Environment Ministry's verdict on the health risks from wireless technology puts the British government to shame.
By Geoffrey LeanSunday, 9 September 2007
People should avoid using Wi-Fi wherever possible because of the risks it may pose to health, the German government has said.
Its surprise ruling – the most damning made by any government on the fast-growing technology – will shake the industry and British ministers, and vindicates the questions that The Independent on Sunday has been raising over the past four months.
And Germany's official radiation protection body also advises its citizens to use landlines instead of mobile phones, and warns of "electrosmog" from a wide range of other everyday products, from baby monitors to electric blankets.
The German government's ruling – which contrasts sharply with the unquestioning promotion of the technology by British officials – was made in response to a series of questions by Green members of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament.
The Environment Ministry recommended that people should keep their exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi "as low as possible" by choosing "conventional wired connections". It added that it is "actively informing people about possibilities for reducing personal exposure".
Its actions will provide vital support for Sir William Stewart, Britain's official health protection watchdog, who has produced two reports calling for caution in using mobile phones and who has also called for a review of the use of Wi-Fi in schools. His warnings have so far been ignored by ministers and even played down by the Health Protection Agency, which he chairs.
By contrast the agency's German equivalent – the Federal Office for Radiation Protection – is leading the calls for caution.
Florian Emrich, for the office, says Wi-Fi should be avoided "because people receive exposures from many sources and because it is a new technology and all the research into its health effects has not yet been carried out".
Malaysia`s Anwar urges patience in bid to remove governmentKuala Lumpur (ANTARA News
- Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday defended his failure to topple the government a week after claiming he had enough support to seize power, and asked Malaysians to be patient.Anwar said removing the ruling coalition which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century was an enormous task and that he wanted to do it smoothly and within the law.
"I appeal to Malaysian citizens, particularly those who want to see a change, to understand this and be a bit more patient because we do not want to transgress the constitution, rules and procedures," he was quoted by AFP as telling a press conference."It will take a lot of patience, a lot of resolve, to try and unravel this complex web controlled by a few cronies," he said.
Anwar said last week he had the support of more than 31 lawmakers from the Barisan Nasional coalition and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to agree to negotiations on a handover of power.Abdullah refused and rejected a request for an emergency session of parliament for the opposition to mount a vote of no confidence against him.An official from Anwar's party said Tuesday the opposition had begun handover talks with the government, with several meetings between intermediaries taking place since the weekend.
Abdullah said there were no such talks and Anwar said Wednesday he was "not aware" of any discussion on a political transition.But he said he had written to the king to inform him of his actions so far, although he was not yet seeking an audience with the monarch, who would need to approve any change in government.Anwar dismissed the premier's claims that he was merely bluffing about the defectors, whose names he has refused to release.
"If they think I'm a liar, put it to the test and have a vote taken," he said.
Procedural barriersParliament resumes on October 13 after a break for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan but even then the opposition faces procedural barriers to mounting a no- confidence vote.Anwar faces a trial on sodomy allegations -- the same charge that saw the former deputy premier sacked and jailed a decade ago.
On Wednesday his lawyers argued against an application to move the case to the High Court."The prosecution is trying very hard to transfer the case to the High Court so it will be heard by a judge decided by them," Anwar said after a hearing at the Sessions Court which reserved its judgement to October 7.
Malaysia's Anwar 'cautious' in bid to seize power
Associated Press 2008-09-24 11:11 AM
Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim signaled a further delay Wednesday in his bid to oust the government, saying his alliance would avoid any "hasty action" that could ignite instability.
Anwar has claimed for months that he has convinced enough lawmakers to defect to his side to unseat Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration. The ruling coalition has dismissed Anwar's claim as a bluff, especially after he missed his self-declared target of Sept. 16 for seizing power.
Anwar said in a statement that the opposition remained "confident that the people's desire for change shall soon be attained." He did not set a specific new deadline.
"We will proceed cautiously toward our goals and we agreed neither to be provoked into hasty action nor to take an irresponsible approach that would lead to instability and greater uncertainty," Anwar said.
Anwar dismissed recent reports suggesting that the opposition had started negotiations with Abdullah about a voluntary power transfer.
His comments came ahead of a hearing in Kuala Lumpur's Sessions Court on Wednesday involving a charge that Anwar sodomized his 23-year-old former male aide. The court was expected to either transfer the case to a higher court or schedule trial dates.
Anwar has rejected the sodomy accusation as a government conspiracy to block his political ascent after his People's Alliance coalition won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in March general elections. Government authorities deny any plot.
Prime Minister Abdullah has accused Anwar of undermining the country's security and economy and has rebuffed Anwar's demands over the past week to meet with opposition leaders to discuss a voluntary power hand-over or to call an emergency Parliament session.
Abdullah's National Front coalition now has only a 28-seat majority. He is battling dissent within his ruling coalition from officials who want him to step down amid growing disenchantment with his leadership.
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