7th September 2022
Copy of a response from EM Radiation Research Trust Director Eileen O’Connor sent directly as a complaint to Kaja Perina, Editor-in-Chief, Psychology Today.
This response was also placed directly on ‘Psych Unseen – the Facebook page of Dr. Joe Pierre, the author who disrespected those who are suffering with electrosensitvity.
Copy of the shameful article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202208/tin-foil-hats-tired-trope-or-sign-the-times
What sort of person/society would discriminate and ridicule those who are currently suffering with electrosensitivity (ES)? Many people suffering with this debilitating condition are consigned to live their lives in pain, enforced poverty and isolation. I wonder if Dr Pierre is willing to accept liability for such claims against those who are ill? Here is his Facebook page with a post to his article https://www.facebook.com/psychunseen/
I can assure you from personal experience that the detrimental impacts from this form of radiation are profoundly serious and real. I suffered with breast cancer in 2001 after living 100m from a phone mast/cell tower in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield and led the campaign against the tower after discovering a cancer cluster surrounding the cell tower. I have since campaigned for 20 years. I am the co-founder for the EM Radiation Research Trust charity www.radiationresearch.org and co-founder for the International EMF Alliance: www.iemfa.org
I have attended, presented, and organised many scientific conferences throughout the UK and the world. Given evidence at the UK and EU Parliament and EU Commission. I am a former member of Sir William Stewart’s UK Health Protection Agency EMF Discussion Group. Sir William Stewart was the chief scientific advisor to Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.
I organised a conference at the Royal Society, London in 2008 bringing both sides of the debate together from the highest level. Sir William Stewart opened up the conference with the first presentation. He said:
“There are additional factors that need to be taken into account in assessing any possible health effects. Populations as a whole are not genetically homogeneous and people can vary in their susceptibility to environmental hazards.
There are well established examples in the literature of the genetic predisposition of some groups, which could influence sensitivity to disease. There could also be a dependence on age. We conclude therefore that it is not possible at present to say that exposure to RF radiation, even at levels below national guidelines, is totally without potential adverse health effects, and that gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach.”
Download Sir William Stewart’s presentation here: https://www.radiationresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/010920_stewart.pdf
I am also and former member of the EU Commission Stakeholder EMF Dialogue Group.
I would like to draw your attention to recent important legal developments in the UK with regards to electrosensitivity.
The case, EAM v East Sussex County Council (Special educational needs) features a child who suffers electrosensitivity.
Upper Tribunal Judge Jacobs found that the child should be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010, and she required an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP).’
Further details are available regarding this extremely important case via PHIRE Medical which includes Statements from parents, child and excerpts from 3 Tribunal Hearings included below: https://phiremedical.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Press-Release-EHCP-for-UK-child-with-EHS-2022-PHIRE.pdf
In June 2022, a 59-year-old UK social worker won ‘early ill health retirement’ for disabling ‘Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS): In relation to EHS, the Independent Registered Medical Practitioner (IRMP) report concludes: “Mrs. Burns has a medical condition that renders her permanently incapable of undertaking any gainful work. There currently are no treatments available for her condition;avoidance of emissions is the only way to significantly reduce her symptoms.” Whilst such emissions were historically presumed to be biologically inert, and are still purported to be safe by many to this day, there is now highly credible evidence to the contrary. https://phiremedical.org/59-year-old-social-worker-wins-early-ill-health-retirement-for-disabling-electromagnetic-hypersensitivity-ehs/
Eileen O’Connor
EM Radiation Research Trust
Download here: Copy of response to Kaja Perina^J Editor-in-Chief^J Psychology Today