My postings are few and far between-I think I broke the internet.

HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN THE OTHER NITE

http://923thedock.com/archives/29811

THANKS FOR NOTHING-AND STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CALL TO ACTION BY NDACT

Donna T:

 

Two years ago, during the last provincial election, the Ontario government ordered a review of the outdated and flawed Aggregate Resources Act because of the concerns raised about the proposed Highland Mega Quarry.

 

Public hearings were held in the spring of 2012. Many of you will remember the struggle we had to ensure those hearings were open to agricultural stakeholders, and the energy they spent preparing their excellent presentations. As well, many of you will recall the "tour" the Standing Committee on General Government took of the proposed Mega Quarry site from the seats of a bus. 

Over the past few months, the Committee regrouped and completed writing its recommendations for possible changes to the ARA. Those recommendations were released this afternoon and they are disappointing. 

It's a long report - complete with photos of the MPPs at some of the 12 aggregate sites they visited.

It does not contain protection for Ontario's prime farmland and source water regions.

Instead, the ARA report focuses on rehabilitation of pits and quarries on prime farmland after excavation. 

http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/committee-reports/files_pdf/Legislative%20Assembly%20Aggregate%20English%20Readable.pdf 

DONNA T. UPDATE

Thanks to Donna Tranquada for being on top of all of this (so I don't have to! ;)

TUESDAY --  NDACT chair Carl Cosack and Food & Water First volunteers attended a Land Over Landings meeting in Claremont to share their experiences from the Mega Quarry campaign. Land Over Landings is trying to protect 13,000-acres of Class 1 farmland from being paved over for a Pickering airport and other development. The gym was packed and there was great enthusiasm for Carl's presentation. Thanks to Mary, Pat, Jim and the Land Over Landings team for making us feel so welcome! It was also wonderful seeing all the Food & Water First lawn signs in the Pickering area! The Durham Region newspaper covered the event.

 

http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4170615-successful-activists-inspire-pickering-airport-opponents/


WEDNESDAY -- The Orangeville Banner published a story about both Rachel McAdams and Toronto supporting the cause! Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow, who introduced the Food & Water First motion at City Hall, is quoted extensively. 
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4170692-rachel-mcadams-toronto-promote-food-and-water-first/


THURSDAY -  The David Suzuki Foundation published a column about Food & Water First by Faisal Moola. DSF was a key supporter in the Mega Quarry campaign and co-organizer of last year's Soupstock. Thanks, Faisal, for this terrific blog! 
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/panther-lounge/2013/10/food-and-water-first-the-fight-to-protect-prime-farmland-continues/

ONE OF THESE THINGS...

Watch this video and then guess then name the individual who fits in the correct category:

• One person is gorgeous
• One person is handsome
• One person is really tall
• One person is crusty

And NO ladies, Carl is NOT the correct answer to all of the above.

As always, Jason and Blaine have done a great job!!

http://vimeo.com/77280156

BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER MONEY, JUST NOT TO PROTECT YOUR FOOD AND WATER

$1.1 BILLION – two cancelled gas plants

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/10/08/liberals_power_plant_cancellations_cost_11b_auditor_general.html

$1 BILLION – e-health scandal
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ehealth-scandal-a-1b-waste-auditor-1.808640

$700 MILLION – ORNGE scandal
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ornge-overspending-slammed-by-ontario-auditor-general-1.1150507

$200 MILLION – surplus wind power

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/02/26/surplus_wind_power_could_cost_ontario_ratepayers_up_to_200_million_ieso.html

BILLIONS & BILLIONS – cost of wind energy

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/straighttalk/archives/2013/09/20130913-073021.html

 

THE MESSIAH????

Man, I knew I loved turtles.

I had no idea how much.

Nor did I ever imagine the majestic, eons old turtle, dinosarian you could say, might be our messiah/saviour, etc. against wind turbines.

Recently there was a sighting of the threatened species, the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii).

There has never been a reported sighting in this part of the province until now.

The reports required of Dufferin Wind for their Renewable Energy Approval (REA) application filed with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) did not include any mention of the threatened species, the Blanding’s Turtle.

The company has an obligation to study and then report on the wildlife populations in the project area as part of their application. The MOE and the MNR have an obligation to protect our environment, and follow due process.

Read more: http://windresistanceofmelancthon.com/2013/10/16/threatened-species-found-in-dufferin-wind-power-turbine-project-area/

16% OPPOSED

Another municipality just passed an unwilling host resolution-unwilling to host wind turbines. That is 16% of all municipalities in Ontario who now have passed an unwilling host resolution. http://london.ctvnews.ca/wind-turbine-unwilling-hosts-list-grows-to-71-municipalities-1.1486795

CAN WE TALK?

Can we talk about the elephant in the room?

You know, the farmers who started the turbine talk and "invited" the turbines into the community.

To start with, I know most of these people and I honestly think they thought they were doing the right thing.

AND do not forget, our elected government was making a very attractive package with OUR own tax dollars.

AND to top it off, wind turbine proponents hire very skilled scam artists I mean "marketing professionals" to sell proposals like farm owned wind power.

I feel the ONLY thing the farmers who opened the door are guilty of one thing-naivety to think they would have the resources to finance the entire project.

I think we all learned something from the quarry battle-stand together as a community-or fall.

And if you don't think the farmers were tricked by a skilled snake oil salesman..think about this.

Seth Klarman, the founder of the billion dollar hedgefund Baupost, one time owner of thousands of prime farmland in Dufferin, someone who is touted throughout the world as a financial genius, was sold a worthless idea (remember that 2,400 acre 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine) by John Lowndes. 

John Lowndes for pete's sake.

A Ron Jeremy doppleganger!! (And if you don't know who Ron Jeremy is, don't google his name at work.....just saying.)

PS: psychology studies show that one of the hardest things for the human species to do, is change their opinion once they have made a public declaration in support of something. 

So for those farmers (and individuals) who were championing farm owned power, perhaps you are morally or contractually obligated not to make a public statement against the proposal now, but something you could do, very quietly, is throw some money to Dennis Sanford, who is making great strides at mostly his and his families own personal expense in bringing this proposal to its knees.

Just a suggestion........

Tommorrow-why Food and Water First should be opposing turbines.

AVAAZ

The Environmental Review Tribunal made a decision to stop turbines at Ostrander Point, Prince Edward County. Ostrander Point, part of a globally significant Important Bird Area, includes areas of imperilled alvar habitat and provincially significant wetland in a major migration pathway for millions of birds, bats and butterflies. It provides habitat for the endangered Blanding's turtle and Eastern Whip-poor-will. The Ontario government is fighting Prince Edward County Field Naturalists successful bid to stop development of Ostrander Point with Industrial Wind Turbines. We need to tell the Ontario Government to give us back democracy. Listen to the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal and honour it. learn more at www.saveostranderpoint.org Sign the avaaz petition here: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Ostrander_Point_In_Prince_Edward_County/?erlqsfb

MINING THE WIND MEANS I WILL HAVE TO MINE FOR THE TRUTH

I have to say, I have been pretty busy single handedly stopping the mega quarry (ha, ha-sarcasm people, calm down) so I haven't been up to speed on the turbine issue.

Doing some research I heard a wind proponent issue a benign statement that they would be mining the wind.

That means, I will have to start mining for the truth.

The one truth I know is we have a Melancthon resident who is making headway in the battle to stop this nonsense.

Dennis Sanford has successfully issued a Charter Challenge, which has never been granted before.

I believe he is pretty much funding this legal battle on his own.  If you want to hop on the train before it pulls into the station with a victory, please consider donating to his cause.

Particularly those individuals who were hoodwinked by Paul Boreham and are now being expropriated and/or sued by the very company which will be situating turbines on their land.

And by the way if anyone knows where this guy is, there are a few people looking for him:

DECOMMISSIONING COSTS

Seems Amaranth has a bylaw in that states all transmission lines from turbines must be buried.  And of course Farm/Chinese owned power is challenging this, so we will see.

The Township of Tiny has a bylaw in place to cover fees, firefighting and decommissioning costs.
http://www.township.tiny.on.ca/ws_par/groups/public/@pub/@tiny/documents/web_content/wspar_042176.pdf

I can't tell what Melancthon has, because there is no simple search function on their website although I hear just recently they passed an unwilling host bylaw.

"COMING TO A FIELD NEAR YOU???"

Is it true that Bonnefield, the protector of farmland, who purchased 7,500 acres of land from Highlands that had been subject to the mega quarry proposal has plans for a new farming operation on 100 acres of land? A solar farm seems to be the rumour on the street. That didn't take long.

WIND RALLY REASONS AND RATIONALE

Why should you attend the Wind Rally Wed nite at the Shelburne arena at 7.30 pm?

Because turbines are bankrupting this province.

And we are still paying off the hydro debt from BEFORE:

When will we be done paying the old debt, before the Green Energy Act was introduced?

No, no, NOT when hell freezes over, but almost....

The unfunded liability has declined for seven consecutive years. It is $6.0 billion less than the initial unfunded liability on April 1, 1999, when the former Ontario Hydro was restructured. Total debt and liabilities are $29.3 billion, down from the $38.1 billion inherited by the Corporation from the restructuring. The stranded debt will likely be defeased between 2015 and 2018, the same range that was reported in last year’s Annual Report, and the Debt Retirement Charge (DRC) is expected to end after defeasance and no longer be charged on consumers’ bills.

http://www.oefc.on.ca/pdf/oefc_ar_2011_e.pdf

LOCAL MAKES GOOD AND HEADWAY AGAINST TURBINES

A very very important development has occured with respect to the local turbine issue.

Dennis Sanford, who has been a long time advocate against turbines-since the very first phase went in when the local council of the day still had the ability to STOP these things but chose to accept money from the developers instead of saying NO, has, at mostly his own expense, been successful at filing a constitutional relief.  Simply put, it means that the Renewable Energy Project,( in particular, Dufferin Wind Power’s Project,) violates constitutional rights of citizens.

Until the issue has been heard, no turbines.
http://windresistanceofmelancthon.com/2013/09/09/ert-panel-accepts-constitutional-challenge-filed-by-melancthon-resident/

Well, I hear you say, why are the Chinese still trucking these things to the STRADA pit in anticipation of construction?

Its kinda like the gas plant situation. 

Once the Liberals announced they would be stopping the gas plant in Oakville/Mississauga (at TAXPAYERS expense) the company continued construction.

Why?

Well because thaty way the company could keep incurring expenses until a deal had been negotiated to legally cancel the construction contract.

Which meant the company could continue to incur costs, for which the TAXPAYERS would have to pay for cancellation.

So make no mistake, this is NOT a done deal, but every day the government of the day delays the cancellation, the costs to the TAXPAYERS increase. 

In another weaker, but telling development, the Mayor of Shelburne, a long time strong liberal supporter, has called for the Liberals to stop the Chinese turbine project. 

Good for him.

Read all about it: http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4086724-shelburne-mayor-asks-premier-to-cancel-wind-turbine-projects/

350

How much is 350.00?

350 marshmallow peeps would be alot...to eat...and then probably throw up

350 bales of hay is alot of lifting

350 books is alot of reading

350 miles is a long walk...well you get the drift.

Then think about 350 acres of farm land.

If one acre can feed one person for a year that means 350 acres can feed 350 people annually.(Source:http://www.farmlandlp.com/2012/01/one-acre-feeds-a-person/)

Which makes this statement astounding:

Sadly, Ontario is losing so much farmland to development that it threatens our ability to enjoy local food. We lose approximately 350 acres of farmland every day. This is not sustainable.               

We need farmland to grow food. Yet we continue to pave over prime farmland because of poorly planned growth. The bottom line is, we can't eat subdivisions, quarries, highways or pipelines.

http://www.orangeville.com/opinion-story/4070414-we-can-t-eat-subdivisions-quarries-highways-or-pipelines/

Losing 350 acres of farmland a day equals 128,000 acres a year.  In Ontario, we are losing the ability to feed 128,000 people a year.

WIND RALLY

Fundraising / Information Meeting
Wed. Sep. 25, 2013      7:30 – 9:00 PM

 Are you concerned about:

·          rising electricity rates?

·          a 230 KV power line through Shelburne?

·          a 230 KV power line near a public school in Shelburne?

·          a 230 KV power line along the Dufferin County rail corridor?

·          more wind turbines in Dufferin County?

·          lack of municipal control over Renewable Energy Projects?

Guest Speakers.

Attend and make your voice heard!

Wednesday September 25, 2013  

 LLL Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex, 200 Fiddle Park Lane, Shelburne;  upstairs in the Town and Country Room

STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS-GET PAID FOR DOING NOTHING

Ontario will start paying wind power generators not to produce electricity, but the government says the move will actually save ratepayers big bucks.

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli says the system operator can now order wind producers not to generate power, and will pay them — just as it pays Bruce nuclear — not to produce electricity when it’s not needed.

The Progressive Conservatives say paying wind power producers with 20-year contracts not to generate electricity shows the Liberals’ green energy act “is a failed social experiment.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/09/11/ontario_paying_for_wind_turbines_to_not_produce_electricity.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Using the Liberals math, by paying individuals NOT to produce electricity ratepayers will save big bucks.  SO why not pay people NOT to construct the turbines and double the savings?

 

Step right up folks, I have some swampland in Florida...

 

ARGGGGGG!!!!

YOU GOTTA READ THIS BLOG

Not that I am directing people away from this profoundly interesting, well written and clearly unparalled well researched  blog, but you gotta read this blog.

http://stonecoldtruth2011.wordpress.com/