May 14 Safe Tech International News and Notes
CA Landlines, Congress Must Regulate Towers-Joel
Note: I have surpassed my free articles via Wired for the year, but still find the headlines of interest. If you are unable to access the article, try your search engine. I try to remove excess code but am not always successful.
INSTANT ACTION ITEM:
CHD: Tell the FCC to Comply with the Court Order and Update Its Outdated Wireless Exposure Guidelines: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must comply with the 2021 court order requiring the agency to consider thousands of scientific studies and justify its outdated wireless radiation exposure guidelines, which have not been updated in over 28 years! For nearly three years — since Children’s Health Defense (CHD) won its landmark case against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2021 — the FCC has refused to comply with a court order requiring the agency to explain why its 1996 wireless exposure guidelines adequately protect humans and the environment against the harmful effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/community-forum/tell-the-fcc-to-comply-with-the-court-order-and-justify-its-outdated-wireless-exposure-guidelines/
FEATURED:
CHD Seeks Plaintiffs Injured by RF Radiation from Smart Meters Children’s Health Defense (CHD) is launching a new series of strategic lawsuits to protect people from the harmful wireless radiation emitted by smart meters. For this effort, CHD is seeking plaintiffs disabled by radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by their smart meters. To be a plaintiff, individuals must:
Have a smart electric utility meter installed at their place of residence.
Experience adverse health effects when exposed to radiation from their smart meter that severely impacts major life functions.
Reside in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia or Wyoming.
If you, your child or a family member meet the above requirements and wish to be considered as a potential plaintiff, please complete the form https://childrenshealthdefense.org/about-us/chd-seeks-plaintiffs-injured-by-rf-radiation-from-smart-meters/
EMF NEWSLETTERS:
Safe Tech International This is the link to the most recent newsletter from Safe Tech International. It includes a few items dating back to before I started this substack, (including a three-part blog series highlighting first person accounts of harms to nature caused by wireless technologies, which includes an important report from Diana Kordas in Greece, because there are no pesticides in use on Samos that can be blamed for harm caused by wireless and 5G.) Announcing Patricia's Safe Tech International Substack | A Few Updates & Some Inspiring Blogs
NEWS AND NOTES:
ACTIVISM/ADVOCATES INTERVIEW: CHILDREN’S HEALTH DEFENSE: Electromagnetic Radiation Poisoning Roger James, Keith Cutter, Donna DeSanto, Gene Bazen Most people know that using pharmaceutical products and undergoing medical procedures come with risks and acknowledge the importance of informed consent in those contexts. When it comes to wireless technology, however, the need for proper safety studies, monitoring of hazards and acknowledgement of adverse reactions can end up as a second thought. But when there is potential for harm, are flippancy and ignorance justified? On today’s ‘Good Morning CHD’ episode, guests explain what they have learned and experienced in relation to the digital infrastructure in homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools — all around us. This is an episode that viewers won’t want to miss! https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/shows/good-morning-chd/electromagnetic-radiation-poisoning/
ACTIVISM/ADVOCATES INTERVIEW by Keith Cutter with Hank Allen Some of my favorite people are the ones who have arguably come close to death from electromagnetic poisoning, have reclaimed their lives and are now helping others who suffer. Watch with a 7-day free trial Subscribe to Keith’s Substack to watch this video and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. (5) Keith’s Substack | Keith Cutter | Substack
AI: Burnout Is Pushing Workers to Use AI—Even if Their Boss Doesn’t Know People are using AI at work whether their bosses want them to or not, new data shows. But it’s desperation, not innovation, driving the change. https://www.wired.com/story/ai-workers-burnout-microsoft-linkedin/?mod=djemTECH
AUTOMOBILES: Mercedes Pumps The Brakes on Plans to Sell Only EVs by 2030 Mercedes-Benz, once determined to go fully electric by 2030, now retracts its commitment amidst industry-wide caution, signaling a broader trend in the automotive sector. https://mbworld.org/how-tos/slideshows/mercedes-pumps-the-brakes-on-plans-to-sell-only-evs-by-2030-966477
AUTOMOBILES OT: It’s no accident: These automotive safety features flopped Over the years, inventors have had some weird ideas about how to make cars safer. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/02/its-no-accident-these-automotive-safety-features-flopped/
BIG TECH - PEERS: Top News: Big Tech in the Business of War, Sex Abuse in Police Youth Program, More Revealing News Articles May 14, 2024 (includes surveillance technology designed for war increasingly used for domestic policing) https://www.wanttoknow.info/24/5-big-tech-in-the-business-of-war
CHILDREN: There's No Undoing Tech's Great Rewiring of Childhood Psychologist Jonathan Haidt warns that social media harms children but definitive evidence is hard to find. Whatever your views on kids and technology, digital connectivity is now part of childhood. There's No Undoing Tech's Great Rewiring of Childhood | WIRED
CHILDREN: Is there a middle way on children and smartphones? This researcher thinks so Henry Mance | Financial Times The debate on children’s use of smartphones can veer towards two extremes. There are those who see a generation made fragile by technology. They point to studies showing that social media does not just correlate with poor mental health; it causes it. The other extreme sees this as another misguided moral panic, such as the one once aimed at video games. But there are possibilities for nuance and compromise. Sonia Livingstone is a social psychologist who leads research at the London School of Economics into children’s digital lives. Livingstone’s research has led her to focus on two points. One is to try to constrain the tech companies whose “business model is driving the competitive search for children’s attention in a way that disempowers parents or teachers or anyone else”. Livingstone’s other focus is to look for ways to empower young people and parents. https://www.benton.org/headlines/there-middle-way-children-and-smartphones-researcher-thinks-so
CHILDREN UK: Tech firms must tame toxic algorithms to protect children online Ofcom sets out more than 40 practical steps that services must take to keep children safer
Sites and apps must introduce robust age-checks to prevent children seeing harmful content such as suicide, self-harm and pornography
Harmful material must be filtered out or downranked in recommended content
Tech firms must act to stop their algorithms recommending harmful content to children and put in place robust age-checks to keep them safer, under detailed Ofcom plans today. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2024/tech-firms-must-tame-toxic-algorithms-to-protect-children-online
EMF JOEL M: Congress must regulate cell tower radiation | Letters To Editor | smdailyjournal.com Editor, Federal regulations protect us only from the thermal risk from short-term exposure to radio-frequency radiation (RFR). The federal limits ignore the preponderance of peer-reviewed science that has found harmful biological or health effects from exposure to non-thermal levels of RFR on humans and wildlife. Cell towers were the largest source of environmental RFR exposure in a six-nation study my colleagues and I published in the journal Environment International. For a summary of research on cell tower health effects see my saferemr.com website. Three years ago, I helped launch the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF.org), a consortium of scientists, engineers and health professionals dedicated to ensuring the protection of humans and other species from the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields. The commission’s analysis of the best peer-reviewed science concluded, “urgently needed are health protective exposure limits for humans and the environment. These limits must be based on scientific evidence rather than on erroneous assumptions, especially given the increasing worldwide exposures of people and the environment to RFR, including novel forms of radiation from 5G telecommunications for which there are no adequate health effects studies.” It is time for Congress to update the 1996 Telecommunications Act and require the Federal Communications Commission to adopt RFR standards that protect public, occupational, and environmental health from adverse biological effects caused by exposure to non-thermal levels of RFR. Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D. School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley https://www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/congress-must-regulate-cell-tower-radiation/article_f5769368-0f2e-11ef-9811-ebd810b4ab15.html
ENVIRONMENT TELECOM CABLES LEAD: Telecommunications cables leaching lead into water, a public health issue (US) "The extent to which lead-sheathed telecommunications cables may contribute to overall human health and environmental risks of lead, in comparison to other sources, would depend on exposures. Proximity to lead alone would not necessarily be an indicator of risks. Site-specific circumstances that would have a bearing on risks may include whether the lead in cable sheathing may be intact or may leach into the environment and contaminate soil, groundwater, or surface water through which exposures could potentially occur. As with any chemical, potential risks would also depend on the exposure conditions, including the route of exposure through which lead may enter the human body (i.e., inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact), the dose (i.e., concentration, frequency, and duration of exposure), and the characteristics of the exposed individual (e.g., age, genetics, and health of an individual at the time of exposure). Age would be a significant risk factor for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others have found that children up to the age of six are more susceptible to lead exposures primarily because of developmental effects. The potential for human exposure to lead would also likely differ depending on whether the cables are located at the surface, suspended above the surface, buried underground, or in underwater areas, given differences in how individuals may encounter these environments. Ecological risks would also depend on exposures among animal and plant species." https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12559 "workers argue that Verizon was aware of the harm that its lead-sheathed cables caused and failed to protect workers from that harm. The workersargue that lead is a “hazardous substance” under both CERCLA and RCRA and that Verizon did not take the actions required under those laws to dispose of the retired lead-sheathed cables properly (Tiger v. Verizon)." https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12559
What about public health? "If lead derived from lead-sheathed telecommunication cables were to migrate into groundwater or surface water, enforcement actions under two other federal statutes might be used to mitigate potential impacts on water quality. Section 1431 of the Safe Drinking Water Act grants EPA “emergency powers” to issue orders for abating an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health when (1) a contaminant “is present in or is likely to enter a public water system or an underground source of drinking water” and (2) the appropriate state and local authorities have not acted to protect public health. Section 504 of the Clean Water Act also grants EPA “emergency powers” to issue orders for mitigating a discharge of a pollutant into U.S. waters, if warranted, to abate an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the welfare of persons where such endangerment is to their “livelihood” (including the “inability to market shellfish”)." https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12559 coutesy Sean
ENVIRONMENT: Environmental burden of technology casings "Plastic cases from display devices, including both flat panel displays and cathode ray tubes, will contain hazardous chemicals and POPs above concentration limits. These are hazardous and POPs waste."If the waste contains: hazardous substances at or above hazardous waste limits – you must classify the waste as hazardous wastePOPs – you must destroy it, and send it for destruction as a POPs waste." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/classify-some-waste-electrical-devices-components-and-wastes-from-their-treatment courtesy Sean
FCC: Disparate Discrimination POTS and PANS blog The FCC passed rules last year that prohibited ISPs from engaging in discrimination in the marketplace. The FCC ruling was required to adopt discrimination rules by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The FCC prohibited intentional discrimination – meaning that ISPs can’t have policies and practices that are clearly intended to discriminate against the public or a portion of the public. The FCC also prohibited disparate discrimination, which measures discrimination in the market by looking at the results of ISP practices rather than judging ISP intentions. . It would likely require an internal whistleblower to ever prove that an ISP intentionally discriminated against some portion of the public. If intentional discrimination is the only test, then ISPs know that the FCC would only ever be able to intervene in extremely egregious ISP behavior. However, disparate discrimination is far easier to prove because proof comes from looking at the actual impacts in the market. As was expected, ISPs quickly sued the FCC to block the implementation of the disparate discrimination rule. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought the first suit in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in January. The suit included big ISPs like AT&T, Charter, Comcast, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The suit was eventually consolidated into the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals after two additional lawsuits were lodged against the FCC order. Twenty industry groups joined together recently to file an opening brief that summarizes the positions of ISPs in the case. The petition includes industry groups like NCTA, WISPA, ACA Connects, and US Telecom. The primary argument of the ISPs is that Congress never intended to impose a disparate discrimination test. They argue that the FCC is violating the major questions doctrine with the ruling. This is a new regulatory concept based on recent Supreme Court rulings that prohibit federal agencies from adopting regulations that have “vast economic and political significance” without clear authorization from Congress. (more at link) https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2024/05/14/disparate-discrimination/
5G ITALY: The Truth about 5G Official Source (Italy), May 13, 2024 Google translation from Italian The recent change in electromagnetic radiation limits has raised concerns and calls for further assessments of potential impacts on human health and the environment The truth about 5G. In Italy, the debate on 5G and its electromagnetic radiation is the focus, with a growing demand for transparency and clarity on the part of citizens and institutions. The recent amendment of electromagnetic radiation limits, as enshrined in Article 10 of Law 243 of 2023, has raised concerns and calls for further assessments of the potential impacts on human health and the environment.According to critics, the decision to increase the limits of electromagnetic radiation, bringing the electric field produced by mobile phones from 6 volts/meter to 15 volts/meter, raises serious concerns about safety and public health protection. While it is stated that these limits are aligned with the ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection), many experts and members of the scientific community dispute the reliability and independence of this organization.
The ICNIRP has been the subject of criticism for alleged conflicts of interest, given the presence of members with ties to the electricity and telecommunications industries. This raises questions about the neutrality and objectivity of the guidelines it has developed. In addition, many experts argue that such guidelines focus solely on the thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation, ignoring the non-thermal biological effects that can occur in the long term. Concern about potential human health risks is fueled by numerous scientific evidence indicating possible non-thermal biological effects of electromagnetic radiation, including neurovegetative diseases, fertility damage, electrosensitivity, and DNA damage. These conclusions were supported by scientific reports and studies, such as those of the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF) and the Bionitiative Report, which raise doubts about the safety of the current ICNIRP guidelines. The decision to increase the limits of electromagnetic radiation was justified with the aim of facilitating the deployment of 5G technology, designed to allow a faster and more reliable connection between devices and people. However, this expansion of 5G raises questions about the potential consequences for health and the environment, considering the massive increase in electromagnetic emissions from the installation of new antennas and infrastructure. Requests for further assessments and independent studies of the potential risks of 5G have emerged in different parts of the country, with some municipalities calling for the limits set by the government to protect public health and the environment.
Unlike any other news site that tends to tell things from a part-side point of view, Official Source tries to explain the facts in a neutral way. This is and will always be our editorial line. FONTEUFFICIALE.it summarizes the news published by news agencies and other authoritative media (such as Ansa, Agi, AdnKronos, Corriere della Sera, etc.), so it is not directly responsible for inaccuracies. https://fonteufficiale.it/controinformazione/la-verita-sul-5g
HEALTH: Can EMF cause ALS? Electric mitochondria, motor neurons, calcium + how statins impair nerve signaling (3) Can EMF cause ALS? - by Roman S Shapoval (substack.com)
HEALTH: Health and Safety Hazards of working in the Telecoms Industry "Telecom engineers and linemen who work with transmission antennae are at risk of exposure to electromagnetic waves, which can have both thermal and non-thermal effects. Thermal effects include heating of tissues, blindness and sterility (mainly associated with broadcast antennae), and burns and electrical shocks. Non-thermal effects include alteration of the body’s circadian rhythms, immune system, and the nature of the electrical and chemical signals communicated through the cell membrane and interference with medical devices. Symptoms of exposure to high levels of non-ionizing radiation include labored breathing, sweating, headaches, numbness, a tingling sensation, and overall feelings of unwellness. To minimize exposure, it’s important to conduct proper risk assessments and take precautions when working near RF sources." The public also operates transmission antennae, in every purchased functional wireless device, including routers, lap tops and mobile phones. These are the closest antennae to members of the public, other than proximal telecoms installations. Yet the public in general does not consider itself as operators of telecommunications transmitters or susceptible to the recognised harm of EMF emissions the "electromagnetic waves, which can have both thermal and non-thermal effects" and alter "the nature of the electrical and chemical signals communicated through the cell membrane and interfere with medical devices."https://www.prosafetymanagement.co.uk/10-health-and-safety-hazards-telecoms/
INDUSTRY: CTIA's 5G summit sees renewed pleas for FCC's spectrum authority Amid an ongoing debate over spectrum in the lower 3GHz band, speakers this week at a US wireless industry event – including two members of the House – urged Congress to act. []calls for Congress to do better came, figuratively speaking, from inside the House in the form of speeches at CTIA's 5G Summit by Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) CTIA's 5G summit sees renewed pleas for FCC's spectrum authority (lightreading.com)
LANDLINES: Landlines may be saved in California - for now. What this means for consumers nationwide California utility regulators are proposing rejecting a request by AT&T to eliminate its responsibility to provide traditional landline phone service. That could have implications nationwide, a consumer advocate said. Fewer telephone companies are offering basic landline phone service as the utilities say the copper-wire infrastructure is old and expensive to maintain and demand for landline phone service is low as consumers move to mobile and other services. But consumer advocates nationwide have cried foul, saying basic landline service is important for the country's most vulnerable, including senior citizens who don't want to rely on cell service, consumers who can't afford cellular service and those in rural areas that may not have good access to cell or broadband internet services. In a press release announcing the upcoming vote, the commission said public response to AT&T's request "was extensive with over 5,000 public comments received into the record and eight Public Forums held in-person in three cities and virtually across the state, drawing more than 5,800 attendees." https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/05/13/california-reject-att-eliminate-landlines/73669764007/
And CPUC ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE (ALJ) THOMAS GLEGOLA SUBMITS PROPOSED DECISION GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS AT&T's APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM ITS COLR OBLIGATION On Friday, May 10, the CPUC issued a proposal rejecting AT&T's request to withdraw as a COLR and indicating the CPUC intends to initiate a new Rulemaking process to address Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) telecommunications service obligations. This proposal will be on the CPUC's June 20 Voting Meeting agenda and can be reviewed in full below. The decision has no legal effect until the Commission hears the item and votes to approve it.
Full ALJ proposed decision: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M531/K085/531085885.PDF
KCRA Sacramento news story: https://www.kcra.com/article/california-cpuc-proposal-rejecting-atandt-plan-to-end-landline-obligation/60760449
And: AT&T loses key ruling in attempt to escape Carrier-of-Last-Resort obligation AT&T's application to end its landline phone obligations in California is likely to be rejected by state officials following protest from residents worried about losing access to phone lines. An administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recommended rejection of the application in a proposed decision. The CPUC is set to vote on finalizing the proposed decision at its June 20 meeting. Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola found that AT&T's application to end its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligation should be dismissed with prejudice. State rules require a replacement COLR in order to relieve AT&T of its duties, but there is no other COLR in AT&T's wireline territory "and no potential COLR volunteered to replace AT&T," he wrote. "It is not clear why AT&T filed this Application, under existing rules, and then attempted to convince the Commission that it should ignore its rules, based on flawed and erroneous assertions regarding the law and regulatory policy that slowed down the adjudication of this proceeding," Judge Glegola wrote. https://www.benton.org/headlines/att-loses-key-ruling-attempt-escape-carrier-last-resort-obligation
MILITARY UNDERSEAS CABLE INDUSTRY; The evolution of military comms: From radios to advanced digital systems As the battlefield becomes more technologically advanced, the need for secure, reliable, and fast communication systems grows. We explore the latest advances in military comms technologies and how they're transforming defence operations "cables and connectors are critical in military communications because they provide the physical infrastructure for delivering signals and data between communication devices and systems. Robust and reliable cables can ensure efficient transfer of voice, data, and video signals. This allows for the integration of various components such as radios, antennas, and data terminals, building a unified communication network. “With a commitment to precision and compatibility while addressing the integration requirements of the various components, Omnetics has developed the Kilo 360™ Warrior Series Connectors,” says an Omnetics spokesperson. “This connector series has been designed to the Nett Warrior specifications and is fully intermatable to the existing Nett Warrior approved connectors.” As a leading global provider of precision and high-reliability electronic connectors and interconnect systems, Omnetics Connector Corporation, recognises the importance of robust military equipment. With more than three decades of experience in the field, the brand offers micro-miniature and nano-miniature interconnects that deliver high performance in challenging operations environments. The company’s Bi-Lobe® / Nano-D Connectors, Micro 360® and Nano 360® Circular Connectors, Kilo 360™ Connectors, IP68 Connectors and other customised solutions enable fast setup and reconfiguration of communication networks. These solutions enable flexibility in extending or modifying communication links, accommodating different equipment configurations, and supporting mission-specific needs." https://www.army-technology.com/sponsored/the-evolution-of-military-comms-from-radios-to-advanced-digital-systems/ and Undersea cables are the unseen backbone of the global internet "Have you ever wondered how an email sent from New York arrives in Sydney in mere seconds, or how you can video chat with someone on the other side of the globe with barely a hint of delay? Behind these everyday miracles lies an unseen, sprawling web of undersea cables, quietly powering the instant global communications that people have come to rely on.""About 485 undersea cables totaling over 900,000 miles sit on the the ocean floor. These cables span the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as strategic passages such as the Suez Canal and isolated areas within oceans...Sometimes buried in seabed sediments in shallow waters for protection against fishing activities, anchors and natural events. In deeper areas, the cables are laid directly on the seabed." "Each year, an estimated 100 to 150 undersea cables are cut, primarily accidentally by fishing equipment or anchors. However, the potential for sabotage, particularly by nation-states, is a growing concern. These cables, crucial for global connectivity and owned by consortia of internet and telecom companies, often lie in isolated but publicly known locations, making them easy targets for hostile actions." https://theconversation.com/undersea-cables-are-the-unseen-backbone-of-the-global-internet-226300 courtesy Sean
NATURE: Opinion: Proposed legislation would litter national parks with cell towers radiation Mary Anne Tierney and Anne Hines Guest Opinion The U.S House of Representatives recently passed HR 6492, a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Chuck Edwards which includes legislation that would litter our national parks and wilderness areas with cell towers. This omnibus bill incorporates the “Connect Our Parks Act” and purports to “improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, federal public land.” This legislation would do far more than just ruin the view in our nation’s beautiful parks, which include the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For nearly 20 years, biologists studying migratory and wild nesting bird and pollinators have documented that radiofrequency radiation from cell towers is harmful across hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Nest abandonment and reduced survivorship are documented among house sparrows, white storks, collared doves and the endangered northern bald ibis. Field studies of honeybees have documented navigation problems and hive abandonment following placement of cell towers near bee colonies and habitats. Opinion: Bill would litter national parks with cell tower radiation (citizen-times.com)
NATURE: Action item OT: Protect the Endangered Species Act The ironically named “America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act” masquerades as wildlife conservation legislation, but in actuality, it attempts to move us in the completely wrong direction. Join Ocean Conservancy and help safeguard the future for endangered and threatened animals. This bill would not only tighten the definition of "critical habitat" under the Endangered Species Act, but it also aims to revoke funding from critical conservation programs, including repealing $700 million in funding allocated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Inflation Reduction Act to support coastal resilience and restoration.
SPACE: FAA to begin environmental review of Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing to start an environmental review of SpaceX Starship launches from a pad at the Kennedy Space Center, reflecting changes in the vehicle since a 2019 assessment. SpaceX now contemplates a higher launch rate, with up to 44 launches annually from LC-39A. The Super Heavy booster will also land back at LC-39A, while in the earlier EA SpaceX proposed landing the booster on a droneship or at Landing Zone 1, the former Launch Complex 13 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station used for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy booster landings today.SpaceX has already constructed some infrastructure at LC-39A for Starship missions, including a launch tower far taller than the existing one that is used for Falcon launches. That work, the FAA said, is covered by the scope of the 2019 assessment, but the EIS is needed for additional launch infrastructure to support booster landings and other launch needs, like a deluge system. The new study will run in parallel with an EIS being led by the Department of the Air Force for Starship launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That study will examine the potential for using Space Launch Complex (SLC) 37, which had hosted launches of the now-retired Delta 4, as well as a new site, SLC-50, that would be built between SLC-37 and the next pad to the north, SLC-40, used by SpaceX’s Falcon 9. https://spacenews.com/faa-to-begin-environmental-review-of-starship-launches-from-kennedy-space-center AND
SpaceX facing FAA review for Starship launches from Kennedy Changes to SpaceX’s plan at Kennedy include a greater frequency of launches from 24 per year to as many as 44, and a slightly more powerful rocket design. SpaceX also wants to land the first-stage booster at Launch Complex 39A instead of at Landing Zone 1. Pumping out a colossal 17 million pounds of thrust at launch — more than double that of the Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo astronauts toward the moon from the same launch facility five decades ago, and almost twice that of NASA’s next-gen Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which launched fro the first time in November 2022 — the Starship has a greater chance of disrupting the local environment than any other vehicle that’s launched from Florida’s Space Coast. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/spacex-facing-faa-review-for-starship-launches-from-kennedy/ar-BB1mhHpS?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=74b58df631974eb78e568ca7cb63a193&ei=42 AND
SMART CITIES: Derrick Broze Understanding Smart Cities, 15-Minute Cities, and How We Win Understanding Smart Cities, 15-Minute Cities, and How We Win - Activist Post
SMART METERS AUSTRALIA: The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is pushing for a change in the legislation so that smart meters will be mandatory, with no opt-out allowed. This is being done under the pretence of “Climate change”. There will still be an option for using Type 4A non-communicating meters; however, only those who know about this option and why they need to ask for it will be able to protect themselves (to some extent). Please take a look at the EMR Australia blog about the AEMC’s proposed smart meter changes here: https://emraustralia.com.au/blogs/news-1/smart-meter-changes-have-your-say – courtesy Victor Leach (ORSAA Secretary)
SURVIELLANCE: Internal Emails Show How a Controversial Gun-Detection AI System Found Its Way to NYC NYC mayor Eric Adams wants to test Evolv’s gun-detection tech in subway stations—despite the company saying it’s not designed for that environment. Emails obtained by WIRED show how the company still found an in. https://www.wired.com/story/evolv-gun-detection-nyc-subways-emails/
SUSTAINABILITY: Telecom's meeting environmental emissions goals – no, not really... Median scores for commitments to sustainability and for circularity and waste management improved by 5 points, while efforts to reduce emissions and emissions intensity actually worsened by 3 points. In fact, the advance in overall score is largely due to a very substantial 24-point gain in customer enablement—and despite this achievement, the industry as a whole still needs to improve in this dimension." "This year’s index shows, however, that the industry needs to take a stronger and more actionable role in the circular economy, in terms of how they report on waste and how they manage it. Although more than 90% of telcos reported on their handling of waste in 2022, the extent and level of detail in their reporting has not improved significantly over the past several years." https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/telcos-modest-emission-reduction-progress courtesy Sean
WARFARE: Welcome to the Laser Wars Amid a rising tide of adversary drones and missile attacks, laser weapons are finally poised to enter the battlefield. https://www.wired.com/story/laser-wars-us-military-laser-weapons/
EVENTS:
World Electro Hypersensitivity (EHS) Day coincides with Global 5G Protest 15/16 June! (although due to Father’s Day in the U.S., some efforts will also take place on June 17)
For more information on Global 5G Protest, kindly see Global Action to Stop 5G https://www.facebook.com/groups/548912049259423
World EHS Day – World Day of Intolerance to Electromagnetic Pollution, June 16 2024: http://coeursdehs.fr/june-16-world-ehs-day-world
Lots of important, helpful info here. Thank you.