2016 - New York PTA Calls For Wi-Fi To Be Turned Off
Notice of
Wi-Fi Radiation Legal Liability Was Served to New York School District Board of
Education Members
The Wi-Fi Task Force was formed to gather information. Then it
was disbanded by the Board of Education without any
transparency in the process.
Parents served the New York Onteroa School District Superintendent Victoria
Mclaren and Board of Education members a notice of their liability concerning
the health risks from the Wi-Fi installation in this New York school district
on the March 15, 2016 Board of Education Meeting.
"You have been urged to
hardwire all your computers in the schools."
"
Ignoring the above documented information and documented statements and
proceeding with the use of Wi-Fi routers in the schools, you are committing
willful blindness and can be liable for child negligence, or possibly even
"negligent endangerment of child" which carries with it criminal law
repercussions if any student gets injured from the schools Wi-Fi system and a
parent decides to press charges."
In this video an Onteora School District Trustee reads the
Phoenicia PTA's Letter
where the PTA calls for the Wi-Fi to be turned OFF.
2016 -
Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation
Is
calling for a moratorium on WIFI. In the Limestone School District they have
taken the issue to the school trustees. “The Teacher Union’s president says
there is a growing mountain of evidence that WIFI can pose health risks.”
according to a recent news report. Andrea Loken/OSSTF District President stated
in news interview that, “There are thousands of published peer reviewed papers
that are indicating adverse health effects from WIFI and we are seeing an
increased awareness around this issue worldwide.”
2016 -
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario
Is
also calling for a “WIFI moratorium until further health studies are done,
and lawmakers can catch up with new regulations.”
2014 - United Federation of
Teachers
200,000 teachers and educational professionals in New York City
Advisory: Wireless radiation is emitted by the myriad of wireless devices we
encounter every day. It was once thought to be relatively harmless. However, we
now know that wireless radiation can cause non-thermal biological effects as
well, including damage to cells and DNA, even at low levels.
http://www.uft.org/our-rights/wireless-radiation
2014 – New York
State Teacher’s Union NYSUT
1,200 local members
"We have enough evidence to justify taking
action and we are not willing to wait until our members, their children and the
students suffer health consequences from not doing anything,"
-Paul Pecorale, Vice President of the New York
State United Teachers Union.
2014 - National
Education Association
“The National Education Association believes
that all educational facilities must have healthy indoor air
quality, be smoke-free, be safe from environmental and chemical hazards, and
be safe from hazardous electromagnetic fields.”
“Students and/or their parents/guardians,
education employees, and the public should be notified of actual and
potential hazards.”
“School districts should conduct periodic
testing for harmful water and airborne particles/agents that are
detrimental to the health of students and education employees and shall report
the results publicly.”
“The Association also believes in the
development and enforcement of health and safety standards specifically for children.”
Read Section C-19 of the NEA 2013-2014
Resolutions
2013 - BCCPAC Resolution: On/Off Switches for WiFi Routers
and Protocol for Use of Wireless Devices
800 Public School PCs & DPACs in BC
Adopted by strong majority votes (140-94) on
May 4, 2013. Last year, the two resolutions passed by BCCPAC called for a halt
in installing wireless network where other networking solutions are feasible,
and for the creation of at least one fully-wired school at each level per
school district. This 2013.11 resolution focuses on schools which already have
WiFi installed and cannot get it removed right now.
Please read the resolution along with the
rationale, which contains important safety information not just for the school
environment, but for homes as well. Please share this information with parents,
grandparents, teachers, school administrators and school board trustees. We
demand that safety protocol be put in place.
http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/BCCPAC-Resolution-Passed-OnOff-Switches-for-WiFi-Routers-and-Protocol-for-the-Use-of-Wireless-Devices-in-Schools,19,3111
2013 - Greater Victoria Teacher’s
Association (GVTA): WiFi in Schools
The GVTA recommends a precautionary
approach to the
School District with regard to provision of wireless internet in schools.
The precautionary approach
comes from the environmental movement and has been adopted as common practice
in areas regarding potential environmental, ecological or biodiversity damage.
It suggests that the lack of significant evidence is not enough of a reason to
be unconcerned. The fact that many other countries have instituted
regulations to protect children, seniors, pregnant women and other
susceptible populations should be the guide for a District policy on WiFi
installation and use in the worksites.
The GVTA recommends:
1. The
blanket approach to WiFi coverage needs to be amended.
2. WiFi
free schools should be available for those people who appear to be affected
by EMRs and/or EMF.
3. Staff
approaching the Health and Safety Representative with concerns or reporting to
be 'electrically hypersensitive' should be advised to:
o
keep a record of any
adverse health effects they consider to be caused by exposure to WiFi/WLAN at work; and
o
report any adverse
health effects and concerns to their GP.
4. The
use of router stations that will shut down when not in use or no connection
is established.
5. Strategic
placement of the routers or only using them in places where they are needed
most.
6. Use of
routers that comply with international standards such as those used in Europe
(Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland for example).
7. Minimal
or non-use within elementary schools and middle schools.
8. Before
any wireless networks can be set up within a worksite, a complete wireless
survey needs to be conducted, so the issue is transparent and open.
9. Consider
developing a policy and regulations governing the use of cell phones and other
such devices that utilize WiFi technology, similar to the policy developed by
the National Association of Head Teachers in the UK. (Online Safety: a
toolkit for early years settings. April 2010. Chpt. 5, Appendices 2)
10. If WiFi routers are installed
that annual monitoring and quantification of EMRs and EMFs be conducted
annually during regular instructional hours, and that reports are made
available via the SD61 website.
2013 – BC Teachers Federation
40,000 teachers
RESOLUTION
PASSED AT BCTF Annual General Meeting
The BC
Teachers' Federation has adopted this Wi-Fi resolution to protect teachers'
health. March 18, 2013
http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/RESOLUTION-PASSED-AT-BCTF-Annual-General-Meeting,19,3018
2013 - Canadian
Teachers' Federation
Over 200,000 teachers across Canada
Recommendations
- That Safety Code 6 include a
recommendation for prudent use of Wi-Fi whenever possible including the
recommendation to limit consistent exposure in schools by turning off
wireless access points when not in use.
- That Safety Code 6 exposure
thresholds be based upon both thermal and biological effects of exposure
to Wi-Fi
- That the Expert Panel recommend an
education program regarding the relative safety of Wi-Fi exposure and that
appropriate resources be developed to educate the public regarding ways to
avoid potential exposure risks of Wi-Fi access points and devices.”
http://www.ctf-fce.ca/Research-Library/wifi-final-2014-ENG.pdf
2013 - ELEMENTARY TEACHERS FEDERATION OF ONTARIO (ETFO)
Represents
76,000 teachers
Elementary Teachers Want Cellphones Turned Off In Class -
For Health Reasons
by Dan Blakeley, Aug 17, 2013
"Citing workplace safety, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has
passed resolutions asking that cellphones be turned off in classrooms, unless a
student has special permission, and that WiFi transmitters in schools be in the
open and clearly marked. The federation is worried about the health risks
associated with radiation from the devices. The resolutions are non-binding;
it's up to school boards to decide policy on wireless devices."
From a CBC news report:
"In
a separate resolution, ETFO [Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario] voted
to study the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, the potentially
harmful radiation emitted by cellphones. A report is due on the matter in
February."
Resolutions (2) passed at Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario
(EFTO) Annual General Meeting:
1) 15 August 2013, Resolution - 53. Peel Teacher Local:
"That ETFO study the impact of
non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, including the possible implications for
schools and members, with a report with recommendations to the February 2014
Representative Council.
Rationale:
There are growing health and safety concerns regarding the widespread use of
technologies, which produce and emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. It
is estimated that over one million Canadians have an environmental sensitivity
to this radiation and experience serious physical and biological effects. As
has been the case with other known societal health dangers, the health effects
of long-term exposure to this radiation may not be known for some time.
Widespread exposure to wireless communication devices and infrastructure in
Ontario schools can be a potential workplace hazard. Further study is needed to
ensure the safety of members."
2) 15 August 2013, Resolution - 90. Peel Teacher Local:
“That ETFO, through OTF, lobby the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry or
Labour, and the Ministry of Health to ensure that school boards:
1. Follow the 'Right to Know" legislation under the Ontario’s
Occupational Health and Safety Act by clearly labelling the location Of Wi-Fi
access points
2. Develop a hazard control program related to wireless microwave radiation
through the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).”
Ontario Teachers' Union Votes To Ban
Cell Phones In Classrooms http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/17/ontario-cell-phone-classrooms-etfo_n_3773730.html)
2013 -
United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA)
40,000 teachers & staff
“UTLA will abide by current National
NEA Policy for Environmentally Safe Schools which states that all employees and
stakeholders should be informed when there are changes in their exposure to
environmental hazards including electromagnetic radiation and that all
stakeholders and the public should be notified of any actual and potential
hazards. UTLA will advocate for technological solutions that maintain
technology upgrades while not increasing employees exposure to electromagnetic
radiation.”
2013 - UK: Voice -
The Union for Education Professionals
20,000 members
“In the last few years there has been a great weight
of evidence from around the world which suggests that exposure to
electromagnetic radiation can have long-term health impacts, particularly on
children, and that exposing young children (from birth to 12) to
electromagnetic radiation (EMR) can produce changes in cell formation, genetic
changes, and potential cancers.
Exposure levels are only half the story; length of exposure
is crucial too. Long exposures at lower intensity levels may be as damaging as
high exposure levels for short periods hence our concern about wireless
networks in schools and nurseries.
It is a considerable concern that in schools we are
installing wi-fi systems and we have no clear evidence that they are safe. Our
concern is that until they are declared to be safe and proven to be safe we
should not be installing them in schools.
The difficulty is that once installed in schools, they are
switched on constantly. Whether the children are using them or not, they are
exposed to that level of radiation.
Voice has advocated that new wi-fi systems should not be
installed in schools, that existing systems should be turned off when not
required and that schools should consider whether they really need to use
wi-fi, which was developed to facilitate Internet access on the move rather
than to be used as a convenient alternative to cables in dedicated IT
facilities.”
2012 - BCCPAC -
The BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils
-
800 Public School PCs & DPACs in BC
-
Studied WiFi issue for THREE years
2012
AGM Resolutions adopted for Parent Choice and Precaution:
#18
calls on Boards of Education to "cease to install Wi-Fi and other wireless
networks in schools where other networking technology is feasible."
#17
"calls on each Board of Education to have one public school at each
education level (elementary, middle, secondary) that is free of Wi-Fi, cordless
phones and cell phones. This school will only be equipped with wired computers
and wired telephones for personal, educational and administrative
purposes."
http://www.bccpac.bc.ca
2012 - The Ontario
English Catholic Teachers Association
37,000
teachers
A position regarding
the use of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation, including WiFi, in the
workplace:
Summary
1. We do not know what the long-term effects of low-level non-ionizing
radiation are on those who are exposed (workers and students). No form of
radiation can be deemed ‘safe’ as it depends on the constitution of the
individual exposed, the amount of exposure as well as a sufficient amount of
time to pass to observe any health effects that have a long latency period
(i.e. cancer).
2. The WHO has classified low-level non-ionizing radiation in the
microwave band associated with celluar phones as a class 2b carcinogen
(possible carcinogen) and Health Canada has warned about limiting the use of
handheld personal electronic equipment such as cellular phones among youth.
Initializing WiFi for personal electronic equipment will result in an
unpredictable exposure as use varies.
3. A segment of the population are environmentally sensitive (a
disability according to the Canadian Human Rights Commission) to low level
non-ionizing radiation and may experience immediate physical/biological
reactions when exposed.
4. Employers including School Boards have the duty to accommodate persons
with disabilities including that of electro-hypersensitivity. A widespread
investment in a redundant WiFi network may limit the ability to reduce WiFi
exposure thereby accommodating workers with an electro-hypersensitivity
disability.
5. The safety of this technology has not thoroughly been researched and
therefore the precautionary principle and prudent avoidance of exposure should
be practiced.
6. The purposeful introduction of non-ionizing radiation transmitters,
such as WiFi, into the work place is considered to be the introduction of new
equipment that presents a potential health and safety hazard for workers. As
such, it is the duty of the Joint Health and Safety Committee to develop a
hazard control program to; assess the risk of injury from the potential hazard,
recommend controls to be applied to address the hazards, and to monitor the
effectiveness of the applied controls.
7. Administrative and physical control methods to address the hazards of
non-ionizing radiation, such as WiFi, in the workplace are readily available
and relatively easy to apply. Application of controls would be completely
consistent with the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) approach and the
precautionary principles as well as the general duty clause, Section 25 (2)(h)
of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Recommendations
I. OECTA recognizes that there is a growing concern regarding the
potential adverse health effects of the use of wireless technology, which
requires the broadcasting of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, typically
in the radio/microwave frequency band.
II. OECTA recognizes that the installation of WiFi microwave transmitters
and the expanded use of wireless devices in Catholic schools and educational
facilities across the Province of Ontario may present a potential Health and
Safety risk or hazard in the workplace.
III. OECTA recognizes the need to provide information to the Joint Health
and Safety Committee(s) at the local Unit level regarding the potential hazards
and prudent avoidance control measures regarding the presence of non-ionizing
radiation (WiFi) in the workplace such that they may exercise their powers as
established under S. 9(18) the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
IV. OECTA post this position paper on the OECTA website.
2010 - Greater Victoria Teachers' Association
"The GVTA recommends a precautionary
approach to the School District with regard to provision of wireless Internet
in schools. The precautionary approach comes from the environmental movement
and has been adopted as common practice in areas regarding potential
environmental, ecological or biodiversity damage. It suggests that the lack of
significant evidence is not enough of a reason to be unconcerned. The fact that
many other countries have instituted regulations to protect children, seniors,
pregnant women and other susceptible populations should be the guide for a
District policy on WiFi installation and use in the worksites."
- Wi-Fi
free zones should be available.
- On/Off
routers recommended and record any adverse Wi-Fi health effects.
- Minimal
or non-use within elementary schools.
2010
- UK VOICE - The Union for Education Professionals
20,000 members
"Voice has
advocated that new Wi-Fi systems should not be installed in schools, that
existing systems should be turned off when not required and that schools should
consider whether they really need to use Wi-Fi, which was developed to
facilitate Internet access on the move rather than to be used as a convenient alternative
to cables in dedicated IT facilities.”
http://www.safeschool.ca/uploads/WiFipositionpaper2.pdf
2009 - UK ATL: Association of Teachers and
Lecturers
More than 160,000 members
35,000 members
WiFi Safety in
Schools - 16:9 The Bigger Picture (about 14 minutes):
