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Four charities working for people with light sensitivity conditions have formed the umbrella group SPECTRUM (www.spectrumalliance.org.uk) to co-ordinate approaches to Government on low energy light bulbs. SPECTRUM brings together LUPUS UK, the XP Support Group, Electrosensitivity UK and the Skin Care Campaign. Many health conditions, including SLE, can result in severe reactions to low energy bulbs (CFLs) because these bulbs are fluorescent rather than incandescent. SPECTRUM has written to David Miliband, Secretary of State for the Environment to express deep concern about potential moves by the Government and EU to force universal use of CFLs. (These were trailed in the Energy Review published in July 2006.) DEFRA have responded to SPECTRUM's joint letter and (we/representatives) are due to have a telephone conference with DEFRA officials shortly. If you are concerned about this important issue, you may wish to write to your MP, MEP or to David Miliband. Our thanks to Eclipse member Ruth Calder for this article. Ruth was responsible for initiating and carrying forward the SPECTRUM campaign which has involved considerable fact finding and correspondence. This is to the benefit of all light sensitivity groups and we look forward to further developments. NB. DEFRA have enquired what numbers are involved in our groups. If you suffer from light sensitivity, please ask for your name to be added to the Eclipse members' list as this does not follow automatically upon membership of LUPUS UK. Access to WorkThe Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) concerning access to employment has been more strictly enforced in recent months. Information about help for the disabled can be obtained from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in the following ways: Post: DRC Helpline, Freepost MID 02164, This advice is given on the website: However there are light sensitive folk who venture out tentatively and might consider employment if the premises were suitably adapted. (Interviews for jobs have to be done either telephonically or in your own home if the employer's premises are not suitable for your disability.) These prospective applicants should feel emboldened by the DRC to insist on reasonable measures being taken to enable them to work. It would be refreshing to see light sensitive persons claiming equal rights alongside others with disabilities. Clear guidance on procedures can be found on the DRC. Service Providers not taking Light Sensitivity into account: A draft Letter of ComplaintA draft letter can be obtained from www.drc-gb.org or from LUPUS UK. This provides a framework for the complaint with the disabled person merely filling in their personal circumstances. There is an obligation for the service provider to reply within 14 days or the disabled person has the right to take further action under the Disability Discrimination Act. Physical features - Dear ................. Re: Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (You may want to include a couple of brief lines explaining any inconvenience, distress or discomfort which you experienced as a result of being unable to access the premises). As I am sure you are aware, the Disability Discrimination Act says that where a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of any service which is offered to the public, a service provider must take reasonable steps to:
Please could you tell me what steps you have already taken to meet this legal duty? When do you expect this work to start and be completed? If no such work has been carried out or is planned, please could you explain the reasons why? Please could you also explain any other steps you intend to take so that disabled customers like myself can have access to your services on the same basis as non-disabled people? I look forward to receiving your reply within 14 days. If I do not receive a reply within 14 days I reserve the right to take action under the Disability Discrimination Act. Insert your name here. UPDATEWe are indebted to Eclipse member Ruth Calder for persevering conscientiously with the Spectrum Campaign which is working to retain incandescent lighting. The Spectrum Campaign represents the concerns of a number of support groups for conditions affected by light sensitivity and electro-sensitivity. This is a matter of considerable urgency as Australia has already laid claim to being the first country to ban incandescent bulbs in favour of energy efficient fluorescent lighting. This change will be effected by 2009 as according to environment minister Malcolm Turnbull: 'By that stage you simply won't be able to buy incandescent light bulbs, because they won't meet the energy standard.' The EU States have agreed that by 2020 they will have cut 1990 levels of carbon emissions by 20%. The measures could include a ban on incandescent light bulbs by 2010, forcing people to switch to fluorescent bulbs. In correspondence with the Energy Saving Trust, Ruth has pointed out that people with severe light sensitivity already lead restricted lives and have a smaller carbon footprint; as for example, many cannot use aeroplanes. But apart from the affected minority, the numbers who may be affected in the longer term by being surrounded by fluorescent lighting day in and day out may be much larger. In correspondence about modern forms of lighting in hospitals, the NHS Disability Branch has told us that up to 20% of the population have some degree of heightened sensitivity to light. Recently a consultant at St John's Photobiology Department told me they are seeing considerably more cases of sensitivity to light and computers. So a wholesale switch to energy efficient lighting may exact a long-term price on the health of the majority as well. If your life is seriously affected by light and you need to take precautionary measures to live safely, please make sure your name is on our database of Eclipse members. You are not automatically a member of the Eclipse Support Group because you are a member of LUPUS UK - this has to be requested. You do not have to be an active Eclipse member (i.e. on the Contact List) but it is very necessary to become a member in order to be counted as DEFRA is interested in the numbers affected. Plans for High-Efficiency Incandescent Lights The initial target is for the new bulbs to be twice as efficient as current incandescent lights but ultimately they are expected to be four times as efficient and comparable to CFL bulbs. In the first instance these new lights would replace the traditional 40 - to 100 - watt household incandescent light bulbs, but the new technology could be expanded to all other incandescent types. These new lights are targeted for the market by 2010 and if they materialize will provide all the desirable benefits including light quality and instant-on convenience at a price less than CFLs. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) - Helpful or Harmful? In terms of the light spectrum, LEDs are available according to exact colour specifications measured in nanometres, and in this respect it would be possible to design a light that is comfortable for use. Safe LEDs would probably need to produce a yellowish tone such as incandescent lighting and avoid blue. (The combination of wavelengths in incandescent lighting is weighted towards the red end of the spectrum whereas in fluorescents, halogens and energy saving bulbs the combination of wavelengths is weighted towards the blue.) However it is unlikely that LEDs currently available have our very specialised requirements in mind. Again we will need to bring our concerns into the public sphere to get suitable provision. I have a LED lamp which produced an intolerably harsh white light; but I have covered the entire surface of light emission with an amber film (blocking out blue) and this has made the light produced much more comfortable. See also LEDs under 'A Guide to Artificial Lighting'. |
Banning of Incandescent Bulbs
These last few months I have been working closely with Brenda Ryder (Eclipse) and Ruth Calder (Spectrum) on this subject, writing letters and sending emails to MPs, Ministers, captains of industry etc. As you know fluorescent tubes and low energy bulbs emit UV rays which can cause problems for people suffering from Light Sensitivity. At present there is no alternative type of light on the market which is safe and energy efficient. Lighting manufactures are working on the problem but no one knows if they will find the answer by 2011. Medication can take up to 15 years from conception to the market because of all the trials they have to go through. How long will any alternative bulbs be on trial? Greenpeace have come up with the idea that incandescent bulbs could be obtained on prescription. Don't they know that prescriptions cost over £6 per item? Australia is supposed to change before us and Greenpeace says we should learn from their mistakes. This could be too late. The bottom line is that if no alternative is found Light Sensitive sufferers will be living in homes with no lighting nor will they be able to visit friends or relations. Today you can go into most public places and they will have either fluorescent tubes or low energy bulbs. One of my members living in the North West visited a large superstore, tried some clothes on and came out with a rash. Surely if no alternative is found sufferers should be able to sue somebody under the Disability Discrimination Act because I am sure it is classed as a disability. For example all buildings now have to have access for people in wheelchairs, no offence to people in wheelchairs as I know how difficult it is because my wife used a wheelchair. The government admits there is a problem but will not come up with any ideas, so far, of how it can be overcome. I have suggested that sufferers are exempt but have had no reply to date. Shops that sell incandescent bulbs are now running down their stocks. Some have already stopped selling them. It is not unusual for some organisations to be giving away these low energy bulbs, such as British Gas. I have written to them but to date have received no reply. Cigarettes carry a health warning on packaging so why not on the packaging of fluorescent tubes and low energy bulbs. If any member comes across a newspaper article concerning lighting and how it is affecting people could you please send a copy to me at 5 Gainsborough Walk, Yew Tree Estate, Denton, Manchester M34 6NS so that I can start a scrapbook. Also I would like members who suffer with light sensitivity to let me know in a few words how they are affected and how they are coping, so that I can start a book of quotes that might help our case. If members would like to print the above leaflet to help raise awareness of this issue, this can be downloaded below. David Price, Chair, Lancashire & Cheshire Download the leaflet (pdf - 100kb) |
THE SPECTRUM CAMPAIGN - a lot done ... and a long way to go.Eclipse members remain indebted to Ruth Calder and her assistant for their careful and conscientious work in co-ordinating this campaign. The EDM 1316 to oppose the ban on incandescent lighting was supported by 56 signatories and we are grateful to those members who lobbied their MPs. Our venture has been strengthened by the tireless efforts of David Price, Chairperson of the Lancashire and Cheshire Lupus Group. He has written innumerable letters to people who should know about light sensitivity and he raised the issue at the National Council Meeting of LUPUS UK in September. Thank you, David, we can't keep up with you! My MP approached the Dept of Health about our concerns. As a result I received a letter to inform me that while they are trying to phase out inefficient light bulbs both in the UK and the EU, this is only proposed where energy efficient alternatives exist, and halogens and LEDs will be freely available. As we know these are not safe alternatives so communications are ongoing. We have received e-mails from fellow campaigners in Australia, Belgium and Denmark, sharing concerns about the proposed phasing out of incandescent lighting. Our Australian contact has undertaken considerable research and correspondence and has at last gained the assurance that incandescent lighting will not be removed unless there is a genuinely safe alternative and she has been invited to participate in the consultation process. However this stakeholder (as we are called) cautions of the need to see intention backed up by action before we can relax our efforts. Closer to home, the EU preparatory study into domestic lighting is being carried out and this will inform the making of EU regulations so it is vitally important to voice your concerns as soon as possible. The address follows after this article. The prospect of energy efficient lighting has raised concerns in people living in a wide range of countries and with a wide range of conditions. I received an unexpected communication from someone representing people with Asperger's Syndrome as they find light sensitivity can be a severe problem. Recently I received a letter from a photosensitive lupus patient who had the fluorescent lights in her office changed. She was surprised when several other people expressed their gratitude as they were getting headaches under the fluorescents. David Price alerted me to an article in the Telegraph in which researchers claim that children are increasingly being put at risk by headaches because of the amount of fluorescent light in schools. The adverse effects of energy efficient lighting may be more widespread than we realise at this stage. If exemptions for incandescent lights are granted on medical grounds, we need to consider how these will be obtained. Commercial production of incandescent bulbs may not be profitable. A spokesperson for Greenpeace has suggested to David Price that the best way might be through doctors' prescriptions. Yes, it will be a relief to know safe lights will be available for our homes. But it does fall far short of the provision that other disabled groups can claim as a right. Countless concrete disabled ramps, extra and bigger lifts for wheelchairs do cost something in terms of environmental impact. Of course we don't begrudge wheelchair users the right to move about in society. Yet we are having to struggle merely to be confined to our own 'safe' houses. Should we be satisfied with this? I think not. In environmental terms, a visit to the local library, recreation centre, church or pub with safe lighting is a modest activity compared with the massive carbon footprint made by unrestrained 4x4 drivers, jet-setters, meat-eaters and hot-tub enthusiasts. EU Consultation on Domestic Lighting Please register your concerns with: Casper Kofod This is our chance to influence what lighting we have in the near future. Don't leave it to others to do - they may be leaving it to you! |
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