Good news from Wisconsin

A county health unit in Wisconsin has adopted the following resolution related to health effects & wind turbines:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Brown County Board of Health formally requests temporary emergency financial relocation assistance from the State of Wisconsin for those Brown County families that are suffering adverse health effects and undue hardships caused by the irresponsible placement of industrial wind turbines around their homes and property. The State of Wisconsin emergency financial assistance is requested until the conditions that have caused these undue hardships are studied and resolved, allowing these families to once again return safely to their homes and property.

March 13, 2012 - Meeting with MPP

I have just returned home from a gathering of people at Deer Run Golf Course to meet with our local MPP, Rick Nicholls regarding the wind turbines. Other than Rick, there were several informative speakers who shared information regarding the wind turbines and their effect on wildlife, economics, jobs in Canada and more. I found it to be quite informative, although apparently the speaker on health issues could not attend which was unfortunate. As always, the question/coment period at the end of the meeting brought opinions from both sides but no one was really out of line. It was a pretty good meeting and overall, it seems like this MPP does truly want to help prevent the further erection of turbines if they are a danger to us, the environment and our economy.
My two cents: I offered for people to read my blog because I don't think most people really believe that there are health affects. I hope some do read not only my site, but others as well. There are so many people out there, in so many parts of the world, all with similar stories and symptoms. Once you start reading, it's tough not to at least open your mind to the possibility.
I was really upset though when it was stated, and I am paraphrasing "what's done is done, we can't do anything about the existing turbines...we are just trying to stop more" What about people like us then? Do we just get forgotten about, or will there at least be some relief from the turbines?
So I am hopeful for the cause, but not for us. My biggest fear is that it won't get better and we won't be able to leave without suffering huge financial hardship. There was a family there tonight who is pursuing a lawsuit so that they can try to get away, and they have been called many names because of it. I don't think people understand that it likely wasn't them that picked the magic number that would get the attention of the wind company. It was probably a number dreamed up by a lawyer. I can't speak for them, but if they are anything like us, they just want enough to relocate and not be majorly set back financially because they probably had a plan for their home and their future and now that has been taken from them.
One women asked "You have a right to put up a turbine in your yard, but what about my rights when the affects of that turbine crosses over onto my property?" I thought that was a great question. Neighbors sue over tree limbs that overhang property lines. Industry is governed by noise limitations when in or near residential areas. The general public is now protected even from second hand smoke, but people who live next door to turbines are told "if you don't like it, just move."
I was also very very frustrated by what seemed to be a constant referral to putting the power back into the hands of the municipalities...How will that help? It is our current Mayor and council who got us into this mess here in CK in the first place. I even had councillors come out here and feel the vibration, hear the noise, empathize with the situation and even though they expressed that they were totally shocked and could agree that there was a problem vote yes to more turbines the very next week. Giving the power back to the municiaplities may help the people fight better at lower levels of gov't, but I doubt it.
I am angry, sympathetic, hopeful and hopeless all at the same time. Only time will tell what will actually happen, but I hope that whatever it is, that the health affects are short term and do not have long term affects even after moving away from exposure to turbines - for my boys sake.

G'Night. Nik

Updated Map of Chatham Kent Wind Turbines

For an updated map, visit the link and scroll down just a bit ... it is mind boggling...

Letter by Email to MP, MPP, Health Canada

From: Nikki Horton
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 9:08 AM
To: rick.nicholls@pc.ola.org ; wlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:dave.vankesteren@parl.gc.ca
Subject: Request for assistance - Horton
Dear Honourable Gentlemen,

As our MP and MPP, I request that you please view the letter below. My
family and myself are suffering on a daily basis. Our requests for assistance
have been ignored by our mayor, our government and government agencies such as
the Ministry of Environment since 2009. Please see the letter below and find
out about the human suffering caused by wind turbines in this area.

Can we count on your for representation? Are you aware of the problems we,
and others, are having? What have you done, or, are you doing to help with the
protection of the public.

A response would be appreciated.
Thank you,

Nikki Horton
(for Gerred, Owen, Wyatt Horton also)
nik@ciaccess.com

From: Nikki Horton
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 9:00 AM
To: wlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:leona.aglukkaq@parl.gc.ca ; wlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:glenda.yeates@hc-sc.gc.ca ; wlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:hilary.geller@hc-sc.gc.ca ; wlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:Beth.Pieterson@hc-sc.gc.ca
Subject: Health Canada National Guidelines for Wind Turbines Noise -
Concerns

Minister of
HealthHealth Canadawlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:leona.aglukkaq@parl.gc.caDeputy
Minister Glenda YeatesHealth Canadawlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:glenda.yeates@hc-sc.gc.caAssistant Deputy Minister Hilary GellerHealth
Canadawlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:hilary.geller@hc-sc.gc.caMs
Beth Pieterson, Director GeneralHealth Canadawlmailhtml:%7BAE2BA2D0-26AA-460B-BF20-714A53FC246E%7Dmid://00000307/!x-usc:mailto:Beth.Pieterson@hc-sc.gc.ca


Dear Honourable Ladies,

It is with the sincerest concern for families throughout Canada that I ask
that you Do Not Implement National Guidelines for Wind Turbine Noise without
much further study and determination. My family and I live within 700m of two
wind turbines and since they have been running (fall 2008), we have suffered the
following symptoms: terrible headaches, internal vibrations (in our bodies),
heart palpitations, ringing ears, extreme fatigue, body soreness, dry eyes, lack
of sleep from audible and inaudible noise, strange travelling rashes that
doctors are unable to diagnose, difficulty with memory and concentration,
dramatic negative changes to our personalities, lack of sex drive, nausea,
nosebleeds and more. Our quality of life has been affected by not only our
health issues, but also financial issues related to money we spent trying to
“protect” our home from the noise and vibration through increased insulation and
windows/roofing.

We have not succeeded in blocking out the effects of the turbines, and we
continue to have symptoms. We struggled at first with whether or not this could
actually be happening, whether our government would actually allow something
that would cause so much harm to be built near our home. We literally could not
believe that the turbines could be the cause. However, after leaving the home
for only a short time, even 1 or two nights, we find that our symptoms begin to
dramatically decrease. Each day we get better, begin to feel like our old
selves again. Upon return to the home, it takes mere hours for the symptoms to
begin.

You may be asking yourselves why we have not moved. Loss of value is part
of the problem with our homes location being so close to the turbines, not just
the two I mentioned, but another 40 at least which are visible from our home.
But also, here is my ethical dilemma – How can I sell my home to another family,
knowing how the turbines have so negatively affected our family ?

In closing, I would like to say that I believe that innovation and change
are important to saving our planet and maintaining the Canadian way of life.
However, this should not be done at human cost. The turbines may have their
time and place in Canada, but with the way they function now, their place is not
near any living thing.

Please do the right thing and ensure that Wind turbines are not placed
anywhere near life until such time that the affects can be studied, quantified
and corrected. My family and I are suffering the consequences of a rush to “do
the right thing” in the wrong way. I am aware there are other sufferers of wind
turbine symptoms not only here in Ontario, but all around the world. This is a
true problem that you need to take responsibility for before many other families
are affected.

Please, Do No Implement National Guidelines that will give the public a
false sense of security into letting wind turbines be placed near their homes.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Nikki Horton
(also for Gerred, Owen and Wyatt Horton)

One more thing....January 26, 2012

This is a comment and question for those following. My youngest has had his third nosebleed in a few weeks. He wakes up with them in the morning. It is not particularly dry in the house, and he has never had them before. I am hoping this is not another side effect. Has anyone else had similar issues?

January 25th, 2012 - I am worried

Hello. I haven't blogged for quite sometime...I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to live life without constantly thinking about the turbines outside of our home and the consequences of them that we are forced to live with. I am blogging today for a few reasons, just things I think you should know if you are following, things that might help someone else out there to know they are not alone...
First, the turbines are louder than I have ever heard them this past few weeks. Or, maybe I had just forgotten how loud they can be on a winter, windy day. My headaches are unbelievable, no one in the house is sleeping, and there is no sign of this changing anytime in the near future. It doesn't help that another project went up to the front of our house so now we are surrounded. This means no rest from them, even when the wind changes direction...used to be that at least they were quieter when the winds switched, now we get it from all sides...
Which brings me to my second concern, my oldest is getting headaches. He came home from school early last Friday due to a headache (mine was also especially bad that day and my husband had one also - the turbines the night before were incredibly loud), and he complained of a headache again yesterday (coincidentally, the night before last, I was unable to sleep until 6am due to an uneasy feeling I find difficult to describe that comes from inside when the turbines are especially bad), he had not slept well and NO, I don't believe it is a coincidence, that was a little sarcasm. I hate to think it, but I think my oldest son is starting to get the same headaches I get. And lastly, with regards to my boys, both are not sleeping well at all. They wake up several times each night, when the turbines are loud. They become upset sometimes and often can not get back to sleep without comforting and usually me sleeping with them.
The message from this is - if you have children, especially if you have children, or if you know someone with children who is considering moving close to a turbine, or allowing one on their property - STOP THEM! We don't know what the outcome of these steel monsters being put so close to homes is going to be long term, all I can do is hope that there are no significant long term side affects and try to warn others....but you can stop people. I don't mean to sound dramatic, but I am afraid for my family - and yours too...
I get angry just typing about it, but I had to post these new developments. I know many have stopped following the blog, but if it helps just one person, it's worth it.
take care,
Nikki

Renovations - Was it worth it?

Hi all, Sorry I haven't written lately. I know a lot of you are waiting to hear if the massive renovation we undertook has had any affect on the turbines. The easy answer is, I am not sure.
We are not quite finished the renovation, including the cocking of windows, a few areas for insulation, and a very small portion of the siding. We have been working many extra hours to help pay for the greatly overbudget renovation, so I have not had a lot of time to blog....

This is what I do know.... When renovating, we also did some work on the foundations of the building, I believe that this has greatly assisted with the vibration within our home. I have not had the "vibration" feeling for quite some time while in the house. While I have had some minor feelings of "dizziness", or a "sea legs" type feeling, I am so excited that the mysterious vibrations and heart palpitations seem to be lessened greatly. Unfortunately, I am not sure if that is attributed to the renovation, the fact that I am home far less(therefore less exposure), or because we have not really hit the winter yet and this is when I found it the worst last year. It is unfortunate that even on a nice day we are unable to open our windows because the turbines can not be silenced when the windows are open, or in the yard....

As for the noise, it does seem to be greatly lessened when the windows are closed, etc. in the house. We are sleeping better, however, we often wake with extremely dry tired eyes, and also we all still seem to feel unrested, even after a long night of sleep.

I guess it remains to be seen what happens from here, especially with the new turbines going in out front of the house - we will now be suffering from every angle....