Keep it Wild

[Peedee]

Those of you who are JMT members will know they're pressing for a number of amendments to the Planning Bill that's about to be examined in the next couple of weeks by the relevant committee at Holyrood:

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about/resources/1517-keep-it-wild-take-action?utm_source=JOHN+MUIR+TRUST+EMAIL+LIST&utm_campaign=1e547df6c4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_31_10_50&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7d40d6a9c3-1e547df6c4-287262161#action

In particular, JMT are pressing for protection for Scotland's so-called 'Wild Land Areas'. I say 'so-called' because the SG itself has trampled all over these and allows development next to them.

WAS the view towards the Fannaichs from Wyvis

Not any more.... I hope you can find time to let your MSPs know what you think.

[Sunset tripper]

I could maybe accept the windfarms if I thought they were saving the planet. In reality they are massive windfalls for the power companies and the landowners.

[Gareth Harper]

No need to save the planet. The planet will be just fine.

[al78]

It is not about saving the planet, it is about saving our future, which involves killing emissions asap and moving on to a sustyainable lifestyle. If we don't do this, we run out of one or more essential resources at some point in the not too distant future which, as history will tell us, leads to mass death and suffering.

Unfortunately, humans are not intelligent enough to see it beneficial to invest now to secure the future. Much better to party on now and dump the consequences on the poorer people of the world who have little power to do anything about it, or future generations who will be left dealing with cleaning up the mess our unsustainable lifestyles have created.

It comes down to ethics and values. Some people see no value in life other than themselves, friends and relatives, so wouldn't care about a global mass extinction as long as they personally were fine. Unfortunately these sort of people are the ones that get elected into positions of high power, such is the stupidity and thoughtlessness of humanity. Perhaps we deserve what we get.

[Sunset tripper]

No need to save the planet. The planet will be just fine.

Aye fair point.

[xslawekx]

@al78

Evergrowing population is the worst enemy of sustainability. What have you got to say to that, pal?

[Coop]

As Frazer said.
"We're all doomed, doomed I tell yee""

Well do our bit by stopping diesels driving into city centres - yippee - sorted

As long as the superpowers are ok though....

[pony23]

I won't have criticism of the SG! They've banned plastic drinking straws!

[jupe1407]

Those of you who are JMT members will know they're pressing for a number of amendments to the Planning Bill that's about to be examined in the next couple of weeks by the relevant committee at Holyrood:

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about/resources/1517-keep-it-wild-take-action?utm_source=JOHN+MUIR+TRUST+EMAIL+LIST&utm_campaign=1e547df6c4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_31_10_50&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7d40d6a9c3-1e547df6c4-287262161#action

In particular, JMT are pressing for protection for Scotland's so-called 'Wild Land Areas'. I say 'so-called' because the SG itself has trampled all over these and allows development next to them.

$matches[2]

Not any more.... I hope you can find time to let your MSPs know what you think.

DSC00331 (1280x719) (640x360).jpg

I did Wyvis last Spring. I can't remember if these were in situ at the time. Maybe they weren't as a handful of distant wind turbines would have totally ruined my walk.

Sarcasm aside, what does everyone suggest as an alternative to these things? I see plenty of criticism but rarely constructive suggestions.

[jupe1407]

Those of you who are JMT members will know they're pressing for a number of amendments to the Planning Bill that's about to be examined in the next couple of weeks by the relevant committee at Holyrood:

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about/resources/1517-keep-it-wild-take-action?utm_source=JOHN+MUIR+TRUST+EMAIL+LIST&utm_campaign=1e547df6c4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_31_10_50&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7d40d6a9c3-1e547df6c4-287262161#action

In particular, JMT are pressing for protection for Scotland's so-called 'Wild Land Areas'. I say 'so-called' because the SG itself has trampled all over these and allows development next to them.

$matches[2]

Not any more.... I hope you can find time to let your MSPs know what you think.

DSC00331 (1280x719) (640x360).jpg

ETA: There is very little truly "wild land" in Scotland. Virtually all of it is managed to some extent, or has been in the past.

I did Wyvis last Spring. I can't remember if these were in situ at the time. Maybe they weren't as a handful of distant wind turbines would have totally ruined my walk.

Sarcasm aside, what does everyone suggest as an alternative to these things? I see plenty of criticism but rarely constructive suggestions.

[Gareth Harper]

I popped up Ben Wyvis on the 3rd October 2017.
Here's a snap taken from An Cabar.

[Giant Stoneater]

Why would you want to put your faith in one type of producing electricity like Scottish Power is proposing and then find out you have to purchase power from less friendly power companies when the wind don't blow or blows to hard.

Need to do something now as Scottish Power will be looking for a lot of applications to build windfarms soon.

[NickyRannoch]

The "so called" wild areas are the scars of clearance, deliberate depopulation and Scotland's outrageous land ownership system. There is absolutely a need for the planning system to recognise areas of ecological or environmental importance that should be protected from inappropriate development.

The JMT view that formerly economically productive areas should remain economically unproductive because it might spoil the view of middle class urbanites indulging in a wilderness fantasy shouldn't play any part in the planning process.

I'm not in favour of huge landed estates putting up taxpayer subsidised windfarms to further syphon money into their own pockets. However, if a locally owned land trust makes the decision that a windfarm or hydro scheme that benefits them outweighs the risk of loss of hillwalker tourists that should be a decision for them and not mapmakers in Edinburgh.

I was up Wyvis in May. I thought the turbines looked quite elegant. Much nicer than the scars and blocks of monoculture confier plantations in front of them.

The road, cars, grouse moor and deer forest I could see and the man made path and restoration works for human erosion on the summit plateau barely registered.

I also though it was fun seeing all oil platforms at Invergordon.

[RocksRock]

I prefer it when there are very few rigs in Invergordon. There being many means former colleagues are out of work

[Sunset tripper]

One things for sure John Muir himself would have campaigned hard against the wind farms like he did against the o'shaughnessy dam.
Unfortunately the money men won then the same as they will win with the wind farms, the so called benefits for the local communities are nothing less than bribes.

I'm not someone with a collection of mountain literature but if you can get a copy of My first summer in the Sierra it's a fantastic read about a truly great man.