By Iain Ramage
A Highland anti-windfarm campaigner who has had enough of “industry spin”
hopes her new book about turbines will be allowed into schools to bring
some balance to the debate.
Beauly-based Lyndsey Ward has fought the spread of onshore turbines for
more than a decade, arguing that they are an economic disaster due to
subsidies and cost of switching them off, and that they blight the
countryside and damage people’s health.
Books and paraphernalia promoting the industry have circulated at schools
for some years.
Scottish Government policy is that councils should include green energy in
the school curriculum or after-school activities “to provide a foundation
for balanced decision-making in later life.”
But Ms Ward has argued that children are hearing only one side of an
important discussion.
Her new illustrated children’s book, Tiny the Turbine, is a sequel to
e-book Subsidy Sam that targeted adults.
She said: “I’m disgusted that the Scottish Government allow multinational
wind developers into our schools with no balance and no negative impacts
being explained.”
While Subsidy Sam was a dark tale, Ms Ward considers the new book “a moral
and uplifting story that shows it’s possible to overcome the wrongs of the
world no matter how daunting the challenge may seem.”
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser yesterday pledged his support for wide
distribution of the book.
“Ultimately, it’s up to head teachers to decide what are appropriate
materials to be used in schools,” he said.
“But I’d hope when issues like renewable energy are being discussed with
pupils that a balanced view is taken rather than just one side of the
argument being presented. I can see how Lyndsey’s book could well have a
role to play.”
Ms Ward is sending a copy to Scottish Government minister John Swinney in
the hope that he will approve its addition to the school curriculum.
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