From Tanja Katarina Rebel, Cowes:

Two full meetings and a well-attended Stop 5G demonstration show a significant proportion of the Island community feel very strongly about the proposed introduction, installation and operation of 5G wireless technology.

Their main concern is this new and unprecedented technology is being rolled out without independent, strategic, broad spectrum health or environmental risk assessments, required by law before people are exposed to untested new technology.

Scientists across the world are warning that pulsed millimetre wave radiation is likely to cause significant health issues, with unknown long-term health effects, especially for pregnant mothers, the unborn, the young and the elderly. In addition, many warn that it will be hugely harmful to wildlife, in particular birds and bees.

Our UK Government is the financial driving force behind 5G but neither they nor the industry have been able to categorically state it is a safe, time proven technology, nor have there been any consultations to ensure public consent.

The idea of informed consent has been universally accepted and now constitutes Article 7 of the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This article explicitly includes a prohibition on medical and scientific experimentation without consent.

There is a myriad of eminent scientists and health officials even within the World Health Organisation who have expressed their most serious concerns about exposure to 5G frequencies and countries, towns, cities and American states have taken a good look and decided to say no until at least there are meaningful health and environmental assurances. The IW would be wise to do so as well.

The IW Constitution states the council is answerable to the Human Rights Act. Under the the HSAW Act 1974, the council has to carry out risk assessments before any exposure of its residents to a technology with unknown health consequences.

It should focus on fibre-optic connections which are more effective and which do not pose a threat.