Smart Meter video – A Current Affair

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

It’s the ongoing campaign by Australian families against so-called Smart Meters. At issue, serious questions over their cost effectiveness and health concerns.

Click here http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/smart-meters/x5zgu0q

Posted in Smart Meter | 31 Comments

Residents block smart meters in Reservoir, Preston and Kingsbury | Leader Newspapers

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

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Darebin Progress Association spokeswoman Marion Harper said about six members had chosen to padlock their meter boxes, because they were concerned about exposure to radiation from the new meters.

She said since Preston Leader first reported on the association’s concerns in November, she had received several calls from worried residents.

“People have rung to say they already have them (smart meters), or they don’t want them, or to ask what can they do,” she said.

Ms Harper said she told those who phoned it was not illegal to refuse smart meter installation, as per legal advice from barrister Eugene White.

She said if people were prepared to padlock their meter box, she suggested cutting a hole in the front of the box so the meter could still be viewed.

Read the rest of the article via Residents block smart meters in Reservoir, Preston and Kingsbury | Leader Newspapers North Melbourne | Local Community News VIC | Moreland Leader | Hume Leader | Sunbury Leader | Preston Leader | Northcote Leader | Whittlesea Leader | Heidelberg Leader | Diamond Valley Leader | Herald Sun.

 

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I burst into tears because I can’t sleep….

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Hi,  I had a smart meter placed on the wall of my bedroom approx 12 months ago. When it was installed I complained that I could hear “an electrical buzzing “. I called SP Ausnet and they told me it was fine. Upon my insistence they sent an electricin out to check if it was “faulty” – he reported that it wasn’t, however i wasn’t convinced and asked them to replace it with a new one. he did this but stated it wouldn’t make a difference. He was right – now 12 months later i have put up with this terrible electrical noise and it drives me crazy at night to the point that I burst into tears because I can’t sleep…. not to mention the migraines i have at least every 3 weeks which i have never had in the past. they are absolutely crippling and make me feel extremely nauseous. I don’t know what to do anymore. I recently went away for a week and I couldn’t believe the difference, i was beginning to think it was my imagination . Approx 6 months ago we had solar added to our roof and I wanted the smart meter removed but i was told that it had to stay because of the solar. I think the government is slowly trying to kill us… are they going to accept responsibility for all the problems this smart meter is causing – or is it going to take someone to die from all the radiation before they realize what a colossal mistake they have made. I don’t know what else to do now except continue buying migraine tablets to help my headaches – as for “current ” buzzing through my head at night – perhaps i need to take a strong sleeping tablet just so I know i’m not going crazy and get some peace!!!

Desiree

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Updated BioInitiative Report reviews over 1800 new scientific studies

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

The BioInitiative 2012 Report updates five years of science, public health, public policy and global response to the growing health issue of chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation in the daily life of billions of people around the world.

The new report by the BioInitiative Working Group 2012 says that evidence for risks to health has substantially increased since 2007 from electromagnetic fields and wireless technologies (radiofrequency radiation). The Report reviews over 1800 new scientific studies. The BioInitiative 2012 Report has been prepared by 29 authors from ten countries, ten holding medical degrees (MDs), 21 PhDs, and three MsC, MA or MPHs. Among the authors are three former presidents of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, and five full members of BEMS. One distinguished author is the Chair of the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation. Another is a Senior Advisor to the European Environmental Agency. As in 2007, each author is responsible for their own chapter.

The great strength of the BioInitiative Report (www.bioinitiative.org) is that it has been done independent of governments, existing bodies and industry professional societies that have clung to old standards. Precisely because of this, the BioInitiative Report presents a solid scientific and public health policy assessment that is evidence-based.

The report covers EMF from powerlines, electrical wiring, appliances and hand-held devices; and from wireless technologies (cell and cordless phones, cell towers, smart meters, WI-FI, wireless laptops, wireless routers, baby monitors, and other electronic devices).  Health topics include damage to DNA and genes, effects on memory, learning, behavior, attention, sleep disruption, cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.   New safety standards are urgently needed for protection against EMF and wireless exposures that now appear everywhere in daily life.

The BioInitiative 2012 Report is available at: www.bioinitiative.org.

 

Please also consider signing this petition: “Urgent Need for Biologically-based EMF Public Exposure Standards”

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/new-biologically-based-emf-public-exposure/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend

 

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Smart box lock-out in Montmorency – Health – Diamond Valley Leader

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

A MONTMORENCY resident has locked his electricity box in a bid to stop authorities installing a smart meter. Leon Steiner, of Sherbourne Rd, said he had serious issues with the meters, which were being rolled out across Victoria. His major concern was the potential negative impact on health, billing, privacy and fire risks.He said he did not want a smart meter in his home until its safety could be guaranteed. “They have only done two years research on these things to say it is safe,” Mr Steiner said.” People have had smart meters pushed upon them, but it is something we should make up our own mind about,” he said. He said he had seen several reports stating the technology was not compulsory and urged residents to do follow his lead.

Read the rest of the article via Smart box lock-out in Montmorency – Health – News – Diamond Valley Leader.

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Meter radiation going straight to our plates – The Courier

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

I REFER to the letter of Ursula Calderone (The Courier, 29/12), suggesting that responsible medical bodies have classified “smart” power meters as possible carcinogens (cancer causing).

There are areas of concern regarding the meters which the average person may be unaware.

A letter I received from Powercor (8/12/12), states that each meter uses two transmitters, one in the 900 MHz region, with a radiated power of one Watt, a second in the 2.4 GHz region, radiating 200 milliwatts.

The first question is, where are the antennae for these two transmitters? 900 Mhz has a wavelength of around 32<2009>centimetres, so would require around eight centimetres of antenna for optimum radiation. For 2.4 GHZ, the optimum antenna length is around three centimetres. How much of the radiated energy travels along the house wiring is unclear, but that radiation spreads throughout the house is beyond question.

These meters are mostly housed in metal boxes, and radio waves will not pass through a sheet of metal, but rather will be reflected back, bouncing off any metal objects it strikes within the dwelling. The metal walls, roof and floor of your microwave oven do not absorb energy, they simply reflect it to the food you place in the oven.

I challenge Powercor, or any other supplier, to give a full explanation of why no steps have been taken to protect people from this source of radiation. The risk may be tiny, but commonsense says that everything possible should be done to reduce whatever risk there is.

ARTHUR COMER (ex lecturer in Radio at RMIT)

Sebastopol

Via: http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1217383/meter-radiation-going-straight-to-our-plates/?cs=65

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Power distributor turns smart meter power down 90% for health reasons!

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

After a fair bit of exchange between myself and my energy provider, I was able to get  my smart meter powered down by 90% at its installation, due to my chronic medical condition. I supplied a medical report from my doctor and after a few lengthy conversations with the relevant customer service officer, I was able to get this result.

I am still strongly affected by the meter, due to my sensitivity towards EMFs and RFs, and it does aggravate my existing medical symptoms. But I thought that this was a small step forward as I thought these meters were mandatory.

I urge anyone with a medical condition that is sensitive to EMFs and RFs, to take this course of action as it should be recognised by their provider and acted upon. But I am hopefully waiting for the realisation of the government, as to the meters seriously negative impact on our health, to be recognised and to allow the public to make their own choice about the smart meters.

I will definitely get mine changed back to the old meter as soon as I can.

Vicki

Yet Minister O’Brien and the Victorian Government still claim smart meters are safe for EVERYONE!

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 54 Comments

NSW Smart Meter Taskforce Discussion Paper | Have Your Say

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

The NSW Government recognises the burden that increasing power bills are placing on households and is working hard to reduce the impact of those price rises.

As part of our plans to slow upward pressure on electricity prices, the NSW Government is keen for customers to have more control over their energy use. The Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher, established a Smart Meter Task Force to provide advice to the Government on a range of consumer focused options for the potential introduction of smart meters in NSW.

Have your say Click Here NSW Smart Meter Taskforce Discussion Paper | NSW Have Your Say.

 

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Calling for some smart meter clarification | The Courier

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

It was interesting to read in The Courier December 20, 2012, that the Minister for Energy and Resources, Michael O’Brien has sought to clarify any health concerns about smart meters.

I think we do need some clarification.

At the “Victorian Stop Smart Meter Forum”, November 25, 2012. Building Biologist Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home Healthy Family, speaking of the effects of smart meters’ electro magnetic radiation levels, said “our children are the canaries in the mine”.

In The Border Mail, October 17, 2012, another Building Biologist Narelle Haw said, concerning health and smart meters, – the medical profession is saying there is definitely “a correlation, especially for brain tumours, sperm count and blood barrier cross over”.

The W.H.O. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio frequency electro magnetic fields under category 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Common sense would suggest that we need less radiation in our homes, not more.

These meters are controversial items that we don’t need. We should refuse these superfluous meters.

If they are already in place, we should have the right to have them replaced with an analogue or non-wireless meter.

URSULA CALDERONE

Central Ballarat

via Calling for some smart meter clarification | The Courier.

 

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No action by MP over smart meter concerns – The Courier

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

On Friday December 14, 10 concerned members of the public, including myself, had a meeting with MP Geoff Howard at his electoral office in Ballarat to voice concerns to him over the smart meter rollout.

Mr Howard finally admitted that smart meters are not compulsory for the public to accept and that they are only optional. This information from Mr Howard was not forthcoming while he had the impression that the group at the meeting thought that smart meters were compulsory. Not until it was made blatantly clear to him that some of the group knew the truth that he then admitted it.

Over 30 concerned members of the public also had a meeting back in July 2010 with Mr Howard, together with the former Labor Energy Minister Peter Batchelor over the same issues.

Large amounts of credible evidence was made available to Mr Howard on smart meter microwave pulsing radiation causing adverse health problems, smart meter fires, security problems, surveillance issues and sharp rises in costs of electricity.

I asked Mr Howard at last Friday’s meeting what action he has taken since that meeting nearly two and a half years ago to solve these problems and prevent the unfolding smart meter disasters, but Mr Howard admitted that he has done nothing about it, and still does not seem keen to do anything.

Once again, a person of influence has let the public down. The public are left on their own to try to protect themselves and their property.

Padlock your meterbox.

WENDY MCCLELLAND

Dereel

Via: http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1195809/no-action-by-mp-over-smart-meter-concerns/

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 29 Comments