TITLE:
Human Health, Rights and Wind Turbine Deployment in Canada
AUTHORS:
Carmen Krogh, Brett Horner
KEYWORDS:
Wind Turbines, Policies and Practices in Canada, Harm to Human Health, Human Rights, Social Justice
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
17,
2017
ABSTRACT: Canada
has ratified international conventions which recognize the individual’s right to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. Despite the adoption
of these covenants governments sometimes support policies and practises which trade
off individual human health with other conflicting interests. This review evaluates
the individual’s right to health against government policies and practices which
support wind energy deployment in Canada. Our analysis presents government documents,
peer reviewed literature, and other references which support the conclusion that
wind energy deployment in Canada can be expected to result in avoidable harm to
human health. This harm conflicts with contemporary health and social justice principles.
Governments have a responsibility to help Canadians maintain and improve their health
by generating effective responses for the prevention of avoidable harm. Individuals
have a right to make informed decisions about their health. Knowledge gaps and
potential risks to health should be fully disclosed. Individuals should not be
exposed to industrial wind turbines without their informed consent.