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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-12-17, Page 5letter to the editor Wednesday, December 17, 2014 • News Record 5 www.clintonnewsrecord.com Readers think contradictions and bias undermine credibility of Health Canada Wind Turbine Noise Study To the editor, AN OPEN LETTER TO The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Min- ister of Health The Multi -municipal Wind Turbine Working Group is comprised of elected municipal councillors and appointed citizens from parts of Southern Ontario where approximately 30% of industrial wind turbines are concentrated. Over the past several years we have received a growing number of delegations from constituents whose health has been adversely affected by proximity to the wind turbines. It is not easy to listen to people who continue to suffer from ringing and pressure in the ears, pound- ing vibrations in the head and chest, nausea, dizziness and the ongoing ina- bility to sleep. Their stories are espe- cially disturbing because we know these people; we know they are not lying; and it is our responsibility under the Munic- ipal Act to protect their health. We are dismayed that the recently released Health Canada Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study has ignored the distress of real people by hiding behind meaningless "estimated" noise projec- tions and predictive modeling rather than first making professional clinical observations based on the histories of actual sufferers. Investigation of anec- dotal evidence is the foundation of all medicine. The Health Canada study summary contains no reference to the growing body of research that contra- dicts the main theme of the summary. Our Grey -Bruce Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hazel Lynn has found 18 peer-reviewed studies that "provide rea- sonable evidence ... that an association exists between wind turbines and dis- tress in humans': The Brown County (Wisconsin) Board of Health has declared its wind turbines a "public health nuisance" and a "human health hazard for all people ... who are exposed to Infrasound/Low Frequency Noise and other emissions potentially harmful to human health': Key findings contradict summary of results The key findings have been released without data for verification and with- out peer review. Epidemiologists have pointed out that the study lacks scien- tific credibility. Gaps, biases and errors in methodology make it unreliable. For example, only 1234 out of the 2004 dwellings selected responded to the survey compromising its validity. Only 20% of the homes studied were "near" turbines. And yet homes up to 10 kilo- metres away were included, diluting the results from the homes near the tur- bines. And the serious issues of low fre- quency noise, cyclical sound and ampli- tude modulation were simply overlooked. At the same time, the study contra- dicts itself. It found that wind turbine noise is "statistically related to several self-reported health effects including blood pressure, migraines, tinnitus, dizziness, and disturbed sleep': And yet the key findings which have been widely publicized claim that "no evidence was found to support a link between exposure to wind turbine noise and any of the self-reported ill- nesses': Does Health Canada no longer advocate the precautionary principle which calls for rigorous cau- tion when the safety of any group is even remotely threatened, acknowl- edging that lack of full scientific cer- tainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to protect them? It is our belief that that the prema- ture marketing of the key findings has been a disservice to the people of Canada, an insult to those who con- tinue to suffer the averse effects of the turbines, and has resulted in loss of respect and credibility for Health Can- ada. We await your explanation as to how Health Canada came to its con- clusion that there are no health prob- lems when obviously there are. Mark Davis, Chair, Multi -municipal Wind Turbine Working Group Deputy Mayor, Arran-Elderslie EARLY FILES December 18, 1968 Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology that serves Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington coun- ties from its Doon campus in Kitch- ener, rolls out in red carpet to visitors on Saturday January 17th. From 1- 5:30 p.m. that day, the two-year-old school will hold an open house with students acting as hosts and staffing informa- tion booths to answer questions about the college. The college has an enrol- ment at Doon of more than 1,100 stu- dents. Counting those in adult educa- tion courses in Guelph, Stratford, Galt and Kitchener, total enrolment is about 2,500. December 15, 1977 Fire caused about a $75,000 loss at Vanastra early Monday when it exten- sively damaged the Recreation Centre. The fire was discovered at 6:30 a.m. when Debbie Denomme, assistant director of the Vanastra Day Care Cen- tre, arrived for work. Eighteen mem- bers of the Brucefield volunteer fire department answered her call for assistance within minutes. With help of the Clinton firemen with air packs, they were able to bring the fire under control. John McLellan, Brucefield fireman who was the first in the build- ing, said the smoke was dense and, with no lights, it was difficult to find the source. December 15, 1982 In less than a week's time the new addition at the Clinton Public Hospital will be in use. Hospital Administrator Doug Coventry reported that starting on Dec 20, at noon, the new entrance and facilities would be operational. Reception, admitting, outpatient facilities, the emergency department, X-ray and physiotherapy will be relo- cated in the new wing. Mr. Coventry explained that starting on December 20, all patients should report to the new reception office, using the new entrance on Shipley Street. Patients for admission will be received in the new admitting office and the same location. December 17, 1997 Huron County has a new warden and his name is Jack Coleman from Stanley Township. Coleman defeated Reeve Carol Mitchell of Clinton on the second ballot to win the one-year posi- tion. The election was held at the Inau- gural Session of the newly elected County Council Dec. 2 in Goderich. Reeve Norman Fairies of Howick Township also ran for the position but was defeated after the first ballot. Cole- man replaces Murray Keys of Hay Township as the warden. In his candidate's speech before being elected, Coleman said the two most pressing matters which face Huron County is restructuring and downloading. December 13, 2000 The Annual 4-H ceremony was held on Nov 19. This year's top scoring member in the Huron 4-H Agriculture Machinery Club was David Vanden - Hoven. Vincent Farm Equipment Ltd donated his prize. The top novice Agri- cultural Machinery Club member was Nathaniel Peel who received his award from the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. Friends of 4-H Certificates were presented to Gay Lea, Seaforth Agriculture Society, Huron County Women's Institute, Cargill Limited, Formosa Insurance Company, Ivomec, Huron Dairy Producers, Brussels Show and Sale Committee, Western Ontario Lamb Producers and Howick Mutual Insurance Company.