-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Parents denied an opportunity to decide on Cell Phone Ban in BC's classrooms
Date:	Thu, 14 Mar 2019 20:08:00 -0700
From:	Janis Hoffmann <iknowjanis@shaw.ca>
To:	educ.minister@gov.bc.ca
CC:	premier@gov.bc.ca, hlth.minister@gov.bc.ca

Dear Minister of Education, Rob Fleming,

It was exciting news when the Ontario government allowed the parents to make an informed decision on the banning of cell phones in the classrooms. It takes leadership to challenge what is popular and address the growing problem of cell phone addiction in our schools. It’s clear the constant use of cell phones is interfering with our children’s ability to interact and develop healthy relationships in the real world. This addiction is robbing our children of the opportunity to build life skills that include critical thinking, communication, cooperation, and the ability to focus.

Besides the negative impact this addiction has on learning, parents, teachers and students are aware of the known health risks from the unregulated exposure to microwave radiation emitting from these wireless devices. This decision will make a huge impact on the reduction of radiation exposure our children are experiencing in our classrooms.

Our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry has refused to provide us with an official response to the 2018, current findings of the US National Toxicology Program and the supporting Ramazzini Institute Study who concluded there is “Clear Evidence of Carcinogenic Activity” and the association of cancer in the heart and brain and cell phone radiation.

It is a SCIENTIFIC FACT that this exposure causes many health effects, including cancers, anxiety, depression, autism, Alzheimer’s, hormone problems, DNA damage, infertility, etc. As documented in over 27,000 peer reviewed studies by scientists and medical experts https://www.emf-portal.org/en

Parents, teachers and students have been told by Dr. Richard Stanwick, School Medical Health Officer that microwave radiation, a known 2b carcinogen listed next to lead, DDT, methyl mercury, chloroform, and car exhaust, is an acceptable risk in our schools, is cancer an acceptable risk too?

You have decided for the parents of BC not to ban the use of Cell Phones in the classrooms and yet your child is benefiting from the ban of cell phones in Central Middle School. Does this sound fair?

Children are still putting these devices to their heads, abdomens and in their pockets when the Safety Manuals state” To be sure that human exposure to RF energy does not exceed the FCC, IC and European Union guidelines, always follow these instructions and precautions: Orient the device…away from your body… Why is the BC government refusing to educate parents, teachers and students the safe use of these wireless devices? Yet an Italian court has ordered the government (Ministries of the Environment and Education) to launch a campaign to advise the public of the health risks from mobile and cordless phones. https://microwavenews.com/short-takes-archive/italian-decision-precaution

We hope with the overwhelming amount of evidence of harm that you will reconsider your decision and follow the Ontario Government’s lead to ban cell phones the classrooms of BC.

We are hoping for a timely response,

Janis Hoffmann

Parents for Safe Schools