Friday, May 11, 2007

Crystals and turbines

The following actually comes from Jacinta Faber. (It just happened to be easier to use Paul Faber info to log in.)

After reading the article “Where the wind blows” in Friday’s HDN, it would seem that the good people of Spearville have had nary an ache nor a pain since the turbines went up in their area. The heading of the article could easily have been “The Magical Healing Powers of Turbines.” First we had crystals, now we have turbines. Of course, sensible people would agree that turbines cannot make us healthy, but we do know they can make us sick.

I am happy for Mr. Hill that he is living well with turbines around him. Others have not faired as well. A point we should consider in studying any type of health issue is the idea that there are differences in people’s susceptibility to illness. My Grandma Giebler ate a diet high in animal fat all her life. She lived to 95 years. My Grandpa Giebler ate a similar diet and died of a massive heart attack at the age of 62. Some people smoke for years and do not develop lung cancer and others do. A recently acknowledged risk factor for some undergoing chemotherapy is memory loss. The loose term given to this condition is called “chemo-brain.” Again, some present this symptom: others do not.

“Wind Turbine Syndrome” is a cluster of symptoms which start when local turbines go into operation and resolve when the turbines are off—which they are some of the time depending upon the strength of the wind—or if the person physically removes himself from the area. These symptoms include: headaches, dizziness, unsteadiness, nausea, sleep disturbances due to the sensations of pulsation or pressure, and problems concentrating. Of course not all people develop the symptoms, but some do.

What is disturbing me now, besides the real possibility that my family and neighbors will be exposed to this potential danger, is the lack of interest the HDN is taking in our plight. So far coverage has been heavy on CPV Hays Wind and light on citizen’s concerns. Yes, they publish our letters in which we are allowed to plead our case, but we need more exposure. Ellis County deserves fair and balanced coverage of this very important issue that will affect the entire county. One way HDN could make up for this act of omission is to interview people who are experiencing the negative side effects of having wind turbines close to their homes. There are plenty of examples. The reporting staff may want to contact Wendy Todd, a resident of Mars Hill, Maine, who has suffered enough that she was given time to testify in front the Maine State Legislature. Another way would be to talk with Dr. Nina Pierpont, a physician who has no ties to the oil, gas, coal, or wind industry. Dr. Pierpont has been tireless in her efforts to protect citizens from the real health problems stemming from turbines close to homes. I know she would love to visit.

When it comes to my family’s health who should I believe, Krista Jo Gordon, an electrical engineer and a wind farm sales person, or Nina Pierpont, a graduate from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who also holds a PhD in Population Biology from Princeton University?

If I can not find a crystal, could somebody please hand me a turbine?

Jacinta Faber

To Sign the Petition:
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