1) This article makes it sound as if water metering is not occurring now, via analog meters. Why would wireless smeters result in significantly less water use?

Water metering is already working in some B.C. municipalities. Why isn’t it universal?

“While residents all over B.C. have become accustomed to electricity meters measuring their usage, the same practice for water remains scarce throughout the province. In Budget 2024, the provincial government announced $50 million for water metering pilot programs in 21 communities across B.C. However, some experts are saying the government needs to fast-track this measure — which could be critical in the province’s race to manage the impacts of climate change — and set aside others.”

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/06/bc-water-metering-climate-crisis/?

2) Newsletter from Andre Fauteux. I encourage you to drill down in the items to find many interesting links, especially to items from Environmental Health Trust and the many links sent by Dr. Cindy Russell re. pollinators.

https://noy.soundestlink.com/view/65e9d20a2627ae56430ccba5/60db92aeb211cd7ebb0021bc?signature=3643ad5a731d3c88b7bcfa8e945a685a831e27885625c8d72f3b998d7c890b36

Here is one I recommend, especially for those with “chipped” pets, by Dr. Lai, Dr. Manville and Blake Levitt.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Health and environmental effects to wildlife from radio telemetry and tracking devices — state of the science and best management practices

“This paper discusses the potential health risks and benefits to tagged wildlife from the use of radio tracking, radio telemetry, and related microchip and data-logger technologies used to study, monitor and track mostly wildlife in their native habitats. Domestic pets, especially canids, are briefly discussed as radio-tagging devices are also used on/in them….

The radiation emitted from many—though not all—tagging-devices is relatively low. But since they are placed in extremely close proximity to body tissues with relatively high local tissue energy absorption, they can cause biological effects.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1283709/full

 

3) A major lawsuit in California against the proliferation of cell towers in Los Angeles, especially 5G antennae. If successful, this could serve to help similar lawsuits elsewhere.

We’re having our day in Court!

“• Fiber First LA (FFLA), an organization of concerned citizens, community organizers, safe tech groups, communications professionals, and lawyers, knew something needed to be done. FFLA filed a lawsuit In January 2023 against the LA County Board of Supervisors. They believe all residents in LA County deserve the right to know when a cell tower will be placed next to their homes, and they deserve the right to appeal. Important environmental protections must remain in place.”

https://5gfreecalifornia.org/

4) The vulnerability of the “smart” grid is well-known, and it will become more vulnerable as more devices are connected via the IoT. Scientists are working on a means to address this flaw overall rather than piece-meal.

Scientists Propose Enhanced Protection for Smart Grid

“But smart devices are a big part of our future as the world moves more toward renewable energy and the many new devices to manage it. Already, such tools play a big role in keeping the power humming. The portion of the grid owned by utilities has thousands of devices that can be targeted, including transformers and generators. And then there are devices owned by customers, municipalities and others, such as solar panels and charging stations. With so many devices as well as an array of partners who have a stake in the grid, it’s becoming more taxing than ever to prevent or stop every potential attack.”

https://www.miragenews.com/scientists-propose-enhanced-protection-for-1186844/

Letters:

 

From: “Oona McOuat” (name given with permission)
To: cbcnsinvestigates@cbc.ca, “angela macivor” <angela.macivor@cbc.ca>
Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2024 11:08:44 AM
Subject: Response to Story: Family of N.S. seniors call extensive landline outage a safety concern

Thanks so much for covering this very important issue.

One important point that Angela MacIvor missed in her February 28, 2024 story “Family of N.S. seniors call extensive landline outage a safety concern” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/seniors-call-extensive-landline-outage-safety-concern-1.7126722 is that cell phones and fiber optic phones are grid dependent, while copper wired legacy phones, unless they are cordless models, are not.

The CRTC should not be allowing telecoms like Bell to replace copper with fiber, but for reasons of public safety, should insist the copper be kept in place.

I live on Salt Spring Island off the west coast of BC. In December 2018 we had a massive windstorm that knocked out our electricity lines for almost 3 weeks.

Interestingly enough, our copper phone line, through which we get our Internet and make all calls, managed to stay active for 2 of the 3 weeks that we were without power.

If our “legacy line” service had been switched to fiber at that time, we would have been without phone or Internet after a few hours, as fiber optic and coaxial cable dependent phones, like most cell towers, rely on the electric grid to power them. While some cell towers and fiber/coaxial phone systems have battery packs and generator back up, these are not designed to last for weeks. Plus, as you know, cell phones need to be charged.

In the case of our 2018 windstorm, it was impossible to leave our home by car for almost a week due to the number of trees on the road. If we had been cell or fiber phone reliant we would have not had any phone at all.

All the Best,
Oona

 

Sharon Noble, Director, Citizens for Safer Tech

“There is nothing permanent except change.”  Heraclitus

Sent from my wired laptop with no wireless components. PLEASE Practice Safe Tech.

www.citizensforsafertech.ca