Pollution in our homes

In the photo, Mathieu Gallant (geosopher) measures the pollution at Jacynthe's, what a shock!

I'm one of those whose head heats up after a few minutes on my cell phone, one of those whose Wi-Fi prevents them from concentrating, unable to gather my thoughts next to a router as if I'd just drunk 10 coffees.

There is a lot of literature on the subject, the pros and cons, European versus American studies, standards that vary from one country to another, often drastically, but for me it is not simply a question of theory, of discourse, of science and even less of esotericism: it is physical, felt, undeniably there, in my body and my head. For several years now I have wanted to measure the pollution in our home, the intensity of electromagnetic fields, radio frequencies, microwaves, electric fields, in short everything that has the potential to make us vibrate badly and that comes with this so useful and enveloping technology. Today we tick: another thing done.

Upon returning from a trip to the Bas du Saint-Laurent region in early September, in a small wooden chalet virtually disconnected from any electrical or technological civilization, I made up my mind: we return home and suddenly the insomnia starts again, suddenly everyone's sleep is restless... There's something wrong within our walls. An analysis of the values ​​of all the fields and radiations mentioned above - by a professional whose contact details I won't mention because advertising is not the subject of my post - allowed us to see that we are sleeping nothing more nor less in the heart of an electric coil, as if we had knowingly placed our beds in the middle of an electric circuit that runs in the walls, and that radio waves and microwaves are reaching us from all around and with force. A wiring problem perhaps, an antenna (the antennas are broadcast for dozens of kilometers around, so who knows where it comes from exactly), the result remains: the house vibrates, and particularly in our bedrooms.

We have been offered corrective solutions, we will opt for graphite paint (which will eliminate radio wave pollution and electrical pollution), and while waiting to be able to carry out the corrective work, we have initiated a new ritual: turning off the electricity (heating and regular electricity) at bedtime, for the night. We have found a countryside silence in the city, a peaceful sleep and I must say, a little "feeling" of yesteryear with a cold house when we wake up. We heat during the day and close at night in our rooms. The children are getting used to turning off the lights when they leave a room, we turn off the voltage bars when we are not using the power, unplug unused electrical appliances, keep all devices in airplane mode with a few connections to check messages and emails periodically. It is a demanding exercise, and we regularly relapse. But it is a good learning experience and the awareness of waste goes hand in hand with that of our wealth. A simple way to feel smart.

And then, honestly, I'm tired of this idea that if it's not done perfectly, it's not worth doing. What's the point of recycling if everything isn't ultimately done by the municipalities? What's the point of saving money if big companies waste? Where does this "all or nothing" come from? I don't want to endorse my laziness by finding someone lazier than me in the landscape, and I don't want to shirk my responsibilities by finding someone worse than me. Because by this same logic, I can always find better... And then the reasoning no longer holds. In any case, I don't manage others, I manage myself, so what's the point. We've firmly ingrained this idea that we can waste, as if the question came down to individual ability to pay. My financial capacity doesn't give me the right to waste or pollute. Because in any case, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to pay the "bill". The bill is too often elsewhere on the planet, in these indirect, social and ecological costs, whose direct path we do not trace. So I simply say that every action counts, that when we can do it, we must do it... And I deeply believe in it, we are changing the world.

By depolluting our home, we became aware of electricity in our homes and our irresponsible use of it (among other realizations). Of course, technology is fantastic and necessary. But that doesn't stop us from thinking about how we use it and its impact on our environment and our health. And naturally, it's often difficult to get the facts straight on the subject. I tend to believe that I live in a country that may not be very neutral in the debate. As they say: it's hard to be against bacon when you raise pigs.