How would cells do that? The major means is a modulated ion current which is encoded in one cell and transmitted to another, for example through a gap-junction. The gap junction is a protein tube between cells. Each cell has an encoder and receiver to transmit, receive and respond to messages. They form an amazing biological telecommunication network.

The audience was fascinated by this description of cells whispering to each other and checking on each other just like we should do with our neighbours.

I went on to show them that there are elements of cells that are FM tuners using phase-locked loops - like those used in FM radios to tune in to the incoming radio signal. As part of their communication system cells also have structures in the cell membrane called voltage-gated ion channels which act like a transistor to control the ion currents flowing into and out of the cells.

Homeostasis achieved by natural bio-electronics
Biology has come up with very advanced and sophisticated bio-electronics as part of the body's natural communication and regulation system to keep our cells and organs within healthy relationships. This is necessary to keep them in a relatively narrow natural range of conditions which is called homeostasis.

The most common natural range that we are familiar with is temperature, but there are many other processes and substances that are required to be kept within natural ranges in order for our cells to be healthy and happy.

The body's telecommunication system plays a vital role in this regulation and co-ordination. External electromagnetic signals interfere with the internal signals and cause cell damage, immune system problems and neurological problems, and can quite vitally interfere with the heart rhythm. A common treatment for irregular hearts is to implant an electronic pacemaker. This works because the natural heart works by an electrical pulse which sends a cascade of calcium ions throughout the heart muscle to signal to every cell to contract together to produce a heart beat. When the body's natural electrical signal becomes irregular the technology can provide synchronisation. There is strong evidence that an extremely small but globally available natural electromagnetic signal, the Schumann Resonances, continually provides an external synchronisation signal to assist all mammals to maintain their brain, heart and cellular timing homeostasis.

If cellphones interfere with metal electronics, what about their impact on biological electronics?
The Japanese authorities have recommended that no one use a cellphone in a train because the signal can interfere with cardiac pacemakers. My question is: "If the use of cellphones is interfering with the metal electronics why are we not concerned about their interfering with the biological electronics?"

The overall conclusions
I have reviewed the research on cellphone type radiation i.e. radiation from cellphones and cellsites. This material has been organised under headings of Cancer, Reproductive Activity, Neurological Activity and Cardiac Activity, linked together with genotoxic activity.

What I have found is that in the last four to five years cellphone radiation has been shown to mimic epidemiological and biological studies of EMR since World War 2. This is not a surprise, but it is now established that EMR damages chromosomes, and causes cancer, reproductive, neurological and cardiac effects.

The conclusion is that cellphones and cellsites are a hazard to people's health.

The picture comes together to show that the safe level of exposure to artificial electromagnetic signals from human devices is zero. A large amount of the present illness and death in society can be attributed to chronic low level exposures to these fields. The widespread official claim that if signals cannot heat people they are safe is clearly scientifically wrong and dangerous.

Travel itinerary evidence of world wide concern
In June I attended the Italian Consumer Congress in Roccaraso and went on to present a paper at the Salzburg conference in which international scientists, planners, policy analysts and public health experts agreed that there is no known safe threshold and GSM cellsite base stations should be limited to exposures of less than 0.1mW/cm2.

From there I travelled to Ireland to give a presentation and media interviews in Dublin, followed by the Scientific Conference on the health effects of EMR at the European Parliament in Brussels. From the Salzburg presentation I was invited to give a keynote address in the Kufstein Conference of the World Foundation for Natural Science in Austria in November.

In October I was involved in a base station court case in Adelaide. After I had presented his evidence, including using the applicants' own evidence against them, the appeal was withdrawn. They did not want a decision as it could stand as a precedent. I also prepared evidence for two other cell site appeal cases and for the Australian Senate EMR Enquiry.

Risk from computers
Readers of articles in NZine about my work have often asked about the danger of working with computers. Studies in the 1990's showed dose response increases in miscarriage and brain tumour from heavy use of computers. Most modern screens have much lower emissions than the earlier versions making them somewhat safer for their users than they used to be. A screen filter can significantly reduce the user's exposures while increasing the brightness to compensate changes the fields very little.

My advice to all
Minimise avoidable exposures and maximise health both through well-known healthy diets and also through a conscious positive approach to caring for and loving ourselves and positive relationships with others. Stress, anxiety and powerlessness are a health hazard, so choosing not to be powerless, finding what you can do and doing it is a healthy approach.

We can all become more informed, share information with our neighbours, and our elected representatives at local, regional and national levels, start movements, lobby, work through churches, community groups, environmental groups, and Probus clubs, because together we are powerful, but alone we are isolated and vulnerable.

Elect people who care for public health and if you are well-known, seek election yourself on the basis or protecting public health from genotoxic pollution because this will have major positive effects on public health, community costs and health system demands.

We must give effect to true democracy which is serving the people, not the profit-driven companies, and support the companies and politicians who truly care for the people.

A heavy programme of work
In addition to the work he has undertaken overseas Dr Cherry has been teaching in the Natural Resources Engineering course at the Environmental Management and Design Division at Lincoln University, and working as an elected member of Environment Canterbury (formerly the Canterbury Regional Council.) - Editor