Would you know FUD when you see it?

Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin
December 14, 2011
Letter to the Editor by Robert Knox

Click here for the letter.

On December 2, 2011 you published a colourful and impressionistic letter from Lorrie Gillis of Flesherton (What’s it Like). According to Ms. Gillis, people who find themselves living near wind turbines in rural Ontario are suffering terribly and are forced leave their homes.

Ms. Gillis is a wind opponent. She wants your readers to be afraid of wind turbines, uncertain about them and their impact on people and to doubt the government’s renewable energy policies and its commitment to the well-being of people in rural Ontario.

Ms. Gillis’s is using a standard propaganda tactic, known as FUD, to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt among your readers.

Her letter could be true but its not. It is just a story.

There is no evidence that wind turbines have any serious impact on people’s health. A recent Environmental Review Tribunal came to this conclusion based on a review of current evidence.

There are upwards of 3000 people living within 2 kilometres of Ontario’s 700 to 800 operating wind turbines without any problem. The same is true for thousands in other countries.

The fact is there is no scientific, medical, or technical evidence to support Ms. Gillis’s story.

Your readers should not believe me any more than they should accept Ms. Gillis letter at face value.

They should make their own judgement based on the reality of the wind turbines that are producing renewable energy for us now with positive impacts on the communities where they are located.