Swiss Revolt Over 5G Health Fears

Swiss demonstrators have organized several rallies and a number of cantons have been pressured to put further construction of planned untested 5G compatible antennas and towers on hold. 

This new and untested 5G technology is behind a deepening trade war between America and China which tried to rein in the Chinese giant Huawei. This company is deemed as the leader in 5G equipment, but fears over it allowing Beijing to potentially spy on communications from other countries using these products and services threw a wrench in the deal.

A growing number of Swiss are being very active about voicing their concerns and are warning about the possible health effects from being exposed to this new untested technology using electromagnetic rays that will radiate from the new antennae that will require to be placed on a great deal of more new towers. Swiss are suggesting that they will be putting the issue to a referendum as the country is famous for its direct democratic system. 

Many scientists around the world say that 5G should have been put to a vote everywhere, not being forced as it is without consent upon citizens of the world, untested for the profit of telecommunications companies. 

Switzerland recently had taken steps towards deployment by attributing 5G frequencies to three of its major telecommunication operators which hurried to bring forth advertisements that allowed the country to take in revenues of nearly 380 million Swiss Francs. 334 new 5G antenna stations were operational across the country according to authorities.  

Several cantons including Geneva have heard the protests and online petitions of their citizens that are demanding a halt be put to the construction of the untested 5G technology infrastructure, and have halted further progress showing they actually listen and care about their citizens. 

5G has also been halted in other places such as Brussels, Belgium: “I cannot welcome such technology if the radiation standards, which must protect the citizen, are not respected, 5G or not. The people of Brussels are not guinea pigs whose health I can sell at a profit. We cannot leave anything to doubt." Minister Fremault accurately identified that the 5G pilot project will not be compatible with Belgian radiation safety standards of 9 V/m, or 95 mW/m2, and has stated that she will not be making an exception.

Despite the opposition Swiss national telecommunications carrier Swisscom says that it expects 90% of the population will have access to this technology by the end of 2019. Opposition to the untested technology that is being forced upon them will continue to warn that 5G poses real unprecedented health and environmental concerns compared to previous generations of the technology, and are pleading with authorities to place a full fledged moratorium on the rollout.

Large protests are planned to be held in front of government buildings in Bern, where they are also working towards putting the issue to a vote. 

"I think we have most citizens on our side," Coco Tache-Berther, of the organisation Frequencia, told AFP, saying Switzerland's rapid roll-out of 5G was "ultra-shocking".

Olivier Pahud who suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity demonstrates against 5G in front of the UN in Geneva agrees with, and insists the technology will have "impacts on health, on the environment, on people's capacity to think." 

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is relatively new and is currently not recognised as a medical disorder in every country. Those with this condition claim to be affected by exposure to mobile phones, WiFi routers, televisions and other gadgets that can cause them to experience mild discomfort to disability depending on exposure and personal sensitivity. 

The Swiss Federation of Doctors has also joined the opposition to 5G technology and is urging the use of caution and has stated, "... as long as there is no scientific proof that raising the radiation limits will not impact health, one must refrain from raising them."

Daniel Buchs, a doctor and regional parliamentarian in Geneva is helping to lead the battle opposing the roll out of 5G. "We are waiting for a serious, independent study that shows whether, yes or no, 5G has a noxious effect for the population." 

Buchs suggests that such as study would help to avoid a health threat such as the one the world experienced with asbestos which was long said to be safe but is now known to have killed at least 107,000 people around the world every year. The situation can even remind one of when smoking cigarettes was even touted to be safe and recommended. 

Several studies are underway, including one being conducted by W.H.O which says it has begun "conducting a risk assessment of health outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure." 

The Swiss government has appointed a group of experts to investigate the risk involved with introducing 5G in 2018, their findings were originally scheduled to be published during the first half of 2019. However, the publication has been delayed due to "the size of the task" according to officials. The delay sparked outrage among those who oppose the roll out, most of whom suspect pressure from the deep pockets of the telecommunications operators may have played a role in the delay. "You really have to ask yourself what is behind this," Tache-Berther said.

No one can say for certain to what the extent of harm will be due to exposure to the untested 5G technology which is why international scientists are sounding alarms such as  Dr. Goldberg, who says that this technology should not be allowed without first having proper clinical testing. “5G is an untested application of a technology we know to be harmful; it is known from the science. In academics this is called human subjects research.”

“Wireless radiation has negative biological effects, period. This subject is no longer a subject up for debate when you look at studies in PubMed and the peer reviewed literature.” explains Dr. Goldberg. “Effects are seen in all life forms; microbes, insects, plants, and animals. We now have clear evidence of cancer in humans, so there is no question. There is also evidence of DNA damage, cardiomyopathy which is the precursor of congestive heart failure and neuropsychiatric effects.”

Once activated 5G transmissions will continuously blast Earth with “focused beams of intense microwave radiation, these blasts will have an intensity that orders of magnitude higher than anything else in existence. As bad as the towers may seem from the standpoint of constant exposure to RF radiation is close proximity to source, even more alarming is the prospect of beaming millimeter length microwaves at Earth from thousands of communication satellites.” says John P. Thomas from Health Impact News.

“Effective radiated power of 5G phased array antennas in mobile devices will be over 10 times more powerful than current 4G mobile devices, no one will be free from exposure” warns Thomas. “Stationary equipment such as home and office Wi-Fi hubs will be permitted to use microwave beams that are over 15 times stronger than the signals from 5G phones or over 150 times stronger than 4G mobile devices.”

Meanwhile international scientists continue to sound the alarm and have documented an appeal about the potential EMF health effects:

“We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based upon peer-reviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. These include–but are not limited to–radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF).”

“Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.”

In the appeal the scientists write of cancer risks, genetic damage, functional changes of the reproductive system, and neurological disorders as being just some of the health risks that are being discovered in scientific research conducted on current and past technology. Keep in mind  5G technology is new and will take all of this to an entirely new level, new towers will be incredibly powerful and so close together it will be pretty much like living in a closed radiation chamber 24 hours a day, there will be nowhere you can go to escape its waves.

Most experts such as Dr. Martin Pall can agree and say rolling out this new technology without any safety testing whatsoever “has got to be about the stupidest idea anyone has had in the history of the world”. Should you get sick from this untested technology, who do you think is going to foot that bill, odds are it won’t be the telecommunication industry. Still think it’s worth it? People are far to eager and quick to embrace technology without taking everything known and unknown into consideration. 5G may just be the cigarette or asbestos of the 2000’s.