Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Canadians Protest Wind Turbines

Posted by samzenpus on from the blowing-in-the-wind dept.

NIK282000 writes "Ontario farmers rallied in downtown Toronto to protest the subsidization of wind turbines. Several of the protesters stated that they fear for the the health of their families and that they refuse to live near wind turbines. Others fear that the value of their property will be reduced significantly by the presence of turbines. With the cost of gas and oil on its way up it's a wonder that any one would be against the use of renewable energy sources."

5 of 533 comments (clear)

  1. There's always a downside by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look, there is no such thing as "free" energy. There is always some price to be paid, some tradeoff. If someone out there is selling you on the perfect energy source that is the answer to all out problems with no downsides, they're selling you on something that just doesn't exist.

    It's a question of what tradeoffs you think are better than others. Poll any five people on /. and I'll bet you'll get 7 different opinions as to which source(s) are most practical/safe/efficient/cost-effective. That's not to say this means they're all created equal, just an acknowledgement that none of them are anywhere close to perfect.

    My own opinion is that solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are almost certainly the three cleanest and safest sources we have at present--but current practical considerations also stick them into the "can supplement, but not replace" category when compared to the dirtier and less safe sources (at least for now). I'm not so concerned with birds, fish spawning, and farmers' property values as I am the more industrial-scale waste issues that you get with coal, oil, and nuclear fission. I'm sure someone can also make the case for natural gas, thorium reactors, and fusion too--but we'll see on that. But there's always someone who's going to bitch, no matter what path(s) you take.

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
    1. Re:There's always a downside by Dyinobal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well I for one am a bit baffled at the idea of Wind turbines effecting someones health. Is this one of those crack pot ideas, like being allergic to cellphones and wifi?

    2. Re:There's always a downside by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes. It's similar to the "fan death" urban legend that's big in South Korea.

    3. Re:There's always a downside by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He's a farmer. Not the highest intellect.

      You're an idiot. Farmers are meteorologists, veterinarians, heavy equipment operators, heavy equipment mechanics, small engine mechanics, welders, plumbers, geologists, and a bunch of other stuff all rolled into one.

      I can't even begin to list the things that farmers have to know that you don't have a clue about.

      --
      "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  2. Re:Contradiction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here's a quiz to tell if you're a libertarian or a normal person. Finish this sentence:

    "An ounce of prevention is ___________________":

    a) "worth a pound of cure."
    b) "an unconscionable interference with the free market and an offense against human liberty."