Beyond Radiation

Little Breakthrough, Perhaps? In Finland and Hopefully in USA

Today, 24th August 2009, the major newspaper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat, published a small article about mobile phones and health risks of children ("Lasten kännykän käyttö on terveysriski"). This article was written by professor Osmo Hänninen, doctor Seppo Kinnunen and myself. The newspaper did not publish the link to references, so here they are with the article in Finnish.

Update 12th September 2009: Now an English version available: "Mobile phone use of children is a health risk".

Even the Ilta-Sanomat  ("The Sun of Finland") made a news item "Asiantuntijat varoittavat kännykän käytön vaaroista= Experts warn about the risks of mobile phone use" of our little article. Maybe (finally) Finnish parents will stop buying mobile phones to their little children. In this Crazy Mobile Land service providers are actively marketing mobile phones to children in every newspaper, even in the Donald Duck (Aku Ankka) magazine :-( School start is a special campaign time with Habbo Hotel figures integrated to cell phone commercials (1). Really irresponsible behaviour... 

My American friends have been working hard to organise a meeting in Washington: "Expert Conference on Cell Phones and Health: Science and Public Policy Questions" ,  which will be held between September 13-15 in 2009 at the Credit Union House. 

Update 15th September 2009:

The actual Hearing:

"Health Effects of Cell Phone Use"

started on Monday 14th September 2009 at 2:00PM US Eastern time and was broadcasted live on C-SPAN 3 and it can be viewed at:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=288879-1 , please, click the Flash video icon.

(Link updated).

Special thanks to senator Arlen Specter. I hope that it will be a success and US representatives will (finally) start funding independent health studies of mobile phones.

I am just tired of corruption and misconduct in this area, that is why I wish more independent research.  _{To my Finnish readers: Allekirjoitapa seuraava adressi: "Matkapuhelinteollisuuden edustajat pois terveystutkimushankkeista", että saadaan tutkimuksen näkökulma esille.}  

France just made a nice move, when it is preparing to make scientific boards really scientific without industry representatives.  I hope that other nations will follow.

Robert O. Becker: Cross Currents

For all medical doctors, engineers, researchers and (e)inventors I have a book recommendation: Cross Currents by researcher, medical doctor Robert O. Becker.

Dr Becker early understood  that a human being is an electromagnetic entity. The first edition of this book was written in 1990 and now it is more actual than ever.

For example: The healing of wounds and bones is based on electric currents inside of us. Our cells communicate with electricity. Our body functions and rhythms (including circadian) are based on changes in natural(!) electromagnetic fields. Becker also showed how acupuncture and many other alternative treatments work.

Artificial electromagnetic fields and mobile devices/basestations/powerlines distort this communication inside of us. Being concerned about life on earth, Becker tried to inform military and industry about safer technologies (without immediate success).

 

  In case you have difficulties in getting the 'Cross Currents' book, try Robert O. Becker and Gary Selden’s earlier book Body Electric in eBook, PDF-format.

Update 18th June 2009: Talking about environment: The chapter called Maxwell's Hammer is worth reading. I hope that soon the environmental discussion will focus on the bombardment of ionosphere + abnormal growth/changes caused by microwaves (before it is too late). Hopefully Green Party(ies) and Greenpeace will finally get it: climate change is NOT only about increased CO2-levels. Constantly growing powerline grid and dense base station network has an effect on weather, nature and ionosphere.. Not to mention the risky HAARP installation in Alaska :-( (Update 26th July 2009: The following document of professor Ulrich Warnke describes those mechanisms of harm in detail : "Bees, Birds and Mankind - Destroying Nature by Electrosmog")  

 

Becker was twice nominated for Nobel prize in medicine. For very good reasons.

It would be great to hear your comments about Becker’s books.

 

Moscow - Return to Russia's Creative Dynamo + RNCNIRP

20 years ago, in 1989, I visited previous time Moscow. It was a summer full of strong emotions, youth and great adventure in Soviet time. Now, when I returned in May 2009 the landmarks like Moscow State University (Московский государственный университет имени М.В.Ломоносова) were still in my mental map and my expectations from the new visit were high. To understand Russia, you just need to understand the Russian soul [душа], music and culture. I am slowly learning these elements and perhaps my Carelian roots help me in this process ;-) So, I had a feeling like coming home :)

During my life I have had the honour to have many excellent mentors and hosts. This visit was no exception. Professor in physiology, Osmo Hänninen originally invited me to Moscow in the Environmental BioIndicators conference and the Kotelevtsev family was a great host on site.

Update 25th May 2009: My presentation in the Environmental BioIndicators conference partly focused on:

A) Abnormal growth caused by RF radiation in plants, insects, animals and humans

B) The consequences of ultra-high guidance levels in fostering abnormal growth and other side effects

C) Siting and configuration of base stations and other wireless technologies to minimise damage

D) Interplay of chemicals and RF radiation (and how little we know about it and why for example EU's NORMAN-network and ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) should focus on it).

So, I didn't choose the easiest topic and the knowledgeable audience provided me important feedback and new insights.

Meeting with professor Yuri Grigoriev (Юрий  Григорьев) was  memorable, we talked (in Russian), eat and drink for many hours. As the head of Russian National Committee of Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP) Yuri has amazing experience:
- Being a medical officer already in the 2nd World War
- Developing artificial, natural-like electro-magnetic fields to space ships (Sputnik-programme)
- Being one of the first doctors/professors in Chernobyl in 1986 to investigate the catastrophic situation
- Understanding early how the effects of non-ionising radiation are not just ... thermal [Russian research about biological effects[1], Update: see also examples in English : [1],[ 2],[3],[4] . Update 29th July 2009: Check those reports RNCNIRP provided to WHO [1],[2]. Already in 2003 RNCNIRP commented that ICNIRP guidance levels are out of date and children and pregnant women [1],[2] should be protected.

Update: Many times during our discussion Yuri emphasised that children's risks are much greater when it comes to microwave and especially mobile phone exposure [1],[2].

So, we had both serious and non-serious topics.

Disruptive Innovation - Some Quotations

How would you describe a disruptive innovation? I am not satisfied with Christensen's explanation or Dogbert's way of pursuing :) ,so, I am looking for new explanations.

I admire the work of Joseph Schumpeter and his ideas about the 'creative destruction'. According to Schumpeter: 'creative destruction causes continuous progress and improves the standards of living for everyone'. Well, isn't that a bit too optimistic?

ICNIRP - History and Industry Connections - a Video

Those ICNIRP (International Comission of Non-Ionising Radiation 'Protection') guidance levels [1],[2] for electromagnetic radiation exposure are ridicuouly (and dangerously) high in our environment.

Please, watch the marvellous 'A Radiant Day'  video. It describes the historical origins of ICNIRP guidance levels. Video contains also interesting interviews: Igor Belyaev, Eva Markova, Gerd Oberfeld, John Osepchuck, Michael Repacholi,  etc. 

 

Description of the Norwegian TV NRK1 video

Update 7th March 2009: Dr Neil Cherry once wrote:

"The standard based on the ICNIRP Guidelines is focused on avoiding tissue heating, not based on biological and epidemiological evidence. The maintenance of the standard is obtained by ignoring or rejecting any and all evidence that contradicts it."

I am amazed how accurate his following critique of ICNIRP is now, almost ten years after the first publication!

UPDATE: Critic of the ICNIRP and the International EMF-Project at the WHO - collected:

http://www.chronicexposure.org/limitsICNIRP.html

 

Meta-Model of Creativity

Creativity or creativities? That is what Robert J. Sternberg asked in 2005.

Defining creativity is a difficult task. Sternberg suggests to start this by asking... more questions:

Starting year 2009 - Book and music recommendations

Thank you for reading this blog and commenting it in 2008. 

I will start year 2009 with  ... music and book to recommendations :-)

MUSIC

Seal has a new CD, Soul. It is all about soul music. Soul is very much about interpretation and 'feeling'.

As an (amateur) singer, I find German Lied songs challenging and enjoyable. Propably the best master is Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Still,  Ian Bostridge is really good as well. I recommend his Schumann Liederkreis & Dichterliebe -album.

I am also famous for my 'bad' taste. I am so glad that lovely Britney Spears is performing again :-) I have not yet listened her newest album, Circus, but I still dare to recommend it. The Wizard of Sweden, Max Martin, writes usually her best songs. If you don't like Britney, at least her performance does not leave anyone ... indifferent ;-) Lately, she has been kind in promoting Finnish Sauna for free :-) (What is the real Finnish sauna? An orthodox explanation.).

BOOKS

Bodil Jönsson: Ten Thoughts about Time. Some years ago, this small and simple book changed radically ways how I consider time and spent time . Nowadays:
-  I don't wear a watch ("Western people are slaves of digital time")
-  I am not reachable and available all the time ("We should have time to "stop and stare")

... and my wife is desperate ;-)

I remember when I was in 2003 walking with professor Mike Sharples and his father Alan on a hill, north of Birmingham, UK. In the highest spot, Mike took ...  a kite from his bag. I was surprised and Alan commented "Every true scientist has a kite". In winter time, you can not always fly a kite.  Therefore, I recommend this Kid's Paper Airplane Book. You can always fly a paper airplane indoors ;-) I am so clumsy with miniature models, so this is good building exercise as well. And it always nice to build together with my children :-)

This current recession can be (perhaps) explained with terms of Peter Drucker?! His book 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship' could explain the Dot.com -bubble 15 years ahead in 1985.

- "Systematic innovation therefore consists in the purposeful and organized search for changes, and in the systematic analysis of the opportunities such changes might offer for economic and social innovation. "

His '7 sources of innovative opportunity' are always worth reading and thinking ;-)

FUTURE

As you might have noticed, I am (we are) working with disruptive innovation and paradigm shift ala Kuhn. Year 2009 will be interesting, even revolutionary. Stay tuned!

But now: Happy New Year!

    Mikko

Creativity is ... Attitude

In Berkeley, CA, USA, I met amazingly wise and educated street merchants.
Somehow, I just wanted to have  the following sticker:

Ever since I got this sticker, it has been hanging on my door at the university.

Einstein was famous for his proverbs and quotations. I welcome you to take a look at them. If someone knows where these proverbs can found in German, I would be most grateful! (Einstein's English was not excellent, I suppose some of those English quotations are therefore translated from German).

Nowadays I am well known for my polite and still uncomfortable questions. It is a skill that gets better when you practise it a lot ;-)

How can inventing be research?

Too often research and practise are totally separated tracks. I have met  inventors who dislike science and research, because "researchers have nothing practical to provide". Somehow I have a feeling that these sceptics do not really understand the current state of research and its methods.

True, the traditional, positivistic view on science does not accept inventing in the university.  However, design research and especially Herbert Simon's book "The Sciences of the Artificial" was the first attempt to introduce inventing in research and emphasise the importance of artefacts .

The term artifact is used to describe something that is artificial, or constructed by humans, as opposed to something that occurs naturally (Simon 1996).

"Building a system in of itself does not constitute research", saw Jay Nunamaker & Co. I agree. Theories need to guide the building process of systems and artefacts .

Artefacts are built, evaluated and demolished as part of design research. In Information Systems (IS) field this is called design science. If you are interested in building artefacts (software, models, prescriptions, etc) I recommend you to take a look at:

- Design Research in Information Systems, an overview by Vijay Vaishnavi and Bill Küchler (UPDATE D 20th Jan 2008) .

- Action Design - a method integrating action research and design science. Originally this was introduced by Chris Argyris. There is a company and a consulting methodology related to it. BUT, more interesting stuff is coming from Matti Rossi, Maung Sein, Ola Henfridsson & Co.  Please, keep on eye on their work.

- The evolutionary management-related work of Joan van Aken: "Prescription-driven research that provides solutions for management problems in addition to description driven research that enables us to understand the nature of problems but leaves undone the task of developing sound change programs".

- Theory of Design Science:  The latest article by Shirley Gregor and David Jones.

(If the links above do not work or you need more info about design research, please, let me know)

Afterword: Thanks to my advisor, professor Pertti Järvinen for advancing this field and my understanding.

Ethics of Innovation - Health Risks in the Mobile World

How responsible are those people and companies inventing the latest mobile devices and wireless networks?

What if these devices and wireless networks are like cigarettes: after prolonged use some people get seriously ill?

I took my time investigating:

- "Results from present studies on use of mobile phones for >10 years give a consistent pattern of
increased risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma (brain tumors)". This study of Lennart Hardell & Co investigated two cohort studies and 16 case control studies. The paper was published in April 2007 in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal. 

- "... found no evidence for an association between tumor risk and cellular telephone use among either short-term or long-term users." A Danish study inspecting adults and their use of mobile phones in 21 years time period. Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

- "Children should not place computers on their laps while they are using wireless Internet connections because of potential health risks" . Says professor Lawrie Challis, who also leads the committee on mobile phone safety research in UK.

- "Blue Angels mobile phones  for children should not be provided by teleoperators and dealers, since their SAR rate is above 0,6 W/kg . Children are recommended to use  corded phones in their daily communication. (Translation from German)  This statement was made by the German Government Bureau of Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz). Similar concern was expressed here.

These kind of results, although controversial, make me...worried. Remember: our generation started using mobile phones when we were adults. Younger generations start using mobile devices and wireless networks in their early childhood and they will be exposed to various sorts of radiation much longer than our generation.

What does this has to do with ethics and innovation? The following incident 'woke me up':

In February 2007 I was attending a seminar in Helsinki and was listening to one of the inventors of Apache Mobile Web Server. In terms of ARPU this kind of server in the mobile phone means more traffic and more income from data transfer to operators. From ubiquitous computing perspective user may carry all services with himself/herself (in the mobile phone) and have them easily accessible.

During his presentation I asked that inventor, an engineer, whether he and his partners have thought about implications on health of people using that server in their mobile phone (in their pocket) 24/7. He did not answer my question, more like he continued to explain how fantastic technologically this invention theirs is.

I find this kind of behaviour (and answer) irresponsible. These  mobile pocket servers will most likely multiply the amount of radiation to the tissues of the user. Is it really ethical to innovate if we do not pay close attention to possible health effects already in the invention phase? How much have we tested these services' health effects before launching to market / releasing in a community? What does sustainability mean in the mobile business? I am glad to hear your comments about these topics.

UPDATE 13th January 2008:  Check also the next part of this discussion: "Ethics of Innovation 2 -  Recommendations for Sustainable Mobile Inventions".

After word: There has been some good 'ethics of innovation' discussion before. Please, look at here and here and here.