Opinions
As one of the local people who campaigned for four years to protect this world-class national treasure, I am completely devastated. The long weeks and months that I devoted to assemble the valid arguments as to why this wind farm was totally inappropriate for Highland Perthshire were not for any personal benefit.
I fought for the thousands of visitors who come every year to this beautiful part of Scotland. I did not want them to return one year and face an industrial landscape. I did not want them to say: "How could this have happened? Why did the people living here not stop this?"
The answer is that the Scottish Government listened to the power companies, not the people.
The government describes our landscape as one of the enduring symbols of Scottish culture. Why has it not protected it? Of course, in theory this wind farm is going to save carbon emissions, but in practice just how many tonnes will be saved and at what price? A price too far, will be the cry of those who look upon the giant industrial swords plunged deep into the heart of Scotland.
"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect," said Aldo Leopold.
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