{"id":4087,"date":"2012-05-07T08:49:34","date_gmt":"2012-05-07T15:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=4087"},"modified":"2012-05-07T08:49:34","modified_gmt":"2012-05-07T15:49:34","slug":"bccpac-wireless-free-school-of-choice-resolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=4087","title":{"rendered":"BCCPAC Wireless-Free School of Choice Resolution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vote YES to BCCPAC Wireless-Free School of Choice Resolution #17 at the AGM on May 26, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vote \u00a0YES !<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Parents and Grandparents,<\/p>\n

Please support Resolution #17 “Parent Choice Regarding Exposure to EMF Emissions”<\/strong> at the upcoming\u00a0BCCPAC (BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils) Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2012<\/strong>. This resolution is not asking to remove Wi-Fi from all schools, but to provide wireless-free schools of choice. (Similar to French immersion, Montessori, or schools that emphasize a certain subject\/sport, which are already available in BC.) It has taken hundreds of hours of work and debate in the BCCPAC Safety Committee to advance this resolution to the table. This is a much-needed opt-out solution for parents who want to follow the advice for precaution, as well as for children who have negative biological reaction to the pulsed microwave radiation emitted by Wi-Fi and wireless electronic devices in schools. These children are currently suffering physical symptoms while attending classes, or have to be withdrawn from schools because they are unable to take personal measures to avoid such exposure in campuses with Wi-Fi installed.http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/UserFiles\/File\/2012AGM-Spring\/2012_Resolution_Book_Updated.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Votes can be cast by all paid-up BCCPAC member PACs and DPACs, either by attending the AGM or by proxy votes.<\/p>\n

Voting Information & Proxy Rules:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/UserFiles\/File\/2012AGM-Spring\/AGM_Voting_Info_Proxy_Form.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Voting Instructions: <\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/UserFiles\/File\/2012AGM-Spring\/2012_Resolution_Voting_Instructions.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Authorized Proxy Vote Form:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/UserFiles\/File\/2012AGM-Spring\/Authorized%20Proxy%20Vote%20Form.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Spring Conference Registration & Program:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/index\/event_calendar\/2012%20Spring%20Conf.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

If you would like to support this resolution, please contact your PAC or DPAC to communicate your concern, and please share the info with other parents and grandparents.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Resolutions # 17<\/p>\n

Parent Choice Regarding Exposure to EMF Emissions <\/strong><\/p>\n

from SRC Safety Wi-Fi Subcommittee<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bccpac.bc.ca\/UserFiles\/File\/2012AGM-Spring\/2012_Resolution_Book_Updated.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Submitted by: BCCPAC Board of Directors<\/p>\n

Be it resolved that<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

BCCPAC calls on each Board of Education to have one public school at each education level (elementary,\u00a0middle, secondary) that is free of Wi-Fi, cordless phones and cell phones. This school will only be\u00a0equipped with wired computers and wired telephones for personal, educational and administrative\u00a0purposes. This will not be required in cases where there is only one school available of that type in that\u00a0district.<\/strong><\/p>\n

N.B. The above resolution was supported by some members of the Safety committee. Other members of\u00a0the committee do not consider Wi-Fi a significant health risk and believe there is no need to exclude the\u00a0use of Wi-Fi in any school until it is conclusively declared as being harmful by Health Canada and the\u00a0World Health Organization. The committee is divided and consensus was not achievable. We refer this\u00a0resolution to the membership for their consideration and decision.<\/p>\n

Rationale:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In British Columbia, many school districts have installed Wi-Fi in recent years and other schools are now\u00a0contemplating its use. At the same time, more children are using wireless technology, bringing their own\u00a0cell phones and smart phones to schools.<\/p>\n

In May, 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization\u00a0(WHO) has classified “Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields” “emitted by wireless communication\u00a0devices” as Type 2B Possible Carcinogen (possible cancer risk to humans). The WHO report concluded\u00a0that “additional research is important”; and advised the public, particularly young adults and children, to\u00a0“take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure”. This classification also includes Wi-Fi emissions as so\u00a0affirmed by IARC experts as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the classification 2B, possibly carcinogenic, holds for all types of radiation within the radiofrequency\u00a0part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the radiation emitted by base-station antennas, radio\/TV\u00a0towers, radar, Wi-Fi, smart meters, etc.” \u201d”This is what the Working Group discussed and decided last\u00a0year. Of course, because the exposure levels for many of these other devices and exposure situations are\u00a0so much lower than the exposure to someone who has a functioning cell phone against her\/his ear, the\u00a0risk will be considerably less (although the hazard still exists).” \u00a0http:\/\/www.iarc.fr\/en\/mediacentre\/pr\/2011\/pdfs\/pr208_E.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Further information and clarifications from the WHO on this classification is here:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/7fync2w<\/a> http:\/\/goo.gl\/77ztt<\/a><\/p>\n

In October, 2011, Health Canada encouraged, \u201c\u2026parents to reduce children’s RF (radiofrequency\u00a0radiation) exposure from cell phones since children are typically more sensitive to a variety of\u00a0environmental agents” and “there is currently a lack of scientific information regarding the potential\u00a0health impacts of cell phones on children”; (http:\/\/www.hc-sc.gc.ca\/ahc-asc\/media\/advisoriesavis\/_2011\/2011_131-eng.php<\/a> )<\/p>\n

In January, 2012, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine published, “Chronic exposure to\u00a0wireless radio frequency radiation is a preventable environmental hazard that is sufficiently well\u00a0documented to warrant immediate preventative public health action… Children are placed at particular\u00a0risk for altered brain development, and impaired learning and behaviour.”<\/p>\n

http:\/\/aaemonline.org\/images\/CaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Some parents are concerned about the long-term health effects of wireless devices on children, given the\u00a0long hours that children spend in schools and the fact that it is not feasible for children to take personal\u00a0measures to avoid such exposure. These parents prefer to adopt the \u201cPrecautionary Principle<\/strong><\/a>\u201c by using\u00a0proven wired technology solutions. In recent years some students in different school districts have\u00a0reported adverse biological reactions such as headaches, dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue and impaired\u00a0concentration when exposed to the radiofrequency emitted by Wi-Fi and wireless devices in the school\u00a0environment. These students currently have no alternative to avoid such exposure while attending\u00a0schools. The causal relationship of these claims is disputed by some scientists while other scientists are\u00a0convinced that the symptoms experienced by these patients are valid, and that such exposure should be\u00a0avoided.<\/p>\n

Destination:<\/p>\n

Ministry of Education<\/p>\n

BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA)<\/p>\n

BC Boards of Education<\/p>\n

BC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Perry Kendall’s Letter on Wi-Fi for Schools: Erroneous Representation of Radiation Data.<\/p>\n

Using a study sponsored by Wi-Fi Alliance (companies that manufacture and sell Wi-Fi products), medical authorities are assuring parents that Wi-Fi is not dangerous. This study has nothing to do with classroom exposure. The locations measured (coffee shops, train stations, hospitals etc.) were hand-picked by the Wi-Fi Alliance members When they measured a laptop, they measured at least 1 meter away (at least 3.3 feet; did not specify the maximum distance). This does not take into account that children are using laptops, tablets and wireless hand-held devices in close\/direct contact with their bodies, and accessing from the internet simultaneously in the classroom. Every one of these devices has a client’s card which is a live antenna. Actual measurement of the Wi-Fi radiation signals from these devices (see videos below) are magnitudes – up to <\/strong>700,000 times<\/strong> – higher than what’s reported by the industry study.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read full post: <\/strong>http:\/\/www.safeinschool.org\/2012\/04\/bc-chief-medical-officer-dr-perry.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Wi-Fi and Cellphone Radiation Comparison<\/p>\n

Here are 2 videos to illustrate the comparison between an iPad on Wi-Fi mode and an iPhone on talking mode:<\/p>\n

iPhone on Talking mode:<\/strong>
\n-Peaked at 19\u00a0\u03bcW\/cm2 (microwatts\/cm2)<\/p>\n

-Continuous signal, but duration of use in talking mode likely shorter than internet browsing.<\/p>\n

-Phone will be in direct contact with the ear and head (unless handsfree or headset are used).
\n-Wi-Fi was turned off on this phone.<\/p>\n

\"iphone-talking-pic.JPG.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n097VN7KB_A<\/a><\/p>\n

iPad on Wi-Fi mode:<\/strong>
\n-Peaked at 70\u00a0\u03bcW\/cm2; higher than iphone on talk mode, but duration of us for iPad is likely longer than talk-mode on cellphone.<\/p>\n

-Continual signals. Stop and spike every few seconds.<\/p>\n

-iPad will be in direct contact with the student’s hands or\/and lap\/abdomen.
\n-Note that there is no Wi-Fi network available. The iPad is not even logged onto any Wi-Fi network nor downloading anything.
\n-The iPad is not on airplane mode but there is no SIM card in it.<\/p>\n

\"ipad-wifi-continual-pic.JPG.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tVJI-0YogGo<\/a>
\n-In this other video, the airplane mode is on and Wi-Fi is turned on. This one peaked at 39 microwatts\/cm2.
\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s0qU2ov2U1w<\/a><\/p>\n

Health Canada’s exposure limit is at an extremely high level of <\/strong>1000 \u03bcW\/cm2<\/strong>, while studies have found at:
\n0.002 \u03bcW\/cm2 – Sleep disturbance and fatigue. Altpeter et al. (1995, 1997, 2005)
\n0.168 \u03bcW\/cm2 – Progressive decrease in number of newborns and irreversible infertility in
\nmice after 5 generations exposure. I.N. Magras and T.D. Zenos (1997)<\/p>\n

0.32-16.43 \u03bcW\/cm2 – Attention, memory and motor function of school children significantly affected in\u00a0comparison to control groups. A.A. Kolodynski and V.V. Kolodynska (1996)
\n2.5 \u03bcW\/cm2 – Damage to blood-brain barrier. Salford et al., (1997)<\/p>\n

China\/Russia\/Italy\/Poland have exposure limits<\/a> at 10 \u03bcW\/cm2. Switzerland’s general limit is 9.5 \u03bcW\/cm2 and 4.25 for sensitive areas (children, elderly, medically-challenged). The Swiss doctors’ group – Physicians for the Environment<\/a> – recently issued a public statement calling for reduction of their limit by 10 times, i.e. to 0.95 \u03bcW\/cm2.\u00a0Luxembourg\/Bulgaria at 2.4 \u03bcW\/cm2.\u00a0Salzburg Health Department in Austria recommends only 0.001 \u03bcW\/cm2 for outdoor and 0.0001 for indoor exposure. This is 10 million times more stringent than our outdated Canadian Safety Code 6 of 1000 \u03bcW\/cm2. http:\/\/goo.gl\/4pzyE<\/a><\/p>\n

Minister of Education Promoting Smartphones, Tablets and Other Electronic Devices in the Classroom<\/p>\n

http:\/\/goo.gl\/mByBt<\/a><\/p>\n

March 22, 2012 – Switzerland: Physicians for the Environment (MfE)<\/p>\n

Founded 25 years ago, 1,500 physicians in Switzerland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the medical point of view, it is urgent to apply the precautionary principle for mobile telephony, wifi, power lines, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.safeinschool.org\/2012\/04\/switzerland-physicians-for-environment.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Brain Tumours<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apr 24, 2012 – UK Office of National Statistics shows a 50 per cent increase in frontal and temporal lobe tumours between 1999 and 2009.<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-2134382\/Risks-biggest-technological-experiment-history-species-Calls-research-links-using-mobile-phones-brain-cancer.html#ixzz1tShA4PPV<\/a><\/p>\n

Dec 15, 2011 – Brain Tumour Increase in Denmark by 40% between 2001-2010<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/newsvoice.se\/2011\/12\/15\/brain-tumour-increase-in-denmark-by-40-between-2001-2010\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Apr 26, 2009 – Child Cancer Deaths Led by Brain Tumours<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk\/science\/2009\/apr\/26\/brain-tumour-child-cancer-deaths<\/a><\/p>\n

Brian Tumours in Interphone Studies:<\/p>\n