There's a petition going round my kids' primary school against a new mobile phone mast going up nearby. This is one of the new generation of masts that enables mobiles to send videos. It looks like they have the ability to fry brains far more effectively than the ordinary masts (which you can't morally object to if you use a mobile yourself).
Anyway, the point is you'd have to be mad not to agree with the protest and I signed the petition and spoke to the organisers. BUT - I can't help it. I'm irritated! These same kind of masts were put up on the roof of our council block ages ago. Without any consultation. Maybe it came up at a tenants' meeting but since only half a dozen people go to them (out of 96 flats in the 4 blocks) that hardly counts as consultation. The block is within the 'danger zone' of the school and is also opposite another primary school. As soon as I realised they were there, I started putting out feelers to see if I'd have any support in organising a protest. Parents at the other school that I spoke to were uninterested. As for the tenants in the block, the only time we've ever had a petition circulated it was AGAINST having recycling facilities on the estate. 'Cos they make a mess!' Nuff said ...
In the end, I had to let the matter drop and hope eating lots of fruit and veg would ward off the death rays!
Could my lack of success be anything to do with the fact that we're council tenants? But when the masts go up on a middle class street, there's a huge furore. Of course, I support the protest and hope it's successful. But I won't be getting heavily involved. How do I justify trying to protect other people's kids when I couldn't even protect my own?
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2 comments:
Yes, I heard somebody on our estate complain about the idea of having collective recycling bins here because they'd spoil the look of the place. These are the same people who are happy to let their children wander over other's front gardens showing no respect. As for the mobile masts, I'm not actually sure where I stand on them because I haven't done any research but isn't it all a matter of "not in my neighbourhood". I mean, if we want to use mobiles, the masts will have to go somewhere and there are schools, nursery's and areas where children live and play all over our towns and cities. I'm not sure what the answer is. ~Sharon J
Weird isn't it - the way some people fail to make the connection between their own immediate environment and issues affecting the planet as a whole ...
On our estate the anti-recycling brigade are much older. They're the ones who hate anyone under pension age just on general principles. I once went door-to-door collecting for Breast Cancer Charity and took my kids with me. One of this lot slammed the door in my face - it turns out he assumed I was begging for my own children!!! Even though I had the official badge and documents etc, his first reaction was to assume whatever I was doing it would be something really bad. It doesn't matter how many times I hold doors open, help people with shopping etc etc, they're still stuck in the same negative mind set.
The mast thing is tricky. I do use a mobile and realise that can put me on slightly dodgy ground. But these new ones are supposedly specifically so people can send video clips. At that point I begin to wonder if that's really essential in life and is it worth the possible risk to health ...? I certainly feel there's a need for more independant research before they get bunged on roofs without consultation ...
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