Subject: (Dettlaff) A request for help (Power lines)... (fwd)
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 105757 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To: emfguru <rbeavers@llion.org>
--------------------------------------------------
Hi everybody:
.......Folks, as many of you on this list will know ... the following
is the now familiar "cry" for help by people who are "out gunned"
politically and financially ... and who have been denied the "knowledge"
about EMF exposure risks -- which is rightfully theirs.....
That knowledge, as this group knows, is bottled up in places like the
NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), long overdue
in endorsing the RAPID study and sending it to the Congress for some
legislative consideration!!!
It won't help much to forward Nanette the RAPID study group report
(though, Mary, it would be nice if you would!) -- too many people who
receive that study have told me that they can't understand it..... It is
too "technical" for the average layman to read.....
There is more info about the EMF "risk" subject at my web-site (Nanette --
you should read "Inertia and Malfeasance.") ... and abundant discussion
has taken place on EMF-L in the past. This can be found by working our
archives.....
I want to point out some of the familiar elements of the problem I see
below -- which are routinely a part of these industry efforts to further
their cause ($$$$$$) vis-a-vis the public. And which the public never
seems to be able to handle properly -- mainly because the "public"
(through its local officials) takes such a short term view of the
"trade-offs" involved in these situations.....
Topping the list of elements in common in these situations: (1) If you
don't allow us to build the line you will lose jobs..... Perhaps you
will in the short term. One cannot say from where I sit what the real
facts are. But you can lose more than jobs in the long term if these
power lines transgress close to human habitation, schools, etc.....
And we are now learning that not only are humans being affected by the
EMF/EMR impact. It can affect birds and other wildlife as well. Just
as we have (too late) learned the consequences of global warming upon
earth's biological systems.... It now seems certain that we must someday
find ourselves equally accountable for the bioeffects of EMF/EMR upon our
entire worldly biosystem. That impact is already being discussed in
secret isn't???!!! Well -- THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW.....
Still part of item (1) -- the assumption that jobs are more important than
ANYTHING else often controls the momentum in these cases. (I ought to
know, I've used that argument often enough in my past "economic
development" responsibilities.) Eventually, though, I learned (and I
believe it is becoming a much more doctrinaire position in "economic
development" circles today) -- that the road to building solid long term
economic health in a community is more complicated than that.
It turns out that "quality of life" has more to do with the longterm
economic health of a community (or a nation!) than simply pumping out more
jobs..... People (economic health) are/is migrating more and more -- not
on the basis of job availability, or even energy rates, etc., -- but
rather on the basis of QUALITY OF LIFE..... And it is the economists (not
the economic developers) who are beginning to see this. You might get
some help on this aspect in the economics department of your state
university....
Anyway, If you now have a highly desirable quality of life (as
it sounds) fight for it to stay that way!!! You may be doing the
community more good than the "economic developers" who are intent upon
building power lines for jobs that could migrate to the better quality of
life locales anyway!
Item (2) on the list of common elements is: the use of "eminent domain"
against property owners by the power company (ultimately it is a power
granted in the name of the state).
Yes, Nanette, it takes "big bucks" to fight that fight.... However, there
is always a political component present if you can leverage that into "the
game" somehow.... I suggest you start working AGGRESSIVELY with your
elected "state" representatives and senators..... Also you DO need
qualified legal representation (a lawyer!) to help you know the "rules of
the law" in your state.... Don't hire that popular, established, well
known local attorney who handles the business of the local Chamber of
Commerce crowd (and who expects to be governor some day). You may find
out (too late) that he actually is "in" too good with the other side --
not directly, but indirectly (and he may have an agenda which does
not "fit" yours).....
I think a better choice is that younger (perhaps idealistic) "new"
attorney who has still to make his/her name or "establish himself/
herself" locally..... It doesn't hurt if he/she has, perhaps, some
political ambitions. Certainly, he/she should be in the party of "the
outs" -- because you are going to find yourself up against the "ins."
And you are likely to get more aggressive representation from someone who
is "outside" wanting to get "in." The all-important consideration is that
he/she shares YOUR agenda!! (A good book to read to help in selecting
your attorney is A CIVIL ACTION by Jonathon Harr.)
Item (3): Tax breaks for the industry that is promising all the new
jobs.... Of course, I'm sure you realize that what that means is a
subsidy to private (profit making) industry. Why don't you start asking
(for public consumption) about what other "subsidies" are being given to
the people in the community. Do the "ordinary people" get any? Or are
such "special favors" only justified for the "profit making" big
corporations..... If the community is going to pursue a subsidy policy
for some BIG outfits, there ought to be also a fair share going to the
"LITTLE guys." You will find that this issue catches on fast with the
public -- once you get into the news!.....
Even many economists are now questioning the viability of "subsidies for
jobs" commitments by communities. Why? Because enough of a record has
been established to show that it is too often a false promise..... The
companies don't stay when they can jump to another location for a better
subsidy -- or when they get into tough times financially. Simply put, the
record of fulfillment is never as good as the promises..... And the
public (the community) ends up holding the bag....
Well, this is not intended to be an exhaustive study of the subject.
I hope I have given you some ideas you can use..... I'm sure that
one of the aspects you will need to fully understand is the "health
effects" aspect..... But it is not likely to be controlling.....
By searching through our archives and listening to what is being said on
EMF-L you should gain some understanding of that.....
Cheerio..... (Stay in touch, Nanette).....
Roy Beavers (EMFguru)......
rbeavers@llion.org.......
.....It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.....
EMF-L web-site can be found at:
EMF-L archives can be found at:
..................PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROFITS..................
........DO YOU KNOW OF OTHERS WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST???????...........
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 1999 07:02:14 -0700
From: Robert Bedard
To: rbeavers@mail.llion.org, libbykelley@ccwti.org
Subject: A request for help ...
Roy, Libby:
Do you know somebody who might be able to supply specific help to this
friend of a friend?
Here is her tale --
Hello Robert,
Would like to meet you while I am in Boulder Creek (down from Oregon)
early
next week if possible to discuss strategy familiar to you. We might
apply to
head off BPA from installing 500KV transmission lines through our little
valley of 40 residents in Ash Valley (Loon Lake) OR. If you are
available to
meet, please contact me at (nnn-nnnn) or by e-mail at bamax@aol.com.
Jamie suggested I contact you regarding facing off utilities for both
strategy
and research information. Additionally, I will be referring your web
site to
Loretta Yearous (yearous@transport.com) who is the Ash Valley resident
whose
Son's property is already being surveyed for the "eminent domain"
takeover
instead of utilizing BLM federal land for the easement. Forty people
can't
fight this easily; I've researched the EMF documents available and have
a
binder of approximately 50 references but residents seem unimpressed by
the
hazzards/don't know how to use the hazzards to fight their case.
Additionally, it seems the eminent domain fight (constitutional rights)
requires big bucks not available.
FYI it is NUCOR who convinced the BPA and Oregon Commercial Development
agencies that it would be a good thing (500 new jobs) for Coos Bay to
make a
deal with tax breaks to establish a steel plant to process recycled
metals at
the Southern edge of the National Dunes Recreation Area, with wetlands
EIRs
seemingly not stopping this. Residents of Coos Bay are enthusiastic for
the
new jobs, but ignore the environmental and human impacts of running
these
lines through pristine forests, resorts, and private lands rather than
upgrading existing lines through Dixon Landing.
Obviously from both our situations, the material to share is complex,
mutually
advantageous, and I just need a few directions from you in how best
achieve in
little time a PHD-level argument to arrest this attrocity from being
enacted
against impotent victims.
Thanks for your response.
Best regards,
Nanette Dettlaff
--
-=< LINUX: Because a PC is a terrible thing to waste ... >=-
Robert Bedard, CNE http://www.cruzio.com/~rbedard/
Website Design and Maintenance, Perl CGI Programming
Windows NT and NetWare, Computer and Network Support
831.439.9484 Voice, Voice-mail, Fax (Autoswitch)
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html