<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/boycotts-abuse-and-threat-wind-and-solar-landowners-face-intimidation-and-harassment/>
"Verbally abusing children, boycotts of a farming business, and painting
threatening messages on roads are just some of the intimidation tactics being
used against people who host renewable energy projects.
These examples were detailed in the Clean Energy Council’s submission to the
Senate inquiry into climate and energy mis- and dis-information.
It is one of the few submissions of the 150-and-counting to describe how
individual landowners are being treated, and mirror reports by the New South
Wales Energy & Water Ombudsman.
Clean Energy Council policy officer William Churchill lays the blame for this
breakdown in communities and behaviour at the door of false information being
spread online.
“Clean Energy Council Members are reporting a direct increase in the level of
hostility and intimidation directed at farmers and their families that are
hosting clean energy infrastructure,” he says in the submission.
“We believe this activity is directly correlated with the increase in
misinformation and disinformation circulating through digital platforms and is
playing a substantial role in driving community tensions.”
The Senate inquiry is looking into climate and energy mis- and disinformation
campaigns, and foreign and local organisations funding “astroturfing” – fake
grassroots movements that are actually coordinated marketing campaigns.
Many of the submissions claim the government is the biggest purveyor of these
campaigns, and a number of individuals’ submissions outline anxiety over having
big projects near homes.
But it’s landowners who are facing the wrath of groups opposed to renewables,
or to projects in their areas, alone and online forums are making the problems
worse, Churchill says.
“The increasing mis- and disinformation circulating freely online is creating
conditions that intensify psychosocial risk factors leading to unsafe
environments for hosts, workers and members of communities,” he says.
“Inflamed tensions in communities unnecessarily fuels conflict between hosts of
renewable projects and neighbouring landholders and community members.
“This has real and concerning consequences including bullying, intimidation,
harassment, fear and confusion in communities, and even threats to the lives of
those working in the sector.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
