Wind Power on Radio National

ABC's Radio National Background Briefing program aired "An Ill Wind", an interesting expose on Wind Farms last weekend (Sunday 26 May 13). Key points included a discussion on the so called 'health effects" and the various claims and counter claims by those concerned. Most authorities who have investigated the effects of wind farms on health of those exposed show no ill effects. Anecdotal 'evidence' suggests otherwise.
An Auckland PhD student, Fiona Crichton,  investigated this in the controlled environment in her laboratory.
Most telling was the statement "Because infrasound is below the threshold of human hearing and you actually can't detect it, you can tell people they're being exposed to infrasound and they're not." Its called a Sham Paradigm.

Wind Turbines 2007

So that is what she did, exposed two groups of people to infrasound and no infrasound, after priming them differently (high expectancy of suggestion of ill health, and low expectancy"
The results: "In the high expectancy group they experienced an elevation of symptoms both during sham and during infrasound. The low expectancy group didn't experience any symptomatic change at all. There was no physiological impact of the infrasound, but it was all about expectancy"

As a librarian I see many of our pop psychology books discuss the power of  positive thinking. "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne, was particularly popular the last few years.
So this study demonstrates the negative aspect of the human mind, the belief that things will make you ill leading to ill health. Its all about expectancy!

But of course, those affected, would never change their mind!

Programs such as these on the ABC are often not aired by the commercial media. Which makes the Getup Campaign to Save the ABC and SBS from interference and cuts all the more necessary.

So can we save the Bananas from a liberal Blend?

Lobbying, politics and influence

Its not often that I catch myself agreeing with magnates such as Clive Palmer, but when listening to today's Background Briefing (ABC Radio National ) on the role and regulation of political lobbyists, I do.

We all have been worried by the shenanigans of MP's like Craig Thompson, union influence on the Labour Party let along corruption such as in the Health Service Union and other non-disclosures of conflict of interests in quite a few politicians of all political persuasions.

We are also very aware that a 'retired' politician often becomes an influential lobbyists and pop-up as chairpersons of commissions etc such as the review of Queensland Finances by ex-treasurer Peter Costello.

It seems the Queensland Liberal National Party has been trying to reduce the conflict of interest potential of professional lobbyists (on behalf of third parties) in the ranks of high officials of the party. They also tried, but failed to do the same for the Federal Liberal Party according to the Radio report. Labor has also failed to reduce or control lobbyists and union power.

Commonsense dictates that experts should be used for their expertise. When does a conflict of interest become corruption and how do we pick this up?
Open and honest government, disclosure of conflict of interest and proper procedure helps. as does a vigorous media presence. Governing for the people of your country helps but in some cases the governments have to lead the people, take unpopular decisions and make policy that will improve the country as a whole. Honest people as our politicians are what is needed and an interested,informed population.

We shall see how well the Liberal/National Parties fare in both State and I suspect Federal Politics.
The Labor brand is well and truly tarnished in NSW and now Federally.