Motion: Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation

That the Edmonton Catholic School Board propose to the ASBA that the Association take the leadership in organizing a provincial symposium the objective if which would be to give scholarly consideration to the matter of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation  [RF] as this relates to WiFi technology in the schools and to the use of personal electronic devices [cell phones, i-pads, etc] by students both in regard to their educational application and their social application; and further that the ASBA suggest to the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Alberta School Councils Association to partner with the Association in the organization of the symposium.

Rationale:

 Alberta Education and Health Canada have set standards that dictate the maximum allowable electromagnetic field that any RF device may emit. Indeed these standards seem to be accepted internationally. It would appear that school districts in the Province operate well below the maximum allowable emission standards as set by Health Canada. Notwithstanding this reality the Government of Alberta recommends that ongoing research be carried out to “reduce the uncertainty around the effects of EMF on health.”

In regard to the foregoing matter of uncertainty it is noted that there is a growing body of “professional” literature that raises questions as to the possible physiological [health] “dangers” associated with “radiation” from various electronic devices – these devices that have become such an important tool in education and such a ubiquitous social tool in the culture of the young. This literature is very extensive and can be found elsewhere. It will be noted that the literature comes from a variety of sources examples of which include the following:

a)     Teachers’ unions in Germany, UK, USA, and Canada
b)     International Agency for research on Cancer
c)      Electronics industry {Warning from Blackberry}
d)     Royal Society of Canada {Panel}
e)     Pathophysiology
f)       American Academy of Pediatrics
g)     Andrology
h)     International Agency for research on Cancer
i)       Etc

The common concern that surfaces throughout this growing body of literature is that there are “grounds for concluding that radiation from cellular and cordless phones is a “probable human carcinogen”.

It is not the purpose of this motion to draw a conclusion as to the degree of danger that exists for the students of Alberta [both in school and out of school] through their use of radio frequency radiation emitting devices. However because of the growing body of information on the matter that raises questions as to possible health concerns of Radio Frequency Radiation it is deemed to be prudent that the trustees of the province {ASBA], the teachers {ATA} and the parents councils {ASCA} exercise their due diligence on the matter. In this it is deemed to be prudent to take steps to consider, in a scholarly manner, the matter of Radio Frequency Radiation and the potential danger [health risks] it holds for the students of the schools of Alberta. It follows that if there are “recognizable” dangers that steps be taken to mitigate those dangers.

[It would be most unfortunate that in ten or twenty years it was found that there were indeed serious implications vis a vis the use of radio frequency emitting devices and that we had not taken action to mitigate those negative effects. We could legitimately be accused of not exercising our due diligence. At the danger of some hyperbole not taking steps to at least determine the level of danger could be analogous to society not taking action earlier and more decisively regarding the dangers of smoking.]