Anti-windfarm campaigners from Fife took their campaign to the SNP’s spring conference in Inverness at the weekend.
Earlier this year, Ceres resident Graham Lang and other activists from Fife were instrumental in setting up Scotland Against Spin, a national alliance for everyone opposed to Government policy on wind energy.
Its aim is policy reform and its methods include lobbying politicians, raising public awareness of the issues in the media, helping groups fighting turbine applications and popular protest.
The Fife activists helped organise an anti-wind demonstration in October at the SNP conference in Perth.
This led to dialogue between campaigners and the Scottish Government over wind turbine issues in the review of national planning policy.
In alliance with Stop Highland Windfarms Campaign, Scotland Against Spin organised its first march and protest outside Eden Court, the venue of the SNP conference in Inverness on Saturday afternoon.
The high point of the protest was an attempt to present a petition, signed by over 4,300 people from over 42 countries, calling on Mr Salmond to Stop the Reckless Siting of Wind Turbines in Scotland’s Scenic Landscapes.
The organiser of the petition, Harley Keisch of Wind Wise Radio in the USA, had written to the First Minister, inviting him to accept it in person at Eden Court. However, he declined.
Mr Lang said: “MrSalmond’s assistant wrote to us saying Mr Salmond expected to visit the SAS stand when he toured the stands at the conference but we are very disappointed he is snubbing Rhona Weir, a Scottish lady who commands enormous respect for her and her husband’s work in championing Scotland’s cherished landscapes.
“Hundreds of people are travelling the length and breadth of the country to the march in Inverness, thousands from across the world have signed the petition, but Mr Salmond doesn’t seem to be able to find the good grace to accept their petition.”