Blog Archive
Frack free November, Divestment December?
Posted on December 09, 2016 by Heather Mason
First up, the film Atlantic was RTE One last night. So it's now available to watch on RTE Player. It's great film from the director of The Pipe about three small fishing communities, in Ireland, Norway and Canada, as they struggle to maintain their way of life in the face of mounting economic and ecological challenges. Also, the last episode of David Attenborough's breathtaking Planet Earth II is on BBC One Sunday at 8pm.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy
The Health Impacts of Climate Change
Posted on November 28, 2016 by Guest Blogger
Carbon dioxide is the perfect killer. Invisible and odourless, it exerts its mal-effects insidiously and so surreptitiously that they have managed to avoid registering on most peoples’ daily list of concerns. Indeed this has allowed its continued production to be regarded by many as essential to maintaining the quality of life that most of us currently enjoy.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • transport • air pollution
Take Action: Stop the (Anti) Heritage Slash and Burn Bill!
Posted on November 08, 2016 by Young Friends of the Earth
The 'slash and burn' or Heritage bill that Heather Humphreys TD is trying to introduce will come before the Seanad on Wednesday afternoon, 9th of November 2016. If passed, the bill would allow the Minister to extend the time during which landowners could cut hedgerows and burn scrub. It would allow for the burning of scrub in March and the cutting of hedgerows in August, which is currently not permitted. This is highly worrying as during these months birds are either preparing to build nests or are still nesting. As well as birds, these landscapes provide habitats for countless other species of plants and insects and contribute to healthy ecosystems. Many rare bird species in Ireland are in dire straits and to extend the time allowed for 'slash and burn' would put them in an even more precarious position in our ecosystem. Additionally, our hedgerows also provide important 'food' for bees, as well as being fantastic carbon sinks.
Permanent link | Categories: biodiversity • heritage • senators
Last night we made history. Now let's make the future.
Posted on October 28, 2016 by Oisín Coghlan
10 days ago we asked for your help to get a Bill to ban fracking over its first big hurdle in the Dáil. You responded like never before, raising money for a legal opinion on the Bill in less than 24 hours. Then 2,500 of you wrote to your local TDs urging them to #BackTheBill.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • fracking • bill
Our Chairperson reflects on her legacy
Posted on October 24, 2016 by Guest Blogger
Our Chairperson, Dr. Cara Augustenborg, reflects on her legacy in honour of Halloween
On October 11, 2016, Rowan Jacobson of Outside Magazine wrote a startling obituary: “The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 million years old.”
Jacobson goes on to describe the legacy of the Great Barrier Reef, from the impressive array of more than 6,000 species it harboured to the food and mineral resources it provided for the humans who lived next to it for 60,000 years.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • legacy
Ask your TD to #BackTheBill to ban fracking
Posted on October 20, 2016 by Kate Ruddock
Will you ask your TD to vote for a ban on fracking next week?
There is a Bill to ban fracking in Ireland scheduled for debate in the Dáil next week (Thurs 27th Oct, 3:30 - 5:30). If we can mobilize enough support it will take a crucial step towards becoming law. But we need your TDs to agree to it.
Most political parties have either a stated policy or declared in their election manifesto's that they are opposed to fracking. Have a look at this infographic of what the different parties have said about fracking.
Now we need to make sure they keep their promises.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • fracking • bill
Taoiseach, it's time
Posted on September 29, 2016 by Oisín Coghlan
The Taoiseach was addressing the Seanad today and a couple of Senators were interested in raising climate change with him. Here's what I would have said.
--
Taoiseach,
Your government has adopted a National Policy Position on Climate Action, underpinned by the Climate Act, that defines Ireland's transition objective for 2050 as an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between energy, housing and transport, and carbon neutrality for agriculture and land use, in line with the lower end of the EU's emissions goal for 2050. And your Government's White Paper on Energy has a target of reducing energy emissions by 80-95% by 2050, in line with the higher end of the EU's goal, and proclaims a vision of a "carbon-free" future for Ireland.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • Enda Kenny
Have you got #onegoodidea?
Posted on September 27, 2016 by Heather Mason
Did you see Saturday's Irish Independent? We were impressed to see their 5-page special on climate change and their acknowledgement that we need to act now, not sometime in the future! They are running a week-long Climate Change and You campaign to inform and engage their readers. We think that's a great idea so we have made it really easy for you to get involved, here's how:
First there's a short survey on what Ireland should do to address climate change. We think it would be great if you have your say. The more of our supporters who make their views known the better. We're particularly keen on your answers to questions 2, 5 and 9 ;-).
Permanent link | Categories:
“Ban fracking!” A creative call from young people in fracking affected communities
Posted on September 26, 2016 by Jamie Gorman
A group of young activists aged 12-18 from fracking affected communities in the north-west of Ireland have highlighting the dangers of fracking through artworks created during the month long Eco/Art/Action summer programme.
The programme was a collaboration between Young Friends of the Earth, local anti-fracking group Love Leitrim and artists from the Leitrim Sculpture Centre.
Taking place over the course of two day workshops and a weekend residential, it aimed to explore fracking in its local and global context and create a space for young people to make their voices heard in debates around the issue.
Permanent link | Categories: energy • Activism
Stop Enda abolishing the Department of Environment
Posted on May 18, 2016 by Oisín Coghlan
On his re-election as Taoiseach, Enda Kenny announced he was restructuring Ministerial Departments to better reflect the new Government's priorities. With that, he promptly abolished the Department of the Environment and scattered its functions across three Departments.
We have very little time to get this decision reversed. If this goes ahead, the words ‘environment’ and ‘heritage’ would be dropped from the titles of any Minister or Department, and Ireland would become the only EU member state without a Minister for the Environment.
We're asking you to do a couple of things:
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • waste • water • biodiversity
