Twenty-four Canadian groups in Ottawa comprised of scientists and citizens are joining forces and “demanding the right to say ‘No’” to 5G. Cision reported the groups are appealing to the Trudeau government to halt the next-generation network’s rollout until questions about “human health effects are resolved.”
The groups say their petitions have nothing to do with COVID-19, and they condemn recent acts of violence directed towards towers. However, they believe more research is needed regarding the negative health impact of cell phones, towers, and WiFi. The groups are imploring Health Canada to complete a “comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the effects of RF radiation on the health of Canadians.”
Dr. Meg Sears, Ph.D., Chair of Ottawa based Prevent Cancer Now, a signatory group, explained the reason for the demands. “Health Canada’s 2015 guidelines for human exposure to non-ionizing radiation (Safety Code 6) were out of date before they were published, and the review process was flawed,” said Dr. Sears. “Hundreds of peer-reviewed, published studies show that radiofrequency (RF) radiation can cause cancers, damage sperm, and DNA, impair reproduction, learning and memory, and more. We should be limiting public exposure, not increasing it.”
Another signatory to the appeal, Dr. Anthony Miller MD, Professor Emeritus of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, added his reasoning. “We have sufficient data to classify RF radiation as a Group 1, known human carcinogen, along with, for example, asbestos and tobacco smoke,” he said.
Frank Clegg, former President of Microsoft Canada and CEO of Canadians For Safe Technology, commented on the potential economic ramifications 5G could impose. He asked for a “full economic analysis,” including a standard cost-benefit analysis regarding 5G, especially considering the current pandemic. Clegg said concerns include increased costs to the healthcare system, loss of productivity due to adverse health effects caused by 5G, increased energy consumption, negative environmental impacts, and more.
Cision reported that 4G and 5G small cells are appearing in neighborhoods without prior notification, popping up near homes. Opponents are asking the government to place a moratorium on spectrum auctions and small cell rollout with some suggesting that “current federal funding should be devoted to a robust fiber optic infrastructure, which has zero negative health impacts.”
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