By B.N. Frank

The Nation recently published an article about cell phone safety which is being recirculated by other publications such as Democracy Now.

Yesterday NPR featured the article and topic for discussion during their On Point program.

Journalist Mark Hertsgaard, scientists, and activists discussed the “controversy” about whether or not cell phones and other wireless WiFi radiation-emitting devices are actually safe.  It basically summed up that all of us have been played the same way we were by Big Tobacco and Big Oil.

Controversy regarding cell phone and wireless radiation is nothing new.  In 2009, Dr. Oz spoke about it on “Good Morning America.”

In 2010, GQ magazine published an in-depth article featuring interviews with industry and military researchers.

Also in 2010, NBCNews.com posted an article which included research confirming up to 1/3 of the population is “sensitive” to cell phone and wireless WiFi radiation as well as other sources of electrical pollution (“Electrosmog”).

In 2011, The World Health Organization classified cell phone and wireless WiFi radiation as a “Possible Carcinogen” in the same category as chloroform, engine exhaust, and lead.  Additional research was provided about its potential for harm other than cancer risk.  The announcement was featured in a skit on The Colbert Report.

None of this fazed Big Wireless.  They designed and manufactured more products.  They marketed them to everyone including children despite the fact that no “safe” level of cell phone or wireless WiFi radiation has been scientifically determined for children or pregnant women.

All the while, tech inventors have been deliberately limiting their own kids’ exposure to cell phones, WiFi-emitting technology, and other electronics – even sending them to private “low tech” schools.  Some of them have recently expressed remorse about this.

Decades of research confirms that exposure to all of this can also harm pets, nature and wildlife.

The Nation article also brings up the current “Race for 5G” which was also discussed by Dr. Oz on his February 9, 2018 show.

“The Race for 5G” involves installing small cell towers all over the U.S. – including in front of homes – so we can binge watch, surf, and post online at higher speeds without worrying about our screens freezing up or being disconnected.

Research done on 5G has already shown its potential for harm.  We are still being told that this is what’s best for Americans.  Even National Geographic is promoting it.

The Nation article also discusses how Big Wireless seems to own the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  The FCC is the government agency that is supposed to protect us from Big Wireless harming us.  The “Race for 5G” being endorsed and forced on us by The FCC as well as many of our elected officials.

Big Tobacco once owned government agencies that were supposed to protect us too.

2005 movie, Thank You For Smoking, is about tobacco lobbyist, Nick Naylor.  The film is based on the 1994 satirical novel with the same title.

Featured in the movie are dinner conversations with Nick and lobbyists from the alcohol and gun industry.  They refer to themselves as “Merchants of Death.”

In a conversation with his son, Nick explains that the American government is the best in the world because of its endless appeals system.

That’s the beauty of argument.  If you argue correctly, you’re never wrong.