Schools In Japan To Ban Cell Phones
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan 
on 12.18.08
(Image from kirainet.com)
Kids in Japan love their cell phones, but not everyone is happy about the way they are used. Five years ago, a prestigious university in Japan failed 26 students for receiving exam answers on their cell phones. Now, frequent bullying and other issues linked to social networking Web sites accessible by cell phones have stirred up a big debate here. Students will be prohibited from using cell phones at the majority of public primary, middle and high schools in from the next school year, under a plan announced by Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto. In Saitama prefecture just north of Tokyo, 96 percent of public middle schools do not allow students to use cell phones while at school. A cell phone free environment could also reduce the risks noted by Swedish researcher Lennart Hardell, who found a five-fold increase in brain cancer rates among children and teenagers who use cell phones.
News-Medical.Net: Research shows mobile phones raise children's risk of brain cancer by five times
(Photo from dvice.com)
Kids have been the target of a lot of advertising by cell phone companies, and the industry has tried to argue that phones with GPS can help kids that get lost or are in trouble. Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto doesn't buy that: "There's no need for students to have mobile phones at school...It's only natural that the more dependent they become on cell phones, the less they study."
Earlier this year, the European Parliament voted by 522 to 16 to urge ministers across Europe to bring in stricter limits for exposure to radiation from mobile and cordless phones, Wi-fi and other devices, partly because children are especially vulnerable to them, according to Reuters.
Dr. Hardell's study is the largest on cell phone use. He notes that children under 12 should not use mobiles except in emergencies and that teenagers should use hands-free devices or headsets and concentrate on texting. At 20 the danger diminishes because then the brain is fully developed.
The Swedish research was presented at an international conference on mobile phones and health and represents an analysis of data from one of the biggest studies carried out into the risk that the radiation causes cancer. The researchers scrutinised the data from 18 studies from the USA, Denmark, Finland, Sweden (5), the UK, Germany and Japan.
Read more about cell phones (aka cellphones, mobile phones):
WiMax on the Brain: Is "WiFi on Steroids" Safe?
A University without Wifi
Dr. Laura Jana on Cellphones for Kids
Listening to Cellphone Warnings
Written by Martin Frid at greenz.jp (who somehow managed to get by without a cell phone until he was well over 20 years old)
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It’s about time that schools do something about cell phones in Japan. I don’t know what a 9 year old really needs a mobile phone for any how, who do they really have to call or talk to? Or on that fact what do they have to talk about ……. “ Hey did you get the latest Pokeman”
I'm truly surprised to hear that Kennooo. Kids have plenty to talk about. Bad news is that it can wait while are in school.
It's harder to keep our children away from mobile phones than cigarettes but we must take on-board the possibility that mobiles could be more damaging to them...
It is really 100 % true that there is no need for students to have mobile phones at school it's natural that the more dependent they become on cell phones, the less they study.
Good. Nobody (in my opinion) should be using cell phones, given the inherent health risks. But (except in the case of absolute emergency) a child or a teenager should NEVER use a wireless device. The size and thickness of their skull acts as a perfect resonant cavity for the radiation, absorbing even more than an adult.
These things aren't good for anyone, however young people's systems are still developing, and radiation for them is a real risk. I worry about the current generation of youth - they don't know a world without all this radiation in it, their minds have likely been bombarded from day one, and the risks are not limited to cancer.
Never mind how sickening the way that mobile providers prey on young people as a market share. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wireless connectivity on the fly is a great impediment to developing effective, face to face communication, and consider its (literally) addictive potential - the signals have been found to trigger a pleasure center in the brain, much like an opioid.
I see teenagers today (I'm twenty six) with their eyes glued permanently to their tiny little screens as they walk. I see them fumble for their phones as they cross the street, then immediately pull them out at bus stops and text message.
I also listen to them talk. I won't claim that I was the most eloquent, articulate speaker at fifteen (and I still have a ways to go), but I am appalled when I hear most youngsters speak. They sound as if their brains aren't functioning, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case - I believe that their chronic wireless use is a contributing factor in their apparent dumbing down.
And what in God's name do they need to be on phones so much for, anyway? (I ask that about most people who use them - most conversations I hear go something like this: "...yeah, I'm in the store. What kind of fish did you say to get?", or, "oh my God, shut up, did he really say that?! Oh my God...", or, "uh huh...yup...uh uh...okay...what?...uh huh...", or, "and I said, of course you look good in that...ha ha, yeah right!..."
Seriously - are people suddenly so important that they have to yack every inane detail of their lives to one another, anywhere, anytime?
Applause for Japan's move. As for adults who give their kids (especially young ones) near free reign on a cellphone/wireless whatever - they need major education on what they're doing to their sons and daughters. If they knew, I mean REALLY knew, and were willing to understand the risks they are placing their kids at, they would think differently.
@ R.ticle One
most conversations I hear go something like this: "...yeah, I'm in the store. What kind of fish did you say to get?
What' the hell is so airheady about asking what kind of fish you were supposed to purchase? Complete moot point.