Madam Chair, members of the committee, I want to thank you for allowing us to appear today.
My name is François Therrien, and I am the spokesperson for Save our Children from Microwaves, or SEMO. I represent the section of the Canadian population that is aware of the harmful effects of microwaves used in wireless communication devices. On March 11 of this year, a petition on this issue signed by 11,000 people was presented to Parliament in Ottawa. And more than 5,600 people have signed various petitions in the Montreal region. Furthermore, it has come to our attention that many others have added their signatures to petitions across Canada, including Charlottetown, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria.
We are talking about microwaves. What are they exactly? Cell phones, cordless telephones, laptop computers, Wii and Xbox game consoles emit microwaves when in use. We have a choice to use or not use these devices. Microwaves primarily originate from cell phone relay antennas, WiMAX antennas, FM antennas, Wi-Fi router antennas, and DECT wireless telephone base stations that emit waves around the clock. In addition, newly developed electricity meters that communicate by microwave are expected to be installed in every Canadian home.
In Canada, the standards set out in Safety Code 6 are supposed to protect the population from microwaves. While they offer protection against thermal effects, they unfortunately do not guard against biological effects related to long-term low levels of exposure. When people find out—usually by chance—that they will soon live next to this type of antenna, they tend to seek information; and what they discover about microwaves can be unnerving.
I will shorten my presentation, but I just want to mention that the harmful effects of microwaves on the health of Canadians can be described using these names: electromagnetic hypersensitivity, microwave syndrome and sensitivity to electromagnetic fields. Symptoms include headaches, sleep disturbances, problems with concentration, dizziness or blood-brain barrier permeability, and DNA damage, and they may lead to cancer.
As for the science, Mr. Lord was right to mention the BioInitiative report. In our view, it is recognized scientific evidence. There is also the Interphone study, in which Canada participated. Of 13 countries, Canada is the only one where the microwave industry funded the study. I think everyone knows that we are still waiting for the results of that study and that the scientists apparently disagree on the type of conclusions that should appear in the report.
In terms of insurance companies and judicial decisions, some international companies now refuse to ensure cell phone companies on account of the very high risks they pose to people’s health. Appeal courts in various countries have ruled in favour of applying the precautionary principle. We are not talking about panic-mongers or activists here, but appeal court judges who have made these rulings.
From a political standpoint, the European Parliament took a historic vote of approximately 550 versus 16. Members of Parliament claimed to be concerned about the international BioInitiative report, and recommended a reduction in microwave exposure and the application of the precautionary principle. That was in April 2009.
Senators in the French Senate voted to prohibit cell phones in elementary and secondary schools. They also intend to prohibit advertising aimed at teenagers. This is clearly the result of applying the precautionary principle regarding the effects of microwaves. In Austria, Italy and elsewhere, permissible norms were decreased to levels corresponding to the recommendations in the international BioInitiative report.
In view of the urgency of this situation, allow me to specifically address members of the government. The government does much to promote families and children. It also does much to encourage the Canadian economy and the microwave-based communications industry.
Today, we are at a crossroads, and the government must choose whether to protect Canadians and their health or whether to encourage the growth of the microwave industry. Ignoring and denying the dangers of microwaves are no longer options. The intense promotion of microwave-emitting products to young people is endangering their health. This is a terribly sad situation, and the complicit silence of public health authorities is scandalous. We are demanding that the precautionary principle be applied. An example of this, especially in the case of children, was the H1N1 vaccination program. The pandemic declared by the WHO left us no other choice. Canada's public health authorities had to take action.
Today, it is recognized that the World Health Organization perhaps overreacted a little and that its decision was probably influenced by pharmaceutical companies. Why would you oppose the application of the precautionary principle today? Alarm signals are coming from numerous international, legal, political, medical and scientific communities. This time, however, the World Health Organization is maintaining its empty reassurances, and the microwave industry is benefiting. Does the precautionary principle absolutely have to be to the benefit of multinationals before it can be applied? We are concerned about the health of the population, and especially of children. But we are also concerned about increased healthcare costs associated with all kinds of illnesses that will arise unless something is done to prevent and reduce risks.
Prevention or healthcare? Once again, the government must make a choice. The government must react. This is what we demand of Canada’s health authorities: issue warnings to the population about health risks associated with microwaves as soon as possible; immediately stop the proliferation of devices using this technology, especially among young people; prohibit the installation of Wi-Fi systems in schools and daycare centres; lower applicable norms to a level below those causing harmful health effects—and the BioInitiative report has set the standard on that; and promote public safety standards rather than individual measures in relation to microwave exposure.
Ladies and gentlemen, please save our children from microwaves. Thank you for your consideration.