by Katherine | 30 Jul, 2014 | Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
The purpose of this post is to discuss some of the issues raised in the responses to the 2014 Election Questionnaire.
It is intended to give an overview of the issues with “smart meters” for readers who are new to this subject and/or this website. (Please note that if you would like updates on the “smart meter” issue you are welcome to sign up for the free email newsletter at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz.)
The list of questions in the www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz Election Questionnaire were designed to help educate politicians about the “smart meter” issue, including the fact that the meters produce radiofrequency radiation in the microwave range which is considered a possible carcinogen (class 2B) to transmit information about electricity use (see: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/health-issues/ ) and also have adverse effects on people’s privacy, for example: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/network-tasman-there-are-no-privacy-concerns-with-smart-meters-yeah-right/ .
Another important issue is that electricity companies have reportedly been bullying customers to try to make people who do not want “smart meters” to accept them (see: www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-your-electricity-company-bullying-you/ . Moreover some companies are trying to use Terms and Conditions to try to intimidate customers into accepting “smart meters” – with the stated or implied threat that their power could be cut off if they do not agree to a “smart meter” installation. (See:www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/smart-meter-installed-without-permission-headaches-result-smart-meter-removed-headaches-disappear/ )
It is also of concern that it can be a very difficult and time consuming process for customers to get rid of “smart meters” once they have been installed, even if they are causing health problems. (Personal communications.) A lot of meters in NZ are on bedroom walls and this site has potential to cause substantial exposure to EMR from a “smart meter”.
There are a lot of myths being promulgated about “smart meters” by the electricity industry. These include claims that “smart meters” help people save money. While this may be true in some cases, many people have higher bills after a “smart meter” installations (see: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/huge-bill-increase-after-smart-meter-installed/ ) and if time-of-use pricing is widely introduced higher bills are likely to become a fact of life for everyone – see: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/how-smart-meters-can-lead-to-higher-bills/ and www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/the-advantages-of-smart-meters/ )
Another myth been pushed by the electricity industry is that “smart meters” are a safe technology even though they produce non-ionising radiation which has been classed as a possible carcinogen. The electricity industry frequently refers customers who express concern about the safety of “smart meters” to a document produced by the Electrical Power Engineering Centre (EPEC) at the University of Canterbury. You can read a critique of this document at this link: www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/report-on-health-and-safety-aspects-of-electricity-smart-meters-debunked/
Some political parties also support the introduction of “smart” water meters which i a concern given that the “smart” water meters which are being trialled in NZ produce a radiofrequency radiation pulse every eight seconds. See https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/smart-water-meters-in-nz-the-situation-so-far/
The answers (or public statements) made by the representatives of some political parties suggest that some politicians have bought the corporate line that “smart meters” will help people save money and are somehow a safe technology – even though they produce possibly carcinogenic radiation, and all over the world where wireless “smart meters” have been installed, people have been reporting a variety of adverse health effects. (For some examples of common “smart meter”-associated symptoms please see: www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/survey-of-people-adversely-affected-by-smart-meters/ )
Please bear these thoughts in mind when you read the responses from the different political parties to the www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz Election Questionnaire. Thank you.
The text of the 2014 Election Questionnaire and links to all political parties’ replies may be found at this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/2014-election-questionnaire-2/
by Katherine | 29 Jul, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Taikura Rudolf Steiner School is hosting a presentation, in conjunction with concerned parents, on
Wi-Fi in schools: the science, legal position, policy, and health and safety obligations
Thursday 7th August, 7pm at the Taikura School Hall, Nelson St, Hastings.
Guest Speaker: Expert Environmental Lawyer, Sue Grey LLB(Hons), BSc (Microbiology & Biochemistry), RSHDipPHI,
An examination of international responses to Wi-Fi technology both at governmental and medical levels as well as current NZ government standards will also be covered . Q & A is scheduled at end of evening.
You are warmly invited to attend this talk if you are in Hastings at this time.
by Katherine | 17 Jul, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Just a reminder to people who live in or around Motueka that the “smart meter” documentary Take Back Your Power will screen at Motueka’s State Cinema on Monday July 21 at 6.30 PM.
The screening is free so please tell everyone you know in this area so they can make plans to attend.
If you are not in this area, you can buy a DVD or stream the documentary via www.takebackyourpower.net
by Katherine | 11 Jul, 2014 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Waikato lines company WEL Networks Ltd. should be ashamed of itself for including a statement on its website that appears to be designed to mislead its customers into believing that it is compulsory to accept the installation of a microwave radiation-emitting “smart meter” that the company has chosen to call a “smart box”.
The statement is “This requirement for meter replacement is regulated by the NZ government and must be completed nationally by 2015”
In fact there is no law or regulation that requires any company to install “smart meters” or any person to accept a “smart meter”.
You can read the claim by WEL Networks Ltd in the screen shot from the company’s website pasted below. (You can click on the image to make it larger.)
If you have had a “smart box” installed because you believed that it was compulsory, you can contact www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz through this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
More information on the WEL “smart box” installation programme may be found at the links below the image.
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wel-smart-box-installation-prevented/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/you-do-not-have-to-accept-a-wel-smart-box-if-you-do-not-want-one/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-the-wel-smart-box-a-way-to-facilitate-smart-water-metering/
by Katherine | 5 Jul, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
The Green Living Sow is on in Auckland this weekend (July 5-6) and local electromagnetic radiation and health expert Paul Waddell will be giving a talk at the expo at 3.30 on Sunday July 6.
For more info on The Green Living Show which is always an enjoyable event and features many other great speakers, please see this link:
http://www.thegreenlivingshow.co.nz/
Speakers and seminar details here:
http://www.organicexpo.co.nz/seminars-demos/
by Katherine | 28 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Users Feedback
Motueka’s very own State Cinema will host a special community screening of the award-winning “smart meter” documentary Take Back Your Power on Monday, July 21st at at 6.30pm.
The screening is FREE. (If anyone would like to contribute a donation this would be welcomed but there is no obligation.)
This documentary is a great way to get informed about the “smart meter” issue so if you have friends or family in this area, please let them know about it so they can plan to attend. Thank you.
by Katherine | 22 Jun, 2014 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Users Feedback
In Mid-May 2014, Network Tasman Ltd was given a list of 32 questions relating to the “smart meters” it has now begun to install in the Golden Bay area and the “smart grid” infrastructure it plans to install to support the “smart meters”.
The original list of questions may be read at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/answer-the-questions-network-tasman-ltd/
Network Tasman’s representative Andrew Stanton eventually answered most of the list of the 32 questions (and you can read the answers at these links:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/answers-to-questions-from-network-tasman-ltd-part-1/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/answers-to-questions-from-network-tasman-ltd-part-2/
However, he did not answer the questions relating to how much radiofreqency radiation (in microwatts per square metre) is produced by the “smart meters” that Network Tasman Ltd wants to install. (In the case of the radiofrequency radiation produced by the “access points” and “relays” that will form the “smart grid” Mr Stanton referred to a document without giving a link to it, making it impossible to verify what he said.)
But back to the “smart meters”. Network Tasman Ltd is part of a group of companies call “Smart Co” http://smartco.co.nz/.
Another company in “Smart Co” group WEL Networks Ltd commissioned testing of what WEL is marketing to consumers as a WEL “smart box”.* This “smart box” is actually a Landis+Gyr E350 model “smart meter” with a Silver Spring model 454 Network Interface Card (NIC). (The “Network Interface Card” produces the radiofrequency radiation.)
Network Tasman Ltd is also installing Landis+Gyr E350 “smart meters”, and given that Network Tasman Ltd has a document from Silver Spring Ltd on its website, it seems likely that the two companies are using the same “smart meter”. Therefore the results of that testing should be of interest to anyone in Nelson-Tasman area where Network Tasman plans to install these meters.
The document which reports on testing of the WEL “smart box” uses two techniques commonly used by industry to make “smart meter” emissions seem lower than they actually are.
The first technique used involves averaging of the brief pulses of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) over a longer time period, rather than reporting the strength of each pulse in real time.
The second technique used in the document is to report on the strength of the RFR as a percentage of New Zealand’s National Standard for RFR, rather than using the actual figure for RFR in standard units (such as microwatts per square metre or microwatts per square centimetre, for example.)
NZ’s national standard NS 2772.1:1999 is designed to protect against thermal injury caused by RFR in the microwave range, not any other possible adverse effects. Thus, a report that presents data about “smart meter” emissions as percentage of this standard, without disclosing that the NS2772.1 : 1999 is designed to prevent thermal injury rather than assure protection from other adverse effects, may be interpreted by readers to mean that emission from the “smart meter” do not pose any risk to health.
The document may be downloaded from the link below. You will notice notes in red on the document. These have been added by electropollution consultant Paul Waddell from www.safespace.net.nz who has used the information provided by the person who tested the WEL “smart box” and annotated the document with the actual values of the RFR pulses produced by this device.
You will notice that the non time-averaged values for the pulses of RFR produced by the WEL “smart box” are very high; up to 599,950 microwatts per square metre in a worst case scenario*, although other exposures were lower.
Could this test data be the reason why Network Tasman Ltd refused to supply answers to the questions about how much radiofrequency radiation (in microwatts per square metre) that its “smart meters” produce?
To put this into context, the upper limit for exposure to RFR suggested by the scientists who collaborated on the BioInitiative Report (www.bioinititative.org) is 1,000 microwatts per square metre.
The guidelines used by people trained in Building Biology* considers any exposure to RFR over 1,000 microwatts per square meter to be of “extreme concern”. (See http://www.emfacts.com/2008/07/910-building-biology-evaluation-guidelines/)
*The highest risk form this type of “smart meter” would probably for someone who spent a lot of time close to a “smart meter” mounted to an interior wall, such as if it were near their workstation or on a bedroom wall.
The document may be downloaded here:
RF fields from a WEL Networks Smart Meter with comments by PW.
*See the links at the end of this post for links to more information on WEL’s “smart box” and for more information about Network Tasman Ltd.
Network Tasman Ltd links:
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/answers-to-questions-from-network-tasman-ltd-part-1/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/answers-to-questions-from-network-tasman-ltd-part-2/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/does-network-tasman-ltd-hope-to-profit-from-smart-water-meters-in-the-nelsontasman-region/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/is-network-tasman-ltd-using-bad-science-to-justify-bad-decisions/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/will-network-tasman-ltd-do-the-right-thing-by-its-community/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/network-tasman-there-are-no-privacy-concerns-with-smart-meters-yeah-right/
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/the-advantages-of-smart-meters/
WEL “smart box” links
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-the-wel-smart-box-a-health-hazard/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wel-smart-box-installation-prevented/
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-the-wel-smart-box-a-way-to-facilitate-smart-water-metering/
by Katherine | 21 Jun, 2014 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Users Feedback
If you live in Hamilton or elsewhere in the Waikato you may be offered a “smart box” by WEL.
This so-called “smart box” is actually a Landis+Gyr E350 “smart meter”, which like all the “smart meters” in use in NZ, produces radio frequency radiation (RFR) in the microwave range which has been classified as a type 2B possible carcinogen.
A document from WEL’s website purporting to show that the WEL “smart box” is safe because its emissions are lower than the NZ government standard for radiofrequency radiation has now been de-bunked by electropollution consultant Paul Waddell from www.safespace.net.nz.
The document which reports on testing of the WEL “smart box” uses two techniques commonly used by industry to make “smart meter” emissions seem lower than they actually are.
The first technique used involves averaging of the brief pulses of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) over a longer time period, rather than reporting the strength of each pulse in real time.
The second technique used in the document is to report on the strength of the RFR as a percentage of New Zealand’s National Standard for RFR, rather than using the actual figure for RFR in standard units (such as microwatts per square metre or microwatts per square centimetre, for example.)
NZ’s national standard NZS 2772.1:1999 is designed to protect against thermal injury caused by RFR in the microwave range, not any other possible adverse effects. Thus, a report that presents data about “smart meter” emissions as percentage of this standard, without disclosing that the NZS2772.1 : 1999 is designed to prevent shocks and thermal injury rather than assure protection from other adverse effects, may be interpreted by readers to mean that emission from the “smart meter” do not pose any risk to health.
Paul Waddell has used the information provided by the person who tested the WEL “smart box” and annotated the document with the actual values of the RFR pulses produced by this device.
You will notice that the non time-averaged values for the pulses of RFR produced by the WEL “smart box” are very high; up to 599,950 microwatts per square metre in a worst case scenario, although other values were lower.
To put this into context, the upper limit for exposure to RFR suggested by the scientists who collaborated on the BioInitiative Report (www.bioinititative.org) is 1,000 microwatts per square metre.
The guidelines used by people trained in Building Biology* considers any exposure to RFR over 1,000 microwatts per square meter to be of “extreme concern”. (See http://www.emfacts.com/2008/07/910-building-biology-evaluation-guidelines/)
The document may be downloaded here:
RF fields from a WEL Networks Smart Meter with comments by PW.
NB: Although WEL’s website suggest that there is a government requirement to have a “smart box” there is no law or regulation which forces you to accept a “smart box” if you do not want one. Other people have successfully refused a WEL “smart box” and you can, too.
Please see this link for more information: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wel-smart-box-installation-prevented/
*Building Biology is a discipline which aims to create homes and other buildings that foster good health, through the use of non-toxic building materials, design that minimises occupants’ exposure to EMF/EMF levels etc.
by Katherine | 19 Jun, 2014 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Users Feedback
If you live in Hamilton or elsewhere in the Waikato you may be offered a “smart box” by WEL.
This so-called “smart box” is actually a Landis+Gyr “smart meter”, which like all the “smart meters” in use in NZ, produces radiofrequency radiation classified as a type 2B possible carcinogen.
Although WEL’s website suggest that there is a government requirement to have a “smart box” there is no law or regulation which forces you to accept a “smart box” if you do not want one. Other people have successfully refused a WEL :”smart box” and you can, too.
Please see this link for more information: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wel-smart-box-installation-prevented/
Please also note that a WEL “smart box” may also be able to be used to collect data from a “smart” water meter. If you do not want a “smart” water meter (or any other type of water meter), please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-the-wel-smart-box-a-way-to-facilitate-smart-water-metering/
by Katherine | 19 Jun, 2014 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Users Feedback
If you live in Hamilton or elsewhere in the Waikato you may be offered a “smart box” by WEL.
This is actually a Landis+Gyr “smart meter”.
Like the other “smart meters” in use in NZ, the WEL “smart box” produces radio frequency radiation which is a type 2B possible carcinogen.
Although the WEL’s website suggest that there is a government requirement to have a “smart box” there is no law or regulation which forces you to accept a ‘smart box” if you do not want one. Other people have successfully refused a WEL :”smart box” and you can, too.
Please see this link for more information: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wel-smart-box-installation-prevented/
Please also note that a WEL “smart box” may also be able to be used to collect data from a “smart” water meter. If you do not want a “smart” water meter (or any other type of water meter), please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/is-the-wel-smart-box-a-way-to-facilitate-smart-water-metering/
by Katherine | 14 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Users Feedback
Just a reminder that the award-winning documentary on”smart meters” Take Back Your Power will screen at Wanaka’s Cinema Paradiso at 12 noon on June 15.
Details for the screening are as follows:
Date: Sunday June 15
Time: 12 noon
Cost: This special screening is just $5 per person.
The address for the cinema is:
72 BROWNSTON ST, WANAKA. (Opposite the entrance to the New World supermarket & Base Backpackers.)
Please tell all your friends and family in the area so that they know about this important event.
You can promote the screening through Facebook…please share Cinema Paradiso’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/paradisowanaka and visit it yourself and indicate that you will be attending…this screening has been organised at short notice so please help get the word out so people find out about it in time to attend.
If you are not in this area, you may like to stream the movie from www.takebackyourpower.net
To be notified in advance of screenings of Take Back Your Power, please join the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
by Katherine | 12 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Users Feedback
Just a reminder that a special community screening of the award-winning smart meter documentary Take Back Your Power will screen in Wanaka’s Cinema Paradiso on Sunday June 15. Full details are at this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/take-back-your-power-wanaka-june-15/
This screening has been organised at short notice so if you have family or friends in this area, please let them know about it! Thank you!
by Katherine | 11 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Users Feedback
Just a reminder that Thursday, June 12 is the date of the free screening of the award-winning “smart meter” documentary Take Back Your Power.
The venue the local Memorial Hall, Pah Street, Motueka and the time for the screening is 6.30 pm.
The organisers may request a small donation from attendees to cover the cost of running this event. (Please check back at this post fr details.)
This venue can seat up to 400 people so please let anyone you know who lives in this area know about the screening. Thank you!
The event is free. (Any donations to help cover the organisers’ costs would be welcome but there is certainly no obligation
If you live in another area you can buy or stream the DVD from www.takebackyourpower.net
or if you are in the Wanaka area, please see this link for details of the special community screening on Sunday June 15: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/take-back-your-power-wanaka-june-15/
by Katherine | 11 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Users Feedback
On May 29, 2014, a public meeting about the health effects of wireless technologies was held in Waiuku, South of Auckland. (Details of the meeting may be found at this link https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/may-29-2014-public-meeting-on-wireless-technologies/.) The meeting featured a presentation by electropollution expert Paul Waddell.
Now people who could not attend the meeting can see the Powerpoint show created by Paul Waddell for the meeting, and hear him discuss this important issue.
The focus of the presentation is mostly wi-fi but “smart meters” are also covered.
See this link for details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce8VNpT1sEs
by Katherine | 9 Jun, 2014 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Users Feedback
Just a reminder for everyone in or around Motueka that there will be a community screening of the asward-winning “smart meter” documentary on Thursday June 12. The event is free. (Donations are welcome if people would like contribute towards the organisers’ costs.)
Details are at this link:https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/smart-meter-documentary-take-back-your-power-to-screen-in-motueka/
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