Persuasive Speech: Monroe's Motivate Sequence

Summary

This script addresses the potential health risks associated with cell phone usage, highlighting evidence suggesting long-term use can lead to tissue damage, tumors, and brain cancer. It emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure to cell phone radiation, particularly through not holding the phone directly against the head during calls. The speaker encourages the use of earbuds or speakerphone to mitigate risks, advocating for a simple change in usage habits to protect health.

Takeaways

• 📱 The script discusses the ubiquitous presence of cell phones in our daily lives and their constant usage.
• ⚠️ It raises concerns about the potential health hazards of cell phones, including tissue damage, tumors, and brain cancer, due to long-term exposure to radiation.
• 🌍 The scale of the potential problem is highlighted by the fact that over four billion people worldwide use cell phones.
• 📚 The author references 'Disconnect' by Deborah Davis, which suggests we might be witnessing a slow-motion epidemic due to cell phone radiation.
• 🧬 The script points out that the danger lies not in the intensity of radiation from a single use but in the cumulative exposure from repeated use over time.
• 🔍 A study by the World Health Organization is mentioned, which found that long-term cell phone users doubled their risk of developing brain tumors.
• 📚 'Zapped' by Ann Gittleman is cited as a resource that documents various health issues attributed to cell phone radiation.
• 📖 The script advises against keeping cell phones close to the body, as recommended by manufacturers in their user manuals.
• 🔉 The most effective way to reduce risk, as suggested by experts, is to avoid holding the phone directly against the head while using it.
• 🎧 The speaker recommends using earbuds or speakerphone as alternatives to holding the phone to the ear to minimize radiation exposure.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised about cell phone usage in the script?

The main concern raised is that long-term use of cell phones can lead to tissue damage, tumors, and even brain cancer due to the radiation they emit.

According to the script, what is the potential magnitude of the problem if cell phones are indeed hazardous?

Given that over four billion people worldwide use cell phones, the problem could be of potentially staggering magnitude, hinting at a global health epidemic.

Who is Deborah Davis and what is her view on cell phone radiation?

Deborah Davis is an epidemiologist and author of the book 'Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation'. She suggests that we may be witnessing an epidemic in slow motion due to the long-term effects of cell phone radiation.

What does the script suggest as a simple change in cell phone usage to protect health?

The script suggests not pressing the cell phone directly against the head while using it, to reduce exposure to radiation.

How does the script compare the radiation emitted by cell phones to that of X-ray machines?

The script mentions that the radiation emitted by cell phones is minuscule compared to X-ray machines, being about 1/1 billionth of the intensity.

What does Ronald Herbermann from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute say about cell phone radiation?

Ronald Herbermann explains that the problem with cell phone radiation is not the amount emitted at a single time but the cumulative exposure from repeated use over time.

What did the World Health Organization's study find regarding long-term cell phone use?

The study tracked 10,000 cell phone users over 10 years and found that subjects who used a cell phone for 10 or more years doubled the risk of developing brain tumors.

What is the advice given by cell phone manufacturers regarding keeping the phone close to the body?

Cell phone manufacturers, including Apple and BlackBerry, warn against keeping the phone right next to the body and recommend keeping it at least half an inch to an inch away.

What alternatives to holding the phone against the head are suggested in the script?

The script suggests using earbuds or the speakerphone function as alternatives to reduce direct exposure to the head.

Who is Alan Marks and what is his experience with cell phone usage?

Alan Marks is a 58-year-old real estate developer who used a cell phone for an hour a day for 23 years and later found a golf ball-sized tumor in his brain, which he attributes to his cell phone use.

What is the script's final call to action regarding cell phone usage?

The script encourages the habit of keeping the cell phone away from the ear when talking and promoting this practice among friends and family to avoid potential health risks.

Outlines

00:00

📱 The Ubiquity and Risks of Cell Phones

This paragraph discusses the omnipresence of cell phones in our daily lives, highlighting their constant use in various settings. It raises concerns about the potential health hazards associated with long-term cell phone usage, including tissue damage, tumors, and brain cancer. The paragraph cites a class survey indicating that everyone in the room owns a cell phone and uses it frequently. It references a CBS news report and a book by epidemiologist Deborah Davis, suggesting that we might be witnessing a slow-motion epidemic due to cell phone radiation. The speaker aims to persuade the audience to change their cell phone usage habits to protect their health, without abandoning the technology altogether. The paragraph concludes with a call to action to consider the health risks and make a simple change in usage.

05:00

🛡️ Minimizing Cell Phone Radiation Risks

The second paragraph focuses on strategies to mitigate the risks associated with cell phone radiation. It emphasizes that the key to reducing risk is to avoid holding the phone directly against the head during calls. The paragraph suggests maintaining a distance of at least half an inch to an inch from the ear when using the phone and recommends using earbuds or speakerphone as alternatives. It shares the story of Alan Marks, who developed a brain tumor after 23 years of daily cell phone use, and his regret for not using protective measures. The paragraph concludes with a strong recommendation to adopt safer cell phone usage habits, such as not holding the phone to the head, and to encourage others to do the same, starting with the next phone call.

Keywords

💡Cell phone

A cell phone, also known as a mobile phone, is a portable electronic device that allows users to make and receive calls, send text messages, and access the internet. In the context of the video, cell phones are portrayed as constant companions that are potentially hazardous to health due to their radiation emissions. The video emphasizes the ubiquity of cell phones and the need for awareness about their long-term use.

💡Radiation

Radiation refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles. In the video, it is discussed as a potential health risk associated with cell phone usage. The script mentions that cell phones emit small amounts of radiation that, over time and with repeated use, could lead to tissue damage and other health issues.

💡Tissue damage

Tissue damage implies harm or injury to the body's tissues, which can be caused by various factors, including radiation. The video script suggests that long-term exposure to cell phone radiation may result in tissue damage, which is a serious health concern that needs to be addressed.

💡Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths of cells that can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The video discusses the possibility of cell phone radiation leading to the development of tumors, particularly brain tumors, after long-term use.

💡Brain cancer

Brain cancer refers to malignant growths that start in the brain. The video script cites evidence suggesting a link between long-term cell phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer, highlighting the severity of the potential health risks.

💡Epidemic

An epidemic is the widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time. In the video, the term is used metaphorically to describe the potential large-scale health issues that could arise from the widespread use of cell phones, if the risks associated with radiation are not mitigated.

💡Disconnect

Disconnect refers to the act of breaking a connection or link. In the video, it is mentioned in relation to the book 'Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation' by Deborah Davis, which is a source that provides information on the potential dangers of cell phone radiation.

💡Speakerphone

A speakerphone is a device that allows a phone conversation to be heard through a loudspeaker rather than a handset. The video suggests using a speakerphone as a safer alternative to holding the cell phone directly against the ear, thereby reducing exposure to radiation.

💡Earbuds

Earbuds are small, portable headphones that fit directly into the ear canal. The video recommends using earbuds as a way to minimize direct exposure to cell phone radiation, by keeping the phone away from the head during calls.

💡Precautionary measures

Precautionary measures are actions taken to prevent potential harm or danger. The video emphasizes the importance of taking such measures when using cell phones, such as using earbuds or speakerphone, to reduce the risk of health issues associated with radiation exposure.

💡Manufacturers' warnings

Manufacturers' warnings refer to the cautionary advice provided by the makers of a product regarding its use. The video script mentions that cell phone manufacturers include warnings in their manuals about keeping the phone away from the body, indicating an acknowledgment of potential hazards.

Highlights

Cell phones are a constant companion used in various settings throughout the day.

Long-term cell phone use is linked to tissue damage, tumors, and brain cancer.

Over four billion people worldwide use cell phones, indicating a widespread potential health issue.

Deborah Davis, an epidemiologist, suggests we may be witnessing a slow-motion epidemic.

Research indicates that cell phones emit radiation that can damage tissue over time.

The danger of cell phone radiation lies in repeated exposure, not single instances.

A WHO study found that 10+ years of cell phone use doubles the risk of brain tumors.

A 2007 study in the journal of occupational and environmental medicine found increased risk for brain tumors with long-term use.

Alan Marks, a real estate developer, developed a brain tumor after 23 years of daily cell phone use.

Ann Gittleman's book 'Zapped' documents health problems caused by cell phone radiation.

Cell phone manufacturers warn against keeping phones close to the body in their manuals.

The most effective way to reduce risk is to avoid pressing the phone against your head.

Using earbuds or speakerphone can help minimize radiation exposure.

Changing cell phone usage habits can prevent potential health issues.

Encouraging others to keep cell phones away from the ear can help avoid a slow-motion epidemic.

Transcripts

[Music]

it's your constant companion

it's in your pocket in your bag in your

hands or against your head

you use it at home in class at the gym

before you go to sleep at night and

first thing when you wake up in the

morning

i'm talking of course about your cell

phone

according to my class survey everyone in

this room has a cell phone

and all of us use it dozens of times

every day

but what if your constant companion is

dangerous

what if it's hazardous to your health

evidence is piling up that long-term use

of cell phones

can lead to tissue damage tumors and

even brain cancer

given that there are well over four

billion people worldwide using cell

phones

we're looking at a problem of

potentially staggering magnitude

according to deborah davis

epidemiologist and author of the 2010

book

disconnect the truth about cell phone

radiation

we may be watching an epidemic in slow

motion

i've never thought much about the

possible perils of cell phones

before i saw a cbs news report on the

subject earlier this year

but doing extensive research for this

speech made me realize that cell phones

do in fact pose a danger to our health

now don't worry i'm not going to try to

persuade you to abandon your constant

companion

i still use mine on a regular basis and

i probably always will

but i do hope to persuade you to make

one simple change in the way you use

your cell phone

a change that will protect your health

and could even make the difference

between a long life and premature death

but first let's look more closely at the

health risks

posed by cell phones

those risks stem from the fact that cell

phones emit small amounts of radiation

that over time can damage tissue every

time you use your cell phone

you expose yourself to that radiation

the amount is minuscule in comparison to

that given off by x-ray machines

about 1 1 billionth of the intensity

however ronald herbermann

of the university of pittsburgh cancer

institute explains that the problem with

cell phone radiation is not

how much is emitted at a single time but

how much we are exposed to with repeated

use

day after day year after year

it's this long-term use of cell phones

that has led researchers to warn about

their danger

in one study for example the world

health organization tracked

10 000 cell phone users over the course

of 10 years

as reported in the new york times on

november 13 2010

the data in this study indicated that

subjects who used a cell phone 10 or

more years

doubled the risk of developing brain

tumors

other studies have reached the same

conclusion perhaps most important is a

2007 study in the journal of

occupational and environmental medicine

that surveyed all the previous research

on cell phone use

it found a consistent pattern of

increased risk

for developing brain tumors among people

who used cell phones for more than 10

years

alan marks is one of those people a 58

year old real estate developer and

father of three

he talked on a cell phone an hour a day

for 23 years two years ago

doctors found a golf ball-sized tumor in

his brain

there's no question what caused it he

says

it was my cell phone and alan marks

isn't the only person to conclude that

he's sick because of his cell phone

ann gittleman's 2010 book zapped which

deals at length with the health problems

of cell phones

catalogs people who developed blinding

headaches

dizziness circulatory problems

nausea and cancer from the kind of

radiation

emitted by cell phones still not

convinced about the potential dangers

posed by your constant companion

take a look then inside the thick manual

that comes with your phone

you'll see that all cell phone

manufacturers warn against keeping the

phone right next to your body

apple for example recommends keeping the

iphone 5

8 of an inch away from your body makers

of the blackberry recommend that you

keep their phone

a full inch away cell phone

manufacturers

don't publicize this information widely

but they clearly recognize that their

products are potentially hazardous

so what's the solution as i said earlier

it's not to stop using cell phones

altogether

i still use mine on a regular basis and

i can't imagine being without it and i'm

sure you can't imagine being without

yours

you can however take seriously the risks

of cell phones and find a way to

minimize those risks

time and again experts point out that

the single most effective way to reduce

the risk

is not to press your cell phone against

your head while using it

since the phone emits radiation the

closer you put it to your head

the more radiation you expose yourself

to at the very least

you should hold the phone one half an

inch to one full inch away from your ear

but ideally you should get in the habit

of not putting it up to your head

at all i now use my earbuds almost

every time i use my phone another option

is to use your speakerphone

as with breaking any habit changing the

way you talk on your cell phone may be

slightly inconvenient at first but will

soon become second nature

you'll be able to enjoy all the benefits

of your constant companion

without suffering the fate of alan marks

if marx had known the dangers of

prolonged cell phone use

he would have done things a lot

differently i wouldn't have held it to

my head he says

i would have used the headset i would

have used the speakerphone

and i would not have had the problems i

had

so please get in the habit of keeping

your cell phone away from your ear when

talking

and encourage your friends and family to

do the same

start today with your next phone call

and continue

every day in the future we can avoid the

slow motion epidemic that doctors and

scientists are warning us about

as long as we remember to keep this away

from this

[Music]

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