Dear Friends, Family, Neighbors, and questioning individuals:

We thought it would be important to alert our community that the Marinwood Board is
considering a proposal to have a 20-40 foot cell tower erected at the Marinwood
Community Center. Specifically, the tower will be located ~20-feet from the
fire station and community pool – off of Lucas Valley Road.

Over the past week one of our concerned members spent a considerable amount of time researching the health
effects of cell towers in close proximity to children (and adults – we count
too!), and her findings are quite worrisome.

 

While there may be compelling reasons for the board to consider
adding a tower to our community, specifically increased funds for the community budget and improved cell reception for some, 

the epicenter of where our kids play and our residents live is not the right location.

Consider the following:

 

It is an "internationally recognized precautionary standard" not to
place cell towers within 1,500 feet of a school, playground, day care center or
other child care facility or homes with small children.

Many organizations around the world, including the International Association of
Fire Fighters, L.A. Unified School District, the European Environmental Agency,
and the European Parliament are placing parameters around tower safety,
especially in relation to its proximity to children.

There is also scientific evidence of health concerns related to cell towers.
(More info below).

***WHERE THE BOARD STANDS

Our member met with the President of the Marinwood Board June 16th, 2009 and it was apparent
that without strong opposition from our community, there is a good chance the
board will vote in favor of the cell tower installation.

The board is currently awaiting the official proposal from T-Mobile, so there is
no vote taking place yet.

The board's indicates that their main interest in placing the cell tower at the community center is
to improve cell reception in Marinwood, However, the tower is specifically for one cell phone provider. And it is significant to note that they will receive money for leasing their land (potentially a considerable amount).

***WHAT YOU CAN DO:

It is important that you, as a community member, know that this initiative is underway and that  you have an
opportunity to voice your opinion regarding this matter.

The next board meeting for Marinwood will be on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:30pm.

The sooner we respond, the better. Otherwise, the board is running on the assumption the community is okay with this.

They are looking for ~50+ people to complain/object to the tower location before they will take our voice seriously.

***SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

If you want to learn about the research findings, read on and click to some
informative links that follow. Or visit our Facebook causes page:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/297502/46407764?m=fb5a6ed7

Please feel free to forward this information on to other friends and neighbors
who might like to be informed of this initiative.

Sincerely,

FACT: Families Against Cell Towers

 

----------------------------

 

This Bioinitiative report was been written by 14 (fourteen) scientists, public
health and public policy experts to document the scientific evidence on
electromagnetic fields. Another dozen outside reviewers have looked at and
refined the Report.

The purpose of this report is to assess scientific evidence on health impacts
from electromagnetic radiation below current public exposure limits and evaluate
what changes in these limits are warranted now to reduce possible public health
risks in the future.

As a Cheat Sheet: RF = Cell Tower

Key Summary Points from Report:

1). The clear consensus of the BioInitiative Working Group members is that the
existing public safety limits are inadequate for both ELF and RF.

2). Both ELF and RF exposures can be considered genotoxic (will damage DNA)
under certain conditions of exposure, including exposure levels that are lower
than existing safety limits.

3). Very low-level ELF and RF exposures can cause cells to produce stress
proteins, meaning that the cell recognizes ELF and RF exposures as harmful. This
is another important way in which scientists have documented that ELF and RF
exposures can be harmful, and it happens at levels far below the existing public
safety standards.

4). There is substantial evidence that ELF and RF can cause inflammatory
reactions, allergy reactions and change normal immune function at levels allowed
by current public safety standards.

Links:

Bioiniative Report

http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm

Participants Names and Bios

http://www.bioinitiative.org/participants/index.htm

A report outlining effects on people and animals presented to San Francisco when
the city considered going Wi-Fi:

http://www.emrpolicy.org/review/havas_sf_wifi_07_final.pdf