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I have some exciting news for you!
Welcome to the new format of our ezine. Following some comments regarding the format
of the pdf version of our e-zine and problems with Spam we are experimenting with
this new screen friendly format. The full pdf version will be available on
our website by clicking the following link: An
Taisce Newsletters
The summer of 2010 saw the Blue Flag beaches of Ireland in their best light – sunlight. And
as well as the usual swimming and surfing many other activities also took place
on the strands. In Wexford the county council joined forces with Buí Bolg street
theatre group to deliver an excellent series of education workshops featuring the
cheeky puppet character of the fox that lives in a wheelie bin and is taught by
the friendly litter warden about the importance of caring for our environment. Port
Beach in Co Louth held a Sea Safari scouring the beaches under the supervision of
Sarah Varian from Marine Dimensions and finding all sorts of wildlife including
mermaids purses, razor clams and much more. Activities were also held on Greystones
beach aimed at families and included guided Beach Hunts and show and tell sessions.
To encourage best practice in this kind of environmental education a working group
has been set up to produce a practical guide which will be available before the
2011 season. And to support more of this kind of activity and to raise awareness
among young people about the Blue Flag programme, An Taisce’s education unit has
launched a Blue Flag certificate for schools. The first was awarded earlier
in the summer to Kilmuckridge Vocational College, Wexford for their work on Morriscastle
Beach.
Hopefully the sun will shine as much in 2011 as it did in 2010 and the Blue Flag beaches will go from strength to strength.
Images above show Blue Flag raising at Port Beach and some of the environmental activities
taking place in 2010
The government plans to pass a climate change law soon. Although
we found out today that this will not be in the autumn programme of legislation
it will eventially place statutory multi-annual targets on all government departments
to play their part to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions in Irish
society. Stop Climate Chaos (of which An Taisce is a member) is on the
cusp of getting a majority of Dail TD's to sign up to support a strong climate
change law. Stop Climate Chaos want to lobby mainly rural TD's who have not signed
to date. They feel that members of An Taisce around the country are very well placed
to contact (email or in person) their local TD to lobby them to sign up
to support this pending law.
Please play your part to tackle climate change by
contacting your local TD who has not signed. Or even better write a personal
letter.
Our Energy Breakfast with broadcaster Eddie Hobbs is on Thursday October 14th
at 8am in the Guinness Storehouse. Eddie recently published a
book on the topic of energy (called ‘Energise’) and is currently in pre production
on a television series on the same subject. Coupling this with his inimitable
style and enthusiasm, this promises to be a very entertaining morning!
Both Eddie and Guinness Storehouse have generously waived their fees for the
event, so our costs are minimal, with all proceeds going to funding An Taisce.
Tickets are €100 each or €800 for a table of ten (half price for members).
The ticket includes full breakfast, parking and a Guinness Storehouse tour (to be
used at your leisure).
To book, email Lorraine Hackett or
01 7077068
An Taisce would like to commend our colleague Dr Mark Clinton (chair of the antiquities
committee) for the remarkable discovery recently of real evidence of Vikings at
Annagassan, Co.Louth.
The folklore of Annagassan is rich in references to the Vikings and Mark has just
completed a very intensive and fruitful three week archaeological dig at a site
in the Wee County village. To huge local enthusiasm, Mark has become something
of a hero as folklore has now become fact regarding the Vikings and Annagassan and
it is believed that this discovery will reap great rewards for a community removed
from mainstream economic Ireland, though naturally the development of the possibilities
will require the sensitivities that AnT espouses. A most magnificent part of
this discovery is that it was not part of a new infrastructural project dig though
but rather as a result of Mark’s hunch about an archaeological green field
site and was funded by the local Leader rural development fund. Follow this link
to an interview given
by Mark to local radio LMFM at the latter end of the very intensive dig, which revealed
such riches as silver ingots, cobbled pavements, and even a skull.
Every month the European Environment Agency EAA is
issuing a “message for 2010”, which will highlight one theme per month
until the tenth meeting of the conference of the parties (COP) to the United Nations
convention on Biological diversity (CBD). Each message provides a short assessment
focusing on a specific ecosystem or issue related to biodiversity in Europe. A
summary of September’s message is below; follow the link to see the full message.
As an interface between land and sea, European coastlines provide a vital resources
for wildlife but also for the economy and human health and well-being. These habitats
are under multiple pressures including habitat loss, pollution and over-exploitation
of fish stocks. Two thirds of coastal habitat types and more than half of coastal
species have unfavourable conservation status. Integrated and ecosystem-based approaches
provide the foundation for sustainable management of coastal ecosystems.
To read more
click here
The message was written by Marcus Zisenis (ECNC, ETC/BD), with contributions from
andrus Meiner (EEA), Dominique Richard (MNHN, ETC/BD). Sophie Condé and Jerome Bailly-Maitre
(MNHN,ETC/BD) and others.
Last August 31st, the sad death of one of Ireland’s most prolific environmental
campaigners occurred. A qualified barrister and architect, unlike many of his contemporaries
who pursued financial rewards in recent years, Stephen Devaney instead pursued a
life where his reward was the legacy of the massive difference he made to many environmental
issues. Devaney’s lack of a high public profile was in inverse proportion to
his unrelenting work and his success in advancing the proper implementation of the
E.U. Directives'
A member of An Taisce's Council and central to the National Monuments and Antiquities Committee, only in the last few months, Devaney helped secure a major victory with regards to the proposed Bremore Port, where the state was about to fast track development at an area noted for its Neolithic tombs with no appropriate planning, and without due reference to EU legislation.
Other successes achieved included the Woodstown Viking site in Waterford where the road was happily rerouted; drafting the successful appeal signed off by Senator and presidential candidate David Norris that saved a house associated with the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan; identifying the key legal points that won the primary Carrickmines Castle case, as well much work on the controversial Kilsallaghan prison scheme in north county Dublin. Aside from antiquities, there was massive work in relation to his area of Monkstown and Dun Laoghaire, which would be a disservice to try and detail here, however suffice to say up until his sudden illness he was very busy working on the unnecessary wide scale rezonings that are currently being adopted in Dun Laoghaire.
Yet these successes were not accidental, as Devaney relentlessly worked on the legal aspects of schemes, and was very much at the forefront of bringing European environmental law into the Irish domain; in particular Devaney was frequently ahead of the posse in terms of understanding the value of EU Directives such as the SEIA, when few others had even heard about it.
Aged only 62, Devaney lived to witness vindication as to his core belief that many recent ‘developments’ across the country recently were anything but development in terms of actual sustainability. He leaves behind his partner and fellow worker, Shirley O’Brien, who took much care of him particularly in his last days, but moreover has left a great legacy in terms of the knowledge that he contributed to key Irish environmental matters. We say goodbye to a true, tireless, staunch protector of the Irish environment and to a deeply spiritual and brilliant mind.
A member of An Taisce's Council and central to the National Monuments and Antiquities Committee, only in the last few months, Devaney helped secure a major victory with regards to the proposed Bremore Port, where the state was about to fast track development at an area noted for its Neolithic tombs with no appropriate planning, and without due reference to EU legislation.
Other successes achieved included the Woodstown Viking site in Waterford where the road was happily rerouted; drafting the successful appeal signed off by Senator and presidential candidate David Norris that saved a house associated with the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan; identifying the key legal points that won the primary Carrickmines Castle case, as well much work on the controversial Kilsallaghan prison scheme in north county Dublin. Aside from antiquities, there was massive work in relation to his area of Monkstown and Dun Laoghaire, which would be a disservice to try and detail here, however suffice to say up until his sudden illness he was very busy working on the unnecessary wide scale rezonings that are currently being adopted in Dun Laoghaire.
Yet these successes were not accidental, as Devaney relentlessly worked on the legal aspects of schemes, and was very much at the forefront of bringing European environmental law into the Irish domain; in particular Devaney was frequently ahead of the posse in terms of understanding the value of EU Directives such as the SEIA, when few others had even heard about it.
Aged only 62, Devaney lived to witness vindication as to his core belief that many recent ‘developments’ across the country recently were anything but development in terms of actual sustainability. He leaves behind his partner and fellow worker, Shirley O’Brien, who took much care of him particularly in his last days, but moreover has left a great legacy in terms of the knowledge that he contributed to key Irish environmental matters. We say goodbye to a true, tireless, staunch protector of the Irish environment and to a deeply spiritual and brilliant mind.
The end of August saw another successful heritage week in which An Taisce played
its part. A fabulous day was had at Bootertown marsh in Dunlaoghaire when Declan
Doogue took an large enthusiastic group round the reserve to see the early returning
waders that will be a feature of the wetland for the winter. He also took the group
over the railway to see the new spit of land that is being formed next to the reserve.
This is being colonised by pioneer species and is truly fascinating. Why not pay
a visit to Booterstown on 24th Octoberwhen a winter
bird walk has been organised by the county council, Birdwatch Ireland, AnT and the
Friends of Booterstown. The walk will provide members of the public with an opportunity
to view wading birds and wildfowl, including the Light-bellied Brent Goose which
returns to Ireland each year after spending the summer in its breeding grounds in
the East Canadian High Arctic region. The walk begins at 11am from Booterstown Dart
. The walk is free. Parking is €2 at the Dart station
.
Fifty or more people also had a really enjoyable walk through Will Warham’s farm
in Wexford. Will is an active local association member and farms with great sensitivity carrying
out management to improve the biodiversity and allow people to get close to the
wildlife including erecting a new bird hide with great views. Tailors’ Hall
also opened for heritage week and crowds of people took the fascinating guided tour
including the link between AnT's headquarters and the American president
(come on a tour to find out more!)
(come on a tour to find out more!)
Trains, Planes and Automobiles by James Nix of Planbetter an initiative of
An Taisce, FoE, FIE and Feasta Lamenting scientific studies which show aviation
is particularly damaging is a pointless exercise; we need to improve overland alternatives
to air travel where possible, writes James Nix.
Michael O’Leary doesn’t acknowledge climate change, and earlier this month likened
climate science to the detritus of bulls. The billions of tonnes of
carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels don’t affect climate he claims, arguing
that scientists “have nearly always been wrong”. But even Mr O’Leary
would have to acknowledge that his views on science are somewhat selective: he’s
quite happy to believe that a fully loaded aircraft sent down a runway at high speed
will take off . The science Mr O’Leary dislikes is what sits uneasily with
his business model.
Mr O’Leary’s remarks come at the same time as new research showing that aviation
is much more damaging than previously thought. A
Recent article examines the impact of different transport modes on the atmosphere
over time. When viewed over a short timeframe - five years - flying can be
almost 50 times more damaging than overland travel. Lengthen the time horizon and
the impact of aviation reduces relative to other transport modes. But as the key
imperative is to get emissions down quickly, and try and stall further large-scale
melting at the poles and other 'tipping points', the need to reduce aviation quickly
is clear.
As an island nation the research raises important questions for us. How can tourism
adapt as environmental charging discourages the most polluting transport modes?
What improvements can be made to overland links to better serve Ireland?
From 2012 aviation will no longer be exempt from the EU emissions trading scheme..
Raising the price of flights will press the travel market to find alternatives.
The Dublin to London air route is among the busiest in Europe. Intercity travel
time by air is about four hours, depending on route, check-in arrangements and onward
travel decisions.
Ferry and train won’t compete directly on travel time but there are feasible options
which can be made more attractive. Currently a ferry leaves Dublin Port at 8.50pm
and arrives in Holyhead around midnight. Travelling Dublin to London my own practice
is to take this evening ferry, stay overnight in Holyhead and travel onward using
the early morning train, reaching central London (Euston station) just after 9.30am.
Overnight is a generous term to apply to five hours of sleep in Holyhead but it
compares to getting up for a red-eye flight. Moreover the train’s great for a nap.
The return rail/sail journey I tend to treat as a working day with no laptop restrictions
on train or ferry : London 9.10am - Dublin 5.30pm.
In the short term a simple improvement to the existing rail/sail service would see
the evening ferry from Dublin arrive at Holyhead for 11pm rather than midnight,
giving a little more shuteye to the traveller. In the longer term new ferries
would be designed and built to accommodate sleeper train. Trains, as well as cars,
trucks and buses, are already catered for by the Rodby-Puttgarden ferry, carrying
trains between Copenhagen and Hamburg across the Baltic.
Working together, train and ferry operators could deliver a Dublin/London service
leaving each city daily at 9pm to reach the opposite destination by 8am the following
day. Investment will be required by the ferry and port companies but if the growing
patronage of the channel tunnel and sleeper buses and trains across the continent
is a marker, that investment will be returned.
Mr O’Leary has a point when he criticises governments for promising to use environmental
taxes to reduce pollution, but then failing to do so. In Ireland’s case there is
a clear solution for our busiest air route but investment is needed.
Governments also need to communicate more clearly the key reason for environmental
taxation: this is the first in history a time a generation will knowingly leave
behind a climate in flux – and one that been left in this shaky state by human action
and inaction. Tax measures that reduce pollution will lessen impacts on future generations.
While corporate culture grows unabated, we still expect governments to guide their
actions with the full weight of science. Profiting on some dividends of scientific
endeavour, only to poo-poo other elements that might affect such profits, will no
doubt be something Mr O’Leary continues to do in his humorous way for some time
to come.
Ireland is at a critical moment. You can help turn this crisis into a positive turning
point.
Claiming our Future is a unique event. It offers a chance for people, trade unions, community organisations, environmental groups and other civil society organisations to not just talk about a better way – but to take new inspiring steps. It aims to foster a unity across civil society and to power a progressive movement to reshape Ireland’s recovery and claim our social values.
Claiming our Future is a unique event. It offers a chance for people, trade unions, community organisations, environmental groups and other civil society organisations to not just talk about a better way – but to take new inspiring steps. It aims to foster a unity across civil society and to power a progressive movement to reshape Ireland’s recovery and claim our social values.
Claiming our Future will launch and mould that movement for an equal, sustainable
and thriving Ireland. Already, individuals, communities and progressive groups from
every corner of Ireland have begun to get involved.
It’s time to turn the despair and frustration into positive and decisive action for
real change.
For more information and to register – please go to
http://claimingourfuture.ie
If you want to help locally, please contact your County convenor at the email address
on the website http://www.claimingourfuture.ie/?page_id=64
Fancy trying your hand at a little shuttle knitting, some pottery, turning on a
polelathe, watching a thatcher in action, or getting lime plastered? Wicklow heritage
office is running a FREE one day Traditional Skills Day on Saturday 9th
October from 11am to 4pm in the courtyard of Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, in Wicklow
Town. Traditional Building, rural and household skills are very much part of our
heritage. Such skills generally involve the use of locally available materials to
produce practical, attractive, eco-friendly products which perfectly respond to
their local environment. The skills day will be a mix of demonstrations, talks and
displays and will include child friendly activities and workshops.
Rural Ireland Roadshow
A series of special public discussions are being held around the country over the
next month or so. The primary goal of the public meetings are to highlight
rural communities and their needs, and to strive forand to achieve greater legislative
priority for rural areas in Leinster House and at EU level. In attendance will be
local Oirechtas members and prominent figures from local business and community/voluntary
sectors, local authority members and officials etc. Questions and comments from
the audiences will be welcome and tea and coffee will be provided.
- Thursday Oct 7th: Sligo Town, Co. Sligo (Clarion
Hotel)
- Thursday Oct 14th: Navan, Co. Meath (Ardboyne Hotel)
- Thursday Oct 28th: Killarney, Co. Kerry (Malton Hotel)
- Thursday Nov 4th: Gorey, Co. Wexford (Amber Springs Hotel)
- Thursday Nov 11th: Tullamore, Co. Offaly (Tullamore Court Hotel)
This event is part of a European-wide initiative to highlight the challenges faced
by rural communities. (Weblink: www.rural-energy.eu
100% wool, stitched by Avoca Weavers with a beautiful quote from our founder Robert
Lloyd Praeger, this blanket at €49 would make a lovely present for anyone.
Email admin@antaisce.org
Zoning – The Good, The Bad and The ...?
Many of our members are faced with the drafting of County Development Plans, and
are familiar with the issues and pressures of over-zoning for development. It is
easy to forget when focused on trying to reverse such decisions and oppose further
over-zoning, that zoning can also be used, proactively, to create a
positive environmental impact. For example: in the new South Dublin County Development
Plan, An Taisce members working with local community groups, the Lucan Planning
Council and The Liffey Valley Park Alliance, (LVPA); of which An Taisce is a part
- drafted motions to introduce a new zoning type to the plan – specifically for
the Liffey Valley lands in the County. This has higher protection than the “High
Amenity” which is how most of these lands were previously zoned, and which as defined
in SDCC gives little protection. The amount of lands also zoned with this new 'Liffey
Valley Zone' was also extended, and some associated policies in the plan were also
updated.
Following engagement by the groups with local Councillors these motions were proposed
and, despite strong opposition from management in the Council, significant support
was won in the chamber, the motions passed, and the plan changed. It has been welcomed
as the most significant step in the protection of the Valley since the declaration
of the Special Amenity Area Order – which unfortunately is defined in too narrow
and short dimensions to afford any real protection to the Liffey Valley landscape
and biodiversity.
An Taisce has a project initiative 'This Place Matters' which assists communities
in addressing the challenges presented by CDPs – contact
Abby for further info. Early engagement in the re-drafting of the
plans is even more critical now – with the new legislative considerations such as
Strategic Environmental Appraisal and also to facilitate engagement with and briefing
of Councillors on the issues you wish to address.
Please make sure to keep us posted of similar experiences so we can share these
ideas.
Important precedent on 'EIA Post-Construction' from An Bord Pleanála.
An Taisce was delighted with a recent decision by The Board in relation to a quarry
in Nurney Demesne - which we appealed. The application depended on development that
had no Environmental Impact Assessment, but which should have been subject to EIA
under the European EIA Directive.
The Board stated in their decision that they were effectively 'precluded'
from granting permission to the development given the requirements of the EIA Directive
and the clarification on the matter of post-construction EIA consent from the European
Court of Justice (ECJ). And they quoted directly from the European judgement. Click
here for a link to the Board's
decision
This important precedent was used in An Taisce's submission on the latest Shell
E & P Ireland Ltd application for the onshore portion of the Corrib Gas Pipeline
– where An Taisce contends a similar issue exists.
Update on our submission to the latest Shell Corrib Gas Pipeline application:
- The Oral Hearing re-convened in August to address the revised routing of the pipe under Sruwaddacon Bay – as requested of the applicant by An Bord Pleanála.
- In brief, An Taisce holds that An Bord Pleanála is precluded from granting permission legally to the current Corrib Onshore Gas Pipeline application given the requirements of the EIA, Birds, and Habitats Directives.
- Among many other basic planning and conformance considerations, which could also justify a refusal, which An Taisce raised; and which will continue to be addressed during the remaining elements of the hearing, a number of considerations of the Habitats Directive were highlighted. All of these points were without prejudice to the over-riding argument on the matter of the legal definition of the concept 'site-integrity' - which has been referred by the Supreme Court of Ireland to the ECJ for interpretation after a landmark case brought by lifetime member of AnT - Peter Sweetman. An Taisce argues that An Bord Pleanála cannot reasonably determine the application has not an impact on 'site integrity' under Article 6 of the directive - as the Supreme Court of Ireland has conceded that they need clarification on the meaning of this matter from the ECJ. We also argued that greater protection is afforded to the Natura 2000 sites under the Birds Directive given their proposed designation as pSPA's.
- An Taisce has issue with the purported strategic importance of the Corrib Gas Field and its infrastructure. We contend the arguments presented about its purported contribution to our energy security are not justified - not limited to consideration of how the Gas market operates and the contracts pertaining to the field.
- The current application pertains to the transport of the offshore gas to the
refinery, many of the ongoing issues arise and indeed the whole process has been
damaged by Shell's insistence on the pipeline making a landfall at Glengad. This
has resulted in an unjustifiable restriction in the alternatives considered for
connecting the gas field to the terminal. Given the matters An Taisce raised re.
the planning history of the site, and the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
of the routes to the terminal from Glengad - the Corrib Gas Pipeline initiative
could be considered to constitute the single most salutary lesson on why not to
engage in project-splitting and splicing. The entirety of the proposed infrastructure
from well head, pipeline, terminal and onward connection to Galway should have been
planned and assessed as one application, and properly co-ordinated together with
all the consequential plans, permits and licences needed to ensure management of
environmental impacts, safe operation, and emergency response - to the hazard this
proposal presents.
It is interesting to note the Irish Government contends that the project will be
required to done to the highest environmental standards. However it was learned
in the hearing from one of Shell’s own consultants - that in the UK the pipeline
would be treated as a SEVESO application ( major accident hazard ). The matter of
Ireland's transposition EU directives, and the matter of the direct and indirect
effects of allowing the pipeline are therefore factors the Board also has to consider,
according to An Taisce. The Oral Hearing is expected to conclude week ending 1st
October.
Your views are important to An Taisce. Please don't hesitate to send us any feedback
on content, format, etc. of this newsletter, and if there are any topics in particular
that you'd like to see covered, we'll do our best to get them in.
Sincerely,
Jeff Young, Hon Secretary, An Taisce
and Abby McSherry, Local Associations Officer membership@antaisce.org
Jeff Young, Hon Secretary, An Taisce
and Abby McSherry, Local Associations Officer membership@antaisce.org
Tailors Hall,
Back Lane,
Dublin 8
Back Lane,
Dublin 8
Phone: 01 4541786
e-zine E-mail: jeff@rokeby.ie
general enquiries admin@antaisce.org
website www.antaisce.ie
newletters An Taisce Newsletters
e-zine E-mail: jeff@rokeby.ie
general enquiries admin@antaisce.org
website www.antaisce.ie
newletters An Taisce Newsletters
Preserving our built and natural heritage for future generations