Concerned Residents of Hammond DOB: 10/25/08 

www.CROH.org 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Toys for Tots, Food Pantry, Fire & Rescue Squad, Socks, Mittens & Hat Drive,

Annual Family Social, Highschool Scholarship

Location…

…THE WORLD’S LONGEST DEEP-DRAFT INLAND WATERWAY RUNNING 1900 MILES FROM THE FURTHEST HEADWATER TO THE MOUTH, CONTAINING A VARIETY OF RICH

ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT LARGE NUMBERS OF FISH, BIRD, AND ANIMAL LIFE.

Sample Size: 1,540 US Adults

Instruments used to obtain results: 1) “Cultural Values” – Used a Hierarchy vs. Egalitarianism and Individualism vs. Communitarianism Values Scale associated with studies of cultural theory of risk indicating attitudes toward social ordering (Douglas & Wildavsky) 2) “Science Literacy” – Questions from National Science Foundation’s Science and Engineering Indicators to test participants general knowledge of science 3) “Numeracy Level” – Series of mathematical word problems to test their mathematical literacy. 4) “Climate Change Risk Perceptions “ using a 0-10 rating scale

THE SCIENCE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AS A PUBLIC GOOD

FINDINGS:

•  As ordinary people learn more about science and become more proficient in scientific reasoning they do not reliably support the scientific evidence

•  Those with highest scientific and numeric skills are less likely to see climate change as a threat

•  Greater scientific literacy & numeracy levels = greater cultural polarization

CULTURAL COGNITION

“Cultural Cognition is the tendency of people to fit their perceptions of risk and related facts to their group commitments.” – Dan Kahan

TWO MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES CREATE CULTURAL POLARIZATION OVER SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION:

1)   Culturally biased information searching: people prefer to look for scientific information that supports, rather than opposes, their cultural predispositions.

2)   Culturally biased assimilation: When considering information from any source, people selectively credit or discredit in accordance with their cultural predispositions, becoming more polarized as they learn more.

 CULTURAL WORLDVIEWS AND RISK ‐ WHO FEARS WHAT?  (How people view the risks associated with different issues at different points along the  

two dimensions of hierarchy‐egalitarianism and communitarian‐individualism)  ‐ Photo Courtesy of Professor Dan Kahan.  

The Science of “Science Communication”

1)  The strategy focused only on improving transmission of sound scientific info is highly unlikely to resolve controversy

2)  Clarifying information on the science will not generate public consensus if the communicators fail to look for cues about cultural commitments

3)  Important to avoid accentuating cues that sustain cultural factionalization 4)  Citizens most likely to be turned off when issues are laden with meanings that cause

diverse groups to form opposing positions 5)  High degree of individual’s rationality in expressing cultural values actually inhibits the

collective welfare rationality by blocking citizens from converging the best scientific evidence on how to secure common interest in health, safety, and prosperity

6)  Many hierarchical and individualistic people believe action of some type should be taken and will do so if it appeals to their cultural outlook

7)  When distributing sound scientific information, it’s important to take advantage of the full range of potential policy responses and available advocates who are narrative resources for opening minds.

8)  Important to develop forecasting and management tools to predict controversies and formulate strategies to circumvent groups from forming opposing positions

9)  Appealing to Emotions & Not just Science GE COMMERCIAL  WINDFALL 

“Wind Energy SiQng Creates Opposing FacQons” The Hammond, NY Story as told through the eyes of a lawyer  

Hammond, NY vs. Industrial Wind It all started with Education….Education…Education…

www.CROH.org

The town was divided into opposing groups:  the Hierarchy/Individualist “leaseholders”  versus the Egalitarian/Communitarian  “non‐leaseholders”  

Property taxes also became an issue.  Waterfront property owners account for 75% of the tax base and were being taxed by elected officials who held wind leases who also tried promo>ng the tax benefits of the project. 

2009 Campaign 

2011 Campaign •  www.GoodGovernmentForHammond.com •  Candidate Videos 

•  The purpose of "Fact Check" is to help reduce the level of decepJon and confusion intended by the opposiJon. 

DUCKS UNLIMITED DEMANDS

MORATORIUM ON ALL WIND TURBINES

NEAR STAGING HABITAT

Ducks Unlimited Canada  NewsleOer EASTERN REGION (Ontario)  

Volume 31,Number 4, 2010 

Impacts of Wind Turbines on Waterfowl 

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is in support of environmentally sustainable sources  of 

energy that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. DUC recognizes, however, that all forms 

of power generaJon entail environmental trade‐offs, and that there are drawbacks to 

alternaJves including wind turbine developments. Our organizaJon is concerned about 

our sustainability of such developments and that they are implemented in geographic 

locaJons and in a manner that does not negaJvely impact waterfowl populaJons and 

the wetland and upland habitats on which they depend. 

A RESPONSE TO THE WOLFE ISLAND WIND

PROJECT’S BIRD AND BAT MORTALITY STUDY

Excerpted from a leOer wriOen by William Evans and Gerald Smith, ornithologists, to the Ministry of 

Environment and the NYS DEC, August 12, 2010 

There appears to be no mechanism in place between the Canadian and US governments for assessing 

cumulaJve wildlife impacts from wind energy in the border region. Each government is apparently 

addressing this independently instead of cooperaJvely. Needless to say, the laOer approach is more 

beneficial for wildlife populaJons of concern that span the border.   We see these issues as a primary 

basis for requesJng a moratorium on further wind energy development in the region noted in red in 

Fig. 1. We believe such a moratorium should be insJtuted unJl the perJnent Canadian and US wildlife 

agencies  

SAVE THE RIVER CALLS FOR A HALT

ON WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT DUE

TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Clayton, NY (August 4, 2010) – Save The River is urging local municipaliJes bordering the 

Upper St. Lawrence River in the U.S. and Canada to implement a three year moratorium 

on wind project development. The move was taken aeer careful review of recent data 

showing potenJally high avian and bat mortality from the first six months of operaJon 

of the Wolfe Island Wind project, the only operaJng wind project in the region. 

THE PRESS: BIRDERS SEEK MORATORIUM

ON LAKESHORE TURBINES

December 6, 2010   J. Patrick Eaken, THE PRESS ‐ Magee Marsh, Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, OOawa NaJonal Wildlife 

Refuge, and Crane Creek Beach Ridge have been steadily building a reputaJon. Between mid‐April 

and the end of May, an esJmated 50,000 bird watchers arrive from around the world, pumping an 

esJmated $17‐24 million into the local economy. The Black Swamp Bird Observatory is seeking a 

three‐year moratorium on addiJonal wind turbines within three miles of the Lake Erie Shores in 

Lucas, OOawa, Sandusky, and Erie counJes unJl research, including radar studies, on how the 

turbines affect the lives of nocturnal migrants can be completed. 

Appealing to the egalitarian‐communitarian cultural world view’s desire to protect the community… 

“Green Marketing” Infiltrates Family Games Bonus Buildings: Wind Farms, Schools & Parks

Protects the rent value of every district it touches Put “Bonus Buildings” next to your districts to prevent others from building hazards

Tunneling moles and gophers can’t stand noise and vibrations in their subterranean haunts. Our Mole Chaser’s windmill-like fan creates an underground ruckus that sends moles searching for quieter homes elsewhere.

Specifications at a Glance:

  18" L x 18" H   Made from zinc-plated steel with ball

bearing shaft.   Requires a 1/2" Dia. x 9' H pipe (not

included) for mounting.   Effective area up to 75' in diameter

Source: http://www.gardeners.com/Mole-Chaser/30-833,default,pd.html?SC=XNET8502 www.CROH.org

Overall, we found that with our experience it was important to inject humor whenever

possible. With an issue as complex as industrial wind, there were so many times

when the situation seemed beyond our control, causing stress levels to skyrocket.

Humor was OUR savior, and we feel it could be extremely useful in

“Breaking” the Polarization Barrier & drafting a successful PR campaign….