From Digby Courier, Jeanne Whitehead
Accusations fly at wind roundtable
Developer pledges to improve communication with community
by Jeanne Whitehead/Digby Courier
View all articles from Jeanne Whitehead/Digby Courier
Article online since March 30th 2009, 15:34
Fred Ross acknowledged he and his brother Allan, invited the wind developers to consider a project on Digby Neck, “and I’m proud of it,” he said. Jeanne Whitehead photo View all pictures Accusations fly at wind roundtable
Developer pledges to improve communication with community
Evelyn Hayden has already lost a lot of sleep over the Digby Neck Wind Farm—and she expects to lose some more. Hayden, whose home is just 600 metres from the proposed location of one of the 20 turbines that will be built this year, was the first speaker at a March 24 roundtable that focused on the wind park.
The meeting, attended by 40 people, was hosted by the Municipality of Digby at the request of a number of Digby Neck residents.
Hayden set the tone for the evening: “This meeting means council will finally listen to our side of the wind park fiasco.”
Warden Jim Thurber, deputy warden Jimmy MacAlpine and councilors Linda Gregory and Maritza Adams were on hand to listen, as was Dave Patterson, project manager with Scotian Windfield.
Coun. Randall Amero, a financial investor in wind energy, chose not to attend because of conflict of interest.
Hayden described how every night she now lies in bed listening to the “cah-strum, cah-strum, cah-strum” of a nearby meteorological tower, a device that was put in place to monitor the speed and constancy of the wind.
She anticipates that construction of wind turbines will result in her suffering from ‘wind turbine syndrome’ since she already suffers from vertigo.
“Council is obviously not concerned about local people,” said Hayden. “They could have prevented the issuing of a building permit.”
Rossway resident Anna Fabigan asked if the municipality has looked at the possibility of compensating local residents who become sick as a consequence of the wind farm, or whose land is devalued because of the development.
Warden Thurber replied that council has not considered the possibility of compensation, and said information gathered as the municipality drafts a wind turbine bylaw indicates property values do not suffer when wind parks are created nearby.
Realtor Todd Hall disputed Thurber’s statement. “If you had the choice of buying a property with a wind turbine nearby, or an identical property without a wind turbine nearby, which would you buy?”
Hayden described the wind farm proponents as “so secretive they remind me of the mafia.”
That sentiment was echoed by Daniel Mills, who said the municipality and the developers had colluded to keep local residents in the dark.
Warden Thurber told Mills that he was mistaken, and that Thurber had one meeting with Scotian Windfields in 2007 when representatives of the company told him they would be submitting a proposal to Nova Scotia Power. He did not hear from them again until the announcement last May that the bid was successful.
Debbie VanTassel of Gulliver’s Cove said she fears for her flock of emus because they are highly sensitive birds that react adversely to noise.
She also fears for the life of her husband, Davey, who suffers epileptic seizures. VanTassel said she has information from a doctor who contends wind turbines can cause seizures.
Patterson replied that it is possible to adjust the light that passes through turbines. “The light through trees is more likely to trigger seizures than the light through wind turbines,” he said.
Judith Peach challenged the integrity of the wind farm developers. “You’ve applied for a building permit even though you’re not ready for construction. You’ve got time to wait for the bylaw but you chose to undercut the municipal process. Why did you do that? When are you going to start to work with the community?”
Patterson replied that his presence at the meeting was an indication of the company’s willingness to work with the community.
Digby Wind Farm will host another public meeting and is in the process of building a website that will have regular updates to keep the community informed of developments and timelines.
Norah Peach asked if it was the policy of council to support green energy.
“Personally, I support green energy—tidal, wind, solar,” said Thurber, “but I can’t speak for the entire council. And I have to say, if all of these turbines were to be placed on the coast, then you would be complaining about them destroying the natural beauty of the horizon.”
Cathy Barr asked if there was anything that could be built on Digby Neck that would be acceptable to the majority of the people at the discussion. “I have children who will be moving away because there is nothing for them here.”
Fred Ross, the man who proudly acknowledged that he was instrumental in bringing the wind farm developers to the area, introduced himself by saying that he had lived all his life in the municipality and the past 42 years at Seawall.
“You people didn’t want the quarry. People here didn’t want the water plant. And where did Michelin go?”
Ross had one more question for his neighbours: “Just when will it be time to say ‘Yes’?”
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
CO2, Earth Hour from Tom
A Reminder about Earth Hour!
CO2
"50% of the CO2 emissions are absorbed by the oceans and acidification of the
sea is a big concern. Please look at this BBC site and find out what is
happening toour food security and our oceans.
Begin forwarded message:s: ;;Undisclosed.recipients:@gs.dal.caSubject: The
other CO2 problem
"At the climate change meeting in Copenhagen this week, the increasing
effect of CO2 on the world's oceans was discussed. The MSM ((mainstream media))
has been
annoyingly silent on this -- the following is from the BBC:
'Coral lab' offers acidity insight
By Roger Harrabin
Environment analyst, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7936137.stm
CO2
"50% of the CO2 emissions are absorbed by the oceans and acidification of the
sea is a big concern. Please look at this BBC site and find out what is
happening toour food security and our oceans.
Begin forwarded message:s: ;;Undisclosed.recipients:@gs.dal.caSubject: The
other CO2 problem
"At the climate change meeting in Copenhagen this week, the increasing
effect of CO2 on the world's oceans was discussed. The MSM ((mainstream media))
has been
annoyingly silent on this -- the following is from the BBC:
'Coral lab' offers acidity insight
By Roger Harrabin
Environment analyst, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7936137.stm
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Irish Blessing- from Tom
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying
to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby
bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and
struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have
been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings.
An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father
of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving
off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the
family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son
will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a
man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from
St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known
throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of
Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken
with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby
bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and
struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have
been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings.
An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father
of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving
off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the
family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son
will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a
man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from
St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known
throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of
Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken
with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
Earth Hour Tom's Post
From: Live Earth
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Subject: Turn off the lights March 28 for Earth Hour!
To: Tom Haynes-Paton
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Subject: Turn off the lights March 28 for Earth Hour!
To: Tom Haynes-Paton
Labels:
Earth Hour,
Live Earth
Earth Hour
Earth Hour
The World Wide Lights Out Event for a Greener Planet
To Participate:
Turn your lights off for one hour at 8:30pm. March 28.
The World Wide Lights Out Event for a Greener Planet
To Participate:
Turn your lights off for one hour at 8:30pm. March 28.
Labels:
earth,
environment,
green
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Water Security/JD Irving Lands
From Tom:
An Added Thought: Water Security Issue? I wonder if this foreign sale of a third of Digby County is a threat to our sovereign Canadian water rights, i.e. whether a foreign buyer might attempt to bulk export the water from his newly "purchased" lakes and river watersheds....
Tom
An Added Thought: Water Security Issue? I wonder if this foreign sale of a third of Digby County is a threat to our sovereign Canadian water rights, i.e. whether a foreign buyer might attempt to bulk export the water from his newly "purchased" lakes and river watersheds....
Tom
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tom's Post on J.D. Irving Lands
An Added Thought: Water Security Issue? I wonder if this foreign sale of a
third of Digby County is a threat to our sovereign Canadian water rights, i.e.
whether a foreign buyer might attempt to bulk export the water from his newly
"purchased" lakes and river watersheds....
Tom
EM Atlantic Canada Network
From: deleted
To: deleted
Subject: Fw: RE; Crisis in Our Woodland
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:24:26 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: Bernadette MacDonald
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: RE; Crisis in Our Woodland
Hi:
There is a new crisis in our woodlands and waterways that threatens our
long-term economy and health here in South West Nova.
J.D. Irving is
selling 170,000 acres of timberlands and lakes in Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne
Counties through an American real estate broker. Bidding closes April 2,
2009.
This is a vast amount of land. Basically one third of Digby County
is up on the auction block. It includes the watersheds of the Bear River,
Sissiboo River, Tusket River, Silver River, and Carleton River. It includes over
250 km of lake frontage on 69 undeveloped lakes.
Allowing this huge swath
of wilderness to fall into private, foreign ownership will be devastating for
us, and even more so for our children and future generations.
This has
all happened very quickly and there is too much information to put into an
email, but you can find out much more by going to www.buybacknovascotia.ca
I'm
sure you'll all share in the shock and outrage that this has been allowed to
happen.
A coalition of groups and organizations are working together to
keep these lands. It's called BUY BACK NOVA SCOTIA.
We
are four things from you:.
1) Take a few minutes to look at the
website to get a sense of what's going on. www.buybacknovascotia.ca
2)
If you belong to an association/ group add your name to the list of
supporters on the Buy Back Nova Scotia website.
3) Attend the rally on Sunday, March 8th, at 2:00 at the Community Collage
Burridge Campus - Yarmouth (and bring as many folks as you can with
you).
4) Send this message to others and tell all the other groups,
organizations, friends, churches etc. that you're a part of. Forward the website
to them www.buybacknovascotia.ca
so they can become informed and get involved.
4) Phone, fax or email our
local MLA, Richard Hurlburt
Richard Hurlburt, MLA for Yarmouth 742-8120
Chris d'Entremont, MLA for
Argyle 648-2020
Premier Rodney MacDonald 1-800-267-1993 or
424-6600
Thanks for taking the time to do this. We have so little
time to pressure government into not forcing us to loose so much of our
heritage. This is our one chance. Hopefully by working quickly and working
together we can prevent this tragedy from happening.
Bernadette
Bernadette MacDonald
Tri County Women's
Centre
238 Main Street, Yarmouth, N.S. B5A 1C9
742-0085 1-
877-742-0085
Fax - 742- 6068
bernadette@tricountywomenscentre.org
www.tricountywomenscentre.org
third of Digby County is a threat to our sovereign Canadian water rights, i.e.
whether a foreign buyer might attempt to bulk export the water from his newly
"purchased" lakes and river watersheds....
Tom
EM Atlantic Canada Network
From: deleted
To: deleted
Subject: Fw: RE; Crisis in Our Woodland
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:24:26 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: Bernadette MacDonald
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: RE; Crisis in Our Woodland
Hi:
There is a new crisis in our woodlands and waterways that threatens our
long-term economy and health here in South West Nova.
J.D. Irving is
selling 170,000 acres of timberlands and lakes in Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne
Counties through an American real estate broker. Bidding closes April 2,
2009.
This is a vast amount of land. Basically one third of Digby County
is up on the auction block. It includes the watersheds of the Bear River,
Sissiboo River, Tusket River, Silver River, and Carleton River. It includes over
250 km of lake frontage on 69 undeveloped lakes.
Allowing this huge swath
of wilderness to fall into private, foreign ownership will be devastating for
us, and even more so for our children and future generations.
This has
all happened very quickly and there is too much information to put into an
email, but you can find out much more by going to www.buybacknovascotia.ca
I'm
sure you'll all share in the shock and outrage that this has been allowed to
happen.
A coalition of groups and organizations are working together to
keep these lands. It's called BUY BACK NOVA SCOTIA.
We
are four things from you:.
1) Take a few minutes to look at the
website to get a sense of what's going on. www.buybacknovascotia.ca
2)
If you belong to an association/ group add your name to the list of
supporters on the Buy Back Nova Scotia website.
3) Attend the rally on Sunday, March 8th, at 2:00 at the Community Collage
Burridge Campus - Yarmouth (and bring as many folks as you can with
you).
4) Send this message to others and tell all the other groups,
organizations, friends, churches etc. that you're a part of. Forward the website
to them www.buybacknovascotia.ca
so they can become informed and get involved.
4) Phone, fax or email our
local MLA, Richard Hurlburt
Richard Hurlburt, MLA for Yarmouth 742-8120
Chris d'Entremont, MLA for
Argyle 648-2020
Premier Rodney MacDonald 1-800-267-1993 or
424-6600
Thanks for taking the time to do this. We have so little
time to pressure government into not forcing us to loose so much of our
heritage. This is our one chance. Hopefully by working quickly and working
together we can prevent this tragedy from happening.
Bernadette
Bernadette MacDonald
Tri County Women's
Centre
238 Main Street, Yarmouth, N.S. B5A 1C9
742-0085 1-
877-742-0085
Fax - 742- 6068
bernadette@tricountywomenscentre.org
www.tricountywomenscentre.org
The Irving Lands/Buy Back Nova Scotia
Buy Back Nova Scotia
Global
Basic Info
Type: Organizations - Community Organizations
Description: Buy Back Nova Scotia is a coalition of diverse individuals and groups that have come together to save 170,000 acres of Irving lands that are up for sale. We are foresters, fishermen, hunters and hikers, conservationists and ATVers, bicyclists and birders, canoeists, campers, cross country skiers, photographers and writers. We’re putting aside our sometime different interests to work together to urge our municipal and provincial politicians to purchase the JD Irving lands before more of the province disappears behind “No Trespassing” signs and locked gates.
Contact Info
Email:
Website: http://www.buybacknovascotia.ca
Location: Yarmouth, NS
map.jpg
PUBLIC RALLY
Sunday March 8, at 2 p.m., at NSCC Burridge Campus, Yarmouth, NS.
CALL TO ACTION
Read the material on this site; send it far and wide
Sign the electronic petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/buybacknovascotia/
Attend the rally on March 8 (information above)
Join Buy Back Nova Scotia Facebook Group
Encourage every group, organization and agency you know of to sign on as supporters - send name of organization, contact person, phone and web site to: michelle@creativetides.ca
Call, fax or email your MLA. Letter.doc supporting the BUY BACK NOVA SCOTIA initiative
Richard Hurlburt, MLA for Yarmouth 742-8120 snsmrmin@gov.ns.ca
Chris d'Entremont, MLA for Argyle 648-2020 christopher.dentremont@gov.ns.ca
Premier Rodney MacDonald 1-800-267-1993 or 424-6600 premier@gov.ns.ca
Carolyn Bolivar Getson, Minister, Department of Natural Resources 530-0001
bolivargetson@eastlink.ca
Global
Basic Info
Type: Organizations - Community Organizations
Description: Buy Back Nova Scotia is a coalition of diverse individuals and groups that have come together to save 170,000 acres of Irving lands that are up for sale. We are foresters, fishermen, hunters and hikers, conservationists and ATVers, bicyclists and birders, canoeists, campers, cross country skiers, photographers and writers. We’re putting aside our sometime different interests to work together to urge our municipal and provincial politicians to purchase the JD Irving lands before more of the province disappears behind “No Trespassing” signs and locked gates.
Contact Info
Email:
Website: http://www.buybacknovascotia.ca
Location: Yarmouth, NS
map.jpg
PUBLIC RALLY
Sunday March 8, at 2 p.m., at NSCC Burridge Campus, Yarmouth, NS.
CALL TO ACTION
Read the material on this site; send it far and wide
Sign the electronic petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/buybacknovascotia/
Attend the rally on March 8 (information above)
Join Buy Back Nova Scotia Facebook Group
Encourage every group, organization and agency you know of to sign on as supporters - send name of organization, contact person, phone and web site to: michelle@creativetides.ca
Call, fax or email your MLA. Letter.doc supporting the BUY BACK NOVA SCOTIA initiative
Richard Hurlburt, MLA for Yarmouth 742-8120 snsmrmin@gov.ns.ca
Chris d'Entremont, MLA for Argyle 648-2020 christopher.dentremont@gov.ns.ca
Premier Rodney MacDonald 1-800-267-1993 or 424-6600 premier@gov.ns.ca
Carolyn Bolivar Getson, Minister, Department of Natural Resources 530-0001
bolivargetson@eastlink.ca
Labels:
J.D. Irving,
land preservation,
Nova Scotia
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