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The Written Word - September 3rd

By Rafe Mair

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 03:43 AM

The day after Labour Day, the first day of school I spoke to a crowd in Tsawwassen at the Senior Secondary School. The issue was overhead power lines not only over private property but the schoolyard itself.
 
When over 25 years ago I was Environment Minister overhead electricity lines weren’t seen as a health hazard but eyesores. Like many other people I had always wondered why my car radio got so much static when passing under these wires and occasionally I asked myself the obvious question; if those wires are sending out waves that interfere with my radio what are they doing to me?
 
As the years passed more and more concerns were expressed in the scientific and medical communities about this issue and anecdotal evidence mushroomed that people exposed to such wires ran an increased risk of cancer. As more years yet passed and people were giving themselves these electric waves science began to examine the issue more carefully and while roughly ½ of the scientific evidence declares there is no proof the other half disagrees.
 
Faced with this one can understand how a corporation wouldn’t give a damn – it’s not the health business they’re in but profit making. You would think, however, that governments would care a great deal about citizen’s health, especially if I may say so, the health of the younger generation.
 
The fact is that the Autocrat and henchmen couldn’t care less. They would put these wires underground but not insulated which made the problem even worse. When the citizens asked that the wires be properly insulated and buried the government refused citing the extra cost as the reason even though in most American jurisdictions this is done.
 
I never thought I’d live to see the day when a British Columbia government would make the health and lives of its citizen’s hostage to a few extra bucks.
 

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Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2008 03:43 AM in Views by Rafe Mair

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Comments

Comment Posted by: diplomat on September 3 2008 11:27 AM
Rafe: "You would think, however, that governments would care a great deal about citizen’s health, especially if I may say so, the health of the younger generation."

Governments also allow the addition of rat poison - fluoride - to the water we drink, so I am not surprised that power lines are deemed officially harmless.
Comment Posted by: seamutt on September 3 2008 12:51 PM
I wouldn't put to much credit on anything Rafe says. The power lines Rafe talks about were there before any houses except one. Its all about greed, trying to increase property value. One is exposed to higher electric fields interacting with household appliances all day. Those people complaining, where do they think their power is coming from, out of thin air. Their power is fed by lines near someone elses house. Selfish of them wanting to deny other people power while they are getting theirs.
So people don't trust government in general but follow along blindly believing what they are told about the man caused global warming scam, I don't understand.

Say Rafe putting those lines underground would cost 10 to 15 times the overhead lines. Are you okay to pay that. Its all about greed by those homeowners. Why did they buy there in the first place, property a little cheaper maybe. Just another example of the me me me generation.
Comment Posted by: lostfaith on September 3 2008 1:19 PM
On the flip side Seamutt you could just as well say corporate greed is the reason those powerlines are being installed above ground. Those homes were there before these overhead powerlines were even dreamt of.
Let those who are directly monetarily benefiting from these powerlines pay the extra costs.
Comparing home generated electromagnetic fields to those generated from high tension powerlines is ludicrous.
Comment Posted by: lunarguy on September 3 2008 5:16 PM
The amount of EMF is much less from your internal home wiring, but you are also so much closer to it. If people are truly concerned about EMF from the power lines, get rid of all electrical devices in your home first, especially any thing with an electric motor in it or a high voltage power supply like microwaves and conventional TV's
Comment Posted by: astro on September 3 2008 5:22 PM
I would like to see a scientific study done of the health effects of these transmission lines when they carry electricity. I don't know of any but there seems to be a lot of opinions about the subject. These studies should be done before the lines are put in place.
Comment Posted by: lostfaith on September 3 2008 6:53 PM
Anyone ever been standing close to above ground powerlines and felt small electric shocks. I have and I have never felt that anywhere in my home or near any type of electrical device anywhere else ever.
So you can give me the EMF in my home over the powerline EMF anytime thanks.
Comment Posted by: seamutt on September 4 2008 7:54 AM
Lostfaith there was only one house in that area when the first lines were built. When you have your electric razor up against your mug the electric field is as great or greater than a power line. Corporate greed, you missed something in my post, the cost. Guess who will pay the extra cost, go look in a mirror. Corporate greed, you are right. Money from Hydro and BCTC goes to the fibs. There is a greedy bunch.
While I am on the subject everyone enjoy paying higher hydro costs. Got to pay for the olympics somehow. We in the north who have higher hydro costs because of climate are getting the shaft again.