Chi-elements

The Power of the Ego

2011-11-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

In chapters 2/3 of "The New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle we learn about the ego. As he explains it, the ego is a false sense of self based on forms (identification with things).

The egoic mind is completely conditioned by the past in:

1) Content: conditioned by your environment, surroundings, culture (jobs, etc...)
2) Structure: identification with things (the ego seeks things to identify with - no matter what it is as a form of self validation)

Wanting is more important to the ego than having. Anytime you feel superior or inferior to others it is always the ego! Interestingly, Tolle explains that what we react to in another we strengthen in ourselves. In other words, the force of your reaction is a good indication to you of what you might need to work on in yourself.

So how do we start to become more satisfied with who we are and what we have? By stopping the illusion of seeking fulfillment in the future and/or past. The thing that is of prime importance in our lives is the present moment. The ego lives through past and future and not in the present moment. We need to start making THIS moment the primary moment in our lives. By living in alignment with the present moment you begin to find peace. Even when you don't like where you are you must start with acceptance because your action becomes empowered by this alignment with the present moment.

A practical way to connect to the present moment = pay attention to your breath!

The importance of Breath

2011-01-06T14:27:00.001-08:00

All body/mind techniques incorporate the use of breath with movement. In addition to the numerous physiological benefits that breathing techniques bring you - improves blood circulation, increase the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body, calms the nervous system – it is all the metal benefits that you shouldn’t underestimate. What benefits would these be? It is the easiest and best way to bring yourself into the present moment. By doing so, you can refocus your mind, reduce your stress and act from a centered place. It is a great mediation technique and I would encourage you to practice it regularly. Here is an easy technique to try at home (ideally before you go to bed or when you get up in the morning):
• Sit in a quiet place and close your eyes if that’s comfortable for you
• Begin to breath and count how long it takes for you to inhale and how long to exhale
• Next, try to make your inhales equal to your exhales: i.e. if it takes you 6 counts to inhale, make sure it takes you 6 counts to exhale
• Once you are comfortable with the above, then try to make your exhales 2 counts longer than your inhales. Then try this for 8-10 breaths.

Benefits of Patterning in Pilates

2011-01-06T13:14:00.001-08:00

As you may have noticed through following my Pilates classes, there is a systematic and sequential order to the exercises – even if we add some new things from class to class. This is one of the key things that makes Classical Pilates different from other mainstream Pilates classes and it isn’t without reason. Joseph Pilates intended the method to be a “movement system” linked with a specific purpose to help develop flow, endurance and stamina. When you continuously repeat exercises what you are doing is called patterning (working on sending impulses from the brain, through to the central nervous system, and then to the muscles). When you pattern the transmission of impulses from the brain to the muscles by repeating exercises over and over, the brain starts to improve its ability to recruit more muscles and you get stronger each time. The added bonus is that this same ability you acquire during class transfers over to day to day life, helping you recruit your core muscles to support your posture without even having to think about it.

Post Natal Yoga

2009-11-30T12:40:00.000-08:00

Many mom’s will agree that bringing a new life into this world is one of the most remarkable experiences a woman ever gets to go through. With the many joys also come many challenges. The multi tasking that a woman thought she mastered certainly gets challenged to whole new levels. The new routine, the change in pace, the 24 hour care for someone other than you, can put a lot of strain on a new mom, both physically and mentally. Post-Natal Yoga is the perfect way to get your body and mind back into shape after giving birth. It is a gentle, yet effective, way to strengthen your body, correct posture imbalances and alleviate stress. Postures will help work on strengthening the abdominals, lower back, and pelvic floor, while helping reduce tension in the upper back/shoulders, neck and opening the chest. Breath work will help you reconnect you with the present moment, allowing you to feel calmer, more relaxed and gain a new sense of control and inner harmony. Qualities that any new mom will welcome! While many only see Yoga for its calming qualities, don’t underestimate the work that is done on the physical level! Yoga is deep and subtle – but a regular practice reaps multiple benefits! Come try for yourself.

Yoga Journal Colorado Conference Day 3 Part II

2009-09-24T07:25:00.001-07:00

Now lets look at the second lecture I attended on Day 3 - The 4 Stages of Healing by T.K.V. Desikachar.

Desikachar has a way of lecturing that is very practical and down to earth. His talks are always full of lively examples, which clearly illustrate the goal of the lecture. In this particular one, we went over some of the objectives that Patanjali puts forth in the Yoga Sutra. Patanjali basically says: You are in trouble, identify your trouble, have a long term goal, and you will be liberated. Though Desikachar is quick to point out that it is not always so simple. The 4 stages are as follows:

What are the symptoms?
What is the cause?
What are the goals? Pacify or Purify or both?
Find the means that will serve (solution)

We need to remember though that Improvement is gradual - it is a step by step process. When you see improvement, then you begin to make changes to the means (the solution). Never forgetting that FAITH is a powerful healing tool. So part of the means should always include (if possible) helping the person connect with a symbol/person/object of faith and have them meditate on this.

Yoga Journal Colorado Conference Day 3 Part I

2009-09-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

On day 3 I attended lectures on the Hip Joint by Judith Hanson Lasater, and The 4 Stages of Healing by T.K.V. Desikachar. On this blog we'll cover the session on the Hip Joint.

Hip Joint: The goal of this workshop was to look at ways in which common yoga practice puts stress on the hip joint and try to "unlearn" the mistakes typically taught in classes. The main reason being that hip replacement surgery has grown tremendously, including amongst yoga teachers. It is therefore our duty, as well educated teachers, to ensure we minimize stress and create greater stability in this key joint. The best way to keep the hip joint healthy is to ensure that you include postures that help move the joint in various directions, but never force a position - NO PUSHING!!! As Judith highlighted during the workshop, "the hip joint is a very individual joint. It varies by gender and culture." Due to this fact, it is important to know that a student may never do the "classical" pose because of the "structure" of their hip joint. If I may just go back to the principal of viniyoga, we should never have the "goal" of necessarily doing the "classical" posture as we always must prioritize the needs and limitations of the individual above all things.

Yoga Journal Colorado Conference Day 2

2009-09-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today I sat in on T.K.V Desikachar's lectures and practice on meditation and pranayama (breathing technique). I was a real honor because he is my teacher's teacher and it was the first time I saw him live.

Both lectures were very interesting presenting ways in which to use both of these techniques in a therapeutic context (given the Yoga as Therapy theme of the conference). My take aways are the following:

Meditation: We should not underestimate the power of meditation to heal. Desikachar sited numerous examples of where meditation was used to heal physiological and psychological conditions. We just need to remember that the prerequisite for meditation is asana (posture work), as this prepares and quietens the body. Then you move on to pranayama - reducing your impurities, thereby making you ready for meditation. In meditation you need to be well prepared and have a sustained focus. The focus can be on an object of choice - whether it be a religious deity or something symbolic to you (like the sun, moon, etc...). The point being that as you sit and meditate on this object you will transfer the qualities of this object onto yourself.

Pranayama: Another key aspect of yoga and tremendously effective as a therapeutic tool. When working with pranayama, the following aspects will be played with to suit the person condition presented to you during a therapeutic yoga session: exhalation, inhalation, retention after exhalation, retention after inhalation, and duration.

Yoga Journal Colorado Conference Day 1

2009-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

This was my first day at the Yoga Journal Conference in Estes Park, Colorado. Both sessions I attended today were given by Gary Kraftsow. Both sessions were very insightful and practical, covering how the main objective of a therapeutic yoga practice is to help individuals manage the symptoms of their disease. In particular, the big take away from this tradition of yoga (also known as the viniyoga of yoga) is that we should never expect people to adapt to the yoga, but rather the yoga needs to adapt to the individual.

Along this line, I received a great compliment from a student of mine this past week without her even realizing it. She said to me, "what I really like about this tradition of yoga is that it's the first time I feel like I can do a class and actually do all the postures, and really feel good afterwards." There you go folks, as Gary said, unless we have plans to join the Cirque de Soleil, our day to day yoga practice can definitely borrow more elements from the therapeutic tradition and not be so posture (asana) centric, but rather encompass more elements from traditional yoga such as good diet, breath (pranayama), and meditation to give a few examples.

Insights into Yoga Sutra Aphorism I.2

2009-07-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Already in the second aphorism of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali lays out for us what Yoga is. It literally translates as "The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga." Yoga is a concentrated effort designed to bring the practitioner to stop identifying with the Ego, thereby eliminating one's false sense of self which is based on forms and identification with things. Through this elimination, the practitioner is better able to realize that he/she is not separate from the true Self (the formless consciousness beyond the Ego - that part of us that cannot be conceptually defined).

Introducing the Yoga Sutras

2009-07-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Yoga Sutra (also referred to as Raja Yoga, the Royal Yoga) is the most ancient yoga text written by Sri Patanjali which presents guidelines and practices of Raja Yoga with the goal of bringing people of all faith and traditions to attain self-realization through a step-by-step process based on real life experiences.

The text consists of 195 aphorisms divided into four chapters in which Patanjali makes concrete, detailed suggestions to help us be more respectful, resposible and peaceful towards ourselves, each other and the world as a whole.

The Yoga Sutra is divided into 3 main themes:

Suffering is not caused by outside forces, but rather by our own mental perceptions; the compulsive, conditional thought processes = the Ego.
The neverending peace we seek can only be found when we connect with our true identity - the seer/observer (Purusha) is who we really are. We are the formless awareness (not the Ego!).
Self-Realization comes with mastering the mind.

Various practices are suggested to achieve this, and I'll be commenting on some in future blogs.

What are you putting on your skin?

2008-02-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the skin is the biggest organ of the human body? Furthermore, did you know that whatever you apply tot he skin, 60% of it will make its way into your blood stream?

Sadly, we don't all have pharmaceutical degrees and can't always decipher what we are actually putting on our skin. Still, rest assured that after years of researching most products out there which claim to be "natural" and/or "organic" I was shocked with how full of chemicals they all still were. A good rule of thumb is that if you can't understand it (let alone pronounce it :-)), then it's probably not good for you.

Knowing these facts, wouldn't you go out of your way to only put the best quality products on your skin? The Organic Pharmacy (www.theorganicpharmacy.com) has an excellent, and very comprehensive, list of chemicals we should avoid, along with the details of their effect on the human body. I would highly recommend printing this out and taking it with you on your next shopping trip.

Here's a highlight of some of the biggest offenders argued to be carcinogens:

Parabens: used as a preservative in most beauty products typically listed as: methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben and butylparaben.
Phthalates (found in synthetic fragrances & also known as parfum)
DEA & TEA (Diethanolamine & Triethanolamine )
Talc
Artificial Colors & Dyes

For the full list please follow this link: http://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/about_carcinogens.php

Is US Agricultural Policy making Americans fat?

2007-10-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

I recently saw an interesting program aired by ABC and hosted by Peter Jennings. In this program, they turn an investigative eye on how the food industry is contributing to making Americans fat.

In the US, 2/3rds of the population is overweight, with 1 in 3 being obese. The report poses some interesting questions around the link between US Agricultural policy and how this contributes to people eating bad food. Here are some of the highlights of this program:

Agriculture in the US works with subsidies. The government gives out subsidies to grow specific types of crops. According to critics, the government gives out subsidies without considering the health impact.
It is clear that if certain types of foods are subsidized more; those are the ones that are being produced on a larger scale.
If you look at the USDA food pyramid, meat, sugars and fats are the food groups we should eat the least of. Now get this, these food groups receive 20 times more subsidies than fruits and vegetables!
No one looks at how agricultural policy can influence nutrition in a country.
Take corn as an example – one of the most highly subsidized crops. Corn is fed as cheap feed for cattle. Cheap feed means more cheap meat. Well, cattle are not meant to eat corn, so they need lots of antibiotics to stay healthy. All of this ends up in the end consumer of course!
Another product of corn?? High fructose corn syrup, also known as CHEAP SUGAR. Guess what?! All those “no-no” foods – high processed starches, all practically contain high fructose corn syrup.
Another example is soy bean. In its not so healthy form we get soy bean oil. This is the largest source of added fats in American diet!

The cheapness of the food ingredients encourages food producers to make processed food that sit for long periods on the shelf and sell at a high profit (i.e. put more sugar, water, flour, artificial coloring and flavorings in everything!).

Interesting information, to say the least! It is true that what we eat is a personal choice, but the more we educate ourselves about our options, the more wisely we will be able to choose. Furthermore, consumers are the ones that drive the demand. Start asking for quality food, and sooner or later the government will have to follow suit.

Hazardous Effects of Mobile Phones – the debate rages on…

2007-09-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve already added a few posts talking about the harmful effects of microwave radiation emitted by wireless internet connections and mobile phones. We have the group that thinks we can use mobile phones as much as we want and not worry about any adverse effects on our health, and then there’s the group that says that by doing so we are increasing our risk for serious health issues like cancer. Well, I’m sure this is not he last we’ll hear of it.

A couple of recent articles captured my attention. One was from Computerworld (18/09/2007) which talked about how frequent cell phone use may slow down brain function. The study cited in this article has been limited to just 300 people conducted by researchers in Australia, England and the Netherlands. While frequent mobile phone users did show a slowing of brain function, the catch was that the “slower function” was still within what is considered to be normal brain functioning. Watch this space though, as these researchers plan to expand their studies to a longer period involving some 17,000 participants.

Another article posted on telegraph.co.uk (31/08/2007) again raised doubts about the safety of mobile phone usage. According to researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, just five minutes of exposure to mobile phone emissions can trigger changes that occur during cancer development. What the research has shown is that even at very low power levels, mobile signals can still activate cell division (associated with cancer formation). The long standing argument of government bodies pointing towards the safety of mobile phones has been that adverse effects are only experienced as a result of heating and that the frequency of the microwaves emitted from a mobile phone were not sufficient to cause heating. However, this new study throws that theory out the window as it argues that handsets can trigger potentially harmful changes to cells irrespective of temperature changes.

I’m sure we will be hearing more and more about mobile phones and their safety in the near future. In the meantime, I would continue to advise to use landlines whenever possible, and to limit your mobile phone usage for when absolutely necessary (using the hands- free option, of course)!

Health Benefits of Yoga

2007-09-10T03:01:00.000-07:00

On the September 2007 issue of Self magazine, they site some recent research from the Boston University School of Medicine which reveals that regular practice of yoga can boost levels of a neurotransmitter (known as gamma-aminobutyric acid) which helps ward off depression. According to the research, after an hour session, those practicing yoga had a 27 percent increase in this neurotransmitter (apparently a deficit in those with depression) when compared to people who just read quietly.

In case you didn't know, yoga is associated with numerous health benefits. Here are a few more for you to consider:

Strengthens organ function
Improves digestion
Helps remove waste products from the body
Relieve common aches and pains, particularly in neck/shoulder, upper/lower back and hips/knees
Improves lung function
Relieves stress
Increases strength and flexibility

If you haven't already done so, try out a least one yoga session and see for yourself!

Green Tea or Black Tea?

2007-08-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you have undoubtedly heard of the health benefits of drinking green tea. Many studies have shown that the greatness of green tea comes from the high level of antioxidants that help protect the body against cancer and heart disease.

Interestingly enough, black tea (which in the last few years has been taking a back seat to green tea), appears to have more disease-fighting antioxidants than green, oolong, white or red teas according to findings presented at the recent American Dietetic Association meeting in Honolulu* (*as presented in Self Magazine May 2007 issue). The reasoning seems to stem from a long misconception that the processing removes the antioxidants and that green tea was less processed than black.

The important point is that all tea gets the thumbs up from a health point of view. But take note, adding milk to your tea may block the tea’s benefits. The reason is casein – a milk protein which will bind itself to the molecules in tea and inhibit its benefits from being fully experienced by the body. However, plant based milk, like soya milk, do not contain casein and can therefore be added to your tea without these risks.

External Sources of EMF/Microwaves and how to protect your home

2007-08-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ensure your home is not too close to the following external sources of EMF emissions:

High voltage electrical power lines
High voltage electric railway line
Satellite dishes or satellite decoders that are not earthed
Digital TV receptor

Ensure your home is not too close to the following external sources of Microwave emissions:

Mobile phone masts (base stations)
Radars
Local Radio communication services
Local broadband services (wireless connections)
How to protect your home:

It is much more difficult to shield your home from magnetic and microwave fields than electrical ones because they can travel through walls. Nevertheless, there are some options out there.

You can use aluminum foil on your walls (this must be heavy duty foil and needs to be earthed in order to be effective)
Paint (there are certain paints available in the market place such as "Ecos" that shield against microwave emissions).
Screens/nets/headnets/bed canopies: these are great for windows, over your bed and to wear out if you are extremely sensitive.

For more extensive information on EMF/Microwave sources and protective material please visit www.powerwatch.org.uk.

How to keep your home EMF/Microwave safe

2007-08-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Having seen from previous posts how much extensive research is now available showing a clear link between compromised health and exposure to EMF's/Microwaves, I thought it would be helpful to give some guidelines around how to keep your home EMF/Microwave safe. This post will focus on things to look out for inside the home:

Microwaves:

Mobile phones: use as little as possible and never store it anywhere near your body (i.e. pockets, attached to belt, etc...)
Microwave ovens: best option is to not have one, however if it must be used ensure you stay far away from it while it is on.
DECT cordless phones: these are even more damaging then mobile phones because they are constantly emitting pulses of microwave radiation (whereas a mobile phone only does so when a call is incoming or outgoing). It is best to replace all cordless phones by regular landlines. If it is not feasible, ensure you keep these phones away from any bedrooms (keep in mind microwaves can travel very easily through walls), and preferably unplug from the socket when going to sleep at night.

Electromagnetic Fields:

The most important space that absolutely should be free of electrostress are the bedrooms. Your body's cells regenerate themselves while you sleep and you need to do everything you can to not compromise this process.

Ensure there is no wiring under your bed.
Keep a non-electronic alarm clock next to your bed
Unplug any side lamps directly from the socket before going to bed
Avoid having televisions and stereo systems in your room. If you can't live without it, then always ensure you unplug at the socket before going to bed (keeping it on standby has the same effect as keeping it on).
There should be no computers in the bedroom.
When sitting in front of a computer stay as far away from the screen as you can & consider investing in a screen filter if using a desktop.
Laptop computers give off more fields when plugged into the socket, however they become much safer when operating on battery only. It is still best not to have them on your lap.
Avoid using electric blankets (and always ensure you turn them off before going to bed if you are using one)
Avoid having electric heaters or ovens. If there is a need to use a night storage heater it should be kept at least 1 meter away from the bed.
Try to not sleep with your head near an electric socket.

I hope the above tips will help get you started on keeping your home EMF/Microwave safe. In the next post, I'll provide some suggestions for being vigilant of external causes of EMF/Microwave emissions.

Powerwatch's response to negative comments re Panorama program on WIFI - Part II

2007-06-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the continuation to Powerwatche's defense against the criticisms received. Enjoy!

4. What we measured and how it was measured was "bad science".

I believe that the science behind our measurements at the Norwich School was absolutely fine. I had put together what I though was a balanced and interesting PowerPoint presentation for the school pupils which had much of relevance for the GCSE KS4 science curriculum. Apparently, according to Goldacre, it was the teacher who decided that I was not going to be allowed to talk to the class - "I've just had to ask a BBC Panorama film crew not to film in my school or in my class because of the bad science they were trying to carry out". My presentation will soon be available from this website (we are currently attaching an audio track to it so it is more than just slides).
Instead the science teacher told them about our "bad science" and showed them the Powerwatch and EMFields websites. According to Goldacre: "When the children saw Alasdair's Powerwatch website, and the excellent picture of the insulating mesh beekeeper hat that he sells (£27) to "protect your head from excess microwave exposure", they were astonished and outraged".
So, where was our bad science? Apparently it was because "They set about downloading the biggest file they could get hold of - so the Wi-Fi signal was working as powerfully as possible - and took the peak reading during that," says our noble science teacher. It was a great teaching exercise, and the children made valuable criticisms of Panorama's methodology, such as "well, we're not allowed to download files so it wouldn't be that strong", "only a couple of classes have wifi", and,"we only use the laptops a couple of times a week".
• Firstly, not using WiFi very much will indeed greatly reduce their exposure, but it entirely misses the point. The comparison was between the usage of it as compared to being in the main beam of a phone mast, and as such was looking at Sir William's recommendation of whether they should use WiFi at all. • Secondly, it is normal practice to generate as continuous a signal as possible to make the best measurements as it makes it easier to catch the data bursts. In fact, this does not increase the signal strength (measured in volts per metre). It does increase the average power as the signal is active for more of the time, but not the signal strength of the data bursts. We measured the phone mast signals in the same manner. The reasons for measuring signals in this way were to be explained in my talk, but of course, the teacher cancelled that without hearing it or asking me what I was going to say. I explain more about why I believe we should use signal strength rather than average power for non-thermal EMF affects later. • Thirdly, the file was not downloaded from the internet, we merely accessed a .pdf document (one that according to the IT manager the pupils would have been looking at that day) on the public share of the school server. If the pupils don't access documents on the server, then they don't need their computers networked at all and the WiFi is completely unnecessary. • Lastly, it is not clear how the children could make "valuable criticisms of Panorama's methodology" when the teacher was only aware of about a third of the information that Panorama were going to share with the school class. This class discussion took place before the programme had even been completed, let alone shown. It is like criticising the gameplay of a computer game from the screenshots posted on a fansite. That is certainly not any type of scientific method and sets a very poor example to the young people of how a scientific review should be done. It would have been much better to allow me to make my presentation and then criticise me, if he could, in front of the class. That would have been scientific debate. In fact, the teacher banning Panorama from the school half-way through the filming process made the programme much harder to complete in a balanced way, because part of my informative talk to the class and their questions to me was going to be used in the film. Some of this information had to be put into the programme in other ways which probably were not quite as good - for example Paul Kenyon (the presenter), walking around Norwich centre with a COM monitor.

5. The content of the programme was badly biased against WiFi.

The IEGMP Stewart Report, in 2000, recommended that the beam of greatest intensity from a mobile phone mast should not fall on any part of a schools grounds. This view was reached by Sir William Stewart's expert group, and not by him alone. The expert group included Dr Mike Repacholi. It would follow that Sir William might well have concerns about the similar pulsing radiation arising inside the school from WiFi. He says he does. Panorama went to a school and measured it.
Panorama then compared it with the levels that there would be in a classroom 100 metres away from a nearby and very typical local phone mast, which the Sir William had expressed his concerns about. Panorama checked with an independent scientist at the University of Bristol, who said that for the purpose of this programme these two sources would produce comparable fields in the classroom. It must be pointed out that Panorama interviewed Sir William before they carried out the tests at the school, and so his concern was not as a result of the tests.
The apparent purpose of the Panorama programme was to raise important issues that need to be thought carefully about when applying an appropriate precautionary approach to new technology and environmental issues. The BBC and other main media carry many programmes about the wondrous benefits that wireless technology is bringing to the world. They don't raise any issue of possible harm. The Panorama programme was, in a small way, helping to restore a more balanced perspective in the 28 minutes it had available.

6. Where is the scientific evidence of possible harm?

There is plenty of evidence that exposure to low levels of electromagnetic fields can have unwanted biological and health effects. One good starting point to find out about this vast and complex subject would be to visit Microwave News who have reported on it for over 25 years.
One inportant large group of scientific studies was called the REFLEX project. Especially worth reading is the late Professor Ross Adey's Foreword. This offers some wise thoughts from a lifetime's experience of investigating EMF and health matters. Ross was also an enthusiastic radio amateur, regularly bouncing signals off the moon to reach radio amateurs on the other side of the Earth using equipment that he built himself - so he certainly was not a techophobe or a wireless-phobe.
Ross Adey, who made fundamental contributions over 50 years to the emerging science of the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), died in May 2004. In memory of his major achievements as a scientist and in recognition of his support of the REFLEX work, the consortium decided that his message would be an inspiration to all those scientists who are willing to accept the challenges posed by EMF research, and in addition, make a fitting introduction to the final report.

7. Where is the scientific evidence of Electrical Sensitivity?

We have produced a 74 page book about this and it isn't possible to summarise ES/EHS in a few lines here. One good starting point is Neil Irvine's HPA report and our response to it.
Also the Swedish FEB website is helpful, as is the H-E-S-E project website. The ES-UK Charity website also has lots of information on it.
In conclusion

I believe that I have addressed, and dismissed, all the main points of criticism raised by Ben Goldacre.

Powerwatch's response to negative comments re Panorama program on WIFI - Part I

2007-06-07T01:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone -

Given feng shui consultant's desire to help make people's living environment healthy and harmonious, I felt it important to share the criticisms that the Panorama WIFI program (see summary of program in June 4th post) received and Powerwatch's arguments for each criticism made. Due to the great amount of detail provided, this has been split into a 2 part post.

Ben Goldacre's criticisms:

1. Powerwatch is not independent and campaigns to stop WiFi and promote the products of Alasdair Philips' linked EMFields products.
2. Alasdair Philips is not a suitable person to advise or take measurements.
3. The instruments used (especially the COM monitor) were unsuitable.

____________________________________________________________________
Powerwatch's Responses:

1. Powerwatch is not independent and campaigns to stop WiFi and promote the products of Alasdair Philips' linked EMFields products.

Powerwatch is independent and attempts to report the science and politics as we see it. It is headed by Alasdair Philips and represents the views of a loose collection of academics, engineers and other people who have been studying this field for some years. The website is done in unpaid time, other than the subscription section where the subscriptons help to cover time writing the subscription documents. Powerwatch overheads are supported by donations from EMFields. EMFields do supply EMF meters and screening materials, so could be seen in having a vested interest in promoting the subject. Although the prices do seem high, profit margins are small and EMFields does not make an overall profit after reasonable staff wages and overhead costs are taken off.

2. Alasdair Philips is not a suitable person to advise or take measurements.

Ben Goldacre describes me as "an 'electrosmog' pressure group campaigner". In fact, I am qualified in both electronics and agricultural engineering and have worked for over 35 years, 20 of them in the bio-effects field. I have many years experience in working with radio and other electronics systems, especially as regards electromagnetic field emissions, and have also given presentations to many councils and other groups about mobile phone mast planning and siting.
I have Chaired two international scientific conferences on mobile phones and health (a)(b) and given presentations at six industry conferences on the same subject since 1996. I was the principal instigator and co-ordinator of the 2004 CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA Conference "International Scientific Conference on Childhood Leukaemia - incidence, causal mechanisms and prevention", which covered radiofrequency radiation in reasonable depth.
I am a member of the Department of Health SAGE process on power-frequency EMF and health, and a member of Sir William Stewart's high-level HPA EMF Discussion Group. I do hold strong views on the potential dangers of the 'electrosmog' that we now all bathe in, and discuss these at the various meetings I am invited to attend, but Ben's description does seem rather prejudiced and unbalanced. I do not campaign against the use of WiFi, per se, but do not believe that wireless technology should not be used when standard ethernet cables could easily be used which would also provide a better access speed, more stable connectivity, easier security and would not be more expensive to implement.

a. Mobile Telephones and Health. An Update on the Latest Research 16-17 September 1999, Gothenburg, Sweden
b. Mobile Telephones and Health, City & Financial Conference, London 6-7 June 2001

3. The instruments used (especially the COM monitor) were unsuitable.

Ben Goldacre manages to make it sound as if the COM was used to take the measurements at the school. In fact, the main measurements were taken at the local phone mast site and in the school science laboratory using (i) a top-of-the-range professional Anritsu 2721A spectrum analyser with calibrated antennas and (ii) a semi-professional Gigahertz HF59B broadband HF analyser.
Goldacre criticises the use of the COM monitor, "a special piece of detecting equipment designed from scratch and built by none other than Alasdair Philips of Powerwatch, the man who leads the campaign against WiFi. His bespoke device is manufactured exclusively for Powerwatch."
I did, indeed, design it, but for Perspective Scientific (now Sensory Perspective) Ltd in the late 1990s.
It never has been made for Powerwatch, let alone exclusively. The COM was one of a number of different RF monitors used in the Panorama programme (although not at the school!) and is used by many UK schools in GCSE KS4 science and A-level physics classes when teaching pupils about microwave signals. It is also sold by a leading schools science equipment supplier and was featured on the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) stand at the Tomorrows World Live event at Earl's Court in London in 2000. It was tested and found fit for purpose by the MoD's Aquilla test facility. COM monitors also were used in a nationwide schools project by Sheffield Hallam University's 2001 Pupil Researcher Initiative a curriculum development project from two of the UK's Research Councils. COM monitors are in regular use by telecoms engineers as a quick-look-see pocket microwave indicator.
For those with an interest in what the "red" actually means, the red light turned on at a signal strength of approximately 4 V/m, showing that the level exceeded the UK and European EMC susceptibility test level of 3 V/m.

The next post will list the remaining criticisms & responses.

Is WIFI exposure bad for our health?

2007-06-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

The theme for the blog this week will be Electromagnetic/Microwave emissions and the on going debate about whether or not they are harmful to our health.

Recently, BBC 1’s Panorama ran a show about Installing WIFIs in schools across the UK and the potential health affects associated with long term exposure to them. Here is a summary of what was discussed:

WIFI is a similar radiation emitted by mobile phones and masts (and we all know the ongoing debate about mobile phones!). Widespread WIFI usage and installations being relatively new on the scene, it is now sparking similar types of debate. What is fascinating about this program is that the UK seems to be blatantly ignoring the advice of its own appointed scientific experts with regards to the potential ill effects of being exposed to these waves. Sir William Stewart (chief scientific advisor to Margaret Thatcher, and later hired by Blair’s government in 2000 to study the effects of mobile phones and masts on health), concluded after 1 year of studies that there are some obvious links between mobile phone usage and adverse health effects. Studies conducted show that radiation emitted by mobile phones impact cognitive function, cancer risk, and cause molecular changes in cells. His recommendation then was to therefore have a precautionary approach to mobile phone usage and masts. No masts should be installed in areas where children had the risk of being exposed. Especially since tests have shown they absorb even more radiation than adults.

Powerwatch (an independent organization with a central role in the UK Electromagnetic Field & Microwave Radiation health debate), took some measurement readings at a school that recently installed WIFI. The reading in the school was 3 times higher than the mobile phone mast reading (taken at the highest emission point of the mast).

Thousands of studies were conducted on cell phone usage, and many found that there were significant health effects. Most importantly: levels of concentration drop, short term memory loss, higher cancer risk, compromised immune system, and many others.

There is still the camp that doesn’t believe there are any significant health effects from being exposed to these waves. Such as the World Health Organization who state that there are no adverse effects to long term exposure to low levels of radiation. And numerous governments turn to them for the ultimate word on health regulations.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly question what impact it’s having on my health to live in a society that is becoming more and more polluted by this invisible smog. According to experts, the safety limits for radiation in the UK (and the world) are excessively high due to the fact that they are based on the “thermal” effects of the radiation only. In other words, it is only considered harmful once it starts to heat up our organs! In my Feng Shui practice, we indicate that a safe reading for Electromagnetic fields (emitted from electrical appliances in the home or your electrical wiring) in the home should be less then 10 v/m (volts per meter), Microwaves less then 0.05v/m and Magnetic fields less then 0.2 mT (microtesla). However, if you entered a typical British home or held a meter to a mobile phone, WIFI connection or DECT phone (all emitting microwaves) you would be appalled by the readings!

Stay tuned, in the next posts I will discuss Powerwatch’s response to the criticisms received from the Panorama show, as well as ways to keep yourself and your home safe from electromagnetic fields and microwaves.