Blowing in the
Wind
by Walt
Giersbach
“Over
a sustained period of time, people living too
close to wind farms can develop a disorder
related to inner ear disruption, Wind Turbine
Syndrome, which can cause nervousness, heart
disorders, nightmares, problems and even
cognitive development issues in children.”
--Dr. Nina Pierpont, M.D. testifying before the
New York State Legislature Energy Committee
Yes, we were
one of the ten families Dr. Pierpont studied
before she wrote her book. I guess we were
irritable when the government built the wind
turbine in our backyard—even more ill-tempered
when Dr. Pierpont walked a shortcut through my
wife’s petunias. In fact, my wife suffered
an anxiety attack when the TV crews followed her
into our bedroom.
We’re a
small neighborhood. Smaller now. Eight out of the
ten families living on our block have moved.
Since I can’t sell our house with a turbine
in the backyard, I confessed I’m having
nightmares.
“Any
sleep disorders, heart disease, panic attacks and
headaches?” she asked.
“I’m
entertaining the thought,” I agreed,
“if I end up defaulting on the mortgage.”
The doctor, a
pediatrician, suggested my inner ear was infected
with tinnitus, but I told her it was probably my
son’s rock and roll. I offered to turn it
down.
She waved me
off. “The wind industry will try to
discredit me, but I can cope with that,” she
shouted, standing in the geranium bed on her way
out. “This is not unlike the tobacco
industry dismissing health issues from smoking.”
Quickly, I hid
the cigarette I was going to light.
“Hear
that?” she said, startled. “That low
frequency vibration and noise? Humans are
sensitive—like a fish feeling noise in the
water. Wind farms disrupt the inner ear’s
vestibular system, responsible for balance and
orientation.” At that, she tripped over my
rake. “Goddamn, it,” she shouted,
“I can feel those blades coming for me. Oh,
noooo!”
But the thing
that hit her wasn’t a bird. Just the hat
from a cameraman who had climbed up the pole for
a better shot. My wife and I went inside to make
some drinks. Lots of drinks. We blame it on Wind
Turbine Syndrome. If we deny ourselves, then the
enemies of ecology have won.
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