Make a splash for RSPB Scotland and dive into the Great Scottish Swim!

When: Saturday 29th August 2009
Where: Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell

1 mile open water mass participation swim

Join in and help raise funds for conservation work to protect marine wildlife and their habitats. Contact Nicki Wilde at nicki.wilde@rspb.org.uk or 0131 311 6574.

RSPB Scotland is the part of the RSPB, which speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing - please help us keep it that way. For more information visit www.rspb.org.uk.

I certainly don't feel inclined to support a charity that promotes industrial scale windfarms. Indeed, anyone opposed to such industrialisation of our wild places should be considering resigning from organisations like the RSPB.

Cameron I think that is really uncalled for. RSPB do some fantastic work and like many they disagree with your stance on wind power. I would never call for people who agree with wind power to boycott or stop subscription to TGO.

Your stance on wind power is well known, you harp on about it every chance given. please dont knock an organisation just because they happen to dare to disagree with you.

Sorry angryclimber but any organisation that suggests large corporate companies can build windfarms anywhere but on their reserves deserves to be knocked. I'll continue to do so. There is simply too much wild land at risk in the current government backed windrush.

I think it's excellent that folk in the public domain point out these contradictions within 'wildlife organisations'. The issues may be unknown to members, and this gives them a chance to voice an opinion within their organisation.
You can't have too much information.

I can't see any contradiction?

John

Well i would say it is a contradiction if an organisation that says it wants to protect birds, isn't against the building of power stations on hills. Maybe birds like flying into the blades of wind turbines?
Not to mention the destruction of habitat during and after the construction stage.

I'm an RSPB member and there's no doubt it's a dilemma. While much of their conservation work is admirable their attitude to wind-farm development is, in my view, childlike and just plain wrong and I've told 'em so.

It's a debate worth airing and worth keeping in the spotlight. On a similar note, anyone considering voting 'Green' should take a good look at that party's energy policy; although - as with the RSPB - there may be other reasons to consider supporting them.

I get really confused by this argument if you think wind farms are the worst thing to happen what do you suggest the alternative is because other than tidal/wave power there is no other current form of power production that is cleaner or less destructive to our habitat.

And if you advocate wind power but only on brown sites then you are doing the same as the RSPB. You are saying it is alright to put them anywhere but not on wild areas. I may be wrong but I have heard this before from Cameron and it is the same message as RSPB its alright but not in my back garden.

As I have said before if you want to put a wind farm in my back garden then go ahead I am all for it. Complaining for complaining sake is crap. Its like objecting to a mobile phone mast being placed near you then calling o2 or orange and complaining you get a crap signal.

I would not be happy with a new coal, gas, oil or nuclear power station.

Even if you think RSPB are wrong to take this stance does it cancel out all the other good work they do. I think TGO are wrong to take this stance on wind power but there are other reasons to read the magazine. Charities have been hit badly by the recession please dont make it harder for them.

angry climber, wind farms are currently one of the worst things happening in the hills because they destroy any sense of wildness. They are totally destructive of habitat. On urban and already developed sites such industrialisation may be acceptable but not in wild places.

The RSPB does do some good work but their position over wind is making me consider my support of them. There are other charities that also need money who are opposed to the destruction of wild places such as the John Muir Trust that are deserving of support. You can read the JMT on energy here:

http://www.jmt.org/what-we-think.asp