"The Royal Society of Canada will reconsider its decision to appoint a University of Ottawa professor to chair a panel that will assess the safety of radiowave-emitting devices such as cellular phones, following a CMAJ investigation that reveals a potential conflict-of-interest.

"The society's decision comes after CMAJ informed it that Daniel Krewski, who is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario and Director of the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre, failed to disclose to the society that he had a "$126 000 contract in 2008-2009 from Industry Canada. According to the Merx public tender document, Krewski's contract was to "assist in addressing what the Department believes is opposition often based on misperception and misinformation" with respect to cellphone antennas.

"In an interview with CMAJ, Krewski confirmed that he held this contract and that he had not specifically disclosed it to the society.

"After being informed about the contract and Krewski's admission that he had failed to disclose it, Geoffrey Flynn, who chairs the society's Committee on Expert Panels and its Scientific Advisory Committee, told CMAJ he would "take it back to the panels" to reconsider the choice of Krewski as chair.

"I don't think there's anything nefarious in it that he didn't disclose it," Flynn says. "The most positive view is that [Krewski] is so busy he overlooked it." . . .

"The Royal Society of Canada will reconsider its decision to appoint a University of Ottawa professor to chair a panel that will assess the safety of radiowave-emitting devices such as cellular phones, following a CMAJ investigation that reveals a potential conflict-of-interest.

"The society's decision comes after CMAJ informed it that Daniel Krewski, who is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario and Director of the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre, failed to disclose to the society that he had a "$126 000 contract in 2008-2009 from Industry Canada. According to the Merx public tender document, Krewski's contract was to "assist in addressing what the Department believes is opposition often based on misperception and misinformation" with respect to cellphone antennas.

"In an interview with CMAJ, Krewski confirmed that he held this contract and that he had not specifically disclosed it to the society.

"After being informed about the contract and Krewski's admission that he had failed to disclose it, Geoffrey Flynn, who chairs the society's Committee on Expert Panels and its Scientific Advisory Committee, told CMAJ he would "take it back to the panels" to reconsider the choice of Krewski as chair.

"I don't think there's anything nefarious in it that he didn't disclose it," Flynn says. "The most positive view is that [Krewski] is so busy he overlooked it." . . .

One of the most respected chiefs in British Columbia, Chief Clarence Louie, and his Osoyoos Indian Band Council have voted unanimously to ban smart meters from their land.

Penticton News Report
Press Release Sent to MPs and MLA's

FortisBC may not be able to install its proposed smart meters on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve.

The Osoyoos Indian Band is taking a stand against smart meters as its council members have signed a governing document that prohibits FortisBC from installing its smart meters on approximately 703 homes and businesses on the reserve.

According to Chief Clarence Louie, the band believes the smart meters could potentially harm the environment and the children on the reserve.

"No scientist on the planet has been able verify the safety of these extremely dangerous devices that emit microwave radiation 24/7 in perpetuity and cannot be turned off," says Louie.

However, FortisBC spokesperson Neal Pobran says Health Canada and British Columbia's Health Officer do not consider smart meters to be a threat.

"We've got a graph that shows where advanced meters kind of relate to other common household electronic items such as wifi, baby monitors, cell phones," says Pobran. "For instance, a cell phone is almost 17,000 times greater than what a smart meter emits for radio frequency emissions, so it's considerably lower than most of the electronic household items that we have."

Pobran adds that FortisBC is still waiting for the conclusion of a public hearing and decision from the B.C. Utilities Commission on whether it can proceed with installing smart meters anywhere, which he estimates will take place at the end of summer.

INSTRUCTIONS on how to use the Smart Meter NO-FEE OPT OUT REGISTRATION NOTICE

ALSO: Instruction page for printing on back of handout if distributed BY HAND

ALSO: SIGN for distributing handouts

The following Smart Meter No-Fee Opt Out Registration Notice can be used by all BC Hydro Account holders in BC, with or without a smart meter. 

It is for those citizens who believe we all have the right of autonomy in our own homes, the right to decide and choose for ourselves how we live and what risks we sustain within the sanctuary of our private residence. 

This Notice forms the request to the BC Liberals and BC Hydro to honour our right to live without harassment and in peace in our own homes, in accordance with our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as enshrined in the Canadian Constitution.

1. Print out three copies of the Smart Meter No-Fee Opt Out Registration Notice in PDF form as attached, and follow the steps below:  

a)    Mail one completed Notice with signature to BC Hydro at the address provided in the Notice;
b)    Post one completed Notice with signature beside your meter (in a plastic protective covering or laminated);
c)    Keep one completed Notice in a safe place for your records.

 
2.    Next, copy the notice as printed on this page, and paste into the body of an e-mail addressed to BC Hydro, Corix, and the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters (e-mail addresses supplied in the Notice).

3.   Remove your personal account number from the original email, copy and paste it into another e-mail and send to the list below: 

premier@gov.bc.ca, rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca, terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca, bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca, andrew.wilkinson.mla@leg.bc.ca, perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca, john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca, mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca, douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca, elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca, leader@greenparty.bc.ca

Liberal BC Leader Christy Clark premier@gov.bc.ca

Minister for Natural Gas Development/Housing/Deputy Premier rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca

Minister of Health, terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca

Minister of Energy bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca

Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services andrew.wilkinson.mla@leg.bc.ca

BC Chief Medical Officer perry.kendall@gov.bc.ca

NDP Energy Critic john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca

NDP Health Critic mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca

Deputy Critic for Health douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca

NDP BC Leader adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca

Green Party Federal Leader E. May elizabeth.may@greenparty.ca

Green Party BC Leader Jane Sterk leader@greenparty.bc.ca 

Copy also to your local Mayor and Council

Make sure you also copy your MLA in  your area, as well as your mayor and council. If you can, speak to your MLA in person and request they support democratic rights for opt out choice, and share your reasons why the Smart Grid should be stopped immediately.

 

4. If you cannot send by e-mail, please send regular mail to BC Hydro using the address provided in the Notice and also send a copy by mail to:

Coalition to Stop Smart Meters,
P.O. Box 28154,
West Shore RPO,
Victoria, BC V9B 6K8.

The Coalition needs to get this information to verify the numbers of people forced to take a smart meter against their will, any problems/concerns, and the numbers of people who continue to refuse a Smart Meter. All personal details will be kept confidential and will be used for no other purpose.

 

5. Many have recently had a visit from Corix when absent from their home. A door hanger was likely left for you requesting that you call Corix to make an appointment for meter installation. We suggest that you continue to correspond your refusal to BC Hydro in writing, using the Opt Out Registration Notice to BC Hydro as the reply to the Corix doorhanger.

 

6. If you have received a blank Opt Out Registration Notice at a meeting or from elsewhere in the community, make 4 copies after filling out the details and distribute as follows:

• mail one copy originally signed to BC Hydro
• mail one copy to the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
• post one copy beside your meter (place in plastic sleeve or laminate and make sure signature and details are filled in
• keep one copy in a safe place for your records

SMART METER NO-FEE OPT OUT REGISTRATION NOTICE
POSTED AT METER 

Sent by regular mail to:

Attention: Mr. Gary Murphy, Chief Project Officer

BC Hydro Smart Metering Program
6911 Southpoint Drive, Burnaby BC, V3N 4X8

Sent by e-mail to:

smartmeters@bchydro.com
info.utilities@corix.com

coordinator2@stopsmartmetersbc.ca

Date: _____________     Account No: _______________

Account Holder: __________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________

I am the holder of the above-referenced account for the stated address. This notice to BC Hydro is my Registration for a NO-FEE SMART METER OPT-OUT with regards to my account.

___  I choose the NO-FEE OPT OUT for legitimate reasons and will retain the analogue meter.

___  I choose the NO-FEE OPT OUT for legitimate reasons and require the Smart Meter placed on my home without my express informed consent to be replaced by an analogue meter.  

___ I choose the NO-FEE OPT OUT for legitimate reasons and despite my initial acceptance, I now require it to be removed and replaced by an analogue meter. 

My legitimate reasons include but are not limited to (note with XX): 

___ Health    ___ Fire Risk    ___ Privacy    ___ Security     ___ Safety      ___ Cost     ___ Environment

The following methods were used by Corix/ BC Hydro to install a smart meter on my home without my consent:

________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

  

I demand that my account be updated to accurately represent my legitimate requirement of a no-fee smart meter opt-out. 

Thank you.

Electronic Signature  _____________________________________________________

"Attorneys David Kyle and Paul Overett have filed a mass tort lawsuit against two California utilities: Southern California Edison (SCE) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for health damages from exposure to smart meters, and or smart grid. Also named in the lawsuit are smart meter installer companies, Corix and Wellington and smart meter manufacturers, Itron and Landis and Gyr, with possibly more defendants to be added as the lawsuit progresses.

"Attorney David Kyle has previously won a small claims lawsuit against SCE over smart meter installation, and settled with PG&E in a wrongful death suit involving an alleged smart meter fire. "Sixteen plaintiffs, ten SCE customers and six PG&E customers allege they suffered health effects ranging from headaches, insomnia, chronic fatigue, ringing in the ears, dizziness, heart palpitations, to heart attacks and medical implant interference from exposure to smart meters.

"The suit alleges the defendants withheld important safety information associated with the use of smart meters as well as multiple violations of CA laws, including California Civil Code section 1710 which defines deceit as an untrue assertion or suppression of a fact so as to mislead.

"Plaintiffs allege negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and deceit, and products liability.

"Elizabeth Barris, organizer for the lawsuit invites customers from other California utilities, including municipally run utilities, whose health has been effected by smart meters or smart grid to join the lawsuit. Elizabeth can be contacted at 310-281-9639 or email: contact@thepeoplesinitiative.org

"Copies of the filed complaints can be found at: http://www.citizensforaradiationfreecommunity.org

"Video introduction to the lawsuit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vln-uuu_aI

STONINGTON, Connecticut  

The 1st U.S. expert panel examining health, cognitive, and developmental effects to children from radiation emitted by cell phones, wireless routers, wireless baby monitors, portable phones, wireless smart boards and cell towers, as well as fertility and reproduction effects, long-term consequences from exposure in utero, and irreversible impacts on DNA, will be held at the La Grua Center in Stonington, CT on Friday, June 28, 2013 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

The program is open to the public.

Panelists include:
Hugh Taylor, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale University;
Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, founder of The Environmental Health Trust and the first Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute;
David Carpenter, MD, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Director of the Institute for Health and Environment, University of Albany School of Public Health;
Martin Blank, PhD, Special Lecturer and Retired Associate Professor, Columbia University, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics; and
Camilla Rees, MBA, of ElectromagneticHealth.org.

The program will address:

• The Emerging Public Health Issue From Cell Phones and Wireless Technologies. The trillion dollar wireless communications industry has grown to dominate our lives over the past decades yet little concern has been paid by U.S. public health officials to the long-term risks from continually bathing ourselves, and our children, in electromagnetic fields. 

• Warnings From Around the World. Independent scientists, as well as physicians and psychologists the world over, say the human health stakes from EMF (electromagnetic field) exposures are comparable to those from tobacco and asbestos, and even greater as in this case the entire population is exposed. DNA effects, including fertility effects, experts say will likely be irreversible.  

• Special Vulnerability of Children, Fetuses and Sperm. Children's bodies and brains are more vulnerable and they face a longer lifetime of exposure. Exposure to electromagnetic fields in utero is correlated with health challenges such as ADHD, emotional problems, asthma, obesity and possibly Autism Spectrum Disorder, yet expectant mothers and parents are not being told about the risks.  

For more information, go to http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/ct-childrens-health-panel/.

ElectromagneticHealth.org
Emily Roberson, 610-707-1602
Emily@electromagnetichealth.org

This PRESS RELEASE announces Jerry Flynn's challenge to FortisBC for a debate regarding the unproven safety of smart meters.  It has been sent to every newspaper, TV station and major radio station in BC. As well, it has been sent to all of the listed 2012 BC MLA's.  Unfortunately, defeated candidates and those newly-elected have been missed.  

To be sent as indicated on the downloaded REGISTRATION FORM below:

1.   I am a member of Citizens for Safe Technology Society ("CSTS") or I hereby apply to become a member of     CSTS.

2.    I have read the Notice of Class Action Lawsuit against BC Hydro Invitation for Participation issued by CSTS ("the Invitation"). 

3.    I wish to be included in the class on whose behalf the above-referenced litigation is to be brought, as described in the Invitation ("the Class").

4.    I endorse and authorize a representative plaintiff of the Class on the condition that he/she authorize CSTS to administer the class action and to retain and instruct counsel to bring the class action on behalf of the plaintiff and on behalf of all members of the class, including me. 

5.    I meet the criteria for inclusion in the Class.  In particular:

a.     I have indicated to BC Hydro in writing (by way of letter or signage) that I do not accept the installation / operation of a wireless smart meter at my home for reasons that include health concerns.

b.     I have circled below which of i, ii, iii, or iv has occurred:

                                  i.     Notwithstanding my written communication referred to above, BC Hydro proceeded to install and operate a wireless smart meter at my home. 

                                ii.     Notwithstanding my written communication referred to above, I have received information from BC Hydro setting out its intention to install a wireless smart meter at my home. 

                               iii.     BC Hydro has cut off its supply of power to my home as a consequence of my refusal to allow the installation of a wireless smart meter at my home. 

                               iv.     BC Hydro has indicated its intention to cut off its supply of power to my home as a consequence of my refusal to allow the installation of a wireless smart meter at my home.

    c.      At all times during the above-referenced occurrences, I have been a customer of BC Hydro at a residence which I ordinarily occupy. 

Further, we invite those individuals who meet the above-referenced class definition to make a suggested donation of $100 or more to finance the legal fees, together with a suggested donation of $50 for advertising, administration, website services and CSTS membership purposes for participation in this action. Suggested donation for participation being $150.

We need your correspondence with us to be in writing. Please complete this Class Action Registration Form by printing out the form, filling in each section carefully, and mailing it to the address below with your donation by cheque payable to the Coalition to Stop Smart Meters: . . . 

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ANNOUNCED to media
Notice of Class Action Lawsuit Against BC Hydro INVITATION FOR PARTICIPATION

"REMOVE UNWANTED SMART METER"

Until recently, BC Hydro has said that "only 7% or 140,000 homes have refused" a BC Hydro smart meter. Now they are playing with the numbers of those who have "opted out", saying more and more have come on-side after being "informed."  

• Imagine how many would have refused these wireless transmitters if they had known they could? How many still would?  

• Imagine how many people would have refused if they had not been harassed and intimidated? 

• Imagine how many would have refused if they had known all of the safety, security, health and financial concerns associated with them? 

• How many did not give informed consent? 

The Coalition to Stop Smart Meters and Citizens for Safe Technology Society would like everyone who has had a wireless smart meter installed, and wants it removed, to let us know.

To do so, e-mail dsnoble@shaw.ca with a short and simple statement to that effect, and put "REMOVE METER" in the subject line.

We want to form a large list of the many thousands of BC residents who want this device removed. We will present it to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) prior to election time. 

Please pass this request to friends and neighbours as well.

This will be important information to give to politicians come campaign time to show how unwanted this program is.

Thank you!

Safety Code 6 is UNDER REVIEW BY A CONFLICTED PANEL!

www.c4st.org/safety-code-6-review

Health Canada has updated Safety Code 6 and is employing an "independent" panel to review its work. It has hired the Royal Society of Canada, which has strict guidelines to protect against conflicts of interest.

This "independent review panel" is not independent at all, and is conflicted as per the Royal Society's own guidelines. We are concerned its results are pre-determined, will not be objective and will not protect Canadians.

The panel with its predetermined viewpoints and conflicted financial interests will oversee the most important scientific review of our time, a review that will define whether or not safety guidelines for radiation should be tightened and address the concerns of thousands of Canadians already reporting the effects of current exposure.

The selection of a significantly conflicted panel is unlikely to make decisions to protect Canadians. We are concerned that the results are predetermined.

This morning we launch our national campaign calling for this panel to be dissolved and re-assembled following Royal Society's own guidelines.

C4ST has called on the Harper government, Minister of Health, and President of the RSC to dissolve the current panel and create a new truly independent panel using the Royal Society's existing published guidelines for panel selection.

The letters are available on our site to be viewed and shared.

We call on all groups involved across Canada to stand as one behind this motion.

www.c4st.org/safety-code-6-review