Background

After teaching for years, I left in 2012 because I felt ill, blaming it on stress and not realizing then that radio-frequencies like wireless were the trigger. I’ve always been politically active, but now am focused on fixing this and creating a more just society.

I want to acknowledge the seriousness of radio-frequency (RF) or non-ionizing radiation sensitivity. I am disabled by RF, but my work reflects the luck of support from loved ones, as well as denying time to others or attention to pain. I am sharing to help create support my work, my reputation as an advocate, and for what I believe needs to happen as far as civil rights and environmental health.

Causes of Interest

Good government, environmental health, ecology, business & tech regulation, local economies, privacy, education, liberty & justice for all.

Education (Primary):

B.A. English Literature, Knox College

B.A. Educational Studies, Knox College

Legal Studies (c. 9 undergraduate post-baccalaureate courses), Elms College

M.A. Reading, American International College

Current Work:

2023 Massachusetts petition initiative, which is a massive signature drive to let voters decide to approve a law through a question on the ballot, and 2023 state legislation. With editing, financial, and legislative support, these can advance. Topics are:

• Privacy Rights – submitted and accepted by state in 2022, need to develop signature drive infrastructure for 2023
• Limiting Non-Ionizing Radiation – submitted in 2022, state feedback requires removal or revision of research component
• Real Conflicts of Interest Reporting – still in writing process, so depends on how this proceeds

Assistance and donations are needed via the petition page at Last Tree Laws.

Unique Legislative Work

As far as I’m aware, I’ve prepared many original, unique legislative bills, the first year idealistic and since then increasingly realistic with respect to politics. From 2015 to 2021, I’ve submitted about 25 non-ionizing radiation bills listed here. Other topics may be found by searching my last name (the first is wrongly spelled) at the MAlegislature.gov website.

Lobbying & Testimony

Some worthwhile bills have not been passed partly because the topic continues to require more understanding, but mainly because our legislature lacks transparency and leadership influenced by industry decides most votes, especially the House, by suppressing public support, cutting legislative funds, and cutting legislative staff to any who rebel at our expense.

Nevertheless, here are some examples of my work on non-ionizing radiation (excluding other topics):

• January 2022, to support pending bills I submitted a guest opinion to the local Hampshire Gazette on neurological harm from wireless and RF. Other articles have also been submitted, some listing other local groups.
• I believe in collaboration and sacrifice when the goals are beneficial to everyone – though today I want to see more quid pro quo and certain results. Still, here a few examples on non-ionizing radiation:
  • Beginning in 2014, I started testifying against the ‘smart’ utility grid alongside others, also preparing some joint testimonies and coordinating signatures. Patricia Burke is one of the rare advocates who has done the same, easing the burden for everyone. The DPU has remained tone deaf, however, so perhaps we should have started work on a lawsuit.
  • When there didn’t seem to be a good PPT or slideshare that clearly, convincingly explained harm, I worked on this for about 3 years, being quite sick then – some of my posts excerpt content such as those on reproduction, oxidation, or tumors. I shared this with other local advocates for their legislators and printed copies for some legislative committees.
  • From 2013 through c. 2017, to enable local organizing, I prepared flyers and allowed other groups to either use them as their own exclusively or listed all state groups, such as an EMR trifold and smart grid one-pager.
• June 2019, I prepared a wireless risks letter, asking for signatures from several experts and local residents – certified copies were sent to several officials and legislators in Massachusetts.
• May 2019, I prepared an ecological harm letter, asking for signatures from several experts and local residents, providing copies to several officials and legislators in Massachusetts.
• January 2020, I worked with Safe Tech International and Physicians for Safe Technology to craft a letter to cajole medical professionals to support safer technology. Perhaps due to excess sensitivity about not being given credit in some instances, I insisted on a large statement of credit for Last Tree Laws.

Organizing & Petition Initiatives (Ballot Question Committees)

I prefer to work in a collaborative group rather than to direct – however, I have started some groups, such as most recently those below.

• 2018 – present: Last Tree Laws was created to fill a gap left by the 2016 closure of the HER Meetup below and the closure of other state websites, to support the people’s ballot, e.g. petition initiative; advance lobbying; legislation; and public awareness on environmental health, democracy, and social justice. Before switching hosts in 2020, the site had many pages with resources and looked beautiful.
• 2019 – Last Tree Laws (Ballot Question Committee) formed to create a committee of respected nonprofit nominees to research and propose technology regulation legislation and lay it before the state legislature . The topic was denied as too broad in scope and because the legislature can disregard the demand to vote on any drafted legislation.
  • Filed pro se to argue for printing question and for certification with an Order for Injunction, Motion for Printing Injunction, Motion for Trial, Complaint, and Pre-Trial Memorandum. The Supreme Court allowed printing, but would not review certification unless enough signatures are gathered, which was not possible without certification. Filing pro se was a learning experience.
• 2015 – Citizens for Safer Radiation Technology (Ballot Question Committee) was formed as a ballot question committee to promote bill to investigate and address wireless dangers. The bill proposed was very idealistic, and far in advance of public awareness or support. Patricia Burke, then of Halt Smart Meters Massachusetts, was co-chair.
• 2013 – c. 2016: Healing Earth Refuge was a Meetup group (see below) to share environmental health information, find a white zone or refuge, and share legislation, lawsuits, health information, science, handouts, and legal info. The site closed because of cost and privacy concerns (alignment with Facebook). At the time there wasn’t another site providing legislative or this type of information, although Halt Smart Meters Massachusetts did provide information on a smart meter bill.

2015 Meetup Pages:

 

 

Legislative Analysis & Research

Sometimes this is not appreciated, but I’m a natural critic, focused on finding solutions more than going along. Examples include:

• Education – Reviewed state standards and found requirements for technology use even in PreK as well as other concerning laws pushing technology in education, alongside conflicts of interest in state leadership, leading to writing of an original screen time limits bill.
• School wifi – Identified that a bill marketed as for wireless ‘best practices‘ required wireless installations, and helped stop this bill.
• 5G promotion – Identified and helped halt a 5G promotion bill (H. 383) that was wrongly sold and widely marketed in 2019 as ‘well-intended’ for economic and regulatory fairness with potential to help prevent 5G (search for ‘383’ on the linked page based on your browser abilities).
• MA wireless investigation bills – Identified that a bill for a wireless investigative commission failed to prevent conflicts of interest and allowed Big Tech domination. Drafted amendments in two different sessions to point to and fix these issues.
• Cell tower ordinances – Initially I reviewed and summarized Massachusetts and a few other state ordinances, but removed them after they were reposted in several locations online and since others with more staff have since created longer lists, summarized information or created ordinance templates. I’ve shared ideas others may have also had, such as requiring registration to pierce the corporate veil (also a 2019 bill); distinguishing between whether an application is for telecommunications or broadband (the latter is not covered by the federal statute and court decisions); requiring bonds to cover health and environmental impacts; and random, ongoing testing requirements.

Teaching, writing, presentations & speaking engagements

I have been complimented on original curriculum and leading interesting classes and presentations. For example:

• For curriculum & education, I’ve posted some informal recommendations below.
• For presentation, Dr. Diane Testa asked me to join her and another to present in Wilbraham, because she saw me present in Amherst and thought I did well. On that note, I’d like to clear the record:
  • Wanting to be helpful, I assisted with writing and sending press releases, but unfortunately arrived late like a ghost walking after a c. 6 hour drive that day to and from Boston. I remain concerned that the audience didn’t realize when I joined that I was invited. I kept trying to hint or say something, but Diane seemed to be unaware of my concern and Cece, who was also present, seemed to start talking as I attempted although she did give me a hug when I discussed my personal concerns. I mention that I was invited so as to correct the record since the audience might not have known. I wanted very much to connect with the 50+ persons in attendance, but wasn’t able to get a copy of the email list for myself despite living nearby and having shared that I wished to connect on an working ordinance draft with the audience — at the time in 2017 there wasn’t an ordinance templates. Cece was very concerned about the privacy of audience members and felt she could not share that list. When I insisted and called over Diane, Cece insisted she could only mention my interest and could not share the list. To address my concerns and Diane’s, she did BCC: a long email with a brief mention, but I never heard from anyone. I prefer to collaborate and share ideas, and was very disappointed not to have made contact with any of the people in that packed room. I hope people in Wilbraham understand that I was invited by Diane.
• Although commended for being engaging, I have a variable stutter which appears or worsens when stressed or in stressful environments and lately I’m frequently stressed from using my time to work hard. I can only give presentations and teach given the right setting, time, and notice to allow time to recuperate.

Informal Recommendations

I received a sweet email in 2022, which I want to remember – I have some fond memories of teaching and some students like this, plus an ego boost is always needed:

‘I remember distinctly liking your class because it wasn’t as rigid as other English classes I had. You had us do this cool project where we had to record ourselves like a radio station. Hahaha. I think I used Nine Inch Nails on mine. It’s a shame you stopped teaching, but I can totally understand the reasons. Good teachers rarely go far when faced with a state mandated test and guidelines. But I’m super glad to hear about your legislative work. I feel like that may be a good fit for someone with your understanding temperament.’

Also, I’m closing an online shop of my teaching materials, but thought I’d include some screenshots of feedback since there were only 10 written responses and my ego loves seeing up votes:

Of 10 votes, most are rated 5.0, excepting a 4.5 for two ratings for an 15+ year-old PPT on African literature and for one rating of Biblical vocabulary, resulting in a 4.8 average.

For the PPT created c. 8 years ago, mentioned above in lobbying sections – a very nice review from Lance McKee:

For religious or biblical vocabulary in The Scarlet Letter:

For a short PPT activity related to genetic engineering:

A graphic organizer for a book v. movie comparison:

For a very old PPT without graphics but lots of text on African literature and traditional oral literature devices:

For MLK, Jr., vocabulary and associated activity:

There are only 10 ratings, so the others are basically the same. That is it! Honestly, this is just an memory ego boost for me, posting these! Someone has to do it, of course, since I’m closing shop.

So, enough ego-boosting, and hopefully it will make people think I’m fantastic and ignore my vanity….