The 5G Space Appeal is signed by over 260,000 international scientists, medical doctors and engineers warning against the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields on humans, animals and the environment.
The appeal calls for a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation, 5G, for telecommunication.
The 5G Space Appeal can be found here and states, “We the undersigned scientists, doctors, environmental organizations and citizens, urgently call for a halt to the deployment of the 5G (fifth generation) wireless network, including 5G from space satellites.
5G will massively increase exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation on top of the 2G, 3G and 4G networks for telecommunications already in place. RF radiation has been proven harmful for humans and the environment. The deployment of 5G constitutes an experiment on humanity and the environment that is defined as a crime under international law.”
What is 5G?
The term 5G refers to a fifth-generation cellular wireless technology. It is a new wave form of short wave radiation and will utilise not only the frequencies currently in use from 1G to 4G of wireless technology, but also higher millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave frequencies.
5G aims to enable “smart” homes, “smart” businesses, “smart” highways, “smart” cities and self-driving cars. Virtually everything we own and buy, from refrigerators and washing machines to milk cartons, hairbrushes and infants’ diapers, will contain antennas and microchips and will be connected wirelessly to the Internet.
In fact, 5G as a global standard is meant to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution and change the social and economic landscape. In this article, we focus instead on the biological impacts of the technology.
5G antenna — closer, denser
(Note that this is different from current WiFi radio signals that are at either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. 5G celluar technology uses higher frequencies in the THz range. Older WiFi runs at 2.5GHz while newer runs at 2.5GHz and 5GHz. Many devices such as laptops can only use the 2.5Ghz signal.)
5G is a new wave form of short wave radiation, which the WHO classifies as a Group 2B carcinogen. [https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf]
Little is known about these millimeter waves (30GHz-300GHz). While these frequencies only permeate a small fraction of the human epidermis (the skin), the effect on the cornea, in particular, needs serious research. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180823220918/https://www.pcmag.com/commentary/363244/the-problem-with-5g]
As Frank Clegg, former President of Microsoft Canada, explains, because these waves are poor at travelling long distances, more transmitters will be needed to make 5G work:
"5G will impact you personally. There are designs that show the requirement for small cell 5G antennas as close as every third house in the neighbourhood and could be as close as every 500 feet in public areas. The impact of that radiation at that level of frequency and intensity and power, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week is unprecedented and is not understood.” [https://ehtrust.org/former-president-of-microsoft-canada-frank-clegg-on-safety-5g-wireless-technologies/]
What is the controversy around 5G?
The word “controversy” leads us to think there is “Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions” (borrowing from a dictionary here).
However, you will find that such disputes come from different interests and perspectives, less about the actual facts themselves.
One example: for a long time, it was thought that non-ionising radiation had no health impacts, unlike ionising radiation such as X-rays. As the use of wireless technology became ubiquitous, and as we increased our exposure to wireless technologies of 2G, 3G and 4G — that we use today with our cell phones, computers and wearable tech, there is increasing evidence for concern around high frequency radiation.
The Bio initiative Report was instrumental in gathering thousands of studies showing the biological impact of 5G, leading to the WHO recognition of wireless technology as a possible carcinogen.
Thousands of independent studies conclude that non-ionising radiation like wireless radiation does cause biological harm, including:
oxidative stress
cancers
brain tumours
sperm/testicular damage
neuropsychiatric effects
DNA damage
hormonal changes
More about the health impacts [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118300355?fbclid=IwAR0YSqoBqW2OE2zUIzBQiR5JAVEGxuoimf0CGyPbNAWKqtP-BWasDGk_BcM]
As our EMF exposure increases with 5G networks, we need to critically evaluate our exposure. Mounting evidence are calling for concern and precaution over biological effects of wireless radiation on people as well as the ecosystem and our environment.
Meanwhile, rollouts for 5G continue to be ever more ambitious. Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX was authorised by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November 2018 to launch a fleet of 7,518 satellites in a scheme to provide global satellite broadband services to every corner of the Earth— a “smart planet” of sorts. [https://futurism.com/spacex-satellites-approval-fcc]
What is the science behind 5G (fifth generation wireless)?
The wireless industry admit they have no safety studies on 5G and do not plan to do any. "The stark truth is the health hazards are unknown and unstudied." Senator Richard Blumenthal, Dec 2018, in a February 2019 US Senate hearing [https://youtu.be/z8I4XDKX2a4]
5G is not simply an upgrade from 4G. It will be tens to hundreds of times more powerful and will use a completely different technology that has never been tested. 4G networks use frequencies below 6 GHz, but 5G uses extremely high frequencies in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range.
Most common wireless devices currently operate below 10 gHz. 5G will operate 10gHz+ into the tHz, which is uncharted territory. It has shorter wavelength and a higher frequency. Theoretically those higher frequencies cannot penetrate as easily and cant travel as far. To compensate for these, more devices will likely need to be built to get coverage and power increased.
So far, over 134,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experts have signed an international appeal to the UN, the WHO, the EU, the Council of Europe and governments of all nations to stop the rollout of 5G.
Read the appeal in English here:
https://www.5gspaceappeal.org/s/International_Appeal_Stop_5G_on_Earth_and_in_Space-4dfh.PDF
As the 5G standard is new, there are no studies that have looked at long term human exposure to 5G.
However, evidence that wireless technology is harmful to life is already overwhelming—enough data for scientists to call for a moratorium. [https://ehtrust.org/scientific-research-on-5g-and-health/]
If the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are tens to hundreds of times greater than what exists today, without any possibility of escape anywhere on the planet. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the Earth’s ecosystems.
Immediate measures must be taken to protect humanity and the environment, in accordance with ethical imperatives and international agreements. — The 5G Space Appeal
5G harms the ecosystem, including bees
Beekeepers were recently added due to the increasing scientific and direct observation that RFR and cell towers are injurious to bees.
Which countries and cities have opted out of 5G?
Cell phone companies began deploying 5G in 2019. In USA, 5G coverage is already available in many areas.
But not everyone is as enthusiastic about the deployment of 5G. Many towns, cities, and whole countries have decided to ban 5G, or halt its rollout, for two growing concerns: it has not been proven safe and it may take more time to ascertain its fuller effects; and growing concern about the data emerging over 4G/5G densification.
Their decisions affirm that technological advancement will never be at the expense of the health and welfare of their citizens.
Why the rush for 5G?
The 5G rollout is being called “progress” in the drive for "faster, better internet”. As most of us already own mobile phones and have access to the internet, expanding to 5G holds untapped markets for the wireless carriers and for the IoT device and sensor makers.
Read more about the wireless industry https://safeg.net/5g-the-real-story/.
How much of this push is really a gold rush for the wireless industry? Much of the things being touted by the wireless industry—such as “smart meters”, driverless cars, the Internet of Things, remote surgery by camera, and improved virtual reality—are things most people can live without, or can be done better and more securely with wired connections.
The practical considerations may prove cumbersome instead, as smart cities “will be exceedingly complex to manage, with all sorts of unpredictable vulnerabilities” — Shoshanna Saxe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto writes.
Billions are being invested in 5G. But will technologies, as in the case of smart meters considered as one of the most mature and most widely adopted applications of IoT technology, rapidly become obsolete?
Are savings, whether to the consumer or to government, worth the expense of capital and infrastructure?
Who determines accuracy, privacy, and efficacy? [https://www.smh.com.au/business/smart-meters-too-toxic-to-touch-20120906-25ge2.html] [https://www.ema.gov.sg/reply_to_forum_letter.aspx?news_sid=201612075WEXOFyHRyge]
How can we exercise precaution?
While debate continues, there are many steps we can take as individuals to protect our own health amidst a denser electro-polluted environment.
I list a few considerations that, when implemented, could have the most impact in reducing our exposure to wireless radiation:
Children are especially susceptible to EMFs. Children’s developing brains, eyes and bone marrow absorb electromagnetic radiation three to 10 times deeper than adults. Their brain tissues are more absorbent, their skulls are thinner and their relative size is smaller. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213879X14000583] Microwave exposure can result in degeneration of the protective myelin sheath that surrounds brain neurons, at critical stages of their development. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/myelin]
Understand microwave exposure limits have remained unchanged for over 20 years. Take responsibility to educate yourself on EMFs and how to recognise and reduce your exposure to this environmental toxin.
Rethink your SMART home. The more devices connected to your Wi-Fi or cellular network, the more EMF exposure your family is going to have. Decline having a smart meter installed by the utilities. Ditch the “smart home” devices that offer to turn on/off lights or air conditioning.
Avoid living near cell antennas. Don’t buy a house or rent an apartment right next to cell antennas, especially if you have or plan to have kids.
Consult a Building Biologist trained in EMF mitigation. If you want to understand your real exposure to wireless radiation and other sources of EMFs, get in touch with me or another Building Biologist in your area.
What can you do?
If you are concerned about the possible health impacts, and you want to ensure your own safe living environment:
Sign the international appeal.
Join “Stop 5G” groups in your part of the world. Connect through the internet and in-person. More people are becoming aware of wireless radiation as an environmental toxin and recognise health symptoms as a sign of hypersensitivity. Sign any local petitions and support the appeals in any way you can.
Learn more about the 5G Global Protest Day. 205 events in more than 195 cities in 33 countries are being planned for 25 January 2020. Events are planned in: Australia (5 cities), Belgium. Bermuda, Canada (13 events), Croatia (6 cities), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (7 cities), Finland, France, , Germany (11 cities), Greece - Patras, Hungary (3 cities), Ireland - Dublin, Italy (39 cities), Japan - Tokyo, Kenya, Malta, Netherlands - Amsterdam, New Zealand (15 cities), Norway (5 cities), Poland (9 cities), Portugal - Lisbon, Romania (4 cities), Serbia - Belgrade, Slovenia - Ljubljana, South Africa - Durban and Cape Town, Spain, Sweden (3 cities), Switzerland (13 cities), United Kingdom (13 events), and the United States (34 events).
Subscribe to the SafeG Alliance mailing list to receive updates. Subscribe to my newsletter as I share updates and research about EMFs.
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References and resources:
Birds Bees and Mankind: Destroying Nature by “electrosmog” by Urlich Warnke. https://www.naturalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/kompetenzinitiative-ev_study_bees-birds-and-mankind_04-08_english.pdf
https://ehtrust.org/international-actions-to-halt-and-delay-5g/
