A crowd of parents and children gathered in the La Jolla neighborhood’s Cliffridge Park to protest Dish Network’s plan to install 5G antennas disguised as baseball field foul poles near schools and recreation areas.
Noah Lyons reports for The San Diego Union-Tribune.
In short:
- More than 80 community members attended the April 11 demonstration, organized by parent Kerri DeNies, to protest the proposed installation of 30-foot cell towers at Cliffridge Park.
- The towers, proposed by Dish Network as part of a 5G rollout, would be placed near Torrey Pines Elementary School, the YMCA, and local ball fields, sparking health concerns among residents.
- Though a recent study found no confirmed health hazards from 5G, some scientific research suggests potential risks from prolonged exposure to non-ionizing radiation, particularly for children.
Key quote:
“I want to protect everybody — I want to protect the teachers, the staff, but especially the children who are still growing.”
— Kerri DeNies, parent and protest organizer
Why this matters:
The wireless radiation emitted by cell phones and cell towers has been linked to a wide range of negative health effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with numerous experts worldwide, recommend minimizing children’s exposure because they are uniquely susceptible. Studies have found children’s developing brains are more sensitive and absorb wireless radiation more intensely than adults. Because of this, many countries and some U.S. localities prohibit cell towers near or on school grounds. However, there are no U.S. federal regulations governing the placement of cell towers near schools or homes. Existing U.S. safety limits for wireless exposure remain unchanged since 1996, and some scientists have cautioned that they do not protect public health and wildlife.
