Rally to stop Cell Phone Towers near Alki Elementary tomorrow night

EDITORS NOTE: The following was submitted by Barb Morgen:

Parents of students a Alki Elementary will join 50 neighbors and community supporters in attending the “Stop Alki Cell Towers” Information Rally and Demonstration on Alki Beach, Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m.  Rally will end with kids throwing 12 cardboard cell tower replicas into a fire pit, as a way of saying they don’t want 12 new cell antenna transmitters to be built so close to their school.  

Parents and students from Alki Elementary will join a neighborhood citizens group called “Stop Alki Cell Towers” at an information rally and demonstration on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. near the bathhouse at Alki Beach Park. This grassroots group of neighbors have filed a formal appeal with Seattle DPD to stop 12 new cell antennas from being constructed on top of an apartment building where children live, less than 600 feet from Alki Elementary School, and less than 600 feet from where children play at Alki Beach.

This open-to-the-public event will include information distributed on why cell phones and towers are particularly dangerous for kids and pets, how people and families can use tech in a way that keeps them safer, about other cities across the country who are passing legislation to keep cell towers a safer distance from schools, about the building code that Seattle DPD would waive for the 12 new towers to come in, as well as other building codes and a US federal law that may be violated if the towers are built.

The event will end with children throwing bamboo replicas of the cell towers that they helped to make into the firepit, as a way of saying they don’t want 12 new cell antennas to be built so close to their school.

WHAT:                   An information rally and protest of 12 new cell antennas planned less than 600 feet from Alki Elementary School and Alki Beach Park.

WHEN?:                        Thursday, May 7 from 6:30 -7:30  p.m.

6:30 p.m.         Fire is started and S’Mores made for the kids. Stop Alki Cell Towers volunteers meet with neighbors and distribute fliers with scientific research on the dangers of cell tower radiation, and tips for families to use technology in a way that keeps them safer. They will also share the legal arguments for the community appeal to stop these 12 celltowers from going in less than 600 feet away, because a 19-year-old federal law prevents citizens from disputing the construction of cell towers based on health concerns.

7 p.m.          Rally begins – Q and A

7:15 p.m.         Kids throw their bamboo cell tower replicas into the firepit.

7:30 p.m.         end

WHERE?:            Alki Beach Park, near the Alki Bathhouse.

WHO?:            Everyone who works, plays and goes to school near Alki Beach Park, including parents of students at Alki Elementary School, and “Stop Alki Cell Towers,” a coalition of neighbors who have filed an appeal with the City of Seattle to ask a cellular provider to find alternative sites that don’t potentially break federal laws and city building codes.

WHY?         Stop Alki Cell Towers invites all who use Alki Beach Park to sign the petition to keep kids safe while enjoying mobile technology, learn the Top 5 safe tech tips for families, and how they can serve as a witness in the appeal process and to by attending the rally.

Background:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the nation’s largest pediatricians group, has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider its 19-year old radiation standards. (http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/20/pediatricians-call-on-the-fcc-to-reconsider-cell-phone-radiation-standards/)
• The World Health Organization labeled Cell Tower Radiation a Class B2 Carcinogen in 2011 – the same category as the pesticide DDT, lead, gasoline engine exhaust, dry cleaning chemicals and jet fuel.
• The European Union (EU) has formally recommended not to place any cell towers near schools.
• Scientific Studies released in Germany, Israel and Austria are among others that have concluded that cancer rates are at least 3 times higher in people who live within 1/4 mile of a cell antenna for more than 5 years.

• 1. The Influence of Being Physically Near to a Cell Phone Transmission Mast on the Incidence of Cancer  cancer rate 3 xs higher after 5-10 years living within ¼ mile (1312 feet) of a cell antenna. (2004, Germany: http://www.emf-health.com/PDFreports/Germanreport_celltower.pdf)
• 2. Increased Incidence of Cancer Near a Cell-Phone Transmitter Station cancer rate 4 xs higher after 3-7 years (2004, Israel: http://www.emf-health.com/PDFreports/Israelstudy_celltower.pdf).
• 3. Environmental Epidemiological Study of Cancer Incidence in the Municipalities of Hausmannstätten & Vasoldsberg (Austria) cancer rate xx higher within 1/8 of a mile (660 feet) from cell antenna after 5 years (2008, Austria: http://www.emf-health.com/PDFreports/Austrianstudy.pdf).

• The 12 new proposed Alki cell antennas break city building code for height restriction.
• Plans for the 12 new cell antennas indicate that they may potentially break several other city of Seattle building codes.
• The 12 new proposed cell antennas would triple the number of cell antennas near Alki Beach Park and the cumulative radiation emitted.
• Existing US and local laws do not allow citizens to appeal the construction of cell antennas based on the health interests of the pets, children or the people of Seattle.

The public is invited and welcome to attend!

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EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, interviews with parents of students at Alki Elementary against the towers, or with one or more representatives of Stop Alki Cell Towers, a copy of the appeal, photos and links to studies regarding the safety of RF radiation emitted by cell towers and cell phones on children vs. adults, call Barb Morgen at 206.883.9093.