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Letters to the editor for the week of October 11th, 2012

Time to take action
opinion_letters1

Thank-you for the action initiated during the October 2, 2012 council meeting regarding our cell tower concerns.

The visual effects of the towers are not our concern. Our main concern remains the health effects of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell towers and the 30 per cent increase asked for in this application by Globalive Wireless Management Corp. Since many citizens are unaware of these cell tower health risks, here is one of many sites to read: http://emwatch.com/Cellmasts.htm.

This article includes information such as a reference to a study done in Naila, Germany, where they found that those living within 400 metres of a cell tower had a newly diagnosed cancer rate three times higher than those living further away. Other studies show that children are at a much higher risk than adults of experiencing health problems, related to exposure to radio frequency radiation. Our children are at greater risk due to their thinner and smaller skulls. This should concern us all.

We have heard from others that it has been very difficult to leave a comment regarding this application using the directions given in the paper concerning this application. (The deadline to make comments to The Ministry of Natural Resources Operations is Nov. 8 2012.)

Since we don't know what harm is being done currently, before the addition of yet another tower, we again ask for a third independent party to test the electromagnetic radiation and the MV/M (mill volts per metre) at homes in Alpine, Nicholas North and beyond.

If anyone wants to see the locations and output of the many cell tower locations in Whistler, Google "Canadian Cellular Towers Map" and type in Whistler.

If you wish to comment on this application go to www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp and look up the land file number 2410784.

Ed and Marta Hollander

Whistler

Say 'no' to cell tower

It's time to wake up and smell the radiation! Oops sorry about that, we know you can't smell, see, taste, feel or hear it! But now that we have your attention, we need your help to voice our community's concerns about the proposed installation of two new cell phone towers in Whistler, one located in Alpine Meadows and the other cell tower location is to be announced.

Deadline for the Alpine Meadows application is Nov. 8, 2012. We share Ed and Marta Hollander's concern about health and safety around cell phone towers as voiced in their first letter in Pique two weeks ago. It has prompted us to encourage the community to become more educated on this issue.

We have done our own due diligence by researching the risks associated by living near cell phone towers and we don't like what we have discovered. Briefly, here is what we have learned:

1. World Health Organization has classified all EMR/RF radiation as a possible Class 2B carcinogen (same as DDT and lead);

2. Industry Canada can allow cell towers to be put anywhere as long as the property owner is agreeable (many of these sites site on crown land);

3. Once a tower is installed the only people responsible for monitoring the emissions are the owners of the towers, that is the telecommunication companies.

With that said, we need to pay attention to what is going on in our fair valley as there is no way for you or I to know the amount of radiation that we are absorbing.

We are worried about the health of our community. Read The Healthy Home by Dr. Myron Wentz PhD and Dave Wentz for example. It states on page 201: "Scientists postulate that the human body responds to these energy fields (Radio Frequency RF emissions and Electromagnetic Fields EMFs) as invading pathogens, setting in place a cascade of biochemical reactions that cause the release of damaging free radicals, alter the blood-brain barrier, kick start chronic inflammatory responses, and disrupt intracellular communications."

Within our own homes we can make decisions to mitigate our exposure to RFs and EMFs, however, when it comes to cell phone towers and power lines we are at the mercy of our local, provincial and federal policies.

And, by the way, Canada's policies have some of the least stringent guidelines in the world. Yes, sad but true, the Canadian government is ignoring its responsibility to protect the long-term health and well-being of its citizens by failing to be proactive in reducing exposure to radiation emissions and electromagnetic fields.

Here is what you can do:

1. Educate yourself on the harms of EMR/RF radiation by visiting these web sites: www.citizensforsafetechnology.org – click Cell TowerAction Kitwww.scribd.com/doc/3856847/Nail-A#fullwww.cbc.ca/news/story/2010/11/05/con-cell-radiation.html

2. Join us in expressing your opposition to this application by Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (WIND) at www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/comment.jsp?ret=%2FApplicationPosting%2F&id=33125

3. Contact your policymakers and implementers and let them know Whistler needs a policy for Whistler to regulate the installation and on-going monitoring of antennas, transmitters, receivers, antenna system or any other EMR-emitting-or-receiving equipment.

Whistler Mayor and Council: www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council

John Weston MP: john.weston.c1e@parl.gc.ca

Globalive WIND: Omer Rachid, chief of customer service omerrashid@windmobile.ca

Please talk to your neighbours and spread the word through your e-mail contacts and social media friends.

Cheryl Massey – husband, Vincent – cancer survivor

Lisa Geddes – Son, Nick, cancer survivor

Corinne Allison – cancer survivor

Whistler

Goodbye...but not for long

Goodbye everyone and thank-you for your business at the Southern Soul Diner. A special thanks goes out to Colin Pitt-Taylor whose generosity made this experience possible.

I look forward to the Olives Market, which will make the next 25 years a success (at its new Function Junction location).

I had so much fun at the Pig Roast Blow Out Party — it was great to see so many friends enjoying themselves. Plus thanks to Colin Pyne of the Whistler Brewing Company, Tom Jackson for the loan of the Turkey Deep Fryer and my amazing staff, who worked so hard to make this event as special as it was.

We are working hard on a new location and want to be back in business with Fried Chicken and Barbecue ASAP.

Whistler deserves more value and diversity and I'm committed to providing it.

Adam Protter

Whistler

Wallet returned

Thank you ever so much to my Good Samaritan for handing my lost wallet with its entire contents to an RCMP officer. I am truly grateful to you. Your honesty and action demonstrate the character of the community of Whistler.

Christine Epp

Whistler

FALL FESTIVALS ALREADY EXIST

Cindy Filipenko's article in the Question and GD Maxwell's article in the Pique last week each touched on RMI funds and the potential of using these funds to create a new fall festival.

We already have a fall festival. In fact we have more than one fall festival here and the ones we do have could use financial support to ensure their growth and longevity. We don't need something new. We need to support what we have and build on it.

Let me tell you about my own festival as an example of a local event that could use more financial support.

The Whistler Readers and Writers Festival (October 12-14) showcases some of Canada's leading literary artists, and over the years has produced a multi-day, multi-venue, multi-artist event that combines developmental workshops, reading events, music, spoken word and the literary arts in an inclusive, intimate event that has received rave reviews from participants and guest authors alike. As one guest author wrote in her evaluation form last year, "Today, I gave my students a summary of the weekend at the Whistler festival and told them if they are thinking of one festival to attend next year, make it Whistler's."

2012 will mark the 11th year of the Whistler Readers and Writers Festival. This event is run completely by volunteers who would like to see the festival continue to provide programming that is accessible and affordable, yet it is difficult to do this with our limited resources. We have no operational budget and while we have received grant funding from several levels of government, including funding through the Community Enrichment Program, and this year for the first time, through a small RMI grant, this money is used to bring in guest authors, advertise our event as well as cover venue costs. We are very thankful for these grants but it is simply not enough.

We realize that in order to expand and thrive we need seed money and support and RMI funds may be out best hope. So rather than create a new festival, supporting a festival like the Readers and Writers Festival which is connected, acclaimed, credible and growing is an opportunity for the RMOW to use RMI funds to share in our growth and support a grassroots organization started right here in Whistler by locals. As author Brian Brett said, "Writers' festivals and writer-in-residence programs are absolutely essential for keeping Canadians connected, reviving writers and the audiences, and for fostering local culture and identity."

Brian Brett, was the 2010 Whistler Writer-in-Residence and winner of the 2009 Writers' Trust of Canada Non-Fiction Prize.

I hope to see you at the 2012 Whistler Readers and Writers Festival. Program and tickets available at: www.theviciouscircle.ca

Stella L. Harvey

Founder, the Vicious Circle

Director, Whistler Readers and Writers Festival

Valley Trail guardian angel

I want to say a HUGE thank you to whomever it was that helped a very intoxicated me bob-and-weave my way home on Friday night on the Valley Trail alongside the Whistler Golf Course.

If it had not been for this gentleman and his lovely dog I don't think I would have made it. Chivalry is not dead, and this "angel" is a testament to that! Thank you so very much to this knight-in-shining-armour!

Katie Erb

Whistler