cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/7625705
According to the linked article, 72 studies suggest that wi-fi radiation harms/kills #bees – and by some claims is a threat to their continued existence. I suppose if extinction were really a likely risk there would be widespread outrage and bee conservationists taking actions. It seems there is a lack of chatter about this. This thread also somewhat implies disinterest in even having wi-fi alternatives.
In any case, does anyone think this is a battle worth fighting? Some possible off-the-cuff actions that come to mind:
- ban the sale of wi-fi devices bigger than a phone in Europe¹ if they do not also comply with these conditions:
- include an ethernet port as well. So e.g. macbooks would either have to bring back the ethernet port or nix wi-fi (and obviously Apple wouldn’t nix Wi-Fi).
- have a physical wi-fi toggle switch on the chassis (like Thinkpads have)
- force public libraries with Wi-Fi to give an ethernet port option so library users at least have the option of turning off their own wi-fi emissions.
- ban the sale of Wi-Fi APs that do not have:
- a configurable variable power setting that is easily tunable by the user; maybe even require a knob or slider on the chassis.
- bluetooth that is internet-capable
- force phones that include wi-fi to also include bluetooth as well as the programming to use bluetooth for internet. Bluetooth routers have existed for over a decade but they are quite rare… cannot be found in a common electronics shop.
Regarding bluetooth, it is much slower than wi-fi, lower range, and probably harder to secure. But nonetheless people should have this option for situations where they don’t need wi-fi capability. E.g. when a phone is just sitting idle it could turn off wi-fi and listen over bluetooth for notifications.
I suspect the 1st part of this quote from the article explains the lack of concern:
“The subject is uncomfortable for many of us because it interferes with our daily habits and there are powerful economic interests behind mobile communication technology.”
- I say /Europe/ because it’s perhaps the only place where enough people would be concerned and where you also have the greatest chance of passing pro-humanity legislation (no “Citizens United” that human needs have to compete with).
In honesty, it was more a comment on your post, and what your aim was in discussing it.
The review linked in the article proposes that wireless frequencies have some effect on insects.
It discusses EMF from power lines, the effects of GSM transmission amplified over normal levels, DECT, and touches very briefly on wifi.
The document makes reference to a second review towards the end by Isabel Wilke.
This review does involve wifi, however focusses almost entirely on mammals, rather than insects, and suggests studies that find low power transmission have no effect are being influenced by the industry that may be giving them funding.
Your post linked to the article, then went on to propose solutions to remove wifi devices from daily life.
If you were confused by my reference to ovens, it was not implying that the results had been affected, more that the same band at extremely high power could be damaging just from heating effect (and that wifi is orders of magnitude less strong).
You seem to have misread my proposed actions. Nothing I proposed would remove wifi. Every proposal was merely to have alternatives which would be useful anyway, even if the bee research turns out to be bogus. I would not propose removal of wi-fi until the research reaches a stage where the evidence solidly explains what is happening at a cellular level.