As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was over in Greencastle Co Tyrone two days ago, taking part in their 5-mile protest run. I did this interview with young Bernie Fox, who impressed me enormously. The local people have a job on their hands combating the might of the Canada-based mining company that’s set to disembowel their landscape, but with people like Bernie leading the resistance, I feel they must overcome. Mind you, Mark H Durkan as Environment Minister holds the ultimate card…
I couldn’t get the interview running I’m afraid.
I’m ignorant of what the plans for the area are but, provisionally, I’m not opposed to the occasional mine, even an open cast one.
However, it depends very much on local environmental enforcement (which for us is the DOE so I’d probably be against the project as I wouldn’t trust them to enforce a no-parking policy).
I have seen examples of bad mining and ‘good’ mining (well, oilfield drilling in the latter case, but, same ballpark though).
BAD: Eastern Australia – They opened mines with gay abandon, local prices went through the roof, air traffic increased and the only people who gained long term were those who either saved their wages or cashed in on the local housing booms.
When the dust settled (literally) there was nothing but empty bars and retail units.
GOOD: Northern Uganda (at least when I was last there). The Ugandan government sent droves of inspectors and observers to the area that was being drilled.
They fined the oil companies for EVERYTHING, I remember a logistics guy hitting the roof because someone had dropped a plastic bottle cap in the middle of the road. That one cap would have lead to a massive fine for the company.
I returned to some of the wells after a year. The flora restoration work meant that one couldn’t have known that there was a well there (apart from the wee well head).
Furthermore the companies were forced to take as many locals as possible and train them up.
It genuinely brought local benefits.
But, I’m very aware of the bad side of resource exploitation, so, I’ll be a fence-sitter for the time being…
Listening to Bernie Fox,she’s certainly a very articulate young lady.Presumably she is a PR representative for local activists.While searching the ‘net for “Save our Sperrins” ,I came upon a report of a 2014 speech by a Ciaran Mc Clean who is a Green Party member and seems to be on the same side as Bernie.An interesting extract from the speech runs as follows
“Our campaigning efforts though are dwarfed by well resourced opponents on a number of fronts.The absentee M P Pat Doherty is 100% behind the Dalradian proposal as are Councillors in Omagh Council.”
Clearly the Green Party was alive to the potential dangers of this development a few yrs ago before the more recent local activity.I’m a bit surprised that Sinn Fein appears not to be on the side of the Angels here!.Perhaps Mr Doherty who resides in Donegal was not aware of local concerns but one would have expected local M L As to bring him up to speed.
Argenta
Double standards abound.
Environmental damage by multinationals in Tyrone. Jude will do a protest run.
Environmental damage from smuggling in South Armagh?
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/provos-dumping-cancercausing-toxins-into-river-30916066.html
Jude ( I’m not an environmentalist) Collins:
“I said I couldn’t work myself into a lather of indignation about smuggling – and I can’t.”
You’re a very cruel and hurtful man (?), gio. Because I try to do a teensy bit of good in one area doesn’t mean I’m called on to do good in every area. I’m sure you know that. Why don’t you do a guest blog on the topic? I’ll happily provide the platform.
Jude
No it’s admirable that you do your bit for the environment (in Tyrone at least). And fair play to you for that.
My point was that certain environmental damage seems to cause you no concern whatsoever:
“I do know that a man from S Armagh was in a dispute on this blog on Facebook and he said he lived there and that the water in S Armagh was fine.”.
One thing I never understand though is this business of putting your shorts on and running up the road.
Since it is for the environment why not actually spend the day picking up litter say, or cleaning some toxic sludge from our rivers, rather than a hundred people going out for a trot?
That is a general point and not directed at you alone, and yes I should just go out and do it myself!
I actually agree with you, gio (takes his temperature…). Runs and merry japes for Red Nose Day and Help the Children : I have often thought – and I think said – that it’s too bad that money/support is garnered in such a running-around-in-circles way.
Jude
If only everybody agreed with me it would all be so much simpler!
“Environmental damage from smuggling in South Armagh?
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/provos-dumping-cancercausing-toxins-into-river-30916066.html”
gio, how long has to pass after the PIRA stood down before criminal acts are no longer attributed to them?
If ex members now dissidents are involved in criminality, is it still the work of the provos?
If the same dissidents are getting a free rein in criminality due to being paid MI5 informants and agents, is it still the work of the provos?
What about when they get on a bit and their children, cousins or simply new blood take over, is it still the work of the provos?
Do you believe that I or any republican who supported the provos would call these people criminals if the provos still existed?
I have stated a few times on here how I despise dissidents and criminals would be happy to see them locked up, even though I may run into a few occasionally.
When I heard about the bomb attack on the prison officer I was pissed off about it being done by those who would claim a republican name.
That was until I heard arlene and the psni claim it was connected not more to do with what is going on with dissidents in prisons but with the commemoration of the rising.
Then on top of the media you have people like yourself who insist everything is the fault of republicans and it just grinds me down.
You know what, I no longer give a shit what dissidents do.
Why should anyone in the communities who these people operate, come forward to the PSNI who clearly still operate to a on-going conflict agenda?
Either dissidents are simply criminals who everyone should report immediately, or the conflict continues and in which case why risk getting involved?
It seems to me, quite clearly in your mind and many others that the conflict continues and nothing has changed. Certainly MI5 are as active as they ever were.
Perhaps we really are not out of the woods just yet.
jessica
Maybe the fuel smuggling (and pollution) is the work of PIRA former members or maybe it is not; that was not my point.
I was highlighting Jude’s relaxed attitude to smuggling in S Armagh despite evidence of environmental damage as contrasted with his sterling efforts regarding environmental damage in Tyrone.
I know he has Tyrone connections but that cannot be the only reason he cares in one county but not in the other fair county (the fairest of them all, by the way),can it?
“I was highlighting Jude’s relaxed attitude to smuggling in S Armagh despite evidence of environmental damage as contrasted with his sterling efforts regarding environmental damage in Tyrone.”
I know very well what you were doing, you posted a link claiming it was the provos, dated 7 years after they stood down. You may mean well gio, but you have been engaging in propaganda and you have just claimed you don’t even care if the article was true or not and that it wasn’t your point.
How do you think that goes down with republicans or do you just not care?
There is propaganda and there is what is really happening, The press and media have made zero effort to report what is really happening. Do you not think it is time you started focusing on the truth and not propaganda? Do you even know the difference?
If you think fuel smuggling is going to be the biggest problem we are all going to face then you are fool.
I met a few people recently who would have been Sinn Fein supporters in the past and to say the conversation was reserved was an understatement.
Did you ever sense a change in attitude? There is a change in the air which I hope is in my imagination.
Smuggling is the job of a police force which we still do not have. The PSNI have been turning a blind eye to it for political reasons with absolute impunity and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Most of those involved are state agents and disaffected ex republicans who believe Sinn Fein have them sold out and are now looking after number 1. However, I sense there is both a change in PSNI who are getting more aggressive in their behaviour perhaps believing the intense propaganda in the media reflects feelings on the ground. I assure you it doesn’t.
If you, the states or the media were serious about putting an end to it, you would be asking why the police are not able to do anything and not using it as a stick to attack Jude or anyone else who actually supports peace.
If conflict returns, there may not be a Gerry Adams or Thomas Murphy to help ensure peace is maintained even under intense media provocation.
Be careful what you wish for.