Although I support the WiFi plan after weighing the evidence and logic on health effect, let us not disparage the protesters. We need to listen to them too.
Some WiFi supporters don’t understand these opposite views:
* The protesters are concerned about the 24-hour nature of WiFi, compared with cellular phone which is placed near the ears for only minutes. (True, cellular towers are on all the time, precisely why these protesters are also against cellular towers).
* WiFi will give out RF that is unescapable, EVEN, EVERYWHERE in Penang, unlike cellular phone and towers, which have certain high-concentration areas only.
* Technology is a subset of science, and science is only a subset of truth. Scientific testing of hypothesis is testing that “WiFi is associated with bodily injury” but does not “prove” that WiFi cannot hurt the body. Science is sure exactly because it is also ultra-conservative and narrow in nature. Scientific testing also does not prove causal-effects.
Not finding evidence so far could be due to the short-term nature of the WiFi technology. Even cellular RF is only widespread over 10 years. Such obvious risk factors as drinking and smoking can take 40 years to “cause” cancer, and only among a small group of people affected by certain disease, like previous liver infection.
So we science and techno lovers can never afford to be arrogant, considering the narrow and conservative nature of science.
I dislike CAP’s protectionist, parochial, condescending, views, such as these:
Disneyland will decimate local culture
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/51925
Mcdonalds must apologise to Chinese
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/62533
Don’t let rice boil over into FTA
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/68618
But CAP did raise alarm on Sarawak and TM, such as these:
S’wak development plans require re-study
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/77943
No, not another two dams in Sarawak
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/73450
Bakun water catchment area - another promise broken
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/73266
TM subscribers ripped off by voice-mail service
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/57323
I think more than half of CAP view is worthy. That’s more than you can say for many of our politicians and regulators.