Subject:  Re (Weiner) A crack in the dam? (fwd)
Date:     Tue, 27 Oct 1998 192958 -0600 (CST)
From:     "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To:       emfguru <rbeavers@llion.org>
--------------------------------------------------


.......Stewart is making the point below that industry's ACTIONS
do not implicate them when they behave as if EMF "might" be harmful.
.......His notion that possible "liability" is the basis for industry
taking the kind of 'defensive' measures that their lawyers would
probably have recommended ... is valid......However, I don't think that
deals with the other aspect which is also valid  -- actions can speak
louder than words!  

When industry's BEHAVIOR contradicts what they are SAYING (that EMF is
harmless), their behavior should be presented to the jury.....
I believe that most juries would consider their actions as implicating
them in a duplicity......i.e., That maybe what they are SAYING is not 
what they truly believe)......This issue has come up in the tobacco cases
in the U.S......The tobacco companies do NOT seem to be winning the point
when they deny their inconsistency.......guru.....(Hear from some
lawyers on this???)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 10:40:56 +1100
From: Stewart Fist 
To: "Roy L. Beavers" 
Subject: Re: (Weiner) A crack in the dam? (fwd)

The story in the London Independent claiming that by patenting devices aimed
at reducing exposure, cellphone manufacturers are 'admitting' liability, is
pure rubbish.

All they need to be doing is reacting to "perceived fears in the public".

Activists can't promote the idea that standards should be set on
'precautionary principles' (ie based on less than scientifically accepted
proof) and then also claim that any company that acts in this precautionary
way is thereby admitting liability.

If we accept the precautionary principle, then we should be encouraging
companies to take these exposure-reduction positions -- not using such actions
against them.


-- 
Stewart Fist - writer and columnist
See http://www.newsit.com.au/index_opinion.htm 
       http://www.abc.net.au/http/sfist/         (some archives)
       http://www.electric-words.com              (main archives)
70 Middle Harbour Road, Lindfield, 2070,   N.S.W,   Australia
Phone +61 2 9416 7458                        Fax  +61 2 9416 4582



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Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html