HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-10-23, Page 3Wednesday, October 23, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3
Anti -wind activists take over 402
Chip Martin
OMI Agency
STRA'1'IMROY - Fired up and
feisty, farmers angered at Ontario's
growing crop of wind turbines
shut down a third of a major
Southwestern Ontario trade artery
Saturday.
With about 150 vehicles includ-
ing pickups, massive tractors and
other farm machinery - including
a manure wagon -• the massive
convoy with police escort shut
down the 30 -kilometre mid-sec-
tion of l iwy. 402 west of Strathroy.
"Premier Wynne, you will learn
4110 we are a tough crowd to deal with
when we are pissed off," activist
anti -turbine firebrand Esther
Wrightman told a post -convoy
rally of about 300 in Strathroy.
"We will not be Minted and ter-
rorized any more," the organizer
told the crowd of protesters who
endured a steady cold rain,
Wrightman has been waging
war against plans for a forest of
industrial wind turbines planned
for the farmfields west of Strathroy
and into Lambton County.
"'Phis is a demonstration of we
the people, against we the corpo-
rations. Wind companies are
strangling rural Ontario."
Wrightman admitted earlier she
was surprised at the strong turn-
out from as far afield as the Nia-
gara region and Grey County.
"It just shows the anger out
there," she said moments before
the convoy took to the highway at
1 iwy. 402 south of Forest.
OPP escorted the rolling protest
and closed the highway's
entrances in the affected section.
"We understand they have a
right to express their opinions,"
said Const. Kevin llowe, noting
police were on hand to ensure
public safety.1le said no incidents
were reported and no one was
arrested during the peaceful
event.
Signs were everywhere, some
rather crude and pointed and oth-
ers noting 74 municipalities in
Ontario have signed on as "unwill-
ing hosts" for new wind turbines
Vehicles lined up and activist Esther Wrightman
as the Liberal government contin-
ues to push renewable energy.
"Stop the Rape of Rural Ontario,"
"No Means No," and "The Wynne
Scam," were a few of the more
reportable messages.
Area Conservative MPPs Monte
McNaughton, Bob Bailey and Lisa
'Thompson were joined by the par-
ty's energy critic Lisa McLeod, all
of whom blasted the Wynne
government for ignoring rural
concerns and promising to revoke
the Green Energy Act.
"'Phis is the most distrastrous
policy in the province's history,"
MacNaughton said, blaming the
loss of 300,000 industrial Jobs on
the energy policy of the Liberals..
When organizers thanked the
OPP for their understanding and
patience at their act of civil
disobedience, the crowd
responded with warm applause.
Chip.martin@SUnmedia.ca
Roy MMcNy Special to Lakeshore Advance
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