Conspiracy Theories Part 2

I have just been working my way through the huge pile of EMR (electromagnetic radiation) emails which have accumulated over the last couple of weeks – an exciting two weeks in the EMR world with the WHO’s cancer committee’s warning about electromagnetic fields being possible carcinogens and the Council of Europe calling for ‘all reasonable measures’ to be taken to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially for children. For more on both see articles in this w/e’s newlsetter.

However, a good deal of the correspondence relates to Dr Olle Johansson, one of the leading figures in the research into the health effects of EMR. He is based at the world famous Karolinska Institute in Sweden – home of the Nobel prize. But along with other scientists working in this area, Dr Johansson has come under increased pressure from his employers who have now evicted him from his research laboratory. Why, you might ask, would one of the world’s most prestigious and respected centres of scientific endeavour be harassing, rather than lauding and supporting, one of their leading lights?

Ah well…..  Who do you think might be the main sponsors of the Nobel prize activities, the jewel in the crown of the Karolinksa Insitute? Yes, you guessed. One of Sweden’s, and the world’s biggest, telecoms companies, Sony-Ericsson.

If you wish to read about the goings on in much more detail click here.
If, having read about them, you wish to add your voice to those demanding Professor Johansson’s reinstatement in his facilities forthwith please email  the President of the Institute, Professor Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson at rektorssekreterare@ki.se copying in Staffan Cullheim, Chairman, Department of Neuroscience at Staffan.Cullheim@ki.se

Oh yes, and…..
In case you have not read or picked it up in John Weigel’s lengthy piece about the Karolinska and Olle Johansson,
Professor Ahlbom, who was supposed to chair the expert group on epidemiology at the IARC (WHO) evaluation of the carcinogenicity of mobile phone radiation, is the cofounder of “Gunnar Ahlbom AB” a Brussels-based lobby firm aiming to assist the telecom industry on EU regulations, public affairs and corporate communications.
In the event, the revelation of this fact by Swedish investigative journalist Mona Nilsson led to Prof. Ahlbom being asked, not to chair the meeting, but to attend as an ‘expert witness’ with no voting rights. He refused…