Turbine is today's totem

IN America Native Indian tribes of the north-west coast used the totem pole as a way of communicating stories, myths and legends. The modern wind turbine bears some resemblance to these artefacts.

Stuck in the ground as allegorical gestures, wind turbines represent an illusion whereby the world is saved from the ravages of a changing climate through the communication of a fairy story.

The fable they are meant to convey is that by generating energy from the wind this will prevent toxic emissions to such an extent that we will gratefully accept their desecration of our sacred homelands.

Like the true totem, they are merely symbolism worshipped by a few true believers. Unlike the true totem, however, they are not harmless. They can kill wildlife and have the capability to threaten the health and welfare of people.

They are not benign figurative signals of hope, but trickery, sending out false messages of optimism.

Another American tribe, this time from the celluloid world of make believe, allude to lying as "speaking with forked tongue" – such is the voice of the wind turbine.

I Buxton Ashwater, Devon