War gaming the science on cell phones and health risks: A conversation with journalist Mark Dowie
By
Mary Beth Brangan and Jim Heddle. 06/28/2018
We’ve been documenting the development of wireless microwave devices and the independent science on its effects for the past 20 years. So we were delighted by a recent confluence of events: the release of the National Toxicology Program peer-reviewed study and the publication of an article in The Nation, “How Big Wireless Convinced Us Our Cell Phones Are Safe,” focused on how industry war-gamed the science.Soon after, a major study was released in Italy that replicated the results of the National Toxicology Project study. Both found that the same rare cancers appeared in animal subjects exposed to both high and low levels of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.We couldn’t resist interviewing Inverness resident Mark Dowie about all of it. Mark is a celebrated investigative reporter and historian, the author of many books, the winner of at least 19 journalism awards, a former publisher and editor of Mother Jones Magazine and the co-author with Mark Hertsgaard of the recent Nation article. Here is our conversation.
Jim: How did you decide to write this story?
Mark: [Mark] Hertsgaard, who’s the investigative editor of The Nation, asked me to do a big story on cell phones. I looked at the literature and found that cell phones have been beaten to death. It’s a shop-worn story, impossible to advance.
So I said, “I think the story is how industry has been war gaming science”—‘war gaming’ is their term, not mine—and gave him the history going back to military research that was done on microwaves during the Cold War, then up to the present, and how so much of it has been suppressed, classified, hidden and distorted by wireless defenders who tore pages from the playbooks of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, then used the same P.R. firms, the same law firms. All to do the same thing: manufacture doubt about the harmfulness of this technology. Hertsgaard said, “Okay. Let’s go with that.”
Jim: Did you find anything surprising that you didn’t expect?
Thanks to each of you who took action to urge Gov. Brown to oppose SB 649!
We also thank Gov. Brown for actually vetoing the bill late Sunday night, October 15.
Gratitude to everyone who has phoned, emailed, testified in hearings, or met with legislative staff, written Op-Eds, blogs, articles, gave interviews, produced radio and videos and sent post cards.
Those of us concerned with health as well as democratic choice and rights to local control joined the 300 California cities, 47 counties and over 100 community, planning, health, environment and justice organizations opposed to SB 649.
Altogether we truly made a difference and defended democratic choice and process in California!
A National Win!
People across the nation concerned with health, safety and the right to public oversight were also watching how our battle went and were overjoyed. Our win helps everyone. We were also blessed that many great folks from other states generously contributed their energy and talents to our educational campaign here in California. (Similar bills have already been passed in 12 other states and are being introduced directly into some cities.)
EMF Safety Network and Ecological Options Network opposed SB 649 since the bill was introduced in March because of the exponential increase of harmful microwave radiation that would have been emitted 24/7 close to homes, schools, parks, offices, playgrounds. We commissioned postcards that were sent to the Governor in the thousands.
We’ve only got a few more days to urge Gov. Brown veto this seriously dangerous bill! Please take action! He has until 10/15 to sign or veto the bill.
Click here or on the link below to have EMF Safety Network send a postcard from you urging veto to Gov. Brown.
Listen to the RADIO AD from the California Alliance for Safer Technology regarding SB 649. This radio ad was created by Doug Wood and supported by CAST and CA-BTA. It has been and continues to air statewide:
The California Legislature wants to give telecom companies a nice big gift: at least $30 million a year, and perhaps billions of dollars in savings at the direct expense of cities that both rely on the money and use their current leverage to negotiate improved coverage for poor neighborhoods. Continue reading →
EON’s Mary Beth Brangan testifies against SB 649 in the California Assembly
Fighting A Telecom Takeover
August 28, 2017: SB 649, the dangerous, anti-democratic AT&T, Verizon telecommunication industry giveaway bill,is now speeding toward approval by the dis-informed CA Assembly.
( Listen to EONs Mary Beth Brangan popular interview MICROWAVE SATURATIONon Your Own Health and Fitness.)
Millions Are Opposed
SB 649 has passed every committee despite tremendous opposition by 300 California cities representing well over 2/3rds of CA’s population. 48 out of 52 Counties, 54 Planning, Communication and Municipal Organizations and 55 Environment, Health, Consumer, and Justice Organizations representing many millions of Californians oppose as of August 28, 2017.
Last Chance to take Action!
A final vote by the Appropriations Committee may be as soon as Sept. 6. Next, the Assembly Floor vote occurs and then either on to the Senate and/or to the Governor’s desk, possibly within a month. Your action now can make a huge difference! Contact your legislators and the Governor Brown.
Devastating Radiation Increase
SB 649 will force a devastating state-wide increase in 24/7 microwave radiation in our neighborhoods, schools, parks and rural areas- the few places left that are now lower in radiation exposure. Cities and counties will have no control over the placement of towers. Children are the most vulnerable and parents will have no rights to protect them from this incessant, dense microwave exposure at close range. Real estate values near antennas will be lowered with no recourse for property owners.
Similar ‘cookie-cutter’ bills giving total control to the telecommunications industry over local officials are moving through other state legislatures in a coordinated corporate campaign.
Telecoms Know Microwave Radiation is Harmful
The telecommunications industry (AT&T, Verizon and smaller entities) know wireless technology is
harmful. All insurers refuse to insure them. Yet they pretend to customers that there’s nothing to be concerned about. Fire fighters have rightfully negotiated an exemption from this bill on the basis of health, yet fetuses, the young, the ill and elderly will all be forcibly exposed 24/7.
We Have Safer, More Efficient Solutions
Fiber-optic cable can be run underground so it is aesthetically and environmentally superior to bulky and dangerous above-ground infrastructure. It has higher speed and much better security as well as being more energy efficient. AT&T has already been paid by customers to run fiber-optic cable to every home. Fiber-optic would allow every resident to have either wired or wireless devices in their home. We must insist on the safest, most effective possible technology!
ACT NOW!
If you don’t want a constantly emitting powerful microwave antenna right in front of your home or school by 2018, take action now! Don’t let California legislators give away our crucial local municipal authority over public health, safety and aesthetics.
It was beautiful day in Sacramento last Wednesday, July 12 for the hearing on SB 649. But the people I joined in the Capital – people throughout California opposed to this bill, including 216 (of 400) cities and 34 of 58 counties, and at least 34 environmental or health organizations ended up dismayed and outraged.
The California Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee passed the highly contentious bill that day. This was also after SB 649 amazingly passed the Assembly Local Government Committee June 28, despite the huge and growing opposition from the Leagues of California cities and counties, not to mention those of us who know about the severe health and environmental effects. See the Leagues press release: Local Leaders Express Disappointment as Assembly Committee Sides with Corporate Interests over Citizen Control: City, County Officials vow to continue fight against SB 649
The Bill will enable forced placement of powerful microwave radiation antennas called ‘small cells’ on utility poles, street lamps, traffic lights and street signs throughout California neighborhoods as well as noisy, electromagnetic-field emitting refrigerator-sized “associated power equipment” on sidewalks.
These are excerpts of some elected official’s, brain tumor victims and EMF safety groups testimonies in opposition who spoke at the July 12, 2017 hearing held by the Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance chaired by Miguel Santiago.
Coming Soon Soon to a Pole Near You
These antennas will emit biologically impacting radiation 24/7/365 and will be on the level of second stories of homes, apartments, office buildings and only a short distance from windows, balconies, parks, sidewalks, etc.
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