Physicians for Safe Technology
Digital and wireless devices have provided many benefits, however, we are now realizing that the rapid adoption of this novel technology has not been accompanied by adequate regulation, monitoring or safety precautions.

Widespread use of digital media and near constant exposure to wireless devices has caused increasing concern among scientists, health care professionals, psychologists, educators and the public who are now considering this is not only a public health issue but a looming public health crisis. (11,108) It appears that we are at the same point of emerging science similar to early recognition of health impacts associated with tobacco, asbestos, coal dust and lead. (119) These concerns are amplified by industry proposals for a massive expansion of wireless infrastructure and connectivity.
Read More

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields

The Collaborative has a Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) of more than 250 health professionals, scientists, and concerned individuals. This group has a listserve for the purpose of sharing new research and policy ideas and discussion and you can sign up to receive updates. Additionally the CHE-EMF Working Group hosts teleconferences featuring leading researchers speaking to topics related to EMF science and health impacts. You can listen to their recorded conferences in electromagnetic radiation. We highly recommend that you join the EMF listserve to stay updated on the science.

Appeal to Halt 5G by Doctors for the Environment
Telecommunications companies worldwide, with the support of governments, are poised within the next two years to roll out the fifth-generation wireless network (5G). This is set to deliver what is acknowledged to be unprecedented societal change on a global scale. We will have “smart” homes, “smart” businesses, “smart” highways, “smart” cities and self-driving cars. Virtually everything we own and buy, from refrigerators and washing machines to milk cartons, hairbrushes and infants’ diapers, will contain antennas and microchips and will be connected wirelessly to the Internet. Every person on Earth will have instant access to super-high-speed, low- latency wireless communications from any point on the planet, even in rainforests, mid-ocean and the Antarctic.

What is not widely acknowledged is that this will also result in unprecedented environmental change on a global scale. The planned density of radio frequency transmitters is impossible to envisage. In addition to millions of new 5G base stations on Earth and 20,000 new satellites in space, 200 billion transmitting objects, according to estimates, will be part of the Internet of Things by 2020, and one trillion objects a few years later. Commercial 5G at lower frequencies and slower speeds was deployed in Qatar, Finland and Estonia in mid-2018. The rollout of 5G at extremely high (millimetre wave) frequencies is planned to begin at the end of 2018.

Despite widespread denial, the evidence that radio frequency (RF) radiation is harmful to life is already overwhelming. The accumulated clinical evidence of sick and injured human beings, experimental evidence of damage to DNA, cells and organ systems in a wide variety of plants and animals, and epidemiological evidence that the major diseases of modern civilization—cancer, heart disease and diabetes—are in large part caused by electromagnetic pollution, forms a literature base of well over 10,000 peer-reviewed studies.
Read More

Doctors for the Environment
The main purpose of ISDE is to help defend our environment both locally and globally to prevent numerous illnesses, ensure the necessary conditions for health, and improve the quality of life. In order to safeguard the health of our own generation and of future ones, we must care for the environment.
ISDE was established as a tool for educating and updating physicians and the general public, and stimulating awareness and initiatives by public and private bodies, in particular governmental agencies.
The Association intends to reach out to all, as fellow citizens of the world.
Learn more

Dr Mercola on 5G

Dr. Joseph Mercola’s latest book — ‘EMF*D’ — introduces the reader to the concept that electronic and wireless technology emits frequencies in the form of dirty electricity and microwave radiation that can harm your health.

This book comes at an interesting time when governments around the world are racing to roll out 5G wireless technology, without any testing of the biological and health effects of long-term exposure … It is no longer enough for us to eat organic, drink purified water, inhale fresh air, exercise, and get plenty of sleep to stay healthy. We must also minimize our exposure to the harmful effects of electromagnetic pollution. Learn how to reduce your exposure and how to repair EMF-related damage by reading Dr. Mercola’s book, ‘EMF*D’. You won’t be disappointed!”
∼ Dr. Magda Havas, Ph.D., physicist at Trent University, Peterborough, Can

Taken from EHTrust website:

Physicians’ Health Initiative for Radiation and Environment

Founded by Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe, Physicians’ Health Initiative for Radiation and Environment (PHIRE) is an independent association of medical doctors and associated specialists assembled for the purposes of improving education regarding health effects of non-ionising radiation. We collate research produced globally on this issue, share and critique it and also conduct our own research.

We use the resulting knowledge to help educate ourselves and others, improve best practice guidance, and facilitate protection and support of vulnerable groups.

The Oceania Radiofrequency Science Advisory Association
The Oceania Radiofrequency Science Advisory Association (ORSAA) Database is a searchable database on peer-reviewed scientific studies and articles on bioeffect research of electromagnetic fields. The database is designed to enable detailed independent searches invaluable to researchers and scientists. It requires some training on how to use it most effectively.

Electromagnetic Radiation Safety
Dr.  Joel Moskowitz Director and Principal Investigator, Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health maintains the excellent blog on current news and research on electromagnetic fields.

Lennart Hardell’s Blog
Dr.  Hardell is the internationally respected scientist on cell phone radiation and cancer.  He worked on Agent Orange in the 80s calling it out to be a cancer risk.  He and Michael Carlberg have worked on the issue of wireless exposure and cancer risk for the last decade extensively publishing in the field.

Dariusz Leszczynski’s scientific blog: Between a Rock and A Hard Place
Dariusz Leszczynski PhD was an invited expert to the WHO IARC’s EMF working group in 2011. His research group studied regulation of cellular stress response and used high-throughput screening methods of transcriptomics and proteomics to identify genes and proteins affected by mobile phone radiation. His blog contains links to his lectures and powerpoint presentations.

Bioinitiative 2012
An extensive report authored by international scientists published in the field of EMF’s calling for the reform of outdated safety standards due to the mounting evidence of health effects from electromagnetic fields (1479 pages of scientific evidence). Note:

• Research Abstracts: These are invaluable sets of abstracts (data-based to be searchable) covering the RFR scientific literature, as well as collections of scientific abstracts on free radical damage (from both RFR and ELF) and a set specific to electrosensitivity.  They cover the research published between 1990-2014.
• Color Charts at Exposure Levels: These invaluable charts detail the published science showing biological effects at different exposure levels. We highly recommend that you take the time to review them.

Microwave News
Microwave News is the go-to news source since January 1981 reporting on non-ionizing Radiation that covers the entire non-ionizing electromagnetic spectrum, with emphasis on mobile phones and power lines, as well as radar and broadcast towers. In addition, they cover medical applications of different types of fields and radiation, as well as the ability of various species to navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field. Their EMF-EMR Web Directory lists hundreds of Web sites. Highly recommended for researchers and scientists.

Powerwatch
For over 20 years Powerwatch has researched and presented the science to the public. This informative website maintains a library of research articles and regularly reviews new research studies on electromagnetic fields.

BabySafe Project
More than one hundred physicians, scientists and public health professionals from around the world have joined together to express their concern about the risk that wireless radiation poses to pregnancy and to urge pregnant women to limit their exposures.  Watch the press confeerence, read their joint statement, watch their video and download health resources for pregnant women.

Grassroots Environmental
An excellent resource on wireless radiation, fracking, artificial turf and chemical exposures.  “The mission of Grassroots Environmental Education is to inform the public about the health risks of common environmental exposures and to empower individuals to act as catalysts for change in their own communities. We strive to accomplish this using science-driven arguments for clean air, clean water and a safe food supply, and for stricter regulation of chemical toxins. We believe that positive and lasting change is best accomplished through grassroots initiatives.”

Environment and Human Health
EHH is made up of doctors, public health professionals and policy experts committed to the reduction of environmental health risks to individuals. They prepared the Cell Phone Report that summarizes the science on cell phones. You can download the report off the website link at their site and read their other reports on environmental health issues.

EMF Portal
This extensive literature database from Aachen University summarizes systematically scientific research data on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and has an inventory of 22,305 publications and 5,456 summaries of individual scientific studies. The EMF-Portal is a project of the femu working group of the Institute and Out-patient Clinic of Occupational Medicine of the University Hospital RWTH Aachen. All information is made available in both English and German.

ElectromagneticHealth.org
A research, education and advocacy organization working nationally and internationally to present the risks of electromagnetic fields from wireless technologies clearly and to empower citizens, governments, health professionals and media to become constructively engaged in creating safer lifestyles, communities and natural environments.

Manhattan Neighbors for Safer Telecommunications
“Our mission is to bring awareness to the harmful physical and mental health effects of cell phones, Wi-Fi, wireless computer equipment, portable phones, excessive screen time, too early technology use, wireless utility equipment and neighborhood cell towers and antennas.”

Facebook

Please check out these two Facebook groups focused on wireless health issues: Campaign for Radiation Free Schools, Campaign for Safer Phones
Also our South African page: Safe Technology4SA

Website of Magda Havas
Magda Havas is Associate Professor of Environmental & Resource Studies at Trent University where she teaches and does research on the biological effects of environmental contaminants. Her website provides a wealth of information on electromagnetic fields.

Canadians 4 Safe Technology
Canadians for Safe Technology is headed up by the former Canadian Microsoft President Frank Clegg. Canadians 4 Safe Technology is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based coalition of parents, citizens and experts whose mission is to educate and inform Canadians and their policy makers about the dangers of the exposures to unsafe levels of radiation from technology and to work with all levels of government to create healthier communities for children and families from coast to coast.

Citizens for Safe Technology
Citizens for Safe Technology Society is a not-for-profit educational society made up of Canadian and U.S. parents, grandparents, teachers, business professionals, physicians, scientists, politicians and lawyers.

California Brain Tumor Association
The California Brain Tumor Association educates individuals and communities about environmental health risks related to brain tumors and develops and promotes constructive policy changes that rely on our research and input from relevant experts.

Radiation Research Trust
The EM Radiation Research Trust is an independent body. The aim of the organisation is to provide the facts about electro-magnetic radiation and our health to the public and the media.

Antenna Search
Ever wonder how many cell towers are nearby? Just type in any US address and get the towers and antennas within a 4 mile radius.

Open Signal
This website looks up the strength of the wireless signal for any address in the US.

The International EMF Alliance
IEMFA is the International Electromagnetic Fields Alliance, supported by an independent and growing global body of empirically-based scientific experts on living processes, with a multilevel, multidisciplinary health focus.

EMFacts Consultancy
EMFacts Consultancy, founded in 1994 by Don Maisch, has produced a wide range of reports and papers dealing with various health issues related to human exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation. This website was established in 1997 as an independent source of information on the possible health and safety issues arising from human exposure to Electromagnetic Energy (EME).

EMR Australia
EMR Australia is dedicated to creating EMR-safe living and working environments. We offer a unique blend of technical expertise, knowledge about the effects of electromagnetic radiation and concern for people’s welfare.

Manhattan Neighbors for Safer Telecommunications wants New York City to be a global leader on wireless safety. Our mission is to bring awareness to the harmful physical and mental health effects of cell phones, Wi-Fi, wireless computer equipment, portable phones, excessive screen time, too early technology use, wireless utility equipment and neighborhood cell towers and antennas.

South African resources

Safe Technology4SA website

EMF SA

Electromagnetic Radiation Due to Cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Technologies: How Safe Are We?
IEEE ACCESS -Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

5G – citizens under wireless attack

Written by Wendy Newstadt

Imagine that a strange team of people arrive in your home in the middle of the night, proceed to lock you in a room and conduct obscure experiments upon you.  Sounds like a science-fiction movie?

Actually, that is what is going on right now, more or less.  Governments around the world are frantically rolling out 5^th Generation (5G) technology, against the warnings of scientists who are convinced that the type of microwave radiation emitted by 5G will have severe and as-yet undetermined effects on humans and our environment.

“It’s the largest biological experiment ever conducted on the human race” said Swedish neurosurgeon Dr. Leif Salford, whose laboratory tests have showed that electromagnetic waves from mobile phones break through the blood brain barrier in only 2 minutes, leading to the destruction of brain cells. https://medium.com/@3DA0KM/the-swedish-neurosurgeon-leif-salford-heard-that-microwave-radiation-opens-the-blood-brain-barrier-a053485ff517

5G is the latest development in wireless technology, vastly increasing transmission speeds between all devices and with the capacity to link all appliances and devices. Clever marketing slogans such as “Smart Cities” and the “Internet of Things” are being used to describe this brave new world, which permits communication and data-gathering across cities and countries. The rollout is currently taking place globally at lightning speed and with virtually no public participation.  But the global marketing and speed of implementation is masking a crucial and uncomfortable truth – namely that there has been insufficient testing done to determine the effects of 5G to ourselves and our environment, despite scientists warning for decades that increased wireless radiation is a health risk on many biological levels.

If the telecommunications industry plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no bee and no plant on earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to levels of radiation that are tens to hundreds of times greater than exists today. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and cause permanent damage to all of earth’s ecosystems.  The communication industry represents Big Money. Governments around the world court Big Money and sell it to their populations as progress.  The collusion of governments and telecoms corporations have underpinned the demand for 5G technology, which is in total disregard to health and privacy concerns. Indeed The 5G rollout is being used to strip away local power.

Unlike previous generations of digital networks, 5G is the fastest known wireless connection and runs at extremely high frequencies. 5G is non-ionising yet it functions in the dangerous millimetre frequency range. 4G networks use frequencies below 3 GHz (mostly in MHZ range), while 5G will use much higher frequencies in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range. These high frequency millimetre waves are unable to travel long distances or go through buildings or trees, so given limited reach, the 5G rollout will require cell antennas every 100 to 200 meters, often disguised as street poles or street lights. These will be in close proximity to homes, parks and schools, thereby exposing us all to excessively high levels of millimetre wave radiation, in addition to all existing wireless frequencies. The vast increase in sources transmitting high frequency signals raises very serious questions as to its risks and dangers.

This extensive rollout of small cell 5G sites placed close together, conveniently maximizes profit for the telecoms industry. Due to the increase of cell masts, wireless radiation levels are predicted to go so high that telecoms companies are working to loosen government limits on radiation levels, in order to roll it out. 5G also employs new technologies such as phased array and military style crowd dispersion control by making the skin burn at high frequencies, thereby giving it the capacity to be a biological and military weapon. In addition to thousands of base stations to be installed on streets and tops of buildings, between 20,000 and 30,000 satellites will be deployed into space to supplement 5G services.

The introduction of 5G has become extremely controversial and scientists and citizen groups are banding together in several countries across the globe over the health risks of high frequency electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Scientists are cautioning that before rolling out 5G, research on radiation effects, both to humans and other species has be done first to ensure that the public and environment are protected. More than 240 scientists published an appeal to the United Nations in 2019 to call for a moratorium on 5G, citing “established” adverse biological effects of EMR. http://www.5gappeal.eu/about/   and https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/we-have-no-reason-to-believe-5g-is-safe/

Huawei has brought 5G into South Africa and is partnering with several cell companies including Rain, Vodacom and Liquid Telecoms, who sing praises of its unmatched super speed. In South Africa there was an objection period of only 3 months (Nov 2019-Jan 2020) and the present rollout has curiously side stepped the usual rigour of municipal by-laws for cell tower erection and placement. South African citizens have not been made aware of plans to implement, forums for objection, nor any of its dangers. As the covert rollout begins without these conversations, it starts to look more and more like it is being thrust upon us citizens who simply have no choice in the matter. And for a country that is so challenged for power grid capacity, the huge additional energy consumption required to power a wireless internet of things is truly absurd. An apocalyptic battle between human beings and government is ensuing. Many anti 5G movements across the globe are requesting  that the deployment is delayed in South Africa until the industry has provided hard proof that use of 5G technologies are indeed safe.

As quoted by Dr. Martin Pall of Washington University, “the effects produced from 5G microwave frequency include increased neurological/neuropsychiatric damage, 3 types of compromising effects on cellular DNA, endocrine (hormonal) damage, lowered male and female fertility, increase in cell death, cardiac effects on the electrical control of the heart, oxidative stress, free radical damage and cancer. “

http://coeursdehs.fr/pr-martin-pall-massive-predicted-effects-of-5g-in-the-context-of-safety-guideline-failures/ and

https://www.emfsa.co.za/videos/dr-martin-pall-to-the-nih-the-5g-rollout-is-absolutely-insane/

Overseas, there is a far more vigorous conversation about this and many countries are starting to put the brakes on the 5G rollout. Belgium, Switzerland and Slovenia have placed moratoria on 5G rollout until comprehensive testing on health effects has been done. https://www.worldhealth.net/news/brussels-first-major-city-halt-5g-due-health-effects/.  Senate hearings in the US have resulted in many experts urging caution before the implementation of 5G.

China, in sharp contrast, proceeded to unleash 5G faster than any other nation. China rolled out 10,000 5G base stations in the province of Wuhan in October 2019 making it one of the world’s most electro polluted cities. Just 2 months later, the city became the epicentre for the spread of a new kind of coronavirus Covid-19. While scientists speculate how or why a formerly benign class of virus became so opportunistic in such a short time, some groups have argued that there may be a correlation between the countries hardest-hit by Covid-19 and the extent of their 5G roll-out.  While cause-and-effect would be impossible to prove, one theory avers that the oxidative effects of 5G on the human immune system are weakening people’s ability to fight off the infection.

Conveniently, telecommunications companies are using the lockdown period to expedite an urgent rollout of 5G due to increased network demand during the lockdown. In the USA there have been recordings of cell towers going up at schools and other public spaces while citizens are locked away in their houses.

In conclusion, we, the public of South Africa, deserve to have this technology tested, debated and if need be, reversed altogether, in order to safeguard ourselves and all species that may be in 5G harm’s way. Educate yourself, get involved and contact your ward councillor and residents associations regarding the unregulated rollout of 5G.

Please see the following links:

Pic of newly erected cell tower in Linden right outside shops and residential area

https://www.emfsa.co.za/

https://ehtrust.org/scientific-research-on-5g-and-health/

Wireless wake-up call

https://www.worldhealth.net/news/brussels-first-major-city-halt-5g-due-health-effects/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1055182804676747/

COPY AND PASTE THE LETTER BELOW THIS LINE INTO YOUR OWN EMAIL AND SEND IT TO THE PERSON ADDRESSED TO.

————————————

To:
Attention:
Email:

Dear
re:

I hereby strongly object to the above 5g roll-out in South Africa due to the following:

1. It has never been tested and proven safe to people and the environment.
2. This concern is further heightened by the literally thousands of scientific studies done on lower generations that show a sufficient harm to warrant the precautionary principle being applied with regard to 5G. (See here for scientific reports) which include the following:2017 Scientific Appeal on 5G To the European Commission: Scientific Appeal on 5G of more than 250 doctors from 35 countries to the European Commission who say: “We recommend a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation, 5G, for telecommunication until potential hazards for human health and the environment have been fully investigated by scientists independent from industry…RF-EMF has been proven to be harmful for humans and the environment.”5G Appeal to Stop Deployment on Earth and Space by more than 201,383 signatories from 202 nations and territories as of February 14th, 2020 all calling for a moratorium on 5G until it has been tested due to the high potential of risks;
3. You are also hereby put on notice that your 5g actions have put you in violation of at least nine international agreements/ codes as well as being in violation of our South African Constitutional right (Clause 24) to a safe environment. (See Annexure 1 for full details). These include:a)The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: States shall “undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being” (art. 3), “ensure… the survival and development of the child” (art. 6) and “take appropriate measures to combat disease… taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution” (art. 24(c)).b) The Nuremberg Code (1947)applies to all experiments on humans, thus including the deployment of 5G with new, higher RF radiation exposure that has not been pre-market tested for safety. “The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential” (art. 1). Exposure to 5G will be involuntary. “No experiment should be conducted, where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur” (art. 5). The findings of over 10,000 scientific studies and the voices of hundreds of international organizations representing hundreds of thousands of members who have suffered disabling injury and been displaced from their homes by already-existing wireless telecommunications facilities, are “a priori reasons to believe that death or disabling injury will occur”.c) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” (art. 3).
4. 5G does not make good Business sense. From a business stand-point your actions around 5G should be a cause of concern because else were in the world, the Cell phone companies are themselves warning their own investors (not the public) of the risks associated with radiation and secondly INSURANCE COMPANIES are refusing to underwrite them again due to the potential risks.- Corporate Company Warnings to Investors contained in Annual Reports filed on Form 10-K (or Form 20-F or 40-F for foreign companies) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Cell phone manufacturers and providers of their infrastructure are aware that the radiation from their products could be risky and warn their shareholders. Excerpts from statements in their annual reports that indicate these companies are informing their shareholders that they may incur significant financial losses related to electromagnetic fields include: “We may incur significant expenses defending such suits or government charges and may be required to pay amounts or otherwise change our operations in ways that could materially adversely affect our operations or financial results.” The companies include: AT&T, Verizon, Crown Castle, VODAFONE, Blackberry, China Mobile, American Tower Corp, AMÉRICA MÓVIL, S.A.B. DE C.V., T-Mobile US Inc., GCI Inc, TELEFÓNICA, S.A, Soft Bank Crown Corp, Nokia, Microsoft, Telstra. You can read these warnings here.Vodafone 2017 Report This 2017 Report ranks the EMF health risk issue as having a “high” impact. Please see page 29 of the report for a graphic on “Our Principal Risks” that features the EMF risk as “High.” The graphic states, “EMF health related risks EMF found to pose health risks causing reduction in mobile usage or litigation.” See the Vodaphone 2017 graphic here. Vodafone 2018 Report (EMF is a “Key Principal Risk”rated as high in the graphic on page 38)  In addition this Report states that:  “What is the risk? Electro-magnetic signals emitted by mobile devices and base stations may be found to pose health risks, with potential impacts including: changes to national legislation, a reduction in mobile phone usage or litigation.”  Read the Vodafone 2017 Report
5. Insurance companies will not insure these companies for harm from the radiation from their products and networks.  Lloyd’s underwriters refuse to insure mobile phone manufacturers against the risk of damage to users’ health.” That article was unequivocally clear. The insurers had: “fears mobile phones will be linked to illnesses such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.” Twenty years ago, the industry already knew their business models were a risk to the general public, especially because insurers were already refusing to cover their biggest liabilities. And as TruePublica reported yesterday in Dieselgate to Phonegate — the news was very much kept under wraps by the industry.

In light of all of the above above and more, we feel that it is negligent and downright reckless to continue with the roll-out of 5G until it has been tested by independent, non-industry-funded scientists and found to be safe. We therefore call on you to:

1. To take immediate measures to halt the deployment of 5G because we do NOT consent to being guinea-pigs (test subjects) for your untested 5G equipment and
2. Apply the Precautionary Principle
3. You could, if you so chose, also be the first company in Africa to adopt this approach .

Yours sincerely,

A Concerned Citizen

Vergesig Cape Town: Cell Tower at AGS Church, Number 5 Breda Street, Vergesig, Durbanville:

ITe Vergesig case is only one of many examples illustrating the “Illusion of Inclusion” farce. This is in regards to public participation, communities and cell tower placements. Communities are simply ignored and/or overruled.

Backgound:

The council received a substantial amount of objections to this mast. In addition a petition was circulated in the immediate area against this mast and base station leading up to the Municipal Planning Tribunal hearing. In less than six days, 202 residents signed this petition. The application for the free standing base tower was rejected by the Municipal Planning Tribunal on Tuesday April 11, 2017.

Highwave Consultants then appealed the decision of the Municipal Planning Tribunal.

MAYCO disregarded all the objections and approved the cell-tower, with the (then) Mayor de Lille personally signing approval for the tower.

Vergesig-Aurora Residents’ Association chairwoman Verne Jankielsohn said they had written to various members of the DA and the City to help with their fight, but to no avail. They had approached the Cape Party, which agreed to take on the case pro-bono.

The Cape Party (on behalf of the Vergesig-Aurora Residents’ Association) filed court papers in the Western Cape High Court late last year. The City filed opposing papers in January.

Advocate Carlo Viljoen said the Cape Party promoted the principle of direct democracy, endorsing the idea that the people of an area should make decisions regarding their lives and not a politician, and therefore decided to take on this case.

“It’s clear in this instance that the will of the people was not to have a mast erected. In addition, it’s clear that there is no need for the mast, and that the erection of the mast is an illogical step by the DA, based on considerations outside the will of the people, legal considerations or need,” he said.

The case is to be heard in the Cape Town High Court in February.

First respondent: Patricia de Lille (she was the executive mayor when the tower was approved)

Second respondent: Highway Consultants (PTY) LTD

Objections included:

• Property values decreasing
• Ruining of the area’s rural image
• Health concerns
• A crèche is being operated from the church – in close proximity to the mast.
• Alternative proposed sites were ignored
• Residents also complained that they had not been properly consulted.
• No need for added telecommunication services

EMFSA is very concerned that a cell tower was placed in an area where the most vulnerable in our society might be at risk. The Precautionary Principle was clearly ignored by the then Mayor Patricia de Lille and MAYCO. We note that some residents in close proximity to the tower are complaining of disrupted sleep since the tower became active.

Images  credit: D.Rowland, EMFSA

References:

1. Verne Jankielsohn
2. Denise Rowland
3. EMFSA  notes on Cell Towers and the Precautionary Principle. http://www.emfsa.co.za
4. Panel approves Vergesig tower https://www.northernnews.co.za/news/panel-approves-vergesig-tower11379050?fbclid=IwAR1taivoemTwFbZmMleBiuN4JHjJfw4XMu6_kwFFVKv7rjoSL4PEpNsDRa4
5. Church cellphone mast soars towards heaven after planning rumpus https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-09-03-church-cellphone-mast-soars-towards-heaven-after-planning-rumpus/

From: https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/illusion-of-inclusion-the-farce-of-public-participation/

————————-

The mayor’s advisory panel has given the go-ahead to erect a cell tower at a Durbanville church – despite objections from residents.

This comes after a consulting company appealed a decision by the Municipal Planning Tribunal, which rejected its application to erect a cell tower at AGS Church, in St John’s Road, Vergesig.

The original application by the church to let Highwave Consultants build the 25m-high tower, was supported by the City’s town planner but then rejected by the tribunal on Tuesday April 11 (“Tribunal rejects cell mast application,” Northern News, May 4) because it would have been on the crest of a rise and posed too much of a negative visual impact.

Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, said at the time that the applicant had also not motivated its choice of site, offered alternatives or adequately shown how the proposed mast would be blended into the landscape, all of which was required in terms of the City’s policy on telecommunications mast infrastructure.

In its appeal, Highwave Consultants said an August 2016 memorandum had made a compelling argument for the mast and suggested alternatives.

Highwave said there was a growing need for denser cell-tower distribution to meet the demand of more smart devices and it was prepared to put up a 20m mast disguised as a tree instead of the standard 25m monopole design.

The advisory panel recommended that the appeal be upheld and the decision of the tribunal be set aside and replaced.

The panel said the potential visual impact would be mitigated by the updated proposal and the objections relating to the impact on resident’s view, health risks, property values and other impacts had been addressed. It noted that the proposal for the mast was informed by careful network planning to address the needs of the area.

Verne Jankielsohn, from the Vergesig-Aurora Residents’ Association, said they were disappointed by the decision and had not been given an opportunity to appear before the panel before it made its decision and recommendation to the mayor in favour of the mast and base station.

In its report, the panel said the appeal could be adequately determined by the documentation submitted and said the parties were given an opportunity to make written submissions for the original application and the appeal.

The City received 98 objection letters before the period for public input closed on Wednesday November 16, and 49 comments on the appeal.

“The council received a substantial amount of objection letters last year. A petition was done in the immediate area against this mast and base station leading up to the Municipal Planning Tribunal hearing. In less than six days, 202 residents signed this petition,” said Ms Jankielson.

Ms Jankielsohn said they were still trying to stop the mast and base station. They plan to take the case to the public protector and will be asking the City to answer questions in line with the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

“It is our constitutional right to protect our families, our homes and our environment,” she said.

Engineer and Vergesig resident Anton Esterhuizen previously told Northern News that he did not see the “need” for the tower, as there were already two within a 2.3km radius of the proposed site; fibre-optic cables would be installed in the area soon; and the neighbourhood had reached capacity and was also serviced by the commercial tower at the Ipic Centre.

However the advisory panel said there was a need for telecommunication support structures to be situated closer to one another due to the increased need for more efficient data connectivity in the Durbanville area.

In November last year, residents claimed the mast would hurt property values, make it harder to sell their homes, ruin the area’s rural feel and possibly even harm their health (“Residents say no to tower,” Northern News, November 10 2016). Residents also complained that they had not been properly consulted.

But church spokesman Cyril Rosalt had argued that there was no conclusive evidence that cell tower radiation harmed humans.

Northern News sent the City questions on last Thursday, but they did not respond by deadline; and Highwave did not respond to questions sent on Friday.

---

Durbanville mast row headed for the courts

Wednesday Dec 20, 2017

A row over the installation of a cellphone mast tower between fed-up Durbanville residents and the City is headed for the courts.

The City of Cape Town has approved a cellphone base station on a church property next to a crèche in Vergesig near Durbanville‚ despite residents’ claims of a fraudulent planning application.

High Wave Consultants’ first application for a base station at the AGS church in St John Road was refused in April because it did not comply with the council’s telecommunication mast infrastructure policy.

But the application was approved on appeal by mayor Patricia de Lille.

Objectors claim High Wave Consultants made a fraudulent representation to the council by pretending to investigate alternative sites but not doing so.

Verne Jankielsohn from the Vergesig-Aurora Residents Association said they understand the need for cellphone towers, but said the applicants were offered other sites.

“We gave them a different site and asked them not to install this cellphone mast on the church’s property. It is simply not viable to do that especially it being on a church ground,” she said.

Jankielsohn said the Durbanville area is well-covered with 4G/LTE cellphone coverage.

“No one helped us. We went to the DA’s provincial and national leadership. All they told us, that they were looking into the matter. They have not told us anything further as yet. We feel very dis-empowered because every door we knock on, gets closed in our faces,” she said.

She said court papers had been filed in the Western Cape High Court to overturn De Lille’s decision.

“A cellphone tower will decrease our property values and poses great health risks,” she said.

Zara Nicholson, De Lille’s spokesperson, said the City of Cape Town confirms that it had received the court papers. “The City will peruse the documentation and decide on a course of action,” she said.

Meanwhile residents of Heathfield have also been fighting developers from erecting a cellphone tower next to a community church.

Local resident Helen Hoekstra said: “Surely there is a point when a victory is a victory, and not open for appeal any longer? We have also heard of other sites where this has happened. How can this be democratic, when a single individual can override multiple processes.

“The community has had three victories so far, once at a sub-council meeting, once by error on the applicant side and the third time at a municipal planning tribunal hearing. Each time, the developer appealed the outcome and so it keeps returning. This is reminiscent of how large corporations with lots of resources are able to eventually exhaust a community’s capacity and resources,” she said.

“At the last appeal, community members again submitted complaints but without any further engagement we are suddenly told the erection will go ahead. How did the company do this? They went to the mayor.”

Cape Argus

Posted at 08:54AM Dec 20, 2017 by Editor in Cape Town  |

---

Muna La

Telkom loses court appeal over location of cellphone masts in Western Cape

By Lisa Isaacs Sep 27, 2019

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE LETTER BELOW THE LINE INTO YOUR OWN EMAIL AND SEND IT. PLEASE DO NOT POST COMMENTS HERE IT IS TOO TIME-CONSUMING FOR ME TO READ.

_____________________________________________

To: Vodacom

Attention Shameel Joosub
Shameel.joosub@vodacom.co.za
Tel: 011-535000
Ceo@vodacom.co.za

Dear Vodacom

WE DO NOT CONSENT

We write in response to your recent press release Vodacom launches Africa’s first live 5G network which supports both mobile and fixed wireless services on Monday, 4 May 2020.

Due to the fact that 5G has never been tested together with the evidence that lower generation EMFs do have significant health problems, it is both reckless and negligent of your organisation to be rolling it out in our country.

In addition to the nine international agreements/codes you are in violation of, you are also in violation of our South African Constitutional right to a safe environment.

You should also be aware that if the Cell phone companies are themselves warning their investors of the risks associated with radiation, and that Insurance companies refuse to underwrite them due to the risks, that should be enough warning, let alone the hundreds of scientific studies proving considerable harm to people and the environment.

Children and duty of care

1. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: States shall “undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being” (art. 3), “ensure… the survival and development of the child” (art. 6) and “take appropriate measures to combat disease… taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution” (art. 24(c)).
2. The Nuremberg Code (1947)applies to all experiments on humans, thus including the deployment of 5G with new, higher RF radiation exposure that has not been pre-market tested for safety. “The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential” (art. 1). Exposure to 5G will be involuntary. “No experiment should be conducted, where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur” (art. 5). The findings of over 10,000 scientific studies and the voices of hundreds of international organizations representing hundreds of thousands of members who have suffered disabling injury and been displaced from their homes by already-existing wireless telecommunications facilities, are “a priori reasons to believe that death or disabling injury will occur”.

Environment

1. The Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (1972): “The discharge of toxic substances… in such quantities or concentrations as to exceed the capacity of the environment to render them harmless, must be halted in order to ensure that serious or irreversible damage is not inflicted upon ecosystems” (principle 6).
2. The World Charter for Nature (1982): “Activities which are likely to cause irreversible damage to nature shall be avoided… [W]here potential adverse effects are not fully understood, the activities should not proceed” (art. 11).
3. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992): “States have… the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction” (principle 2).
4. The United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002): “There is an urgent need to… create more effective national and regional policy responses to environmental threats to human health” (para. 54(k)).
5. The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (2017): “The Parties shall… take all appropriate measures to prevent, mitigate and eliminate to the maximum extent possible, detrimental effects on the environment, in particular from radioactive, toxic, and other hazardous substances and wastes” (art. 13).

Health and human rights

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” (art. 3).
2. The United Nations Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030)has as objectives and targets to “transform”, by expanding enabling environments; to “survive”, by reducing maternal and newborn mortality; and to “thrive” by ensuring health and well-being and reducing pollution-related deaths and illnesses.

In terms of the following International policies and practices you have a duty to inform and EMFs

1. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (2012) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) stated that “[t]here is a need to inform the public of the potential effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs)” and invited Member States “to adopt suitable measures in order to ensure compliance with relevant international recommendations to protect health against the adverse effect of EMF”.
2. The Mid-term review of the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 (2008): “The European Parliament… [n]otes that the limits on exposure to electromagnetic fields which have been set for the general public are obsolete, … obviously take no account of developments in information and communication technologies, of the recommendations issued by the European Environment Agency or of the stricter emission standards adopted, for example, by Belgium, Italy and Austria, and do not address the issue of vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, newborn babies and children..”
3. Resolution 1815 (Council of Europe, 2011): “Take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, and particularly the exposure to children and young people.”

Lastly, we draw your attention to the fact that tech companies themselves are warning their investors of the potential harm of Radiation risks and Insurance companies are unwilling to insure equipment.

THIS INCLUDES YOUR OWN PARENT COMPANY VODAFONE:

Corporate Company Investor Warnings contained in Annual Reports filed on Form 10-K (or Form 20-F or 40-F for foreign companies) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Tech Companies warn their shareholders (not the public) about that the products could be risky. See below excerpts from statements in their annual reports that indicate these companies are informing their shareholders that they may incur significant financial losses related to electromagnetic fields.

Insurance companies will not insure these companies for harm from the radiation from their products and networks.  Lloyd’s underwriters refuse to insure mobile phone manufacturers against the risk of damage to users’ health.” That article was unequivocally clear. The insurers had: “fears mobile phones will be linked to illnesses such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.” Twenty years ago, the industry already knew their business models were a risk to the general public, especially because insurers were already refusing to cover their biggest liabilities. And as TruePublica reported yesterday in Dieselgate to Phonegate — the news was very much kept under wraps by the industry.

The following companies are warning Investors: “We may incur significant expenses defending such suits or government charges and may be required to pay amounts or otherwise change our operations in ways that could materially adversely affect our operations or financial results.”

The companies include: AT&T, Verizon, Crown Castle, VODAFONE, Blackberry, China Mobile, American Tower Corp, AMÉRICA MÓVIL, S.A.B. DE C.V., T-Mobile US Inc., GCI Inc, TELEFÓNICA, S.A, Soft Bank Crown Corp, Nokia, Microsoft, Telstra. You can read these warnings here.

 We therefore call on you to:

To take immediate measures to halt the deployment of 5G because we do NOT consent to being guinea-pigs (test subjects) for your untested 5G equipment.

Apply the Precautionary Principle

Concerned Citizen