Australian Schools: Stop Exposing Children to Radiation from WiFi and 3G until long-term exposure is proven harmless

Why this is important

Australian school children are facing a massive health crisis if the government and education authorities continue to ignore the warnings on the potential long-term health effects from chronic exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from WiFi and 3G internet.

In 2011 the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified this form of electromagnetic radiation as “possibly carcinogenic” - wireless technologies are now considered as a possible cancer causing agent.

In Australian schools children are being involuntarily exposed to low-intensity radiation for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. This is unacceptable as there are safer wired options.

Many scientists and medical experts warn that environmental exposure to man-made EMR interferes with the body’s internal bioelectrical signals which may lead to "loss of wellbeing, disease and even death." (BioInitiative Report 2012)

There are no specific scientific studies on the long-term health effects of WiFi on children, yet this technology is being vigorously rolled out in schools without parental consent.

Based on the overall scientific evidence of harm, the Council of Europe have called for a ban on WiFi use in schools and urge governments to act swiftly.Some responsible governments and authorities overseas have banned or warned against WiFi use in schools. They have taken the precautionary approach in order to minimise children’s exposure to wireless radiation.

We need to urgently send a strong message to the Australian government urging them to do the same, and to put children’s health ahead of convenience and short term profits.

With each passing day of government inaction Australian children are increasingly exposed to the potential long-term health effects from EMR.Children are also most vulnerable as they absorb more radiation due to their thinner skulls, bones and developing cells.

Even the Australian Radiation Protection Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) states "research relating to children is limited and the possibility of harm cannot be completely ruled out."

Just like the case with smoking, the possibility of illness manifesting may not be known until after years of chronic, low-level exposure to wireless radiation. It could take another 15-20 years before we have conclusive scientific proof

As the debate intensifies between pro-industry experts and independent groups of scientists about evidence of biological harm, the fact remains that this convenient, yet untested wireless technology has not been proven to be harmless for long-term use.

Given the recent WHO reclassification and the overall scientific evidence of harm,we need to act now before the damage proves to be extensive and irreversible to our children and future generations.

Let’s urgently raise our voices and build an unprecedented petition calling on the Australian government to take an immediate precautionary approach to reduce children’s exposure to wireless radiation.

Stop the use of WiFi and 3G internet in schools until conclusive evidence proves low intensity, long-term exposure to be harmless.

Please sign this urgent petition and share it widely.

For the facts on WiFi in schools and scientific evidence go to www.wifi-in-schools-australia.org

Source:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Australian_schools_Stop_Exposing_Children_to_Radiation_from_WiFi_and_3G_until_longterm_exposure_is_proven_harmless/?cQGgTdb