearest residents.
After months of public pressure, council has held a public meeting on
May 9th. At that meeting the organizers got out an impressive number of
people, filling the council chambers with concerned citizens and many
had to stand in the lobby. The issue has received a lot of media
attention as well. “Despite packing the city hall, despite many calls,
near 500 petition signatures, opposition from parents, citizens, school
board, and non profit organizations, this council has not been
impressed” said Andrea Gretchev, an attending concerned parent. “They’re
hiding behind obsolete Health Canada standards that said for decades
asbestos was safe – this council is not taking the leadership necessary
and not even respecting their own bylaws. PoCo citizens should be
worried.” The organizers were supported by local non profit organization
Tricity Green Council and other affiliated groups. They’re promising to
keep this issue alive, no matter the outcome of the council vote on May
24th, and making it an election issue at the upcoming November municipal
elections.
“Folks should be concerned for sure. If you don’t already have a tower
irradiating you all day long next to your house, you’ll be getting one
soon. And if you have one, you’ll be getting many more. Amending the
bylaw and allowing towers in parks would set a terrible precedent and
everyone will pay the price” concluded Peter Endisch.
City of Toronto Chief Medical officer concluded in 2008 that Health
Canada’s safety standards were not good enough to protect the public
from microwave radiation and set their own standards 100 times more
stringent. This week city of Delta has passed a motion evoking the
precautionary principle and banning cell towers on all public spaces and
near residences. Opponents of the proposed cell tower point to those
examples as signs of leadership and demand the same of poco council. Yet
many on the council remain unconvinced and argue there is no credible
research indicating harm.
Citizens are reminded to attend May 24th Port Coquitlam Council meeting
where vote on the controversial proposed cell tower will take place
during regular council meeting
Peter Endisch
Citizens for Safe Technology
Director
Http://www.citizensforsafetechnology.org
