There was quite a bit of debate in the local media on the usage of mobile phones by students in schools. This debate naturally followed the ban imposed by the Minister for Education Filipe Bole.
Merits and demerits of such a ban by various individuals did not take into account the adverse health effects. Those against the ban were mostly concerned with the safety of their children who could contact their parents and vice versa in cases of dire need.
There was also much hype about the installation of mobile phone towers in residential areas that sparked controversy over its adverse ill effects. A mobile company brought in an overseas expert to dispel any doubts or fears of detrimental health effects. With adequate knowledge and experience in radiation, electromagnetic fields or radiation, etc, I supported the company, that the towers posed no adverse ill effects whatsoever.
On the contrary mobile phone towers are much neater structures than the electric power-lines criss crossing roads, streets and buildings that are not only dangerous but look ugly and are an eye sore.
High voltage electric power lines had created controversy as it emits electromagnetic radiation or fields. Is it dangerous to health? No, but these ugly, criss crossing high voltage broken wires have caused many deaths from electrocution in the past.
A good number of vehicles have directly hit the power poles and wrapped around it causing death and destruction. The ideal solution is to have all high voltage power lines underground.
Within most of our homes is a micro oven. When this was first marketed there was also a scare of its possible ill effects. There was obviously no truth.
Several scientific researchers or studies in Europe and one in Australia recently indicated that mobile phones may be implicated in brain tumours as a result of electromagnetic fields or radiation.
Such reports like the ones on micro-ovens, are largely ignored due to the benefits, rather than the risks.
More scientific research in years to come may give further insight to its safety or otherwise.
With rapid development of technology, mobile phones started as a very innovative and useful tool.
Over a period of time it has become an indispensable part of human life and at the same time a serious moral issue has emerged among students and adults. Mobile phones can be likened to tobacco smoking which grew in popularity in the 1950s and became an acceptable social habit, first by men and later women. It took almost a decade before the serious ill effects started to emerge and we all know the serious and fatal health consequences.
It was not until the 1970s that doctors and researchers realised that the passive smoker (inhaling other's smoke including side stream) was also in danger of its dangerous ill effects and because of this reason, smoking in public places is almost completely banned in most countries.
Similarly people now frown upon those who keep their mobiles switched on at meetings, religious services, movie theatres, concert halls, funeral gatherings, etc.
The mobile phone now holds a threat to peaceful dignified human life. It has turned out to be a nuisance, a danger and like smoking, an addiction. Unethical and unbridled indulgence in its use causes uneasiness, headache and stress to the passive listener.
Some like to flaunt gadgets in public and talk in a jarringly loud voice and obtrusive manner without due respect and sensibilities of others.
Mobile phones are more abused than used especially amongst children. Recent research studies indicate that teenagers who use their mobile phones excessively are more prone to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress and fatigue. Mobile phone technology has changed our way of life and societal changes demands adaptation organisation and development of new rules and regulations governing the use of cell phones.
We need to invent rules for the polite way to use new devices.
It's really just common courtesy that we adopt sensible rules and regulations but people tend to forget too easily. This can be overcome though by putting up stickers or posters at all strategic areas and public places, just like NO SMOKING signs.
Mobile phone companies and outlets should issue simple instructions when selling phones about sensible and proper phone etiquette that can be stuck to the back of the phone perhaps, just as we see the health warnings on cigarette packets.
- Dr Ram Raju is the medical director for Diagnostic and Specialitist Medical Centre in Nadi.
- These are his exclusive views and are published in this newspaper on that sole understanding.
