5G conspiracy theorists and 'spiritual healers' have been blamed for a report by a Somerset town council which includes claims that the technology could play a role in causing coronavirus outbreaks.
There is no evidence that 5G has anything to do with COVID-19 and experts say its radio waves are not powerful enough to damage the human body.
Full Fact, a fact checking organisation, has outright debunked anti-5G theories, stating "there is no evidence that 5G can harm humans, or their immune systems."
But despite this, a new report published by Glastonbury Town Council includes pages warning people to protect themselves from 5G - by buying expensive USB devices to 'protect home and family'.
An explosive row has erupted between those on the council committee who fear 5G and those who wanted to point out that most evidence shows it is safe.
The civil war follows anti-lockdown and anti-5G protests in Glastonbury in recent weeks, as well as a national backdrop of 5G sceptics burning communication towers.
Looking for today's top stories in one place? Sign up for our newsletter here.
Why did Glastonbury Town Council investigate 5G?
The 5G Advisory Committee, set up by Glastonbury Town Council, saw councillors and volunteers carry out a six-month investigation into the effects and safety of 5G.
5G is the fifth generation of mobile signal network which is currently being rolled out across the country and offers faster speeds and connectivity for users.
The scientific consensus is that 5G technology is no more a risk to human beings than 4G, 3G or 2G.
But despite multiple phone industry figures stating that 5G is safe, there has been have been concerns from a minority that there are yet undetermined harmful effects.
The Glastonbury 5G report - coronavirus and danger claims
Following the report, Glastonbury Town Council said it will continue to oppose the rollout of 5G until further information is available - despite possessing no power to stop any rollout of such technology in the town.
The publication of the report has sparked a civil war, with four members of the group which produced it resigning because it was taken over by anti-5G activists and "spiritual healers".
The report includes the conclusions and recommendations of each committee member.
This means that along with the scientific evidence submitted to the committee, the report also included recommendations to halt the roll out and provide alternative 'defences' against 5G, namely 5G Bioshields and Shugnite.
One non council member of the committee, Roy Procter, concludes: "5G is a danger to the health and wellbeing of all life and is also has potential for very intrusive surveillance and control."
It was also Mr Procter who speculates that there could be a link between the coronavirus and 5G.
He writes in the report: "At the moment, with 10,000 recently installed 5G antennas plastering its city, Wuhan is probably one of the most 5G-electropolluted cities on the planet."
Glastonbury Town Council insists it has not drawn a link between the virus and 5G - and it's true the reports formal recommendations do not mention it.
The formal recommendations made by committee
After a six-month investigation, Glastonbury Town Council adopted the recommendations from the 5G Advisory Committee:
- Write to MPs asking them to establish an inquiry into the safety of 5G;
- Call for UK Government and Public Health England to undertake an independent scientific study into the non-thermal effects of 5G and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity
- Lobbying the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) to take into account the non-thermal effects of radiofrequency EMFs in their Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields
Those who resigned in protest at 'anti-5G lies'
Other members of the committee, like Carol Roberts, a molecular biologist, resigned in protest at the way it was handled.
Derek Cooper, another one of the four who resigned and a former electronics engineer, wrote: "In my review of the anti-5G claims, online, it has become apparent that there are malicious actors online deliberately spreading anti-5G lies and misinformation."
He added: "If the Town Council aligns itself with such groups by declaring a 5G moratorium, it risks considerable reputational damage."
Mark Swann and David Swain also resigned.
Mr Swain told Nub News the report was 'farcical' and rigged in one direction from the the start.
Editor's picks
He said: "The majority of members were either already convinced that 5G was very dangerous or worse, were actually part of a conspiracy theory network preaching that it was the government’s way of controlling the masses and the usual rubbish."
He added: "When you have evidence from some of the world's leading scientists and academics being put on an equal footing with crystal healers and someone's neighbour's cousin who heard something on Facebook, the whole thing begins to look farcical.
"The final report of all of ten pages is a mixture of hearsay and opinion with no firm evidence of anything dangerous and yet the recommendation is still to use the 'precautionary principle' to prevent 5G roll out."
The report has been covered by the national media, with the BBC reporting that one of the members who resigned slammed the committee as a 'pantomime driven by conspiracy theorists and sceptics'.
Claims people can be 'protected' from 5G with USB 'Bioshield' and mineraloids
The report also lists ways in which people can be protected from 5G - something that has been disputed by BBC News' technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones.
One committee member, Toby R Hall, advised people carry a "helpful" 5G Bioshield - a USB stick which claims to "provide protection for your home and family" due to its "wearable holographic nano-layer catalyser."
The device, which reportedly is backed up by "research of several decades in multiple countries", is currently on sale for £283 each while a pack of three is £795.
Mr Hall also recommended that Shungite, a mineraliod believed to have healing qualities, to be used as a "cheap and helpful preventive" to protect people from 5G.
He added that this is widely available in some Glastonbury shops.
Despite Mr Hall's suggestions, Full Fact states "there is no evidence that 5G can damage the immune system."
Public Health England has said that there's no "convincing evidence" that exposure below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation guidelines can cause adverse health effects.
There is therefore no official health advice to take any steps to protect yourself from 5G - let alone spending hundreds of pounds on unproven methods from the internet.
Committee chair claims some members had 'strongly held, predisposition and entrenched, opposing views'
In response to the row about the Glastonbury report, chair of the advisory committee, Jon Cousins said he "reiterated on many occasions" the need for all non-councillor members to adopt an "open mind", listen to all the evidence put forward and discuss the issues raised with impartiality.
He alleged those who resigned from the committee behaved in a rude fashion at times which broke the town council's code of conduct - something those who resigned deny.
He claims some members had "strongly held, predisposition and entrenched, opposing views" on both sides of the 5G debate but added "equal weight was given to all contributions from the non-councillor members of the advisory committee."
Mr Cousins added "no one in our community was demanding this additional research" and was left disappointed by members resigned from the committee.
He said: "Like my fellow council members on the 5G Advisory Committee, I was very disappointed that members of the group resigned before the report was published.
"I agree that it would have been good for more weight to have been given to those supporting 5G and their reasons for doing so.
"However, by resigning from the committee they removed themselves – and their valuable input – from the process.
"My fellow councillors and I would much rather they had all stayed the course and continued to provide a robust argument."
