February
3, 2016
Office
of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Dear
Prime
Minister Trudeau,
As
a Director of Children’s Health and Safety for the Citizens
for Safe Technology Society (CST), I represent parents, teachers
and students who are seriously concerned about the recent
endorsement of the wireless virtual reality system called “The Global Expeditions
Pioneer Program.” You may not be aware that the World Health
Organization (WHO) has classified radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”
(Group 2B). Our children's health is at risk in our schools
when they are forced to suffer prolonged chronic exposure
to low levels of microwave radio frequency radiation from
wireless devices.
The
Google’s Expeditions Pioneer Program provides a free
kit, which includes ASUS smartphones, and wireless
tablet for the teacher to act as the tour director, a wireless
Internet router and Google Cardboard headsets. Concerned
scientists explain that cell phones are a two-way microwave
radiation transceiver, which should never be used directly in
front of a child’s eyes and brain. Professor Om Gandhi from
the University of Utah, who is one of the original developers
of testing wireless radiation from cellphones, has stated “We have never tested
microwave radiating devices directly in front of the young
developing eye. The
absence of proof of harm at this point does not mean that
we have evidence of safety.”
The health and
safety information provided with the kit includes a list of
warnings to the user when using this product. The risks identified include
severe dizziness, seizures, epileptic seizures and other
conditions of epilepsy. blackouts triggered by light flasher
or patterns, and loss of awareness.
Further, the
product warnings go on to say that this product should not be
used when tired, needing sleep, under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, are hung-over, have digestive problems, under
emotional stress or anxiety, or when suffering from cold, flu,
headaches, migraines, or headaches, as this can increase your
susceptibility to adverse symptoms.
It
is of great importance to note the following warning, " This product
should not be used by children under the age of 13 as
these children may be at increased health and safety risk.
Adults should monitor children (age 13 and older) who are
using or have used the Headset for any of the symptoms
described above.”
In January 2015,
MP Terence Young announced a multi-party support for his
Private member’s Bill C-648 requiring manufacturers of
wireless devices to place health warnings labels on the
outside of the packaging. Parents,
teachers
and students shouldn’t have to look for the buried warnings
and disclaimers of the health hazards to their children before
this technology is distributed throughout our schools.
According to a report
delivered June 2015, by the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Health (HESA) the microwave radiation from
wireless devices is now a "serious public health
issue". The
Canadian Parliamentary Committee discussed possible links
between RF exposure and cancer, reproductive issues and
autism. Concerns were raised about RF exposure in schools due
to use of Wi-Fi; the need for RF exposure limits to protect
vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants and
children, and persons with electromagnetic hypersensitivity
(EHS)
We are confounded as to why
Health Canada has disregarded or minimized certain recent
studies, such as links to cancer promotion, DNA damage,
protein synthesis, stress response, and detrimental biological
health effects in humans that occur at radiation levels far
below the existing Safety Code 6 Guideline. During the
hearings four international experts testified that Health
Canada is "either unwilling or
not competent" to judge current scientific
evidence that wireless radiation is harmful to our health.
Health Canada is not protecting the public.
The International EMF
Scientist Appeal, signed by over 200 EMF research
scientists, university professors and medical doctors from 40
countries, called upon the United Nations, the WHO, and the UN
Member States to address the emerging public
health crisis caused by indiscriminate use of microwave
radiation emitting devices without safety precuations.
Concerned scientists state that the enactment of the
precautionary principle is past due, as a start to protect the
general public, specifically children and the unborn.
"The
Precautionary Principle states when there are indications of
possible adverse effects, even just single cases, though they
remain uncertain, the risks from doing nothing may be far
greater than the risks of taking action to control these
exposures.”
This is a time when we call upon you in your role of Prime
Minister, to take the prudent and wise step to protect
children without delay, as it will be impossible to turn the
clock back and unwind the damage caused in the days to come.
Given there is a serious health risk
to our children we are calling on you as the Prime Minister
and as a parent with three school age children to implement
the precautionary principle and have this free product removed
from our schools.
Sincerely,
Janis Hoffmann
CST
Director,
Children's Health & Safety
C4ST
Riding
Rep
Founder
Parents
for Safe Schools
Cc;
Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau
Members of
Parliament via email
