Subject: (Kelley) San Francisco ~ RF Health Forum ~ April 10 (fwd)
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 073701 -0600 (CST)
From: "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To: emfguru <rbeavers@llion.org>
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 00:27:04 -0800
From: Libby Kelley
To: rbeavers@llion.org
Subject: San Francisco ~ RF Health Forum ~ April 10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 1999
Contacts: Libby Kelley, 415-892-1863
Nancy Evans, 415-285-7267
GOING WIRELESS: What Are Cell Phones, Antennas, and Radio/TV
Towers Doing to Our Health?
On Saturday, April 10, the California Council on Wireless
Technology Impacts will sponsor an international public forum on health and
safety issues related to radiofrequency and microwave radiation from cell
phones, antennas and radio/TV towers. The forum will be held at Westminster
Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Co-sponsors include The Breast Cancer Fund, Committee to
Investigate Electromagnetic Radiation, Marin Health Council, Marin Breast
Cancer Watch, Marin Beyond Pesticides, Noe Valley Families and Cow Hollow
Neighbors in Action. Speakers will include: Dr. Neil Cherry, Biophysicist
and Member of Parliament, New Zealand; Dr. Henry Lai, Biomedical
Researcher, University of Washington; Peter Serick, Assessor, Environmental
Testing and Technology, Cindy Sage, Environmental Consultant, Sage
Associates; and, Gordon Miller, Chair, California EMF Stakeholders Group.
Nancy Evans, Communications Consultant, The Breast Cancer Fund, will
moderate the forum. Actor Linda Evans will speak as a concerned citizen.
Deb Carney, President of C.A.R.E. on Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado,
Dr. Bill Curry, a consulting physicist and, Stephen Scott, an independant
EMF assessor, will be among the panelists discussing effective community
strategies.
This conference offers concerned citizens the opportunity to hear
from leading researchers and other experts on the health effects of
non-ionizing radiation. Once fully informed, citizens can be better
equipped to decide about reducing their personal risk and to participate in
resolving the health and safety issues related to wireless communications.
Cell phones, cell towers and radio/TV towers emit non-ionizing radiation.
Despite assurance from industry that these phones and towers are safe, the
public remains concerned about the health effects of the non-ionizing
radiation from these devices. Science continues to show that the public's
concern is justified. Evidence continues to mount that significant health
risks exist, ranging from headaches, confusion, memory loss, and lack of
concentration, to cancer.
Like many communities across the country, the San Francisco Bay
Area has seen ongoing controversy over the siting of cellular transmission
towers. Noe Valley residents successfully prevented a cell phone carrier
from putting a tower on the Noe Valley Ministry, which also houses a day
care center. Struggles have also ensued in Ingleside, in the Marina, and
other parts of The City. Now there is an effort to install 6 more antennas
on the Tenderloin YMCA which has two daycare centers nearby. In Marin, one
of the owners joined the tenants of the Cote D'Azur Apartments in Sausalito
in opposing a siting request saying, "I did not realize there were serious
health effects". The Sausalito Planning Commission recommended against the
site permit application. Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon
decided to be a good neighbor and refused to permit a cellular antenna to
be hidden in the church’s cupola. Nevertheless, antennas and towers
continue to sprout from ridges, rooftops and school properties; many are
hidden in exterior building facades and, yes, church steeples.
Meanwhile, high density television (HDTV) antennas have started
broadcasting from Sutro Tower. These new additions to Sutro Tower have
angered local residents, many of whom questioned the original siting of
this nearly 1000-foot tower in the middle of a San Francisco residential
area. A group of neighbors who reside below the tower are suing because of
their concerns about the structural seismic safety. Other HDTV broadcast
antennas are situated around the Bay Area, including on Mount Burdell in
Novato. While testifying at a recent public hearing on potential health
risks related to cell phone antenna application an, an industry
representative volunteered that HDTV towers "are something to worry about!"
In February 1999, the San Francisco Coalition of Neighborhoods, a
33-organization alliance, passed a resolution concerning siting of
electromagnetic radiation emitting devices where they live and work.
Letters were sent to U.S. Senators Feinstein and Boxer and to Congresswoman
Pelosi, asking for assistance and legislative relief. Many other Bay Areas
citizens have made similar appeals to their federal and state elected
officials. To date, such requests have not been formally addressed by
public policy makers.
"Cell Phones, Antennas & Radio/TV Towers: The Health Risks of
Going Wireless" will be held Saturday, April 10, at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd. at Greenwood Beach Road, across from
the Cove Shopping Center in Tiburon. A $5.00 donation is requested but no
one will be turned away for lack of funds. For further information,
contact: Libby Kelley, 415-892-1863 or Nancy Evans, 415-285-7267.
##
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