5G & Wireless Product Defense Firms
Disinformation and Half Truths by Industry and the Industry “Captured” Agencies of Governments
Industries need firms to help them defend their products. These firms design publish and fund research, perform “scientific evaluations,” do public relations and develop strategy to “wargame the science.”
WARGAMING THE SCIENCE
When reports first emerged from the laboratory of Henry Lai and N.P. Singh that cell phone radiation could damage DNA, media advisors wrote a memo to Motorola executives announcing a clear strategy that remains alive and well since 1994: wargame the science.
WARGAME MEMO Dec 13. 1994:
The Motorola memo , released by Microwave News to the industry’s PR company Burson-Marsteller (from Norm Sandler to Michael Kehs), shows how close the relationship was between the industry giants and the SAG team.
Sadler said in the memo that Motorola was prepared to tell the media that, until the work was replicated and interpreted “any conclusions about the significance of this study are pure speculation.” They also note that even if the DNA breaks are found, there is not evidence of increased cancer rates.
In the memo they planned tactics to dilute the effect of the report on DNA breaks. They wrote:
“I think we have sufficiently war-gamed the Lai-Singh issue, assuming SAG and CTIA have done their homework. “SAG will be prepared to release the Munro-Carlo memos, which touch on key points made in this material.”
Quote from page 13 of the Wargaming Memo released by Microwave News.
Governments and Elected Officials ALSO Protect 5G and Wireless Products
Taxpayer money is funding misinformation on 5G, wireless and cell phones. Politicians are supporting 5G initiatives by lending their names and quotes to these initiatives. See some examples here.
“Chance5G” in Switzerland
“Supporters of 5G mobile technology in Switzerland have launched a new website to engage in discussions with the general public about any technical, scientific and health concerns.
Around 45 figures from Swiss society, science, business and politics, as well as 19 associations, have joined forces to launch the “CHANCE5G” online platform on Friday. The initiative is financed by the Swiss Telecommunications Association (asut) and its members, which include telecom firms Sunrise, Swisscom, Cellnex, as well as Ericsson and Huawei”
Read more at Initiative aims to overcome Swiss public’s 5G technology misconceptions
UK Schools distributed 5G News with Misinformation.
United Kingdom Government
4/2020″ Schoolchildren across the UK were given a “newspaper” with mis-information on 5G. Download PDF of April 2020 “First News” featuring 5G .
8/27/2020: 5G guide launched by government to dispel ‘quack’ “conspiracy” theories. The guide says. “Companies have been rolling out 5G in the UK since 2019. However, some people have raised concerns that the introduction of 5G could affect people’s health and have even linked it to the coronavirus pandemic. These claims are completely unfounded and should not be used as a basis to block or delay 5G rollout.”
“The plain English guide to 5G has been created to help councils answer questions and manage any concerns around the health implications of 5G. The guide explains what 5G is and what health experts say about it.”
“Public Health England says 5G should have ‘no consequences to public health’. Ofcom has also been measuring the levels of electro-magnetic radiation emitted by 5G masts around the country, and in all cases has found the levels to be a small fraction of those allowed by international safety guidelines.”
Additional News Stories
Australia Government
The Australian government has said it will spend AU$9 million across four years to fight misinformation about 5G and build “public confidence” in the technology.
Read more at Canberra to spend AU$9 million combatting 5G misinformation
ARPANSA: No harm from placing your head against the TV
ARPANSA Talk to a Scientist series – wi-fi in schools
ARPANSA: Building near a high voltage corridor
Maryland Offficials
MD5G Partnership
PERU Goverment
The Peru Ministry of Transports and Communications has a Multimedia campaign including TV, radio, newspaper, internet and social networks with the slogan “antenas buena onda” (friendly antennas) to promote placement of telecommunications installations in neighborhoods.
Columbia
Campaign
No evidence of adverse health effects of antennas
Brazil
Bavaria, Germany
“Everyone benefits from the new 5G mobile communications standard
New radio masts, more modern antennas: Operators throughout Bavaria are making their cell phone networks fit for the future. Mobile data traffic is growing – and with it the infrastructure. 5G, i.e. the 5th generation of mobile communications, is already in use in many places in Bavaria. This raises questions: How does the technology work? What do we need them for? And what does that mean for me and my homeland? We want to discuss these questions – Bavaria is talking about 5G.
We want to inform and inspire you.”
Canada Government
The caption reads, “Safety of 5G technology: Why 5G devices are safe to use in Canada”
“The term 5G describes the 5th generation of wireless communication technology. 5G uses radio waves like current cell phones and antenna installations, just at different frequencies. 5G devices need to meet the Canadian radiofrequency exposure requirements before they can be sold in Canada. For more information about 5G technology, please visit: https://bit.ly/384z9gd”
Malaysia Government
The Malaysa government shares public infomation on EMFs that downplays health effects and mimics industry messaging that wireless is safe. Government public service announcements promote 5G and virtual reality despite the risks.
Link to the MALAYSIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA COMMISSION
New Zealand Government
- “There are lots of claims made about 5G, especially on the Internet and social media, and it’s often hard to separate fact from fiction,” said Thorn. “If you want to learn more about 5G, we strongly encourage you to use respected sources of information from science and health experts. So, we’ve made www.5gfacts.org.nz as a “one-stop shop” where you can get basic information and easily link to reputable expert sources.”
- This website was created by the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF), a member organisation representing the majority of telecommunications providers in New Zealand (over 95% by revenue share). https://5gfacts.org.nz/about-tcf/
Thailand
The Telecommunications Commission has set up a website that Advertisements claiming ‘mobile towers are not as dangerous as you think’ and ‘the NBTC will look after the towers’
Telecommunications Commission Posters and Websites
Website on Mobile Phone Towers
- About the Project
- Q and A about Cell Tower Radiation
- “NBTC” Knowledge of mobile signal towers Poster with child hugging phone
- Facebook page “The waves from the mobile signal towers are not as dangerous as you think”
- Youtube Videos on Cell Phone Towers
- PDFs of brochures on cell tower radiation , More documents “THE WAVES FROM THE MOBILE SIGNAL TOWERS ARE NOT AS DANGEROUS AS YOU THINK”
- On January 19, 2018, the NBTC organized a training program for knowledge on the effects of electromagnetic radiation from the base station of the mobile phone system on human health safety
- DISCUSSION ON KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION FROM THE BASE STATION OF MOBILE PHONE SYSTEMS ON HUMAN HEALTH SAFETY, 5 REGIONS, PHASE 2, NO. 5 IN BANGKOK
- On July 21, 2017, the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission organized a discussion on “Radio waves from mobile phone and health systems base stations” with the objective to present facts to the public clarifying “safety.”
- Mobile Towers Meet RF Limits “Ensuring a secure telecommunication pole” December 22 2015
- “The spectrum is not as dangerous as you think” Feb 28, 2017
- “Advantages and convenience with 1800 and 900 MHz frequency bands” Not about RFR but about advantages of RFR
June 2016 Thailand NBTC Website Save “Knowledge of mobile signal towers” a Q and A on cell tower radiation that concludes no proof of harm.
Exponent
Exponent Inc. has been described in David Michael’s book Doubt Is Their Product as one of many “Product Protection Firms” hired to cast doubt that a product is harming workers and/or customers. Exponent is cited 11 times in the index of Doubt Is Their Product. Among its many employees are: Linda Erdreich, Senior Managing Scientist and William H. Bailey, Principal Scientist. Both are members of the IEEE 2005 Subcommittee.
Exponent has been involved in the investigations of many well known incidents including the report aired on Dateline in 1993 about fires and explosions involving sidesaddle fuel tanks on Chevrolet C/K trucks, the Consumer Reports finding on Suzuki roll-over safety, the 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls, the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 among many other aviation accidents, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill.. In 2017, Samsung hired Exponent to determine cause of thermal runaway of the Note 7 Phone batteries.
Gradient
Gradient,” according to the Texas Tribune, “typically conducts research funded by industry groups like the American Petroleum Institute. One Harvard University epidemiologist calls its work for Texas “bullshit” science that contradicts conclusions by the vast majority of experts.” The Tribune goes on to detail “‘This is a company that basically works for industry, and their job is to trash environmental studies,’ said Joel Schwartz, a professor of environmental epidemiology at Harvard and director of the University’s Center for Risk Analysis.”
In a Feb 2016 article “Meet the ‘rented white coats’ who defend toxic chemicals. How corporate-funded research is corrupting America’s courts and regulatory agencies” by the Center for Public Integrity details a story of asbestos litigation involving Peter Valberg, a former professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, and then a principal at the environmental consulting firm Gradient Corporation. According to the article, Evan Nelson of the law firm Tucker Ellis & West needed a scientist willing to publish a theory in a medical journal so that this science could be used win lawsuits and released emails detail how Peter Valberg “wrote back within hours, calling Nelson’s scientific theory “very intriguing.” He was game to try to disseminate it in peer-reviewed journals. He later sent Nelson a contract agreeing to write the first of three articles and even offered him a 10-percent discount. In the meantime, Valberg would adopt Nelson’s theory as an expert witness in lawsuits, using it against mesothelioma victims such as Pam Collins of Bellevue, Ohio..”
Peter Valburg of Gradient is a well known industry “expert witness” about cell phone radiation, and also is well known or his work on tobacco alongside the company Gradient (another well known “consultant” ground on cell phone radiation. Valberg has been an expert called in by Philip Morris RJ Reynolds and he was Principal and Senior Health Scientist at Gradient Corporation. “Valberg presented a slideshow with data showing that Marlboro Lights delivered less tar to smokers. It made sense, he concluded, that the cigarettes also reduced the risk of disease. Some of Valberg’s findings were based on his own unpublished analysis of public data. But the most persuasive evidence came from a study underwritten by Philip Morris” Read the Atlantic Article “Contesting the Science of Smoking”
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
EPRI is a nonprofit organization funded by the electric utility industry which conducts research on issues related to the electric power industry in the United States. EPRI’s corporate members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries.
Professor Leeka Kheifets has has frequently been hired by utility companies to vouch for Smart Meter and wireless safety- for years.
For example, her study “Race/ethnicity and the risk childhood leukemia: a case-control study in California states, “This project was supported by a research contract from the Electric Power Research Institute to UCLA”
“Prior to UCLA, she was “a Technical Executive” at the Electric Power Research Institute, “where she directed a multi-disciplinary electric and magnetic fields (EMF) research program”
GSMA
“The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.”
EMF and Health Website
EMFandHealth.com is co-authored by Michel Plante, head of Health and Safety at Hydro-Quebec
The Campaign for Accuracy in Public Health Research
According to the website, “The CAPHR Coalition is a diverse group of industry and business organizations that advocate for reform of the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) Monographs Program. The Monographs Program, which evaluates cancer hazards, continues to misinform both the public and public health policies through its lack of clarity, transparency, and balance in assessing cancer hazards.
Upholding credible, unbiased and balanced science in policymaking is a universal principle that is not bound by borders or industry affiliations. Our group of manufacturing, energy and food interests aims to work closely with the United States Government, as well as its international counterparts, to reform IARC’s Monographs Program and bring greater transparency to the program’s questionable carcinogen evaluations, undue policy influence and impact, flawed methodologies and frequent conflicts of interest.”
Read what they say about cell phones at CASE STUDY: CELL PHONE RADIATION, PDF
Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA)
“The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) is the peak body for the mobile telecommunications industry. Its members include Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Samsung, HTC and Ericsson. AMTA was formed 20 years ago to not only promote innovative mobile telecommunications technologies and long-term business success, but to also maximise the beneficial impacts by engaging with the community.”
AMTA website link https://amta.org.au
AMTA funds the EMF Explaind Website found at http://www.emfexplained.info
EMF Explained.Info
The EMF Explained Series is an information resource referencing national and international health agencies developed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) in conjunction with the GSM Association (GSMA) and Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF).
The EMF Explained Website can befound at http://www.emfexplained.info
The Wi-Fi Alliance
“Wi-Fi Alliance is a global non-profit industry association of hundreds of leading companies devoted to seamless connectivity. With technology development, market building, and regulatory programs, Wi-Fi Alliance has enabled widespread adoption of Wi-Fi worldwide.” According the the Wi-Fi Alliance Annual Report
The Wi-Fi Alliance PowerPoint lays out how the Wi-Fi Alliance manages “RF Safety and Risk Communications” with a “two pronged approach.” One prong is “Outreach and Education,” whereby they established an RF health and science team in Wi-Fi Alliance to “promote public awareness”.
The Center for Public Integrity cites the Wi-Fi Alliance in its expose “Top U.S. corporations funneled $173 million to political nonprofits: Company filings shine light on dark money” which details how “U.S. companies quietly bankrolled politically active nonprofits.” Propublica shows the Wi-Fi Alliance had a revenue of over $15 Million for 2013 with over $7 Million in contributions—$7 Million can buy a lot of public relations on “RF Safety and Risk.”
Some Wi-Fi Alliance Products
In 2007, the Wi-Fi Alliance created a new glossy brochure highlighting research they funded. The brochure is entitled “WiFi and Health Safety” with smiling people on every page. Read the full brochure here. In 2013 they funded another “WiFi and Health Safety” Brochure HERE.
“there is no scientific evidence that these low power wireless communications devices pose any health threat to the user”
Wi-Fi Alliance Frequently Asked Questions Factsheet
The paper entitled Wi-Fi and Health: Review of Current Status of Research claims to “examine the current state of research on possible biological effects/health effects of RF energy emitted by Wi-Fi.”
“Acknowledgments: This work was funded by the Wi-Fi Alliance, Washington, DC,
and Mobile Manufacturers Forum, Brussels, Belgium.”
The Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF)
The MMF is an international association of telecommunications equipment manufacturers with an interest in mobile or wireless communications from Apple to Cisco to Motorola. “The MMF’s communications activity is designed to provide high quality public information and analysis on the safety of wireless technology, accessibility and environmental issues.”
This webpage notable has several sections, including “Health Reviews”– that quotes industry selected reviews and a large section that host “Viewpoints” which detail the are industry response to the National Toxicology Program findings of increased cancers, Children and Wireless and Some sleep studies have found biological responses but they do not impact human health say international health authorities. ” These “Viewpoints” all omit research showing effects and directly quote a long list of experts groups choosing specific statements that downplay health concerns.
The MMF funded paper “Are Children More Exposed to Radio Frequency Energy From Mobile Phones Than Adults?” concludes that their “review” of published literature shows no consistent difference between adults and children with respect to the peak absorbed dose of microwave (cell phone) radiation. The wording minimizes the fact that children absorb radiation deeper into their brain than adults. Read it here.
“In summary, simple generalizations found on the Internet about ‘‘kids absorbing more RF energy than adults from cell phones’’ aren’t supported by available dosimetry studies. To the extent that children have different usage patterns than adults, there may well be differences in exposure, but such differences are likely to be at exposure levels far below current exposure limits.”
“Publication costs of this paper were supported by Mobile Manufacturers Forum, who did not review the contents of this paper before publication.”
“The same organization (Mobile Manufacturers Forum) supported travel costs of one of the authors (Foster) to the BioEM 2013 meeting (Thessaloniki Greece, June 2013) to co-chair a Workshop session together with the second author on the subject of this paper. C-K. Chou was the Chief EME Scientist of Motorola Solutions at the time of the Workshop, and is presently retired.”
Powerpoints by MMF