8/9/2019 Gegenwind - Demo

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GegenwindDemonstration in Paris am 04.10.2010

Mark Duchamp

06.10.2008Saturday Oct 4th, in Paris, 2.000 to 3.000 people coming from France and variousEuropean countries demonstrated peacefully against windfarms. Antoine Waechter wasamong them. Green candidate in the 1988 French presidential election, Mr Waechtersubsequently split from the Greens to found the Independent Ecological Movement. He isshown on the picture reading my placard. To the right of the picture, the mayor of avillage in France whose inhabitants ALL decided to sell their houses when a windfarmproject was announced in the vicinity. If you wish to know more about the Village forSale, please advise.

We received over one hundred messages of support coming from all over the world,including Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, South Africa,Japan and Slovenia. See: http://collectif.4.octobre.free.fr/ The demonstration andconference was backed by 176 associations and federations:http://collectif.4.octobre.free.fr/

An international platform against windfarms was founded the same day, as followsPress release: Paris, Saturday Oct. 4th 2008

Founding of the European Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW).

In Paris today, on the occasion of the international demonstration against wind farms,German, Belgian, Spanish and French federations and associations have founded theEuropean Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW).

This project has received the support of colleagues from 16 countries representingseveral hundred federations and associations.

The founding members of this platform have agreed to make the following declaration:

1) Ecological deception and financial scandal. It has now been proved that industrial

windpower does not reduce CO2 emissions and therefore does not contribute to the fightagainst global warming. This is principally due to the intermittent and uncontrollablenature of wind, which makes it necessary to rely on the back-up of polluting fossil-fuelspower stations, 24 hours a day.

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Industrial windpower is subsidized by the taxpayer-consumer. In France for example, ifthe national plan is realized (12.500 wind turbines!) this burden will amount to 2,5 billionEuros annually. In Germany, it is already costing 4 billion Euros a year. At a time whenEurope is facing a deep economic crisis, it is not acceptable that the standard of living ofEuropeans be further reduced in favour of businessmen whose objective seems to bemaximizing profits whatever the consequences. Industrial windfarms are a threat to theenvironment. Landscapes, the natural and cultural heritage, wildlife, quality of life, thesecurity and health of Europeans are in danger!

2) The demands made by EPAW: an immediate moratorium and more transparency. Theplatform demands an immediate moratorium with the suspension of all windfarmprojects, approved or not. The platform demands that be assessed, under the control ofan independent body, the objective and undisputable effects of wind farms from anenergetical, ecological and social point of view - respectively. The platform finallydemands that the guaranteed pricing of wind-produced electricity be made the object ofboth a public and a parliamentary debate, at national and european levels.

Signed by:

European Associations and Federations participating in the reunion of October 4th 2008Spain: Iberica 2000Belgica: Vent Contraire, Vent de RaisonFrance: FED: Fdration Environnement Durable (Fdration nationale),France: FNASSEM - Fdration Nationale des Associations de Sauvegarde ses Sites etMonumentsGermany: BLS (Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz - landscape protection, federation of800 local committees),Germany: NAEB (Nationale Anti EEG Bewegung - against windfarms).

Mark Duchamp

President, Save the Eagles InternationalCo-founder, European Platform Against Windfarms

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