Mynydd y Gwair

This painting by David Bellamy was one of the first to be shown on our website. The fight to save Mynydd y Gwair has lasted for many years  (you can read more here:  http://www.artistsagainstwindfarms.com/windfarms/mynydd_y_gwair.html).


Last week, Swansea Council gave the wind farm (16 turbines, 127 m high) the go-ahead. 


"More than 60 campaigners packed the public gallery for the debate by a Swansea Council committee which heard views both for and against the controversial scheme.

One of those who spoke was Glyn Morgan, chairman of Save Our Common Mountain Environment, who claimed 87 per cent of people in the local community were opposed to the scheme.

"It would be sacrilege to develop on Mynydd y Gwair," he said.

He stated that red kites had successfully moved into the area and there were two breeding nests, and that the land had grazing rights with 120 commoners with flocks of sheep and also cattle.

The land was also popular with walkers, horse riders and people flying model aircraft, he added.

He urged the council to "make the people  proud to be citizens of Swansea and oppose the development"."

You can read more here:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Wind-farm-Mynydd-y-Gwair-Swansea-approved-tonight/story-18081607-detail/story.html#axzz2KJscsXZR

Ammun Lucca

Ammun Luca,  the sculptor, lives in NSW Australia, and his work will soon be highlighted on www.artistsagainstwind farms.com.

Ammun's website is:

http://www.ammunluca.com.au/

Save the Shetland Islands

From the Sustainable Shetland website:

Financial appeal

Viking windfarm: Judicial Review

From 29th January a request for a Judicial Review brought by Sustainable Shetland is to be heard at the Edinburgh Court of Session. We believe Scottish Ministers acted unlawfully in consenting to the Viking Windfarm without a Public Local Inquiry.
Our 800+ members have contributed and raised funds to help cover our legal costs, but we need more.

Please go to this link below to find out more about how to help:

http://www.sustainableshetland.org/appeal.htm

If this wind farm goes ahead, the people of Shetland will be living in a wind farm made up of 103 giant turbines. The tranquility and beauty of the Islands will be a thing of the past. The wild life and the environment will suffer, and all this destruction will be for little real gain except to those who who make money from the project.

Important news from Australia

"This television report was broadcast within the last 24 hours. It makes compelling viewing. It marks an unprecedented move by the Environmental Protection Agency in South Australia to begin testing residences near Waterloo wind farm. The investigation will include the measurement of infrasound and low frequency noise, down to 0.25 Hz, inside and outside homes, with “on off” testing. It will require the cooperation and provision of operational data which wind development operators have so far refused to provide to any independent researchers, anywhere in the world."

Read more and see the video at this link:

  http://stopthesethings.com/2013/02/01/now-finally-the-truth-laid-bare/

Simon Jenkins

"We can count hard cash, but what is the value of beauty?

In planning, defenders of nature are 'nimbies', opponents 'vandals'. To end the shouting match we need a new language"

Read more here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/31/planning-private-profit-public-benefit

The Crucial Point

Following President Obama's speech yesterday James Delingpole has highlighted the crucial point about virtually all political action made so far against climate change - so far it has always made matter worse, for everyone, and been completely counter productive as far as reducing CO2 emissions.

 President Obama:

 "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms."

James Delingpole:

 "The first sentence is a blatant untruth. Concerted global action so far to deal with the threat of climate change has resulted in: higher energy prices; more deaths from fuel poverty; more intrusive regulation; the destruction of rainforests and the squandering of agricultural land on biofuels; higher food prices; famine and food riots – as a result partly of the drive for biofuels; the entrenchment of corporatism and rent-seeking to the detriment of free markets; the ravaging of the countryside with ugly solar farms and even uglier wind turbines; the deaths of millions of birds and bats; the great recession. How any of this has in any way benefited either our children (who are going to find it far harder to find a job) or future generations is a complete mystery."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100199161/obama-declares-war-on-reality/

Professor David Bellamy

Cartoon by Graham Lang
http://www.artistsagainstwindfarms.com/windfarms/grahamlang/graham-lang.html



HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY TO DAVID BELLAMY

An appreciation on his 80th birthday 18 January 2013
written by Alison Chapman , Co-ordinator, Galloway Landscape And Renewable 
Energy (GLARE) on behalf of us all 

David Bellamy is one of nicest people you could hope to meet. He gained our affections during the heyday of his tv appearances but in recent years he has also won our admiration and respect for his principled stand against the destruction of our countryside by the erection of wind power stations. And he has been a constant friend and inspiration to many, especially small local protest groups, who couldn't believe their luck to have such a giant ally.

Happy Birthday, David and lots of love and so many thanks from us all  

Artistsagainstwindfarms.com  was launched on Blackcraig Hill back in 2005, and David Bellamy was there to support us.
http://www.artistsagainstwindfarms.com/windfarms/paint_it_day.html.