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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Fred Levine who wrote (62738)	4/5/2002 4:57:56 PM
From: Jacob Snyder	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

I, too fear becoming tedious, and will quit. I am sorry if I caused offense, to you or any other posters. The ranting was mine. I didn't mean to get personal. eom. JS@agingtreehugger.pov

To: Fred Levine who wrote (62738)	4/5/2002 5:40:10 PM
From: Robert O	Respond to of 70976

OT I am not looking to open up a new issue that is OT but it is the weekend and I rarely do this... would be interested in hearing any opinions here. Other than global warming, the two MAJOR items that were ubiquitous in the news for a while, but rarely heard of after the fact are breast implants and electrical power lines. First the breast implants: November 1998 Dow Corning files for bankruptcy reorganization, which includes the $3.2 billion previously agreed-to settlement and offers claimants several payout options. Those who want to cash-out immediately and not file a disease claim will be paid $2,000. This figure can also be combined with $5,000 for implant removal surgery and $20,000 for a ruptured implant. Those who have already filed a disease claim will receive between $10,000 and $250,000 plus any compensation claimed for removal or ruptures. June 1999 The Institute of Medicine releases a 400-page report prepared by an independent committee of 13 scientists. They conclude that although silicone breast implants may be responsible for localized problems such as hardening or scarring of breast tissue, implants do not cause any major diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The Institute of Medicine is part of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation's most prestigious scientific organization. Congress had asked the Institute to set up the committee. The committee did not conduct any original research; they examined past research and other materials, and conducted public hearings to hear all sides of the issue. Here is the entire chronology for any interested: pbs.org Next, An electromagnetic field is a region through which a force produced by electric current is exerted. Many people fear that EMFs cause cancer; however, a causal connection between EMFs and cancer has not been established. The National Research Council (NRC) spent more than three years reviewing more than 500 scientific studies that had been conducted over a 20 year period and found "no conclusive and consistent evidence" that electromagnetic fields harm humans. The chairman of the NRC panel, neurobiologist Dr. Charles F. Stevens, said that "Research has not shown in any convincing way that electromagnetic fields common in homes can cause health problems, and extensive laboratory tests have not shown that EMFs can damage the cell in a way that is harmful to human health." skepdic.com Yet this has been made into law? REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS The Telecommunications Act of 1996 fundamentally changed the way the telecommunications industry, including telephone, wireless, and cable TV providers, is regulated. Section 704 of the act deals with the siting of wireless telecommunications facilities. It preserves the abilities of state and local governments to regulate siting of these facilities, with several significant restrictions. Specifically, it prohibits state or local regulations from (1) having the effect of prohibiting the provision of wireless services or (2) unreasonably discriminating among providers of functionally equivalent services. The section bars states and municipalities from basing the regulation of a facility on the basis of the environmental effects of its RF emissions if the facility complies with FCC regulations on the subject. (Facilities that do not meet the FCC regulations are also subject to federal Environmental Impact Statement requirements.) The section required FCC to finalize its regulations on the environmental e effects of RF emissions within 150 days of the act's passage. It authorized anyone adversely affected by a government's decision regarding RF emissions to appeal to FCC. More generally, anyone adversely affected by a government's action or inaction can appeal to state or federal court. I post this because I do not want to be naive (gawd knows I am in investing). Are both these stories ultimately scares that have been shown to be way overdone? The EMF link also 'debunks' the cell phone scare. I know studies can be done by hired guns, but the credentials on the breast implant issue, for example, are top notch. RO