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Taiwan restricts childrens time spent with electronic devices
Taiwan	Created: 2 Jul 2015
TAIPEI - Taiwanese parents are now obliged by law to stop their children from spending too much time on electronic devices, the island's media has reported. Lawmakers passed a revision to the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act on Friday to expand existing regulations that ban children aged under 18 from smoking, drinking, chewing betel nut and using drugs to cover the use of electronic devices, Central News Agency reported. The new regulation stipulates that juveniles "may not constantly use electronic products for a period of time that is not reasonable," according to the amendment. Parents and legal guardians can be fined up to NT$50,000 (S$2,150) if they are found to have allowed their children to use electronic products to an extent that causes them to become ill, either physically or mentally, the amendment said. The new regulation, however, does not define what is considered a "reasonable" amount of time. The revision was proposed by ruling Kuomintang lawmaker Lu Shiow-yen, who said it is aimed at protecting juveniles, CNA reported. Lu's proposal, however, sparked immediate debate on the definition of "a long period of time" during a preliminary review. The clause was shelved pending inter-party negotiations as a result. The existing child protection act also bans children and youths from watching, reading, listening to, or using any content that depicts violence, sex or obscenity.
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Source: SPH Digital News, Lee Seok Hwai, 24 Jan 2015

Children under two banned from using electronic devices in Taiwan and also limits under-18s use
Taiwan	Created: 5 Feb 2015
Taiwan has banned children under the age of two from using electronic devices such as iPads, televisions and smartphones. Parents who allow their young children to play with their gadgets face fines of up to £1,000, in line with a law passed last week. The new law also states that parents must ensure that under-18s only use electronic products for a 'reasonable' length of time. Taiwanese lawmakers passed the new legislation last Friday, completely banning parents from allowing their under-twos to use any electronic devices, China's official news agency Xinhua reports. Meanwhile Taiwanese under-18s are not allowed to 'constantly use electronic products for a period of time that is not reasonable', although the 'reasonable length of time' has not been defined. The new law means that iPads, smartphones and televisions are now listed alongside cigarettes and alcohol as restricted. The new law was originally proposed by Taiwanese MP Lu Shiow-yen, who said his intention was to protect young people by stopping them using electronic devices for more than 30 minutes at a time, The Telegraph reports. Research published in December last year found that 7.1 per cent of the population in Asia is addicted to the internet. In neighbouring China, online addiction among young people has become a serious problem, with an estimated 24million children considered 'web junkies'. As well as introducing laws requiring games companies 'to develop techniques that would limit the gaming time of minors', more than 250 military style boot camps have been set up across China to tackle under-18 internet addiction. Since the release of the first iPad in 2010, an ever increasing number of parents use the Apple device to 'babysit' their children. A recent poll found that half of British parents routinely allow infants to play with their smartphone or tablet, and one in seven let them spend more than four hours a day on hand-held devices. Even Prince William recently admitted to letting Prince George play games on his iPad, saying that he believes it is 'a good way to each him the inner workings of electronics'. Research published in the British Medical Journal found that a child born today will have spent a full year staring at screens (tablets, computers, TVs) by the time they reach seven.
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Source: Mail Online, Sarah Malm, 29 Jan 2015

HTC posts bigger than expected Q1 loss on poor flagship phone sales
Taiwan	Created: 9 Apr 2014
The Taiwanese phone maker reported worse results than analysts expected after losing ground to competitors and rivals. HTC has reported a bigger-than-expected loss for its fiscal first quarter as it continues to struggle against its major rivals in the smartphone space. The company reported a loss of about $62 million, compared to an $85 million profit in the same quarter a year ago, despite its flagship smartphone line being critically acclaimed by reviewers. Analysts were expecting a loss of $52 million. HTC said it generated $1.09 billion in revenue for the January-March quarter, a decline of 22 percent in the year-ago quarter. The company, which was once third-place behind Apple and Samsung, now has two percent of the global smartphone share, down from more than 11 percent in 2011. In efforts to stem the financial bleeding, HTC's chief executive Peter Chou offloaded more of his responsibility with the company's chairwoman and co-founder, Cher Wang, late last year. Earlier this month, the company launched the latest iteration of its flagship phone, the revamped HTC One (M8), which it hopes will resonate with its customer base away from Apple and Samsung. ZDNet's sister-site CNET gave the smartphone a 4 out of 5 rating — one of the highest ever given for a device — describing it as a "truly great phone all on its own — one worthy of anyone's investment." Any successes the new flagship phone has will be reported in the company's fiscal second quarter earnings, expected in early May.
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Source: ZDNet, Zack Whittaker, 07 Apr 2014

Somebody CARES for the HEALTH of the people!! Taiwan had mobile phone masts removed
Taiwan	Created: 6 Aug 2012
MBABANE - Taiwanese legislators ordered the removal of 1 500 mobile phone masts stating that homes and schools must not be exposed to the risk of radiation. The radiation emitted by mobile phone base stations could cause cancer, miscarriages, and could even drive people to suicide. The action by the Taiwanese government was one of the major changes implemented by world leaders to protect members of the public from extreme negative health effects caused by electromagnetic fields and cell masts, among other wirelessly connected communication services. In relation to the action by the Taiwanese government’s recent action; Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament, Marwick Khumalo, advised that it would be wise to stop the installation of all cell masts with immediate effect, then conduct relevant research that would determine whether or not the project could continue. "Any government that cares about the welfare of its people would jump at the opportunity availed by the Taiwanese government through their action to discontinue the process," said Khumalo. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), met in Kyiv at Standing Committee level May 27, 2011 calling on European governments to ‘take all reasonable measures’ to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, ‘and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours’. According to parliamentarians, governments should, ‘or children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school premises’, and put in place information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of potentially harmful long-term biological effects on the environment and on human health, especially ‘targeting children and teenagers. Furthermore, the International Agency Research on Cancer (the foremost cancer research body in the world), the World Health Organisation and European Parliamentary Assembly are finally listening. First, in May 2011, IARC in Lyon issued a press release stating that radio frequency electromagnetic fields have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B) based on an increased risk of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use. Campaigners saw this as a major breakthrough since it had long been noted that if research paid for by the mobile phone companies themselves, the independent studies left open-minded scientists in little doubt. Taiwan had mobile phone masts removed By KWANELE DHLADHLA on August 01,2012 According to researcher and environmental activist, Eileen O’Connor; "All electromagnetic radiation has a potentially hazardous threat. And that includes masts opposite your home and the poorly researched but ubiquitous Wi-Fi … and it takes 20 years for the brain and the nervous system to form fully (after the cell mast effects)." Lobamba against installation of mast MBABANE - Due to the proven negatively extreme health effects of cell masts and electric magnetic forces, the Lobamba Lomdzala constituency plans to turn down the proposed installation of a cell mast in their area. To ensure their stance will be implemented, the constituency’s leadership has appointed the Indvuna yeNkhundla to represent them and ensure that their position is carried through even at inner council’s level. A proposal has been made to install the cell mast in one of the commercial areas of the constituency. This revelation was made by Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament Marwick Khumalo in an interview yesterday. "The decision to refuse the installation of the cell masts has been made in consideration of the extremely negative health effects and to allow us to have more time for research on where it would be suitable to construct the cell masts, if need be. "However, currently our stance as the leadership of the area is that it should not be installed in the commercial area, as initially proposed," said Khumalo. http://www.times.co.sz/News/78164.html
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Source: Robert Riedlinger/Agnes Ingvarsdottir

Group calls for electromagnetic waves regulation
Taiwan	Created: 9 Dec 2011
The Taiwan Electromagnetic Radiation Hazard Protection and Control Association yesterday urged the presidential candidates to pay more attention to the issue of electromagnetic waves and pass laws to protect people from their harmful effects. The call came amid a claim by People First Party vice presidential candidate Lin Ruey-shiung that he was attacked by 18,750kHz electromagnetic waves for three consecutive nights from Sept. 20. Lin said he had to move from his residence to a hotel because of the attacks, adding that he knew it was an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) attack because he is an expert in the field. The National Security Bureau has rebutted Lin’s statement and quoted the National Communications Commission as saying that neither the military, the bureau nor any other government agency had applied to use the 18.75MHz or 1,875MHz frequency. At a press conference yesterday, association chairman Chen Chiao-hwa said the WHO has noted an increase in the number of individuals who are sensitive to EMR because of the rise in the number of base stations. Citing a report from Sweden, Chen said the Swedish government had identified 2 percent to 5 percent of its population who demonstrated symptoms of being sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. A dozen residents living close to electric power stations also attended the press conference and said the EMR from the power stations in their neighborhoods was the source of their sufferings, ranging from leukemia and cancer to depression. As the vice presidential candidates are holding their televised debate today, Chen said that one of the questions should be directed at Premier Wu Den-yih, the running mate of President Ma Ying-jeou, regarding his understanding of EMR. Chen said the Cabinet and other government agencies had spent taxpayers’ money on projects to reduce EMR in buildings, but Wu has said he does not know much about it. Chen also encouraged Lin to share his knowledge about EMR. “As a public health expert and vice presidential candidate, Lin should speak out louder than anybody else [about the hazards generated by EMR],” Chen said. “Not only did he have to flee [from the EMR], he should also show us how to flee.”
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Source: Taipei Times, Shelley Shan, 10 Dec 2011

Taiwan mulls school cellphone ban amid cancer scare
Taiwan	Created: 8 Jun 2011
TAIPEI — Taiwan will consider banning mobile phones from schools following a recent health warning that users may face an increased risk of cancer, officials said Wednesday. The education ministry is planning to host a meeting with experts and school representatives to discuss the issue after several lawmakers called for a ban, an official told AFP, adding that the timing of discussions had not been set. Some local environmental groups have recommended that a mobile phone ban in schools be introduced on students aged 15 and under. Concerns were sparked last week after the World Health Organisation's cancer experts said that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phone devices are "possibly carcinogenic to humans." However the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) -- the WHO's expert arm on the subject -- cautioned that current scientific evidence showed only a possible link, not a proven one, between wireless devices and cancers. There are about five billion mobile phones registered in the world. The number of phones and the average time spent using them have both climbed steadily in recent years. About 57 percent of Taiwanese students aged between six and 18 years old use mobile phones, of which 62 percent bring them to school, according to local surveys. Related news: May 2011, USA: WHO: Cell phone use can increase possible cancer risk Apr 2011, Taiwan: TEPCA warns of risk to public health
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Source: AFP, 08 Jun 2011

TEPCA warns of risk to public health
Taiwan	Created: 25 Apr 2011
The Taiwan Electromagnetic Radiation Hazard Protection and Control Association (TEPCA) will hold a rally on May 14 urging the government to establish stricter regulations against radiation hazards. The association hopes the rally will help to raise awareness about the need to protect against electromagnetic radiation As part of this effort, a fund raising banquet was held yesterday to release a documentary titled “I don’t want electromagnetic -radiation in my home,” which illustrated the health risks associated with electromagnetic radiation exposure and the importance of prevention and control. The documentary featured alleged victims of long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation from Wufeng Township in Greater Taichung and Chiku Township in Greater Tainan, which are home to a high-voltage sub-station and a weather radar station respectively. Although the long-term health effects of electromagnetic radiation exposure have yet to be -confirmed, alleged victims recounted how an increasing number of people in their neighborhoods suffered from physical and mental illnesses, including chronic headaches, insomnia, miscarriages and cancer after the stations became operational. One woman living near the Wufeng high-voltage substation said she has to wear a radiation protection helmet at home and sleep with her head in a tinfoil-covered box to prevent chronic headache. In the documentary, TEPCA founder and chairperson Chen Jiau-hua, said that the safe level for exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) emissions suggested by the Environmental Protection Administration is 833mG, but that is based on guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for transient or very short-term peak fields, she added, and should not, therefore, be used to regulate long-term exposure. Cheng Tse-chou, a doctor at Chi-Mei Hospital, said many people only think of biological and chemical hazards as posing health risks, because symptoms are usually more sudden and apparent, yet radiation leaves no visual signs and can take many years before -symptoms start to show. Cheng said because susceptibility to such ailments varies among people, the problem is often dismissed and in some cases its very existence is questioned. He urged the government to take the issue more seriously. Hsu Li-min, a doctor at National Taiwan University Hospital, said that people in the late 1980s underestimated the health effects of X-ray exposure. Because technology always runs ahead of our proper understanding of it, people should be more cautious of electromagnetic radiation than they currently are and the government should tighten regulations governing such emissions, he said. Apr 2011, Taiwan: Activists call for stricter regulations on cellphone radiation labels Oct 2008, Taiwan: Group urges official action to dissuade child cellphone use Jun 2008, Taiwan: TEPCA protests the Taiwanese government on WiMAX in Taiwan
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Source: Taipei Times, Lee I-chia, 24 Apr 2011

Activists call for stricter regulations on cellphone radiation labels
Taiwan	Created: 4 Apr 2011
Taipei, March 31 (CNA) An environmental group urged cellphone makers Thursday to clearly label the electromagnetic radiation emission levels of their products. The Taiwan Electromagnetic Radiation Hazard Protection and Control Association (TEPCA) called on the national communications regulator for a second time to demand more obvious labeling of radio frequency amounts. "We want clear Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) labeling for every cellphone," said the group's chairwoman, Chen Jiau-hua. SAR is the rate of radio frequency energy absorption per unit mass of the body. Taiwan follows the U.S.'s Federal Communications Commission guidelines, which cap permissible cellphone SAR levels at 1.6 watts per kilogram. Chen contended that SAR amounts should be marked on the handset itself or the packaging, so that customers can select models with lower levels if they so choose. Legislator Tien Chiu-chin suggested that the National Communications Commission use Germany's standard of just 0.6 watts per kilogram until Taiwan gathers enough research results to come up with its own set of guidelines. The association also found in a recent survey that up to 97 percent of phone users polled in a recent survey did not know what SAR means, while nearly all of the respondents had no idea of the levels put out by their handsets. It also unveiled the results of tests on the electromagnetic radiation emissions of 92 cellphones, which showed that about 1 percent of the handsets tested emitted more than 10 watts per square meter of radiation, higher than the limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The activists also warned the public to beware of surfing the Internet on the phone, claiming that radiation exposure exceeds safe levels in this mode of use. However, Chen Tai-lee, an assistant professor of physics at National Central University, said there should be no difference in radiation emissions between talking on a cellphone and browsing the Internet. What people should be careful about is the amount of actual time they spend using the phone
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Source: Sylvie/Agnes Ingvarsdottir

Taiwan Cancer Cluster news,
Taiwan	Created: 26 Aug 2010
Taiwan Cancer Cluster news, http://ameblo.jp/kitakamakurakeitaing/entry-10629873121.html
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Source: DN2009

Videos from Mobile mast Street protests in Taiwan
Taiwan	Created: 22 Jul 2010
Here are a number of You Tube videos of street protests against Mobile masts in Taiwan. http://ameblo.jp/kitakamakurakeitaing/entry-10596554367.html
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Source: DN2009

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