France moving toward a ban on wi-fi in children's classrooms
An English translation of the actual wording of the school reform bill passed by the French National Assembly on 19 March 2013:
“This public service [based on educational information technologies] should be implemented in educational institutions using an infrastructure favoring the use of wired networks. Indeed the precautionary principle must guide states and provinces to protect children, especially the younger ones, from the influence of microwaves.”
French original: “Ce service public doit se mettre en place dans les établissements grâce à une infrastructure qui favorise l’utilisation de connexions de données filaires. En effet, le principe de précaution doit pousser l’État et les collectivités territoriales à protéger les enfants, notamment les plus jeunes, de l’influence des ondes.”
Bill of direction and guidance for the re-foundation of the Republic's schools, adopted in first reading by the National Assembly March 19, 2013: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/ta/ta0096.asp
Katharina Gustavs
www.buildingbiology.ca
On 25/03/2013 1:06 AM, Antoinette Stein wrote:
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> From: Iris A
> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 5:58 PM
> To: Iris A
> Subject: France: The Precautionary Principle Soon to be Applied in Schools
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> 20 March 2013
> France: Electromagnetic Waves: The Precautionary Principle Soon to be Applied in Schools
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> Voted 19 March 2013 at the French National Assembly (Lower House), an amendment of the law stipulates that the establishment of the digital educational program foreseen by the text favors “wired” connections, that is, Ethernet, rather than Wi-Fi, in order to protect children.
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> Electromagnetic Waves : The Precautionary Principle Soon in Schools
> Le Parisien.fr / AFP, 19 March 2013 (translated from French)
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> It is the first time that the precautionary principle will be applied in France to children. Failing to succeed with adoption of their draft legislation on electromagnetic waves in January, the ecologist deputies have obtained approval of draft school reform legislation for precautionary measures in schools.
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> Voted Tuesday at the National Assembly, an amendment of the law stipulates that the public service establishment of the digital educational program foreseen by the text favors “wired” connections, that is, Ethernet, rather than Wi-Fi.
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> The amendment defended by the Green Party was intended to « push the State and local authorities to protect children, notably the youngest, from the influence of waves”, in the name of the “precautionary principle”. Since 1995, the Barnier Law suggests that “in the absence of certainty, taking into account current scientific and technical knowledge, the adoption of effective and corresponding measures aimed at preventing risk of serious and irreversible harm to the environment at an acceptable economic cost must not be delayed”.
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> The debate on the health impact of waves emitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi connections and mobile phone antennas is not closed, even though in 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified these waves as possibly carcinogenic. Mobile phone operators are relying on the latest advice of the “Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire” (Anses), dating from 2009, to avert danger. Anses must update this opinion between now and this summer.
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> In January, a new study revived the hypothesis of a link between the use of cell phones and cancer. This report by the European Environment Agency, considered that calling while driving not only would be dangerous because of potential accidents but could also increase the risk of brain cancer. In fact, many harmful waves would be picked up at the moment when a device passes from one mobile antenna to another. The Agency thus calls for urgent measures to reduce the possibility of tumors.
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> Also in January, the ecologist deputies had presented a draft law aimed at reducing exposure to electromagnetic waves. But the text, even before being examined in depth in the House, had been sent back to the committee, the Green Party denouncing an outright “burial”.
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> Doubts about the application
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> Concerning the modernization of schools, « we are not against « digital public service”. On the contrary, but the precautionary principle must be applied in daycare centers and pre-schools”, the EELV Deputy from Calvados, Isabelle Attard pointed out. It is thus a victory, “the first time that we are going to apply the precautionary principle concerning children,” acknowledged the ecologist deputy.
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> According to Yves Durand, the Deputy of the PS du Nord Party and rapporteur of the draft legislation on school reform, application of the amendment is however “minimal”. “We are going to see how it applies,” he said.
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> The entire bill, voted at the first reading in the Assembly, must now be examined in the Senate.
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> http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/ondes-electromagnetiques-le-principe-de-precaution-bientot-dans-les-ecoles-19-03-2013-2653379.php
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> http://mieuxprevenir.blogspot.ch/2013/03/france-electromagnetic-waves.html
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> http://www.emfacts.com/2013/03/the-precautionary-principle-applied-to-wi-fi-in-french-schools-enshrined-in-law/
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> Protection des enfants : 'Le principe de précaution appliqué aux ondes électromagnétiques est enfin inscrit dans la loi' - Communiqué de Presse d'Isabelle Attard (Groupe écologiste) - 18/03/2013
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> COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
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> Dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, au cours de la 3ème séance publique consacrée au projet de loi de refondation de l’école de la République, un amendement proposé par Isabelle ATTARD a été adopté. Cet amendement instaure que les infrastructures créées pour la mise en place du service public du numérique éducatif "favorisent l'utilisation de connexions de données filaires" par rapport au WIFI et précise que "le principe de précaution doit pousser l’État et les collectivités territoriales à protéger les enfants, notamment les plus jeunes, de l'influence des ondes".
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> A l'heure où la Belgique s’apprête à prendre une série de mesures fortes, interdisant par exemple la mise sur le marché des téléphones portables spécifiquement conçus pour les enfants, la France souffre encore d'un vide juridique incompréhensible sur le sujet. Pour rappel, la proposition de loi portée par les écologistes afin de limiter les effets néfastes des ondes devait être votée le 31 janvier 2013 à l'Assemblée nationale, mais a été renvoyée en commission des affaires économiques par la ministre Fleur PELLERIN. Celle-ci estime que, malgré l'accumulation de preuves de leur nocivité, les inquiétudes liées aux effets des ondes électromagnétiques sur l'homme sont "des peurs irrationnelles".
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> Isabelle ATTARD considère l'adoption de cet amendement comme un premier pas important et fondamental. En plein déploiement de la 4G, alors que les enfants sont, dès leur plus jeune âge, de plus en plus exposés aux ondes électromagnétiques, il est urgent d'aller plus loin et d'arrêter de jouer avec le feu.
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> Source : http://isabelleattard.eelv.fr/le-principe-de-precaution-applique-aux-ondes-electromagnetiques-enfin-inscrit-dans-la-loi/
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> Voir le projet de loi, page 65, alinéa 158 : http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/ta-pdf/0767-p.pdf
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> Etienne CENDRIER
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> Porte-Parole national
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