Stop Smart Meters! Bulletin
Vol. 3 November 30th, 2010
https://stopsmartmeters.org Contact: joshuanoahhart@gmail.com
Post Office Box 66165 Scotts Valley CA 95067
Quote of the Month
“Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground….Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” -Frederick Douglass
ALERT! ATTEND CPUC MEETING THIS THURSDAY DEC. 2ND – STAND UP FOR HEALTH
The CA Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this Thursday is prepared to go against 22 cities and counties, representing several million citizens, and its own Division of Ratepayer Advocates, who stated that unless concerns about ‘smart’ meters can be put to rest, the program will turn out to be a “$2.2 billion mistake that ratepayers can ill afford.” The appointed commissioners are preparing to side with PG&E and against common sense, health and safety- rejecting the petition by the EMF Safety Network calling for a halt to installation and hearings on health impacts. We urge you to sign up and speak at this meeting. You must inform the CPUC in advance that you will be speaking- the public is typically allowed 2-3 minutes. Call the CPUC Public Advisor’s Office at 1 866 849 8390 or you can show up by 8:45am and sign up then. The meeting starts at 9am at the CPUC building (with the large state seal) at the corner of McAllister and Van Ness in San Francisco. San Francisco residents are planning a protest out front following the meeting. Bring signs!
TONIGHT: FAIRFAX SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETING ON PG&E SMART METERS
PG&E will face angry Fairfax residents with pitchforks and flaming torches tonight in Fairfax.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:30-9:30 PM Fairfax Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax, CA
What are Smart Meters!?
The installation of wireless gas and electric meters is one of the largest technology rollouts in history. Yet in California and other states, there was virtually no consultation with the public and local governments in advance of the $2.2 billion “Advanced Metering Infrastructure” (or AMI) project — the first mandatory microwave radiation device to be installed on our homes and businesses. Wireless radiation has been linked with cancer and DNA damage at exposure levels far below FCC guidelines, in peer-reviewed scientific studies. “Smart” meters pose health risks, violate individual privacy, interfere with electronic appliances, increase carbon emissions and overcharge customers. But utility companies and tech firms love them because they allow them to layoff meter readers and generate more profit! Luckily, more communities every day are learning the facts and refusing the DumbMeter onslaught.
What is “Stop Smart Meters!”?
Growing out of the grassroots group Scotts Valley Neighbors Against Smart Meters, which was started in June, Stop Smart Meters! is now a statewide advocacy, media outreach, and direct action group providing activism consultation and advice to dozens of local groups around the state (and now around the country) who are fighting the wireless ‘smart’ meter assault.
The fight against ‘smart’ meters has brought about new, unexpected political alliances. Please join us and add your voice to thousands of others. More info, regular news updates, analysis, and tips on resisting ‘smart’ meters at our website: https://stopsmartmeters.org
To add yourself or others to the distribution list for this newsletter, please send a request to: joshuanoahhart@gmail.com.
THANK YOU FOR DONATING TO STOP SMART METERS!
Thank you to everyone who stepped up last month and supported our work with funds that go directly to organizing and continuing the fight. Even if it’s only a small amount, it all adds up and it really goes a long way toward making this education and advocacy possible. Please chip in if you can!
Please make checks payable to Joshua Hart, write Stop Smart Meters! on the memo line and send to Stop Smart Meters! c/o Joshua Hart Post Office Box 66165 Scotts Valley CA 95067. Contact us directly if you require a tax deduction. Thank you for your support!
CHECK OUT OUR ALLIES
We urge you to get to know, and contribute to our friends at the following organizations, who are all working on different angles of the smart meter issue:
Health and Safety: EMF Safety Network http://emfsafetynetwork.org
Health and Envt: Environmental Options Network (EON) http://eon3.net
EON EMF Blog: http://eon3emfblog.net/
Environmental Health Trust: http://www.environmentalhealthtrust.org/
Privacy issues: Electronic Frontier Foundation http://eff.org
Consumer Rights: The Utility Reform Network (TURN) http://turn.org
NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT STOPSMARTMETERS.ORG!
We’ve been working to make our website more useful to you, and we will be expanding in the coming months. Be sure to check out these new pages, and check back soon as we will be adding more resources to help you campaign:
Press Releases: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/press-releases/
Monthly Bulletins: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/ssm-bulletins/
SMART METER VICTIMS SPEAK OUT
Following the Commonwealth Club event on EMF’s and Health, Stop Smart Meters! organized a press conference to highlight a few of the many individuals who have been reporting health impacts from smart meters. There seems to be something about the sudden, intermittent spikes of microwave radiation that is triggering sometimes serious reactions in the population. Watch video here: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/smart-meter-victims-speak-out/ More health testimonies are being gathered by the EMF Safety Network here: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292
PG&E OFFICIAL FALSIFIES IDENTITY TO SPY ON SMART METER OPPONENTS
As many are already aware, William Devereaux, Senior Director of Pacific Gas and Electric’s ‘Smart’ Meter program was caught falsifying his identity in a covert attempt to access information from the EMF Safety Network. Devereaux infiltrated a number of listservs pretending to be a smart meter activist named ‘Ralph’ in order to gain information. This is more than just unethical behavior by the head of the ‘smart’ meter program- this is espionage- prying into the internal strategy against an opponent in a legal case, as the EMF Safety Network has a case pending against the utility at the CPUC. Original Press Release here: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/pge-senior-director-of-smart-meter-program-poses-as-ralph-the-anti-smart-meter-activist/
Devereaux has now resigned, though the scandal has revealed PG&E to be a corrupt, deceitful corporation that will do anything to get its way. This incident is now being used as an example in corporate crisis communications of what not to do: http://www.bulletproofblog.com/2010/11/12/pge-employee-generates-online-backlash/
More industry reported fallout here: http://www.pikeresearch.com/blog/articles/pge’s-smart-meter-program-takes-more-hits and here: http://cleanenergysector.com/2010/11/why-the-smart-meter-backlash-story-isnt-going-away/ Full list of media coverage here: http://news.google.com/news/more?q=devereaux+smart+meter&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&ncl=dXZhiJcTfqAxTbMBnliIDJBZe0z9M&ei=jmv1TPCGGon2swP78J3dCw&sa=X&oi=news_result&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CC8
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION GROWS
The number of local governments opposed to the ‘smart’ meter program continues to grow. A total of 19 cities and 3 counties throughout CA- representing several million citizens- have now formally opposed PG&E’s ‘smart’ meter program. The cities of San Rafael and Richmond recently came on board. It is now illegal under local ordinance to install in Fairfax, Watsonville, and Santa Cruz County. Call the sheriff if you see installations in any of these areas (or if PG&E tries to install on your home against your will). The updated list of local governments protesting can be found here at the EMF Safety Network site. Is your city or county on the list? If not, why not send them a letter? Sample letter here.
CA ASSEMBLY REQUESTS OFFICIAL REPORT ON SMART METER HEALTH IMPACTS
Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D- San Rafael) and Bill Monning (D- Santa Cruz) have requested a report from the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) on the potential health impacts of wireless ‘smart’ meters. A draft version of the report is expected to be released in December, and the public are urged to comment. Final version is due in January. People are encouraged to contact Assemblymember Huffman at (415) 479-4920 and Senator Leno at (415) 557-1300 and urge them to support an immediate halt to wireless ‘smart’ meter installation.
CPUC BLASTED BY DRA FOR IGNORING SMART METER DANGERS
Two weeks ago, the California Public Utilities Commission’s own Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) again blasted the appointed members of the Commission for failing to adequately investigate potentially lethal problems with PG&E’s ‘Smart’ Meter program. Saying that “Unless the public’s concerns can be put to rest, there is a very great risk that PG&E’s SmartMeter deployment will turn out to be a $2.2 billion mistake that ratepayers can ill afford,”
the DRA forcefully asserts that ‘the Commission would be remiss in its duty to ensure “safe and reliable” service if it did not solicit further evidence and perform an analysis.” (on health problems associated with RF emissions, the ignition potential of meters in proximity to natural gas lines, and electronic interference associated with ‘smart’ meters.) Full article here: http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-11-18/business/24837688_1_cpuc-health-study-public-health
JOIN OUR ‘WELLINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH’ CONTEST!
We are continuing to ask for your help with a statewide ‘Wellington Watch.’ If you see any white trucks with a shell on the back and the words “Wellington Energy” on the doors, please warn your neighbors, tell them they have the right to refuse installation, and report the incident to us. Record video or take photos if you can. There have also recently been rumors that PG&E is working with other installation companies so you get bonus points if you discover them sneaking around your neighborhood- keep your eyes peeled! Working together with our neighbors, we can stop this undemocratic microwave trespass on our homes and businesses.
VIDEO OF COMMONWEALTH CLUB PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
For those of you who couldn’t be there in person, or if you attended and want to review the excellent presentations by top international researchers, or share them with others, the video footage from the Commonwealth Club EMF Program, Nov 18, 2010, “The Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields”, is now posted on ElectromagneticHealth.org. You can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/298yzdg.
ROHNERT PARK PROTEST DELAYS SMART METER INSTALLATIONS
North Bay protesters delayed installation of smart meters from the Rohnert park installation yard for a second time last week, throwing up more impediments to PG&E’s unwanted program.
WIFI MAKING TREES SICK, ACCORDING TO NETHERLANDS RESEARCHERS
Still using a wireless connection to surf the internet? You may be contributing to the decline of more than your sperm count. The evidence of damage to the natural world (including humans) continues to roll in but where are the major environmental organizations? This will be the topic of an upcoming Stop Smart Meters investigation. Stay tuned (via your wired connection of course).
http://www.pcworld.com/article/211219/study_says_wifi_makes_trees_sick.html?tk=rss_news
ISRAELI PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDS EMF REDUCTION
The environmental and health committee in the CNESET (Israel parliament) called upon the government to adopt the recommendations of a technical committee to reduce and to prevent exposure to electromagnetic radiation of students in schools. An automatic Hebrew to English translation can be found here:http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=iw&tl=en&u=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3988033,00.html
BOLINAS RESIDENTS CHASE WELLINGTON OUT OF TOWN
If you want to know how easy it is to get a smart meter installer to leave the area, just watch this video of Wellington installers scurrying away as soon as they are discovered. Grab your video camera and inform your neighbors! http://eon3emfblog.net/?p=847
WHAT DO WE WANT? AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM. WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!
There has been some talk of solving the smart meter crisis with an ‘opt out provision’- to give individuals and perhaps cities and counties the right to ‘opt out’ of the ‘smart’ meter program. This is not an acceptable solution– if EMF from wireless technology is potentially harmful, it should not be installed on a widespread basis throughout our communities- period. We need an immediate halt to installations, public hearings and investigations into health and safety impacts. Full article on our website here: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/opt-out-is-not-enough/
MAINE RISES UP AGAINST SMART METERS
Led by environmental health activist Elisa Boxer-Cook, Maine residents have been building momentum and awareness of the risks of smart meter technology. So far, three Maine cities- Scarborough, Sanford, and Cape Elizabeth have demanded a halt to Central Maine Power’s program. Media coverage here:
http://www.pressherald.com/news/smart-meters_2010-11-23.html?searchterm=smart+meters
MORE THOUGHTS ON THE PRIVACY ISSUE
Another major concern- besides health, electronic interference, fire safety and overbilling- is that of privacy violations. Do you really want PG&E and a host of other corporations to know if you get up in the middle of the night? Do they really need to know that? The Harvard Business Review take a cogent look at privacy issues with smart grid development here: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/10/how_private_is_your_smart_grid.html There is more information about the privacy implications of smart meters in our own interview with the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Lee Tien, here: http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/interview-with-eff-how-smart-meters-violate-our-right-to-privacy/
“PROVE IT” INITIATIVE CALLS ON GOVT AND INDUSTRY TO PROVE WIRELESS IS SAFE
The new ‘Prove It’ Initiative- at http://www.prove-it.co/ is calling for an immediate moratorium on all new public wireless technologies, including SmartMeters until…
* Testing of these technologies for health impacts shows there is no harm.
* A blue-ribbon commission certifies that US standards for microwave exposures and other EMFs are safe.
The website informs about the health impacts of wireless technologies and provides tools to help you take immediate action for change!
Media Update and Links
Smart Meters and Health, a presentation made in September by physician and biomedical engineer Karl Maret:
http://www.communitytv.org/programs/online/truth-about-smart-meters (beginning at 23:40 on the video telecast)
Joshua Hart of Stop Smart Meters! interviewed on KSCO- great radio show with call-ins!
http://www.ksco.com/podcasts/saturday-special
EMF Phone Home- Great Coverage of the Electromagnetic Health Forum
http://www.pacificsun.com/news/show_story.php?id=2487
Smart Meter Revolt Persists in Sonoma County
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101125/ARTICLES/101129726/1350…
An industry bootlicking exercise that shows just how far disconnected the corporate ‘environmental’ movement has become. Mother Jones would turn in her grave- comments encouraged!
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/11/smart-meter-backlash
Wisconsin Utility also bullying customers
http://firstdonoharmblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/wisconsin-utilities-bullying-customers.html
A Modest Defense Against PG&E- Steve Martinot Editorial
http://www.berkeleydaily.org/issue/2010-11-17/article/36767
Wireless interferes with Parkinson‘s Impants
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/22122349.html
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 2nd: 9am CPUC Meeting (see above)
December 6th: CPUC/ PG&E Smart Meter Workshop
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: CPUC Building
Courtyard Meeting Room (Ground Level)
505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
LINKS
Stop Smart Meters!
Smart Meters Wiki
http://smartmeters.transbay.net/doku.php
EMF Safety Network
Ecological Options Network
Environmental Health Trust
http://environmentalhealthtrust.org/
Smart Meters Wiki
http://smartmeters.transbay.net/doku.php
If you’d like to be removed from this list, please e-mail us at joshuanoahhart@gmail.com and we will do so immediately. ~Thank you for your support!~ – Stop Smart Meters!
YAY WiFighters!!!! I am trying to organize here in Santa Fe, NM but lived for 25 years in San Francisco, and my heart is so full of joy that you are fighting to defend my beloved City!!! Am sending you some new folks, too.
This is a great web page. Ours is: http://www.WhyFry.org and has some great, pivotal videos. felicidades, Felicia
Strange this post is totaly unrelated to what I was searching google for, but it was listed on the first page. I guess your doing something right if Google likes you enough to put you on the first page of a non related search.
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Source Unknown – “English Law prohibits a man from marrying his mother-in-law. This is our idea of useless legislation.”
May we legally refuse to have them placed in our homes? I ask as the laclede gas company in Mo who uses these meters is stating they have the legal right to turn off our gas in our homes. It seems to me, that in itself is illegal. They are using bully tactics to force residents to comply.
maria torrini–
My electric company claimed the same thing–that if I didn’t let them install the meter, they were going to shut off my electricity. But I had researched the PUC rules and those rules stated very specifically the circumstances when they could shut off electricity and my situation in no way fit those circumstances. They kept threatening & bullying, the PUC even refused to do anything about a blatant violation of their own rules, and I ended up having to call the CEO’s home number to get the threats to stop.
I would advise you to find the regulatory agency in your state (maybe called the Public Utilities Commission or something similar) and read their rules for gas utilities. Find the disconnection of service rules. Also, here in Texas, we have a collection of laws called the Utilities Code with laws relating to utilities. Comb through that and see if there is anything, or a LACK of anything in there. When I did that in my situation, I found out, among other things, that the electric utilities were claiming legal rights and authorities that they didn’t have.
Also, even before you gather information, file a complaint with the PUC or similar agency in your state. It’s possible, as it is in Texas, that they can’t shut off your gas until the complaint is resolved.
If you need help, go to http://www.BanSmartMeters.com and my email address is there. Good job for standing up to these people!