British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal approves smart meter class action

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

On August 28, 2012, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal issued a decision approving a representative complaint (akin to a class action) against BC Hydro on behalf of “those persons allegedly diagnosed with electromagnetic hypersensitivity and who have been advised to avoid exposure to wireless technology”.

The Tribunal found that the complaint brought by the Citizens for Safe Technology Society properly alleges a breach of the Human Rights Code in that it alleges a disability, adverse treatment in respect of a service customarily available to the public, and a nexus or connection between the disability and the adverse treatment. By way of the Complaint, the Citizens for Safe Technology Society seeks:

  • A declaration that BC Hydro has discriminated against each person in the Class by failing to provide each person in the Class with an unconditional written commitment that BC Hydro will refrain from installing and/or operating a wireless smart meter at the individual’s place of residence and/or residential complex.
  • An order that BC Hydro cease and desist forthwith from the said discrimination by offering to refrain from installing and/or operating a wireless smart meter at the individual’s place of residence and/or residential complex.

On May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization recognized that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are a Class 2B possible human cancer risk. The emissions generated by the Microwave Device fall under this classification of emissions and risk.

The Citizens for Safe Technology Society is currently fundraising to bring a tort action against BC Hydro so as to prohibit the imposition of microwave emitting smart meters on BC residents regardless of whether they have electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Emerald Smart Meter Awareness Meeting – 6th September

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The government has its head in the sand….

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Now have we all forgotten how governments work?

A long time ago Governments said smoking is not harmful and took the advice of tobacco companies and promoted smoking as good for you and reaped in mega billions of dollars and still are today.

At the same time the government also promoted asbestos as a safe building material at the advice of corporations, e.g, the James Hardy Corporation.
So we all smoked like troopers and put asbestos in homes and buildings
that we all work and live in.

Now it is proven that smoking causes lung cancer and other diseases it is also proven that asbestos causes asbestos and other related diseases but while you and I are or could be dying from these diseases the government has its head in the sand about smart meters and is listening to these power companies and the lies that these companies are telling to protect their bottom line and at the same time the government will be reaping in billions of dollars so they all have a vested interest in these smart meters and it doesn’t mater one bit to the government that we will all suffer in the long run from these smart meters and the disease that they will cause and as you all know we will have to prove that these thing made us sick and then treat us like tobacco and asbestos victims they the government will label us all liars and only after thirty years or more when most of the population fall to these smart meter then they the government will legislate in parliament the they the government are not liable for this out come.

It is in our interest to protest these meters out of existence and you do this by word of mouth and on the steps of parliament in your capital city.

P.S
I do know that a Wi-Fi affects children I have autistic child at home and since I have turned off the Wi-Fi router in our home my son is like a different child no more aggravation four to five years I ran this stupid thing and I never once got it what it was doing.
I don’t want such a meter on my home they can stick it on the power pole if they like or where the sun doesn’t shine.

Anthony

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Canadian hospital recognises symptoms from wireless radiation

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

TORONTO, June 18, 2012 /CNW/ – Women’s College Hospital says family doctors must learn to detect the symptoms of exposure to wireless radiation.

The hospital released a statement saying the symptoms include disrupted sleep, headaches, nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations, memory problems, and skin rashes. These symptoms are now labelled Electro-magnetic Hyper-sensitivity, or “EMS”.

“Health-care practitioners need to better understand EMS so they can help their patients,” said Dr. Riina Bray, medical director of the hospital’s Environmental Health Clinic.

Dr. Bray says the world is becoming dominated by wireless internet, cell phones and cell towers, and there can be a broad range of health impacts.

The hospital’s Environmental Health Clinic has begun holding educational workshops on the subject for doctors.

Last year the World Health Organization placed microwave radiation from wireless internet and cell phones on an official Cancer watch-list. Since then several schools have removed their wifi systems and the Catholic teacher’s union in Ontario has called for a moratorium on wifi installations in classrooms.

Further information can be found at: Women’s College Hospital – The effects of invisible waves
Via: Canada Newswire

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Your entire home will become a node on the internet…

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

 

Yesterday, on the news, Mr O’Brien was seen supporting and promoting power companies’ push to sell the ‘benefits’ of HLAN (home energy monitoring) to electricity customers. Whilst it is understandable that the power corporations would do that (they desperately need a reason for the massive cost of smart meter roll-out), it is very worrying to see a Minister promote the very system that had UK Parliamentarians so concerned, that they eventually stopped the mandatory roll-out there.

In the UK, it was argued that “wireless transmission of personal data, with information about the DEVICES you use, WHEN you use them and WHAT you are doing with them at any given moment, will be available to energy companies and any potential hackers. WIRELESS IS EASY TO HACK. In a wireless “Smart Grid”, your ENTIRE HOME will become a NODE ON THE INTERNET. That means your home and electricity usage will suddenly become available to HACKERS, who can use the data to analyse when certain people are at home, eg YOUNG CHILDREN.”

It is unjustifiably reckless behaviour by the Victorian government to be pushing a system that is certain to undermine the privacy of our homes and the safety of our children within them.

Kevin

 

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Professor Yury Grigoriev calls for order and the world needs to listen!

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

“Man conquered the Black Plague, but he has created new problems – EMF pollution”

The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has agreed to provide a detailed report for the world containing clear information on the most important Russian research results in RF/EMF radiation over the past 50 years.

RF/EMF researchers and environmental activists, Eileen O’Connor, Director for the UK Radiation Research Trust charity and Sissel Halmøy, Chairman for the International EMF Alliance and Secretary General for the Citizens ́ Radiation Protection in Norway recently returned from a trip to meet with top scientists at the Russian Federation.

Halmøy said: “According to the RNCNIRP, the following health hazards are likely to be faced by children who use mobile phones in the near future: disruption of memory, decline of attention, diminishing learning and cognitive abilities, increased irritability, sleep problems, increase in sensitivity to the stress, increased epileptic readiness. Action must be taken immediately to adopt biologically based guidelines to protect children.” Current standards are based more on engineering needs than biological studies.

O’Connor said “The Russian report is a gift to the world. The UK Radiation Research Trust will present the report in the Autumn to the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and will be forwarded to the UK Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.”

She added “Russian scientists are advanced in their knowledge on RF/EMF radiation and have extended the hand of friendship and are willing to share their expertise and knowledge. I hope decision makers from the western world accept this great honour and work together.”

Russian research offers crucial and important aspects of developmental relevance that conveys a sense of urgency for the global RF/EMF framework. Without it, national governments may not be able to ensure the health of future generations are protected, especially that of our children.

Russian warnings exists urging pregnant women to avoid using mobile phones entirely along with children under eighteen. Likewise, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, Finland, Belgium and Toronto, Canada, have issued health warnings for children to not use mobile phones, or for emergency use only. Unfortunately, most children, parents, doctors and teachers are not aware of this important information.

Furthermore, in May 2011 the World Health Organisation and IARC issued a classification stating that radio frequency – electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic to humans (group B). This warning is issued not only for mobile phones and phone masts, but for Wi-Fi, smart meters, wireless computers and all applications of technology on the RF/EMF Spectrum (radio-frequency radiation to electromagnetic radiation.)

Full article at: http://iemfa.org/images/pdf/Professor%20Yury%20Grigoriev.pdf

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

I don’t want a smart meter either | Gippsland Times

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

I write in support of Mrs Allitt’s letter last week headed “We don’t want or need smart meters” (Gippsland Times 21/8). We are told that we have no choice. Well, we do have a choice. This is Australia, not Syria. You can object on the grounds of health issues and property risk of damage due to the installation of these smart meters.I have never been consulted as to whether I need or want a new meter, at a cost to me. I would like to know who is making an absolute fortune out of this stupid half-baked program.  This is just another “government home insulation” situation. It is not really well thought out and has high risk to health and property, which has been well documented. You can object and there are many websites that will give you good direction. Just Google “smart meter objections” or go to http://www.nosmartmeters.org. I will certainly be placing a notice on my switchboard, which is a good place to register your refusal. There are good examples on the web sites.

via I don’t want a smart meter either | Gippsland Times.

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Not so reassuring – Wimmera Mail Times

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

I was pleased CitiPower and Powercor corporate affairs manager Hugo Armstrong endorsed the importance of seeking accurate information, in his letter, published in the Mail-Times on August 6.

I refer Mr Armstrong to page 13 of his organisation’s publication titled, ‘Everything you should know about smart meters’.

The opening paragraph of the Health and Safety section states that ‘ARPANSA is the Australian Government Agency that sets safety standards for the two kinds of electromagnetic fields (EMF) associated with your electricity supply and smart meter’.

The publication goes on to say that ‘One kind is the extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field caused by the current in your power lines’.

The document subsequently assures us that independent testing found that ‘both EMF exposures from smart meters were a tiny fraction of the safe levels set by ARPANSA’.

This sounds very reassuring.

There is, however, one slight problem which I would like to bring to the attention of Mr Armstrong: there are no standards in Australia for ELF electromagnetic fields.

We did indeed have interim guidelines set in 1989 by the NHMRC, but this document was rescinded in accordance with its policy of reviewing documents published more than 10 years ago.

The ‘independent testing’ by EMC Technologies in respect of radio frequency fields from smart meters – which at this end of the electromagnetic spectrum are specifically microwaves – unfortunately also suffered from systemic faults.

A sample size of only 16 sites was used to assess the safety of a system which potentially might affect more than five million Victorians.

The study also failed to address the problems of additive and cumulative exposure to radiation as a consequence of exposing Victorians to mandatory irradiation from wireless smart meters.

The World Health Organisation classified radio frequency EMF as a Group 2B possible carcinogen on 31 May 2011.

There are also a large number of scientific studies which indicate that exposure to EMF has the potential for other adverse effects.

These include cellular DNA damage, disruptions to cellular functions, and disruption of tissue structures.

ARPANSA standards for radio frequencies allow CitiPower and Powercor customers to be exposed to about 4600 times more radiation than do the precautionary limits of a country such as Austria.

However, ARPANSA standards also state that people should not be unnecessarily exposed to radiation, even if falling within their standards, providing this can be achieved at reasonable expense.

One must ask why CitiPower and Powercor Australia chose a wireless system for their smart meters.

Surely it would have made more sense to piggy-back onto NBN fibre-optic cabling, thereby eliminating all microwave radiation as well as arguably providing a more cost-effective long-term solution?

Janobai Smith                                                                                                                              Stop Smart Meters Australia

Via: Not so reassuring – Wimmera Mail Times

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Hope for our New Zealand friends across the Tasman!

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

 

 

New analogue meters are an option in NZ

Just had a call from a chap at Contact Energy offering me a new analogue power meter.

The company wrote to me about two weeks ago to say a Smart Meter would be installed. Subsequent phone calls, while politely and professionally handled, didn’t show much chance of an alternative.

I pressed on.

Today I got a call saying Contact Energy will install an Actaris SMO ACE1000 power meter that has no wireless capabilities at all.

As you can see from the photo below, it has a display much like an older car’s odometer.

The news came with a polite heads up that I may not be able to take part in any special offers the firm may have as I won’t have a smart meter. I assume a special offer could be “turn on an extra light now – it’s the half price power hour”.

I was also advised that should I change my mind and want a smart meter installed later on, then I will have to pay for it.

If you want an analogue meter installed, this page is your evidence that it is an option – at least if you are a Contact Energy customer in New Zealand.

My advice is to not get emotional with power companies when refusing a smart meter as you will be talking with a call centre person who – with all due respect – often don’t have the option of making decisions. They take messages.

Put your request in writing – email worked for me. Be polite, remain firm and clear. Don’t get into a debate (because you can’t have a debate with a corporation), don’t argue. Just keep it simple and insist on an analogue power meter (I am told Contact Energy has plenty of them in stock).

Send any supporting documents to help your case. This PDF appears to have helped me.

Remember, there is no law that requires you to have a smart meter – listen here.

Good luck.

 

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 8 Comments

I honestly thought the concern about smart meters was over rated….

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

I honestly thought the concern about smart meters was over rated and so I naively took the DPI website’s so-called safe smart meter readings as fact and got mine installed.

Over a week or so after this I could hear a low humming noise in my left ear when going to sleep, similar to the sound of a computer starting up but higher pitched. This has progressively got louder and louder to the point that I wake up in the morning feeling like my ears been next to a mobile phone all night.

I have spent a lot of money to get 2 walls painted with Y-Shield  paint and had earthing plates installed on these walls where the extremely high RF Readings were coming from my meter box.

Yet I can still hear this noise. It almost feels like some constant electro magnetic force has come alive in my house since the smart meter was installed.

Does anyone have similar issues or know of other actions to take to avoid this problem? I don’t have tinnitus as I have had this confirmed by an audiologist.

Andrew

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged | 29 Comments