Avoid Penang Peoples Becoming Specimen of Wireless Technology

The Penang Wireless Campaign Group would like to express that many countries and research institutions have issued warnings and have stopped the use of Wi-Fi and Wi-Max. We strongly feel that the Penang State Government should concern about the health of its people by considering the ‘Precautionary Approach’ recommended by World Health Organisation to prevent the people of Penang becoming the specimen of wireless technology which has not been testified for its impacts.

The Campaign Group also feels that the people of Penang should be informed by the State government about the warnings and campaigns imposed by many countries and research institutions in order for them to be aware of the possible health impacts caused by the wireless technology. It is then fair for the people of Penang to make their judgment and decision based on the revealed information.

German government had issued warning to their people of the use of wireless technology in 2007. Local Government of Salzburg had advised schools not to install Wi-Fi, Universities in Canada and Lakehead have prohibited the installation of wireless devices in the school compound. Many international well-known scientists have also researched and produced several reports depicted the hazards caused by the wireless. In England, research institute ISIS had given warning and requested many public places, particularly schools to remove the Wi-Fi devices. In September 2007 a group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professionals released a report, named the BioInitiative Report. The European Environment Agency (EEA) contributed to this new report with a chapter drawn from a study by the EEA itself, entitled “Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000”, which was published in 2001. The report documents detailled scientific evidence about the health impacts of exposure to electromagnetic radiation which are hundreds or thousands of times below maximum exposure values. The authors revised more than 200 scientific studies and research findings, and concluded that existing limit values for public safety were inadequate to protect public health. From the perspective of public health policy, based on the evidence as a whole, the creation of new maximum exposure limits is justified.

In relation to the objection of the people of Penang on the installation of telco towers within the residential areas, the approval of the Penang State Government for the implementation of the wireless@penang project is equivalent to ask the people of Penang to install a modified version of the Telco Tower at home. People of Penang, including the senior citizen, our children, patients and people who are sensitive to electromagnet field will have no place to hide, but cover with the electromagnetic radiation caused by 750 signal transmitters. Furthermore, the installation of Wi-Max will absolutely a source of worry among these people, the 50 kilometers transmission length with 24 hour emission will affect public health. The emissions of wifi systems add to the emissions of mobile phone systems, and are a risk to vulnerable groups such the elderly and children

The Campaign Group would like to point out that there are many reports and study from the web. These reports have indicated that the wireless technologies will cause many health issues, such as: damaging the DNA of the cells, changed of attribute and behavior, and etc.
Presently, there isn’t a comprehensive report produced by researchers and scientists on the impacts caused by Wi-Fi and Wi-Max. We request the Penang State Government to do a thorough research and show us a report which can proof the wireless technologies are harmless to human health. In England, Powerwatch, an NGO has produced 3 reports, one of the reports has proven that Wi-Fi will affect public health, the other two have yet to deny the negative impact on human health. In recent forum, we have been told that there isn’t a research on Wi-Max, the people of Penang has become the specimen of the technology.

If the Chief Minister of Penang, YB Lim Guan Eng could not prove that Wi-Fi and Wi-Max are harmless to the people of Penang, therefore, the project should not be implemented. Furthermore, the study of handphone and telco towers should be considered as the evidence of wireless technology posing its risks on human health.

We welcome the state government goodwill to improve the quality of life of the people of Penang. We are only concerned that the implementation of this new technology is done without adequate study. We hope that our State Government would look at the reports and warnings issued by the scientists who have expressed concerned over the use of wireless technology.

The standard determined by ICNIRP, IEEE and FCC report were questioned by many countries, including Russia, China and Canada. It was said that standard defined for electromagnetic field is too low, which is 1000mg. It is discovered that the electromagnet emission of 2mg will cause leukemia to children.

We hope that the people of Penang will reduce the use of wireless technologies, particularly who have elderly and children at home. Wireless technology could be replaced by wired technology, which is commonly being used.

We also hope that NGOs, the local council, various associations and individual will source for more information about the wireless technology and understand the technology before the implementation.

The Campaign Group will try their best to raise awareness among the public by producing leaflets, forum and talks in order for the public to understand the characteristics and the impact of the technology on human health.