Thursday 30 March 2017

Letters to Health Minister Philpott about statment on CBC Marketplace “The secret inside your cellphone”

 http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2015-2016/the-secret-inside-your-phone


Dear Hon. Health Minister Philpott,

On Friday night, CBC Marketplace broadcast a program called, “The secret inside your cellphone” where it was explained the Minister of Health, which would be you, was unavailable to comment on the safety of cell phone use. Instead, Health Canada submitted the most outrageous and irresponsible comment “EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE… 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR … THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECT.”

Your silence by refusing to inform the public of the potential health risks by not enforcing the safety manuals mandated by the federal government and included in all wireless technology makes you accountable for any and all permanent injuries to our children.

In January 1998, The Wingspread Conference held a three-day academic conference where the Precautionary Principle was defined. It involved 35 scientists, lawyers, policy makers and environmentalists from the United States, Canada and Europe.

It was agreed the Precautionary Principle would be implemented when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. The Precautionary Principle shifts the burden of proof, insisting that those responsible for an activity must vouch for its harmlessness and be held responsible if damage occurs.

Your job and obligation to implement the Precautionary Principle and protect the public on this potential health crisis would have taken 5 minutes of your time to comment on the need to inform the public on the basic safety measures of using a cell phone and protect themselves and their children from the potential health risks from the radiation exposure.

Maybe it’s time to read over the mandated letter from Prime Minister Trudeau and the promises you made to live up to the highest ethical standards so Canadians could look up to their government with pride and trust?

We have committed to an open, honest government that is accountable to Canadians, lives up to the highest ethical standards, and applies the utmost care and prudence in the handling of public funds. I expect you to embody these values in your work and observe the highest ethical standards in everything you do. When dealing with our Cabinet colleagues, Parliament, stakeholders, or the public, it is important that your behaviour and decisions meet Canadians’ well-founded expectations of our government. I want Canadians to look on their own government with pride and trust.

As Minister, you must ensure that you are aware of and fully compliant with the Conflict of Interest Act and Treasury Board policies and guidelines. You will be provided with a copy of Open and Accountable Government to assist you as you undertake your responsibilities. I ask that you carefully read it and ensure that your staff does so as well. I draw your attention in particular to the Ethical Guidelines set out in Annex A of that document, which apply to you and your staff. As noted in the Guidelines, you must uphold the highest standards of honesty and impartiality, and both the performance of your official duties and the arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This is an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law. Please also review the areas of Open and Accountable Government that we have expanded or strengthened, including the guidance on non-partisan use of departmental communications resources and the new code of conduct for exempt staff.

“EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE… 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR … THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECT.”

This irresponsible statement is unacceptable, proving you have not fulfilled your obligation to the public by protecting them from potential harm.  It should not be up to the public to prove that a product is not safe but up to the industry to prove it is safe.

Janis Hoffmann 
 
Dane Snowden of the CTIA does not say cell phones are safe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5yGTZq06zQ

Dear Hon. Health Minister Philpott.

On Friday, March 24, 2017, CBC’s Marketplace broadcast a program called “The secret inside your cellphone” which spoke about how the cell phone industry is misleading its customers.  It exposed how customers are not told about how to use their phones and how Health Canada is failing to protect the public. Due to various constraints, Ms. Mesley couldn’t address all of the issues, but shockingly you did not respond to any of her questions. Marketplace did not have the time to tell people that Health Canada’s guidelines are among the weakest in the world. Even China, Russia and India allow their citizens to be exposed to mere fractions of the levels of RF allowed by Safety Code 6.

But worst of all is the dangerously misleading statement told, blatantly, by Health Canada that is included in this screen shot. “EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE… 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR … THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFCT.”

Based upon the hundreds of studies I’ve read, this statement is a lie. No scientist, even industry scientists, would say that microwave radiation is safe. Minister Philpott, do you support this, and agree that this is the information that should be given to parents who are looking for guidance? 

What is the basis for this statement? Are you willing to put your name to it? If you are not, and if you cannot give me scientific evidence to support this statement then you MUST retract it from the CBC Marketplace program and delete it from all of Health Canada’s references.

With deep concern,
Sharon Noble

Sent: March 26, 2017
To: jane.philpott@canada.ca
Cc: pm@pm.gc.ca; marketplace@cbc.ca; randall.garrison@parl.gc.ca; elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Subject: concerned parent over Health Canada's remarks

“EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE… 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR … THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFCT.”

As a mother of three, I pride myself in doing my best to provide my children with as safe a home as possible. I always err on the side of caution when choosing products for my children that are potentially harmful. For a representative of Health Canada to say on public television that it is safe to expose children to a cell phone for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. The fact that the World Health Organization has classified electro-magnetic radiation from wireless devices as a Class 2B potential carcinogen, is enough for me to use wireless devices safely. And, I have taught my children the same. It is a shock that Health Canada would disregard the scientific findings that went behind this classification.

The public is weary of Health Canada always siding with industry on questions of public health and preventive measures. But, this blatant disregard for the health of Canadian children has gone too far. 

This statement needs to be withdrawn immediately. 

Yours truly,


Sent: March 26, 2017
To: Jane.Philpott@parl.gc.ca; pm@pm.gc.ca
Cc: Murray.Rankin@parl.gc.ca; elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca; pm@pm.gc.ca; marketplace@cbc.ca
Subject: Marketplace reveals Health Canada is Injuring Canadians' Health & Endangering the Lives of Children

Minister Philpott,

I was SHOCKED at the statement by Health Canada that “EVEN IF A SMALL CHLD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE…24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR…THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECT.’

There is no scientific evidence  to substantiate that statement.  Indeed there is increasing scientific evidence it is blatantly false. 

Is this the same government that promised evidence-based policies?

Where, Ms. Philpott, is your evidence? 

If you have no evidence and you do not, because there is no evidence that would justify that statement, I respectfully request that you order Health Canada to retract their statement and issue a correction.  I further request that the Health Canada statement, AS A MINIMUM, urge cell phone users to review the data on how cell phones should be used and carried.

Please respond.  I do not want a form letter.  I want to know someone in your office actually is reading taxpayers' communications to your office.

Thanks,

Sent: March 26, 2017
Subject: Health Canada, out of touch with science

Dear Hon. Health Minister Philpott,

The recent CBC - Marketplace program on cellphones, informed the viewers of your unfortunate decision not to speak to Ms. Mesley, the investigative reporter of this program.  This left a rather poor impression on the Liberal government, as your party campaigned on "science-based decision making".

The most disturbing information of this program was Health Canada's outrageous, unscientific claim:  "Even if a small child were exposed to a cell phone . . . 24 hours a day, 365 days a year . . . there would be no adverse Health effect." 

I have written to you before regarding this outlandish safety claim that, to this day, is present on Health Canada's website.  Unfortunately, your staff decided to pass my previous email to Health Canada, and I am quite certain that you did not have a chance to glance at the medical science information I provided.   
Instead, I received the usual form letter from Health Canada, stunningly denouncing peer reviewed research by hundreds of respected scientists and specialists of electromagnetic, 'non-ionizing' radiation research, and all fields of medicine! 
Such unprecedented, grotesque level of arrogance, and unbridled hubris, has no place in a caring and educated modern society!  

Every parent wishes the best health information for their children, but what value does it hold when the information they receive from Health Canada is outdated, and not based on current scientific literature?  

Ms. Philpott, are you aware of the warning posters the Austrian Medical Association has prominently displayed in medical clinics, regarding cell phones and wireless devices?  

Medical Rules For Cell Phone use: 
No. 1 -  Use a cell phone as little and as short as possible, children and teenagers under the age of 16 should not use a cell phone at all!

Why does Health Canada irresponsibly encourage 24/7 microwave radiation exposure for children, while other countries around the world warn of negative biological consequences?    

“A disservice has been done in inaccurately depicting the body of science, which actually indicates that there are biological effects from the radiation emitted by wireless devices, including damage to DNA, and evidence for increased risk of cancer and other substantial health consequences…The public the world over has been misled by this reporting.”
- Dr. ​Ronald B. Herberman, - Founding Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Vice Chancellor of Cancer Research at University of Pittsburgh and the first head of an NCI funded cancer center to ​speak out ​on the risks from cell phones.

"Because the World Health Organization considers wireless radiation a possible human carcinogen, wireless radiation does not belong in schools with young children” ­
- Anthony B. Miller MD PHD - expert advisor to the WHO, Professor Emeritus University of Toronto - in the C4ST Women's College Hospital Symposium 9/12/14.

 "​As a research scientist and physician who studies how microwave radiation affects the outcomes of pregnancy, I am deeply concerned about growing exposures to cell phone and other wireless radiation​." ­
- Prof.Hugh Taylor, MD, PhD, - Chief of Obstetrics/Gynecology - at Yale University Medical School, 2013.    

“Radiation at extremely low levels (0.0001, the level, much lower than emitted by the average digital cellular telephone) caused heart attacks and the deaths of some chicken embryos...independent, third-party peer reviewed studies need to be conducted in the U.S. to begin examining the effects from radiation on migratory birds and other trust species.“ ­
- Willie Taylor - US Department of the Interior - in his ​February 2014 letter​ to Mr. Eli Veenendaal of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

"Scientific data on the biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) indicate the need to pursue a precautionary approach to protect the exposed population. It is clear that RF radiation can cause single and double strand DNA breaks at exposure levels that are currently considered safe under FCC guidelines". ­
- Dr. Martin Blank - of Columbia University in his ​letter​ to the LAUSD​.

“Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
- The United Nation’s ​Rio Declaration​ on the Environment and Development, 1992 - 
Canada is a signee of this document.

“The IARC 2B classification implies an assurance of safety that cannot be offered—a particular concern, given the prospect that most of the world’s population will have lifelong exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.” ­ 
- Dr. Jonathan Samet - physician and epidemiologist, Chair of the World Health Organization’s EMF Working Group who made the Class 2 B classification, in a 2014 Commentary.

“All reasonable measures to be taken to reduce exposures to electromagnetic fields, especially radiofrequencies from mobile phones and particularly the exposures to children and young adults. Current exposure limits to be reconsidered.”
- European Environment Agency -​

Here you will find these quotes, plus so much more information on this subject:

Health Canada is clearly is not acting in the interest of Canadians!  Therefore, as grandparents, we are deeply concerned about the future health of our two little grandchildren, as their environment has become saturated with unnatural, man-made electrosmog pollution, with no end in sight!

Health Canada has become a liability for all Canadians, as staff refuses to accept the mountains of scientific evidence of harm that was made available to them from many associations and groups, including myself. 
Health Canada refuses to adopt the 'Precautionary Principle' of science; instead, they irresponsibly encourage the use of wireless devices for children on their website ! 
This deliberate negligence of duty leaves the distinct impression that they have become a lobby group for the wireless industry!  Either they lack the medical credentials, or they simply succumbed to what is now termed as: 'wireless dementia'!   

Ms. Philpott, we and thousands of others urge you to bring this travesty by Health Canada to light! 
Please think of the children and their future, and let current 'independent' science be your guide.

Kind Regards,
Marcus (Citizens for Safe Technology)  

P.S.  Your response would be appreciated, but please be so kind and spare us the indignity of Health Canada's rhetoric. 


Sent: March 27, 2017
To: jane.philpott@canada.ca
Cc: pm@pm.gc.ca; marketplace@cbc.ca; randall.garrison@parl.gc.ca; elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Subject: Irresponsible Cell Phone Safety Statement

Hon. Minister Philpott,

I am contacting you after viewing the excellent CBC Marketplace segment "The Secret Inside Your Phone" by Wendy Mesley.

This is a subject that I have been following for many years now, unfortunately, due to my son's symptoms resulting from electro-hypersensitivity. He is now almost 24, and about the only person in that age group that I know who does not (cannot) use a cell phone. He tries to maintain and balance a normal life and social connections, while at the same time attempting to surreptitiously avoid all sources of RF radiation from cell phones, cordless phones, wifi routers, cell transmitters, etc. As you can imagine, this is very challenging in our current wireless-everything environment, but he's learned to adapt the best he can.

Aside from finding the Oncologist in the story very irresponsible with his statements, I was most deeply dismayed to see the one Health Canada slide that said:   EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELL PHONE… "24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR … THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS."

Given the vast amount of studies and data that I've seen firsthand that contradict this, I feel this misleading statement borders on being criminal.

There is more than enough evidence to dispute this ridiculous statement, and I respectfully request that Health Canada retract this outrageous and irresponsible claim immediately.

Sincerely,

To: "jane philpott" <jane.philpott@canada.ca>
Cc: "pm" <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "marketplace" <marketplace@cbc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 10:47:40 AM
Subject: Marketplace - CBC

Dear Honorable Philpott,

I am puzzled as to why the following statement that appeared on CBC Marketplace's program on cellphones has not been challenged by your Ministry:

"EVEN IF A SMALL CHILD WERE EXPOSED TO A CELLPHONE 24 HOURS A DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR, THERE WOULD BE NO ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS."

This is an outrageous statement and is blatantly false. There are hundreds of scientific studies proving that exposure to cellphones on a long-term basis is hazardous to one's health. 

And anyone who knows anything about small children knows that their brains and bodies are still forming and are extremely vulnerable. If cellphone signals can pass through cement walls of buildings, don't you think they could also penetrate young bodies? And what about the rest of us? Don't you think we are affected by cellphone signals passing through our bodies as well?

The scientific research is out there on the dangers of ALL wireless technologies, not just cellphones. iPads, tablets, wireless printers and Smart Meters (that cannot be turned off) just to name a few. We need to be reducing our addiction to these harmful technologies, not encouraging them.

As the Minister of Health for Canada, is it not your responsibility to be informed about such topics of great importance? I ask that you contact CBC Marketplace and request that they retract this most misleading and legally-challenging statement.

As the Minister of Health for Canada you might also want to look into the future about 5-10 years from now. When I do that, I see hospitals bulging with people with brains tumors and other debilitating conditions caused by exposure to WiFi and other wireless technologies. What will this do to the health care budget? Isn't it time to deal with it now rather than later?

WiFi is the new smoking. It took 40 years to overcome the immense pressure by tobacco lobbyists and their lawyers to prove that smoking causes cancer. Thousands of people died because they believed what the government was telling them ie smoking is safe. We now know a different truth.

This same scenario is being played out again, only the lobbyists and lawyers that are involved are promoting the wireless industry. They sit on relevant Boards and governmental groups and exert their powerful influence. This powerful influence is now causing people harm and even death. Something needs to be done--sooner rather than later. You are in a position to help.

I hope you will.



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