This is different than petitions. This should be individual letter to get attention of people you think might be able to help, especially people you have voted for or trust to do the right thing for you. Examples:
1. President of the USA
2. First Lady
3. State Governor
4. State First Lady
5. Senators & Congress Persons
6. City Council Members
7. School Board
8. Newspapers (always a good one!)
9. Radio stations (good too!)
Letter writing guidelines:
1. Be polite, calm and rational. Be truthful.
2. Ask and request for help, instead of demand action.
3. Clearly outline your situation, your history, your needs, and your request.
Handwritten letters get more attention than typewritten because it shows that you take the effort and the time.
Children's handwritten letters speak even louder! Especially to those higher up in the office.
Sample letter to Governor Schwarzenegger from a child.
Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Date)
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
My name is ___(Your name)___. I am a (student or future student) of Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, California. AT&T wants to build a 65-foot tall cell phone tower by the baseball field and tennis courts of (my or this) school.
I don't want to walk around a cell phone tower on the way to school or worry about whether it will cause health problems for me and my friends. My school should be a safe place for me and my friends, a place for us to learn without having to dwell on adult issues such as money, politics and potential health hazards.
My parents told me my school is powerless, the school district and city government want money from AT&T. It seems without any other interventions, this cell phone tower fake tree will soar above the field and courts. And many more antennas will be added to this tower and many more towers will be built on school campuses.
Please adopt a legislation to halt and remove all cell phone towers or "communication centers" from all the schools.
Respectfully,
(Signature)
(Name)
Sample letter to Governor Schwarzenegger from an adult.
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Date)
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
My name is ___(Your name)___. On behalf of my child, the children in my neighborhood, and the students and future students of Sunnyvale Middle School, I request that you to send a representative from your office to review the process of AT&T's proposal to build a 65-foot cell phone tower on Sunnyvale Middle School grounds.
Sunnyvale Middle School (SMS) is the second home to over 1000 students from age 11 to 14. The students spend over 7 hours every weekday at this school to learn to be a good person, to have a good education and to prepare for a promising future. It has good leadership, good teachers, strong parent groups and responsible and eager to participate children. SMS is also the site for swim clubs, soccer classes and summer camps.
In November 2010, a few residents around SMS were notified of a Neighborhood Outreach meeting to discuss AT&T's cell phone tower proposal. Students were told that a "communication center" would be build on campus but details were deliberately withheld. During the meeting, residents learned that Sunnyvale School District has approved of the proposal and barring any major outcry, this proposal will pass the City Council of Sunnyvale. Emission study for the tower was handed out by AT&T during the meeting. However, we found out in the second Neighborhood Outreach meeting that this emission study handout was incorrect and were given a second emission study for a much more powerful cell phone tower antenna.
I realized that even though California Board of Education discourages cell phone towers to be sited in and near school grounds, it had left the responsibility of approving cell phone towers to individual city and school district. I feel strongly that cell phone towers should not be allowed to be built at schools where many children will gather for long periods of time. My concerns include:
1. While FCC allows construction of cell phone towers practically everywhere because studies have not turned up "conclusive health issues", more researches have turned up non-thermal irreversible health effects.
2. The authorities have been known to make mistakes in the past. A few examples:
a. studies were not conclusive (Thalidomide)
b. studies were not thorough (Lead paint research did not consider airborne factors)
c. studies were not given enough time (Leaded gasoline)
3. Children are especially susceptible to radio frequency emission and any other toxicity because of their size and active cell and neurological developments. Why do we want to gamble with the health of our children, who we hope to live for at least another 60-80 years and who have the right to grow to their fullest potential? Why do we allow them to be the Lab Rats of these cell phone towers just because the school district wants the money for the leased land? Shouldn't we err on the precautionary side where our children are concern?
In this particular case, I also feel that:
1. AT&T and Sunnyvale School District did not clearly notify the parents of SMS and its feeder school of AT&T's intent. The notification process clearly violates FCC's guidelines and good neighbor courtesy policy. The parents of the SMS and its feeder schools were not notified because the students and future students are not considered residents living within 300 feet of the cell phone tower.
2. AT&T had misled the residents with their first emission study handouts.
With all these irregularities and the concerns, I urge you to please send a representative to preside over the process of AT&T's proposal so we will be fairly treated and heard.
Thank you for your respectful consideration.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)
