Some good news reported in The Star. The Penang state government will broaden its consultation about the possible health risks of wi-fi.
Wide consultation is a good idea. Such public consultation should take place before any major project is launched.
“The state government is ready to cancel and abandon the project if there is scientific proof to show that the health of the people will be adversely affected by the wireless network,” says Guan Eng.
Fine. But what if studies point to significant health risks? When it comes to untested new technology and public health, caution should be exercised – especially if we are not sure of the long-term effects.
There is a difference between free wi-fi for the whole of Penang and say, mobile phones. In the former, the technology is thrust on the people, who do not have a choice. In contrast, in the case of mobile phones, people are free to choose whether or not to use them.
When organising the public awareness forum, both sides of the argument – along with accompanying evidence and research papers – should be presented. It is only then that we can make informed decisions about the proposed project. This report from The Star:
Sunday October 5, 2008 MYT 4:21:30 PM
Penang to continue study on health effects of WiFi
By CHRISTINA CHINGEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will widen its consultations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the public on possible health risks posed by free Internet wireless connections in the state.
A public forum to discuss the issue will be held after the Hari Raya festive period, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a press release on Sunday.
He made the commitment in response to NGO objections to the wireless broadband project, which is aimed at providing free WiFi connection to the entire state within 24 months.
“I have instructed our tech-savvy Member of Parliament Jeff Ooi to organise the forum.
“For public education, we will make available various research papers on radio frequency (RF) radiation that has been wrongly linked to WiFi and WiMAX,” he said, adding that Ooi was Malaysia’s first blogger elected into Parliament and author of a book on the knowledge-based economy.
“We are receptive to public requests for continued consultative and educational sessions with the government pertaining to the implementation of the free Wireless@PENANG project. Public consultation is a continuing process even after a project is announced.
“The state government is ready to cancel and abandon the project if there is scientific proof to show that the health of the people will be adversely affected by the wireless network,” he said.
Lim also said that a World Health Organisation report concluded that the amount of non-ionizing radiation absorbed by a person’s body from a WiFi station is less than one-fifth that received from FM radio and television sets.
Caution and broad consultation will help in coming up with wise decisions. I think – or rather, I would like to believe – that both sides of the debate share the over-riding concern of ensuring that public health is not compromised in the quest for development. That is what sustainable development is all about.
[...] Penang govt to widen consultation on wi-fi health risks [...]
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Hello…..all are welcome to participate. No brother sister award of the business. Imagine if BN is still around, bet someone’s brother or sister or relative will get the monopoly….I think we have gone through that before…
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I would agree that the wifi project should be studied further before implemented.
Things that are free definitely everybody wants but not necessarily it is good for us.
Maybe there is no current proof that wifi is bad for our health but maybe like some diseases, it might take time or prolonged exposure to show.
I agree with Mr Anil that people can choose not to use handphone but should the wifi project be implemented, people have no choice to not be affected by it.
We all want free wifi. The difference is that some are so short-sighted with wanting it because it’s free and without considering it’s long term effect on them and people around them whilst some prefer to take precaution because haste is waste and prevention is better than cure.
You may have it (wifi) free now but who knows how much more you will have to fork out for your cancer/tumour/ED bills.
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some might think certain NGOs are so kaypo/ anti-development and pushing away the government’s good efforts.
but i am glad that there are NGOs like these who make me stop and think and reconsider rather than accept blindly whatever that’s given. I am glad that they are there to represent the collective small voices like myself.
sometimes, i think NGOs make better opposition members rather than Oppositions members themselves.
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There are no conclusive evidence that WiFi can adversely harm any living thing on this planet. Although the research is still at an early stage and will probably take another 100 years of pushing papers back and forth while giving out some ang pows under the table delaying the final conclusion that yes it is harmful, but by then Malaysia will have people with two heads and two limbs walking backwards and s***ting from their mouths. For more details on Electromagnetic Safety see http://www.icems.eu/benevento_resolution.htm
I think it’s much safer to do bungee jumping, skydiving, wrestle a crocodile or eat all that China goodies filled with Melamine.
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I don’t understand about all these public health concerns. I do read about an article talking about wifi leading to cancer, but there are all kinds of such articles on NET now. If we are going to decide something based on those NET articles, we can never go anywhere.
I am in Portland, USA but I am a Penangite; and Portland is a Wifi city for years, just like what Penang government is going to do. And I never heard anything about health risk or any reports on health damage from both the public and the government of Portland. People have been doing this for years, and we are arguing about whether it is good for us??? Why don’t we take some real cases for study….
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came across these articles this morning. thought they’d add to the debate:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/oct/06/radiation.fears
http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/256/
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joolee thanks for your linked articles, they were useful, To think that people use this situation to earn an extra buck is sad. Despite all that it is still 50/50 on the Electromagnetic effects on humans. A long time ago on July 20, 1969 when the Apollo Spacecraft took mission to the moon everyone was glad but oblivious to the fact that the chemicals which were used on the rockets were harming the ozone layers. Years later they debated about it and came to a conclusion that space travel and conquering the galaxy was more important. Again the humans are the ones to suffer and have fallen to deceit. Just a reminder to “Just want change” Portland Wifi intends to shut down it’s operation’s soon. Again this may not be a radiation issue but instead a white elephant which costs more to maintain. We the people of Malaysia do not want our Goverments to spend tax payers money without planning ahead for the future. For gods sake there are still families living in huts in Penang, what about Portland, USA?
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George,
Everywhere has poor people, you are so naive to think that Portland does not have poor people who are homeless, who are living underneath fly over or bridges???? Portland is going to shutdown the wifi is not because of health concern, is because of its maintainance. Penang is a developing state, if we don’t implement something what is so called “future technology” (actually, is existing technology, and we are so far behind, but yet still so conservative), then we can never march ahead. I do agree that Penang government should take care of other public wellfare, but it does not mean that we have to do things ONE AT A TIME…….We are emphazing on attracting High Tech companies to invest in Penang or even in Malaysia, we have a so called High Tech Park in Kulim, and the arguement we have here is so “Low Tech” without a proper proof or evident. This type of development can serve as a attraction point to foreign investors. Without more investment to Penang, it might create more employment and it will indirectly help those FAMILIES LIVING IN HUTS!!!!
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Just want change,
I know everywhere people are poor, for instance in Portland, City Commissioner Erik Sten, spearheaded the outreach plan in December 2004, and brought down the “chronically homeless” from 1,438 to 386 in December. That’s almost a 74% drop. The Penang homeless have to wait for the 10th Malaysia Plan and we are in 2008 currently on the 9th Malaysia Plan. Most of these homeless Penangites are carted away and relocated to Kedah or Pahang and placed into welfare homes. Anyway this topic is not about the homeless, that was an example of how good money can be spent. You know, being conservative is actually good as opposed to jumping on the bandwagon everytime something new pops up, like botox, viagra, plastic surgery, Wifi so on and so forth. They are only good for a short period of time and not in the long run. I am not opposing technology, im just saying that it needs a lot of attention to detail prior to implementing it in Penang. I never said for them to do this one at a time, they can coordinate with various goverment agencies simultaneously to achieve this. For me anything wired is safe as long as i dont go near it, anything wireless using the airwaves that we share must be considered crucially. Our technology is not very far behind, first we have to have the subscriber base to implement further technology. Why not opt for fibre optics or copper cables to gain that speed and technology for foreign investors, after all the foreign investors must be grounded somewhere in Penang. For instance, how many of you Malaysians out there are fed up that there are no options for subscribers to choose different TV cable companies. I am guilty, i want more TV Cable companies so i can choose what i want as opposed to being shoved in the face with only one. Again this totally relies on subscriber base, if you do not have an adequate amount of subscribers or (foreign investors) then forget about it. Dont get me wrong, i fully support technologies like Hybrid cars because a lot of studies have gone into it and the ourtcome to the environment are proven. Incidentally, the technological powerhouse of the world the US of A has the lowest output of Hybrid cars compared to our European counterparts. I am naive and so are a lot of them out there, but i am certainly not duplicitous. Have a good day friend.
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