Wi-Fi back on the City Council agenda! Feb 5 UPDATE

[Sasu]

<big>On February 5 we presented the Sebastopol City Council with 300 signatures asking them to reverse thier decision and vote no on city wide Wi-Fi. After 8 brief informative presentations Linda Kelley motioned to re-agendize this issue! </big><big> Thank you to those who spoke last night and showed up at the meeting and thank you to all who have supported this! Thank you to Barry for this forum and for the gift of a short term subscription so I could post files of information. Thank you to all who've joined the discussions!</big>
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We will continue to gather signatures and encourage people to join us at the next meeting Feb 19, 7 pm at the Teen Center where the issue will be re-agendized for discussion.
If you have not seen the online petition I recommend reading the names and comments from people. <small> </small></big><big>https://www.petitiononline.com/mufifree/petition.html


</big><big><b><small><big>Please pass this info to others and ask them to sign the online petition</big>. </small></b></big>
<big>Dear Sebastopol community and friends,
</big>
<big>On Nov. 20 the Sebastopol City Council voted to have Sonic install wi-fi on the light poles, beginning in the downtown core and then expanding throughout the city.</big><big> Several residents submitted information and expressed concern about the dangers of the electromagnetic radiation increase, however Sonic led the council to believe there would be an overall decrease in radiation because businesses and people would trade their current units for free wi-fi. An initial inquiry of 20 downtown businesses proves their theory incorrect. There was no environmental impact report and it was claimed exempt after they voted on it.

Wi-fi has not been proven safe for long term exposure. </big><big>The proposed wi-fi emits pulsed microwave radiation 24 hours a day. This is electrical pollution and it will radiate our plaza, our streets, our homes and parks, affecting people, animals, and plant life. </big><big>The London Resolution (Nov. 2007) calls for no wifi in homes, schools and public places. Paris libraries have banned wifi. The European Environmental Union advises no wifi. The CA EMF program and the World Health Organization urge governments to apply the precautionary principle especially concerning children.

</big><big>Please sign our online petition </big>urging the Sebastopol City Council to reconsider their decision to install <big>city wide wi-fi.</big><big><big> </big> https://www.petitiononline.com/mufifree/petition.html
(To view the signature list click on "view current signatures "and then click on the numbered live link next to "view signatures" and the list will be shown.)

</big><big>On February 5 we presented the Sebastopol City Council with 300 signatures asking them to reverse thier decision and vote no on city wide Wi-Fi. After 8 brief informative presentations Linda Kelley motioned to re-agendize this issue! </big><big>Come to the next City Council meeting on Tuesday Feb 19 at 7 pm at the Teen Center to support this important issue. <b><small><big>Please pass this info to others and ask them to sign the online petition</big>. </small></b>

</big><big>Here are web links with information about wireless/ EMF Public health concerns:

https://www.energyfields.org/pdfs/WiF-SNAFU-Havas-Science.pdf
https://www.powerwatch.org.uk/wifi.asp
https://www.energyfields.org/science/becker.html (https://www.energyfields.org/science/becker.html)
https://policies.lakeheadu.ca/policy.php?pid=178
<big>https://www.next-up.org/pdf/TheNewsZealandHeraldEUcallsForUrgentActionOnWiFiradiation16092007.pdf
</big>www.bioinitiative.org (https://www.bioinitiative.org/)
</big><big>Thank You,</big>
<big></big><big>Sandi Maurer, Electrical Pollution/Sensitivity Research
</big><big>Melissa Weaver, The Center for Sustainable Health, Environmental Health Educator and Consultant</big>
<big>Michael Neuert, Electrical Engineer and EMF Consultant, www.emfcenter.com (https://www.emfcenter.com/)
Layna Berman, www.yourownhealthandfitness.org (https://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/), Health Educator, KPFA talk show host
Jeffry Fawcett, PhD., </big><big>www.yourownhealthandfitness.org (https://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/)</big><big> Health Educator, KPFA talk show host</big>

[Barry]

Anybody want to use https://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html (free and easy!) to start a petition supporting city wide wi-fi?

[shellebelle]

I would if I lived in Sebastopol! Being a frequent shopper and visitor I have to admit the Free WiFi would be a big bonus for me and further draw my disposable income more into the city!


Anybody want to use https://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html (free and easy!) to start a petition supporting city wide wi-fi?

[Karl Frederick]

Barry, are you promoting the idea of dueling petitions as a way to decide the question? Have you looked at the evidence and decided there is no significant health risk with wi-fi? If so, would you like to share that evidence and the basis for your conclusion?

I see the petition against wi-fi as an opportunity to make the city government take a close look at the questions concerning wi-fi and health, to be transparent about their findings, and to engage the community with candor. This is not a matter for expediency. It's a matter for thoughtful consideration and respectful communication between the local government and the public.



Anybody want to use https://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html (free and easy!) to start a petition supporting city wide wi-fi?

[Sasu]

Please note date correction for the next city council meeting: <big> Tuesday Feb. 5 at 7 pm at the teen center . Thanks.</big><big></big>

[Barry]

Barry, are you promoting the idea of dueling petitions as a way to decide the question?
Barring crystal clear evidence of imminent health risk, like tobacco or climate change, it comes down to a political decision. And the standard way to make such decisions is to vote!


Have you looked at the evidence and decided there is no significant health risk with wi-fi? If so, would you like to share that evidence and the basis for your conclusion? No, I haven't. But it seems to me that there is enough doubt in the scientific world to say it's not clear. For every study that says there is a proven health risk, there is one saying that there isn't.


I see the petition against wi-fi as an opportunity to make the city government take a close look at the questions concerning wi-fi and health, to be transparent about their findings, and to engage the community with candor. This is not a matter for expediency. It's a matter for thoughtful consideration and respectful communication between the local government and the public.On one hand, it does seem as though this decision has been made a bit too quickly, as I don't think there has been enough time to have a public debate. In fact I imagine most Sebastopudlians aren't even aware that this is happening! (Us Waccovians sure are, though!) On the other hand, I think it will be some time (decades?) until the question is clearly decided on a scientific basis and there is real public benefit to be had by municipal internet access.

[Melodymama]

Barry, are you promoting the idea of dueling petitions as a way to decide the question? Have you looked at the evidence and decided there is no significant health risk with wi-fi? If so, would you like to share that evidence and the basis for your conclusion?

Barry's role here, as moderator, does not require him to explain his own political bent on any issure. All of us can chime in and ask each other to explain if we choose. I think it is crossing a boundary to ask this of him. He is offering a fair forum on a petition site for both sides. That is sufficient. The political discussions on here easily slide into personal slams and dilute any discussion into a sour elixer that no one wants to 'digest.'

[Braggi]

Barry has given his opinion freely. If not him, then who? He could have kept out of it but chose not to.


... The political discussions on here easily slide into personal slams and dilute any discussion into a sour elixer that no one wants to 'digest.'

I'm actually very proud to be part of this community, in large part because there is a great deal of disagreement on issues but very little in the way of name calling and personal slams. I'm grateful for the ability to state my opinions here and for the knowledge that even those who disagree with me will take the high road and avoid the kind of personal attacks that are the norm in other online discussion groups.

I see a lot of intellectual and personal integrity on Waccobb.

Thanks to you all.

-Jeff