I can’t say this was unexpected. The World Health Organisation has classified long-time use of cell phones as ’2B’, meaning “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. Continue reading »
Dec 262010
Cables released by Wikileaks have exposed United State diplomatic efforts to strongly back the corporate push for GM crops to be accepted in Europe and elsewhere.
Not only that, the US diplomats under the Bush administration recommended retaliatory action against a list of ‘targets’ in Europe for failing to embrace GMOs. In a leaked cable, US Ambassador to France Craig Stapleton wrote:
Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory.
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.
