Voices from the Thedford Bog (Part 2): Wind factories “destroying the fabric of our communities, a huge public safety problem”
I see a lot of people waking up to just how destructive this is to their communities and livelihood, and they’re starting to connect the dots between companies and the government and the way that we were hoodwinked into this, basically.
Protesters gathered at Thedford Bog near Grand Bend, Lake Huron, on Sunday, April 6, 2014, to decry plans to build a phalanx of industrial wind turbines in what is a designated Important Bird Area, and where every March some 10-15,000 tundra swans stop to rest and feed before continuing on their migration to the western Arctic.
Social worker Patti Kellar joined the protest and talked about the enormous social ills inflicted on the people and communities that have had industrial wind turbines forced upon them:
It’s horrendous! Communities are divided, families are divided, people aren’t speaking to one another. It’s – in terms of property and inheritance and the destruction of farmland – the complete and utter split.
Just days later, the Ontario Liberal government approved a new wind factory in nearby Lambton Shores – 92 industrial wind turbines to be added to the thousands already blighting the eastern edge of Lake Huron. More pending projects, including the one planned around the Thedford Bog, are sure to receive approval, given that the Green Energy Act, and the regulations and exemptions that go with it, are stacked heavily in favour of the wind proponents.
Tremendous social cost, unrest – really, really destroying the fabric of our community … in rural Ontario the very fabric of our communities is being destroyed. It’s quite sad.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO PLAY VIDEO
And the people who are struggling so hard to bring awareness to everyone are being targeted and bullied and threatened, and legal action is being taken against them, and it’s just heartbreaking. And they keep fighting on, we just keep going.
I see effects on everybody – friendships, family, people who have businesses in the area who have opinions but are afraid to voice them, are afraid to be boycotted. People may want more information and not feel comfortable getting it.
There’s a huge public safety problem here and we really feel strongly that, in the bigger picture, there needs to be an infrastructure in place where the police and authorities have done due diligence and have a template in place to help people deal with this sort of thing, because we are not the only community with this amount of unrest. It’s happening all over Southwestern Ontario and it’s almost criminal in nature, I’m feeling.
Voices from the Thedford Bog: Wind turbines are “a social experiment, a mess, a failure”
Protesters joined the remaining migrating tundra swans at the Thedford Bog near Grand Bend, Lake Huron, on Sunday, April 6, 2014, to condemn plans to build a bristling barrier of industrial wind turbines in what is a designated Important Bird Area. Every March some 10-15,000 tundra swans stop at the Thedford Bog and environs to rest and feed before continuing on their migration to the western Arctic.
Waterfowl scientist Dr. Scott Petrie told CBC News in 2012:
By putting the turbines in inappropriate places, it actually is tantamount to habitat loss. You wouldn’t put an office tower next to a coastal wetland, why would you put a wind turbine there?
Monte McNaughton, Progressive Conservative Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario (MPP) for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, reminded the protesters that his party’s leader, Tim Hudak, has promised, if elected, to repeal the Green Energy Act, the draconian legislation that has given unprecedented rights to industrial wind turbines over people, communities and wildlife. The Green Energy Act was enacted in 2009 in part as a response to the fake planetary emergency of man-made global warming/climate change.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO PLAY VIDEO (some wind noise)
The Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne Liberal governments have allowed the Ontario landscape to be despoiled and blighted by thousands of useless industrial wind turbines. The machines, towering as high as 50-storey buildings, built on a foundation that requires 800 tons of concrete each that will remain in the ground of prime farmland forever, have been erected in the absence of any cost-benefit analysis or human health studies, and accorded special rights by the Liberal government with its elimination of environmental restrictions inconvenient to wind companies.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has promised to build thousands more of the extortionate-to-taxpayers, destructive, un-green industrial monstrosities.
Industrial wind turbines and human health: Whitewash for the white coats
“Don’t tell me about the science” – Wind Turbines and Human Health: An Emotional Topic
You already knew from the cavalier seminar title where this presentation was going to be heading. However, in his introduction, the presenter promised a balanced discussion on the issue of wind turbines and human health so that health care practitioners and academics could have informed dialogue. Mmmm. Really?
The seminar/webinar was hosted in Toronto by Public Health Ontario on March 20, 2014, and was given by Loren Knopper Ph.D., an environmental health scientist and co-lead of Intrinsik Environmental Science’s Renewable Energy Health Team, with stated expertise in industrial wind turbines and human health.
Knopper failed to offer a disclaimer that “a number” of his clients are wind developers (unless he stated it when the webinar’s sound failed for two brief periods). This information came to light in the question period following his presentation. It’s a very important point because the wind industry denies, despite some good evidence, that industrial wind turbines can cause adverse health effects. Obviously, one would not want any inconvenient truths alienating clients with deep, government-guaranteed, subsidy-enhanced pockets.
Knopper started out by asserting that, “Generally, public attitude favours the idea of wind energy.” It was interesting that this Ph.D. scientist who insisted heavily on research rigour in his critique of the research studies later on, was in this instance not presenting any empirical evidence to support his statement. Instead, he showed a slide of a silly HSBC ad depicting splayed banana skins stood upright to look like wind turbines with the tagline: “In the future, there will be no difference between waste and energy.” The same slide had a photo of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency window with a small picture of wind turbines in it, meant to support his claim that there is general public acceptance of wind energy. Of course, neither of these organizations’ displays reflect public attitude, but rather self-interested propaganda for what is actually a green energy disaster. But never mind. Knopper did admit that his version of public favour does not mean local acceptance of wind projects. No surprise there.
Scientific merit depends on the objectivity and scientific rigour of the beholder
Knopper’s seminar was essentially a look at the issue of industrial wind turbines and human health, an overview of the scientific literature on the subject, and his conclusions of the weight of evidence based on studies he deemed to have scientific merit.
In judging any scientific study, it’s imperative to go to the original work and evaluate the soundness of the methodology and analysis the researchers used. In his presentation, Knopper did not hesitate to allege statistical and other deficiencies that he thought negated the results of key studies that have concluded that industrial wind turbine operations do cause adverse health effects. He also emphasized that “many” of these studies were published in one journal, The Bulletin of Science Technology & Society, and stated more than once that their authors were on the advisory board of the Society for Wind Vigilance, an obvious attempt to imply that these facts tainted their work.
As we have already mentioned, Knopper failed to disclose his close business association with wind developers until he was asked the question after the presentation, and he certainly did not mention it when he talked about his own published research. And in fact, some people in the audience noted that in at least one case, the research he himself conducted in collaboration with his colleagues had serious problems of its own (Projected contributions of future wind farm development to community noise and annoyance levels in Ontario, Canada). Critics in the audience took exception to the fact the data Knopper used were derived from computer models that came from wind turbine developers’ asessments of noise for proposed or approved projects, not data from actually operating wind turbines. He also had to admit that he could not “speak exactly to what the developers and their consultants have been measuring or modelling” (with respect to which type of decibel). His knowledgeable audience critics questioned why he was showing them this study if he could not identify, consider or control for an important variable in the data he analyzed.
So while Knopper seemed keen to allege deficiencies in studies showing that there are health problems associated with the operations of wind turbines, he avoided any such analysis of studies that come to the opposite conclusion. Amongst others, he mentioned an often-cited study from New Zealand purporting to show that psychological expectations explain health complaints due to wind turbines. In fact, the flawed study merely confirms that there is such a thing as suggestibility and says nothing credible about wind turbine health problems per se. But wind proponents and their supporters love to refer to it as support for the notion that adverse health effects relating to wind turbines are not real, just in people’s suggestible-prone heads.
Weight of scientific evidence is heavily biased
Knopper concluded, not surprisingly, that “based on the findings and scientific merit” (his emphasis) of the available studies, the weight of the evidence indicates that wind turbines are not connected to adverse health effects, when sited properly. But do we even know what “sited properly” means? (Not that these useless and destructive industrial monsters should be sited anywhere.) In Ontario, the 550 metre set-back for industrial wind turbines is an arbitrary standard drawn out of thin air. No government health study was conducted to come up with this measure.
Knopper went on to support his conclusion with reference to government statements to the same effect, that is, governments that had or have a vested interest in removing all conceivable obstacles to the implementation of their misguided green energy programs. He also cited legal proceedings such as 19 Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) hearings, and an Ontario Divisional Court appeal. What he failed to mention is that in those arenas, the rules ensure that the odds are stacked against being able to prove that industrial wind turbines cause adverse health effects. Under the unfair stipulations of Ontario’s Green Energy Act and the ERT, appellants have to achieve the impossible feat of proving that there will be serious health effects from a project that has not yet been built. He also did not mention that some wind companies have violated the mandatory setbacks, and when they do in Ontario, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Health reportedly do next to nothing to enforce the standard, such as it is. What effect does that have on people’s safety?
Indeed, don’t tell me about the (biased, compromised) science!
Bitter, cold (Part 3): Lives at risk, fiscal finagling, wind turbine torture
People spoke from the heart in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park on a bitterly cold February 24 at the demonstration against the massive proliferation of useless industrial wind factories in the countryside. In the videos below, speakers decried the lack of protection for people and wildlife, and lambasted the government for its “green” energy-driven fiscal fiasco. A victim of industrial wind turbines told her story of shocking personal loss and the government’s complete indifference to her plight.
In the video below, Lorrie Gillis, chair of the Ontario Regional Wind Turbine Working Group, threw out challenges to the people of Toronto and to Ontario’s political parties:
So far government and courts have provided no protection for people wildlife or wildlife habitat. Instead of holding itself or the wind industry accountable for mismanagement and misinformation, Liberals simply rewrite the rules, claim to be unable to monitor compliance, deny the harm to families … continue to approve more turbines.
Toronto: keep waking up about what this Liberal provincial government is really about. NDP: you will see the results at election time if you continue to prop up this corrupt Liberal government. Until you NDPers acknowledge the harm being done to people and the economy by industrial wind turbines, you are no different than the LIberals! PCs: we need you not only to put a moratorium on future wind turbine projects but to address families who have already been harmed by existing projects and problems to come for those who are about to face wind installations … People’s lives are at stake!
CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO (some wind noise)
In the video below, Parker Gallant, retired banker, energy critic, described the government’s toxic math and resultant tax grabs as reflected in people’s electricity bills:
Last year the cost of electricity went up by 16%, and that’s without all these new wind turbine projects coming up, so you can expect your electricity bill to keep going sky high.
Residents of Ontario have been conserving consistently since we’ve been asked to when the Liberals came to power. What that has done is forced the distribution companies to say “Hey, we’re losing revenue because people are conserving their electricity, so we need a rate increase.” So delivery rates continue to go up even though you conserve! It’s a weird, weird way to run the province!
CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO (some wind noise)
In the video below, Norma Schmidt, registered nurse, industrial wind turbine victim spoke of the destruction of her way of life when she found herself engulfed on all sides by an Enbridge industrial wind factory:
I remember phoning Enbridge after I had many official complaints placed with the Ministry of the Environment and I asked them what they were going to do about all the [health] issues I was having, and they responded and I quote: “Absolutely nothing. We have a license from the government and we are going to continue to do what we have always done.” And they have indeed continued to torture me for over five years, and forced me to leave my home, my career, and the life I chose.
To our government, both federal and provincial, I say: shame, shame, shame! They have seen multiple peer-reviewed and published and unpublished research that states what we have been saying for years: industrial wind turbines cause harm to human health. And still they ignore the truth! The Ministry of the Environment willfully opposes anyone trying to protect themselves. When will this madness stop?
It is important to be here to educate the people of Toronto, to give them the facts and the truth. We have been here before and thrown out of the Legislature for speaking truth to lies. This Premier refused to meet with me when we were only a few feet apart. I wonder why? We will keep coming back again and again, until we get results.
Bitter, cold: anti-Wynne/wind turbine protest at Queen’s Park
Hundreds of people from rural Ontario piled into buses to Toronto, and on a freezing and windy February 24, gathered in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park, and then at the Royal York Hotel, to protest against the Liberal’s Green Energy Act and to condemn Premier Kathleen Wynne’s continued cold-hearted proliferation of destructive, extremely harmful and utterly useless industrial wind turbines in the Ontario landscape. The monster machines have made life a special kind of hell for the people living in their midst, and represent a horrendous, possibly corrupt economic, environmental and fiscal Liberal boondoggle.
Urbanites should scroll down and take a good look at the faces of these brave people whose communities are being turned into industrial wind factories, and whose health, livelihood, quality of life, community harmony, wildlife, environment, and property values are being systematically destroyed.
Meanwhile, electricity costs are going through the roof and will continue to climb every time a useless, giant wind turbine, with its 20-year guarantee of above-market returns for the (often foreign) owners is erected. Everyone in Ontario except the wind turbine owners and their government enablers loses.
How much longer are we in Ontario going to tolerate this absolutely insane, toxic and corrupt situation?
Above: In front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park. A sign reads: “Ontario paid Americans to take $120 million worth of our electricity in December while Toronto froze” (when the heat and lights shut off during the huge ice storm).
Above: At Queen’s Park protesters braved freezing temperature and icy wind chill.
Above: At Queen’s Park protesters heard stories of personal tragedy, politicians’ promises, and news giving hope that the destructive tide of fake-green alternative energy scams such as wind power may be turning. Rural residents have been trying to make their voices and complaints heard for years, but the government has responded with silence, brush-offs, platitudes, and even more undemocratic regulations favouring wind companies. Urbanites must make an effort to research and become aware of the tragedy taking place in their backyard and join the demand for a moratorium on new wind projects and a halt to the costly and useless operations currently underway.
Above: At Queen’s Park a variety of speakers addressed the crowd. A report on what they said and promised to come in a future post.
Above: Following the speeches, the protesters marched from Queen’s Park ten blocks down University Avenue to demonstrate in front of the Royal York Hotel. They were kept safe from traffic by police mounted on bicycles.
Above: On the march down to the Royal York Hotel, protesters handed out leaflets to Toronto passersby. This one refers to the fact that each industrial wind turbine requires 800 tons of concrete for its base. Green, eh? Three turbines are planned to be built over an aquifer that supplies water to Walkerton, with its horrific, lethal, contaminated water tragedy of 2000 still fresh in the community’s memory. Protesters said that the government does not require that the concrete, which apparently contains heavy metals and toxic chemicals, be removed when the turbines are decommissioned.
Above: Arrival at the Royal York Hotel where a meeting of politicians, NGOs and Premier Wynne was reportedly taking place.
Above: Protesters bear witness in front of the Royal York Hotel.
Above: Edvard Munch’s The Scream effectively conveys the existential horror that rural Ontarions must endure under the relentless, implacable, seemingly unstoppable industrialization of the countryside.
Above: Landowners could simply have said “NO” to wind operators, but communities that declare themselves “Unwilling Hosts” carry no weight under the draconian, undemocratic dictates of the Green Energy Act which gives industrial wind turbines unprecedented rights.
Above: Industrial wind turbines despoil the natural beauty of the Ontario landscape, in addition to all the other evils the monster machines represent. This signs sums up what it means for tourism.
Above: A study, entitled ‘Wind Turbine Noise, Sleep Quality, and Symptoms of Inner Ear Problems’, funded by the University of Waterloo and the Ontario Ministry of Environment found statistically significant results for sleep, vertigo and tinnitus: “All relationships were found to be positive and statistically significant.” The Ontario Ministry of the Health and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health do not seem to be overly troubled by this report. No health studies were done before industrial wind turbines began to infest rural Ontario.
Above: A call to action.
Continue to Part 2 for text and video of speakers.
Wind power blowback
Why is Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne persisting with the heedless and cruel deployment of monstrous industrial wind factories when, by now, people who’ve done their homework know that wind turbines are economically and environmentally ruinous, cause untold health and property misery, destroy avian life, and despoil the Ontario landscape? What kind of government wilfully continues to inflict a billion dollar failure, an utterly destructive faux-green energy scheme, on its people? Urban dwellers, and anyone else not living within sight of industrial wind turbines, should take the time to inform themselves. They will realize this colossal wind turbine fraud already appears to dwarf former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s gas plant debacle in scope, cost, and human and environmental tragedy. Its architect, meanwhile, will closet himself in a Harvard ivory tower while his successor fiddles, even as rural Ontario burns with pain and outrage. How much longer are we willing to tolerate this?
FAUXGREEN 
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