Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Judge rules in favor of Berkeley against CTIA and Ted Olson!

FromEllen Marks 
Objet: Judge rules in favor of Berkeley against CTIA and Ted Olson!
Date: 22 septembre 2015 00:29:23 UTC−4


Please see the attachment. Judge Chen rejected the industry's claim that Berkeley's cell phone right to know ordinance violates their first amendment rights. Ted Olson represented the CTIA in court on August 20.
Larry Lessig, Harvard constitutional law professor and Democratic presidential candidate, defended Berkeley pro bono. 
Thank you. 
Ellie Marks
CA Brain Tumor Association

From: Lawrence Lessig <lessig@lessigforpresident.com>
Date: September 21, 2015 at 5:32:43 PM EDT
To: Ellen Marks <cabta@ellenkmarks.com>
Subject: we won!

Hey, we won. He preempted the sentence re kids, but we won the 1st A claim. 

Lawrence Lessig
Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership
Harvard Law School
1563 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
vx:1-617-496-8853
fx:1-617-496-4866
@lessig

Israeli Ban on WiFi in Kindergarten & Issues Precautions to Limit Children's Exposures

Israeli Ban on WiFi in Kindergarten & Issues Precautions to Limit Children's Exposures


"The Report concludes with a chapter by Linda S. Birnbaum, Director of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, who states, 'Israel is a world leader in research on the health effects of non-ionizing radiation. If some of the studies turn out to be harbingers of things to come, we may have major health consequences from the nearly ubiquitous presence of wireless equipment.'"


EHT Lauds Israeli Ban on WiFi in Kindergarten and Precautions of Limits Children's Exposures
Additionally, the Italian State of Tyrol Calls for Limiting Wireless in Schools

Press Release, Environmental Health Trust, Sep 22, 2015

Teton Village, WY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2015 -- As of this fall, Israel and Italy are officially recommending schools reduce children's exposures to wireless radiation. The Israeli Ministry of Health has initiated a major public awareness effort to reduce wireless and electromagnetic radiation exposures to children. In similar action, the Italian State Parliament of South Tyrol voted to allow the application of the precautionary principle to replace existing wireless networks whenever possible with wired networks or those that emit less radiation.

The Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) recommendations are published in the Environmental Health in Israel Report 2014which states that
"Precautions should be strictly enforced with regard to children, who are more sensitive to developing cancer." 

The Report makes the following points:

Cell Phones: "The MoH recommends sensible use of cellular and wireless technology, including: considering alternatives like landline telephones" MoH recommendations include: use a speaker or hands-free phone accessory or (non-wireless) personal earphone in order to distance the telephone from the body, reduce the amount and duration of calls, and in areas of weak reception reduce calls because of higher radiation.

Children: MoH recommends: "refraining from installing the base of wireless phones in a bedroom, work room, or children’s room."

Schools: Levels of non-ionizing radiation were measured in 25 schools nation-wide and "based on these findings, the MoEP recommends that students remain at a distance of at least 1.5 meters from electrical cabinets and that use of wireless communication networks in schools be reduced."

Reduce Exposure in Cars
: The MoH recommends not using cellphones in closed places like cars or elevators, buses, and trains unless there is an external antenna "due to amplified radiation in such places." "When driving, a hands-free device should be used for calls. It is recommended to install an antenna outside the vehicle and to use a line connection between the telephone and the speaker as opposed to using Bluetooth."

Research: Previous research findings in Israel "clearly indicated a link between cellphone use for more than 10 years and the development of tumors in the salivary glands." Israel is currently a partner in two additional international studies: (1) MOBI-Kids, a multi-center study involving experts from 16 countries who are examining potential associations between use of communication devices and other environmental factors and risk of brain tumors, and (2) the GERoNiMO (Generalised EMF Research using Novel Methods) project, which uses an integrated approach and expertise from 13 countries to further the state of knowledge on EMF and health.

The Report concludes with a chapter by Linda S. Birnbaum, Director of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, who states, "Israel is a world leader in research on the health effects of non-ionizing radiation. If some of the studies turn out to be harbingers of things to come, we may have major health consequences from the nearly ubiquitous presence of wireless equipment."

The recently published ISRAEL 2015 RF Safety Report details current actions on EMFS such as:

New Public Education Website
: The Israeli government launched the public education website TNUDA (http://www.tnuda.org.il) of the National Information Center for Non-Ionizing Radiation to guide the public and decision-makers on the educated use of technology.

Guidelines for the installation and operation of Wi-Fi networks in schools: Following a petition seeking an outright ban on Wi-Fi in Schools, the government is banning Wi-Fi in kindergartens and restricting hours of use in schools, installing equipment with exposures to be set as low as possible, and monitoring radiofrequency (RF) radiation levels.

Government Testing Finds that Mobile Phones Violate Manufacturers’ Reported SAR: In a study conducted by the Ministry for Environmental Protection and the Holon Institute of Technology, the SAR of 10 models of mobile phones was measured using phantoms. The measured SAR exceeded the SAR declared by the manufacturer, when the phone was held close to the head and in bad reception mode (100% of the maximum power).

ELF EMF limits are recommended at numbers far below international limits. These recommendations were set to account for research showing links to leukemia. "The Ministry of Health (MoH) jointly recommend a threshold of two milligauss on an average annual basis when planning an electrical facility or four milligauss on a daily average." A study performed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and by the Education Ministry has found that in more than 60% of the schools in Israel at least one classroom had magnetic fields exceeding 0.4 ?T. Action was taken to reduce exposure in these schools.

Headsets and safety information required with every new mobile phone: According to a settlement agreement accepted by the Tel Aviv-Yafo District Court in February 2014, cellular operators must inform buyers of new mobile phones about the radiation safety instructions as formulated by the manufacturer, provide a hands-free kit with every new mobile phone, and provide information on the safe use of mobile phones on its website.

National radiofrequency monitoring program: The Ministry of Environmental Protection is operating a national RF monitoring system with stations that continuously measure the entire range of RF and transmit the data to a central computer that analyzes and displays online the results of measurements.

On June 10, 2015, the Italian State Parliament of South Tyrol voted to allow the application of the precautionary principle to cell phones mandating the state government to:

1. To replace existing wireless networks whenever possible with networks that emit less radiation at schools, preschools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other public facilities.

2. Establish a working group whose mandate it is to assess these new technologies and their exposure levels. With regard to wireless communication technologies, mobile Internet access, and public health, the working group shall clarify which technologies emit less radiation and provide sustainable technology options and

3. To start an education and awareness campaign that informs about possible health risks, especially regarding the unborn, infants, children, and adolescents and that develops guidelines for a safer use of cell phones, smartphones, and Wi-Fi.


Environmental Health Trust (EHT) educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. Currently EHT is raising health concerns about wireless in schools and recommending safer hardwired internet connection installations. The foundation’s website is the go-to place for clear, science-based information to prevent disease. Please visit EHtrust.org and on Facebook.

http://bit.ly/1G0GMNo

--

Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D., Director
Center for Family and Community Health
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley

Electromagnetic Radiation Safety

Website:              http://www.saferemr.com
Facebook:            http://www.facebook.com/SaferEMR
News Releases:    http://pressroom.prlog.org/jmm716/
Twitter:                 @berkeleyprc

Smart Meter Activist Tells All

Smart Meter Activist Tells All

Plea from EHS sufferer ends in suicide

Plea from EHS sufferer ends in suicide


Dear All on my mailing list,

I have recently received this e-mail from a close friend in Belgium: "Last month, a young woman named Sofie Depoorter  contacted me for help.  She was seriously ill and asked me if I could arrange an appointment with Prof. Belpomme. She had electrohypersensitivity (EHS). She could not stay or live anymore in her new house and returned to the house of her parents. Three weeks ago she committed suicide. With best regards, XXX"

This is so sad and so terrible.

Olle Johansson, associate professor
The Experimental Dermatology Unit

Department of Neuroscience

Karolinska Institute

171 77 Stockholm

Sweden

Another new paper on electrosensitivity

From Cindy Sage
Rev Environ Health. 2015 Sep 12.

The implications of non-linear biological oscillations on human electrophysiology for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).


Sage C.

Abstract

The ‘informational content’ of Earth’s electromagnetic signaling is like a set of operating instructions for human life. These environmental cues are dynamic and involve exquisitely low inputs (intensities) of critical frequencies with which all life on Earth evolved. Circadian and other temporal biological rhythms depend on these fluctuating electromagnetic inputs to direct gene expression, cell communication and metabolism, neural development, brainwave activity, neural synchrony, a diversity of immune functions, sleep and wake cycles, behavior and cognition. Oscillation is also a universal phenomenon, and biological systems of the heart, brain and gut are dependent on the cooperative actions of cells that function according to principles of non-linear, coupled biological oscillations for their synchrony. They are dependent on exquisitely timed cues from the environment at vanishingly small levels. Altered ‘informational content’ of environmental cues can swamp natural electromagnetic cues and result in dysregulation of normal biological rhythms that direct growth, development, metabolism and repair mechanisms. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and radiofrequency radiation (RFR) can have the devastating biological effects of disrupting homeostasis and desynchronizing normal biological rhythms that maintain health. Non-linear, weak field biological oscillations govern body electrophysiology, organize cell and tissue functions and maintain organ systems. Artificial bioelectrical interference can give false information (disruptive signaling) sufficient to affect critical pacemaker cells (of the heart, gut and brain) and desynchronize functions of these important cells that orchestrate function and maintain health. Chronic physiological stress undermines homeostasis whether it is chemically induced or electromagnetically induced (or both exposures are simultaneous contributors). This can eventually break down adaptive biological responses critical to health maintenance; and resilience can be compromised. Electrohypersensitivity can be caused by successive assaults on human bioelectrochemical dynamics from exogenous electromagnetic fields (EMF) and RFR or a single acute exposure. Once sensitized, further exposures are widely reported to cause reactivity to lower and lower intensities of EMF/RFR, at which point thousand-fold lower levels can cause adverse health impacts to the electrosensitive person. Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) can be a precursor to, or linked with, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) based on reports of individuals who first develop one condition, then rapidly develop the other. Similarity of chemical biomarkers is seen in both conditions [histamines, markers of oxidative stress, auto-antibodies, heat shock protein (HSP), melatonin markers and leakage of the blood-brain barrier]. Low intensity pulsed microwave activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) is postulated as a mechanism of action for non-thermal health effects.

Read the post here.

The elephant in the classroom!

The elephant in the classroom!


Dear All on my mailing list,

Recently, there has been a lot of attention regarding the most recent PISA test for school children, their IT knowledge, and the impact of all these new gadgets on their learning. A new OECD report last week says that even the countries that have invested heavily in information technology into teaching, can not point to improved literacy, numeracy and science skills in elementary school, and not even increased computer and IT knowledge (sic!). See e.g.:


How long will it take for our educators and politicians to wake up to the mounting evidence that pulsed modulated microwave radiation changes cognitive processes and diminishes learning, and that playing games or surfing Facebook is not equal to learning civics and math? 100,000 years...? [For me it only took 5 minutes to see it, and for you probably only 15 seconds!]

And how many times have you and I warned for these consequences?* And how many persons, besides a few, have listened?

*See e.g.:

Johansson O, “Läsplatta, ja, men varför ingen förståelseplatta?” (=”A reader, yes, but why not an understander?”, in Swedish), Tf-bladet 2012; (1): 16-18

Johansson O, “Bättre med förståelseplatta än läsplatta” (=”Better an e-understander than an e-reader”, in Swedish), Bohusläningen 18/4 2012

Johansson O, “Läsplatta, ja, men varför ingen förståelseplatta…?” (=”An e-reader, yes, but why not an e-understander…?”, in Swedish), Teknikdebatt.se 18/4, 2012

Johansson O, “Läsplatta, ja, men varför ingen förståelseplatta…?” (=”An e-reader, yes, but why not an e-understander…?”, in Swedish), Hudiksvalls Tidning 20/4, 2012

Johansson O, “”Förståelseplatta” bättre än läsplatta” (=”An “e-understander” is better than an e-reader”, in Swedish), Sundsvalls Tidning 22/4, 2012

Johansson O, "Förståelseplatta före läsplatta" (=”An e-understander before an e-reader”, in Swedish), Norrbottens-Kuriren 23/4 2012

Johansson O, ”Läsplatta, ja, men varför ingen förståelseplatta?” (=”An e-reader, yes, but why not an e-understander?”, in Swedish), Norran 26/4 2012

Johansson O, “Barn och elektromagnetiska fält” (=”Children and electromagnetic fields”, in Swedish), Vasabladet 30/4 2012

Johansson O, “Förståelseplatta hellre än läsplatta” (=”An e-understander rather than an e-reader”, in Swedish), Österbottens Tidning 11/5, 2012

Johansson O, “Läsplatta eller förståelseplatta?” (=”E-reader or e-understander?”, in Swedish), Skaraborgs Allehanda 11/5 2012

Johansson O, "Surfplatta kan vara hälsofara" (="An e-reader can prove to be a health hazard", in Swedish), Uppsala Nya Tidning 14/5 2012

Johansson O, "Varför inte förståelseplatta?" (="Why not an 'e-understander'?", in Swedish), Eskilstuna-Kuriren 14/5 2012

Johansson O [oversatt og tilrettelagt av Iver Mysterud], “Barn er sårbare for mobilstråling” (=”Children are vulnerable to mobile radiation”, in Norwegian), Helsemagasinet VOF 2012; 3(5): 14-16

Johansson O, “Strålningsrisk måste gå före pedagogiska fördelar” (=”Radiation risks must be dealt with before discussing pedagogic advantages”, in Swedish), Sydsvenskan 20/8 2012


Johansson O, “KI-forskare: porta skolpolitiker som vill ge hälsofarliga läsplattor – utan bevisat pedagogiskt värde – till eleverna” (=”A scientist at the Karolinska Institute says: Lock school politicians out who want to give hazardous e-readers - without proven educational value - to pupils”, in Swedish), Newsvoice.se 23/1, 2014

With my very best regards
Yours sincerely
Olle

(Olle Johansson, associate professor
The Experimental Dermatology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm
Sweden)

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Some Genes Are "More" Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure

The Screening of Genes Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure and Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Correlations to Learning and Memory


Zhao YL, Li YX, Ma HB, Li D, Li HL, Jiang R, Kan GH, Yang ZZ, Huang ZX. The Screening of Genes Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure and Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Correlations to Learning and Memory. Biomed Environ Sci. 2015 Aug;28(8):558-570.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To gain a better understanding of gene expression changes in the brain following microwave exposure in mice. This study hopes to reveal mechanisms contributing to microwave-induced learning and memory dysfunction.

METHODS: Mice were exposed to whole body 2100 MHz microwaves with specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.45 W/kg, 1.8 W/kg, and 3.6 W/kg for 1 hour daily for 8 weeks. Differentially expressing genes in the brains were screened using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, with genes showing more significant differences further confirmed by RT-PCR.

RESULTS: The gene chip results demonstrated that 41 genes (0.45 W/kg group), 29 genes (1.8 W/kg group), and 219 genes (3.6 W/kg group) were differentially expressed. GO analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cellular metabolic processes, regulation of biological processes, macromolecular metabolic processes, biosynthetic processes, cellular protein metabolic processes, transport, developmental processes, cellular component organization, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes are mainly involved in pathways related to ribosome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, long-term potentiation, Huntington's disease, and Neurotrophin signaling. Construction of a protein interaction network identified several important regulatory genes including synbindin (sbdn), Crystallin (CryaB), PPP1CA, Ywhaq, Psap, Psmb1, Pcbp2, etc., which play important roles in the processes of learning and memory.

CONCLUSION: Long-term, low-level microwave exposure may inhibit learning and memory by affecting protein and energy metabolic processes and signaling pathways relating to neurological functions or diseases.

http://1.usa.gov/1FYb6IF
Excerpts
Mice were divided randomly into exposure and sham groups (6 animals/group), with the exposure groups further divided into groups 1, 2, and 3, with average whole-body SARs of 0.45 W/kg, 1.8 W/kg, and 3.6 W/kg. Subjects were placed at a distance of 30 cm from the exposure source at power densities of 1, 4, and 8 mW/cm2. The SAR calculation was based on the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Animals in the exposure groups were placed in polypropylene cages with apertures and partitions. Mice whole bodies were exposed to microwaves, with their body axes oriented in parallel to the electric field polarization for 1 h daily in a temperature controlled room at acontinuous frequency of 2100 MHz for 8 weeks. To negate any other type of psychophysiological effects, sham group animals were processed in parallel to the exposed groups, but without microwave exposure. After irradiation, RNA was extracted from each brain independently, with RNA from each group pooled prior to gene microarray analysis. Three RNA samples from the 3.6 W/kg group were utilized for RT-PCR. 
Conclusion

Microwave exposure is speculated to decrease LTP induction, increase LTD induction, disrupt the balance of LTD and LTP, reduce dendrite spines formation, affect the inflammatory response and impact early AD responses by the directly or indirectly modulating important pathway regulatory molecules, eventually impairing learning and memory. Among the pathways affected by microwaves, the LTP and LTD pathways were affected the most. The most notable genes were sbdn and Cryab, since they responded sensitively to microwaves at all 3 SAR levels. Microwaves are thought to inhibit learning and memory by sbdn mediating LTP and dendrite formation, while Cryab mediates inflammation and early AD reactions. These findings provide important clues into the mechanisms and possible counter measures pertaining microwave induced learning and memory inhibition (Figure 5). However, more research is required to further characterize the roles of both the known or unknown genes and how they function in microwaves affecting learning and memory.

This work was supported by SN03-2 from the Astronaut Research and Training Center of China.

--

Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D., Director
Center for Family and Community Health
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley

Electromagnetic Radiation Safety

Website:              http://www.saferemr.com
Facebook:            http://www.facebook.com/SaferEMR
News Releases:    http://pressroom.prlog.org/jmm716/
Twitter:                 @berkeleyprc