Every year we throw away millions of tonnes of plastic - it never disappears, but breaks down into tiny pieces which finds its way into our rivers, seas, soils and air. Here in Northern Ireland 8 out of ten of the most found items on beaches in Northern Ireland were made of plastic. As the plastic breaks down into tiny pieces it’s consumed by marine animals, and scientists have found evidence that we are ingesting it through the food chain. Photo: A grey seal entangled in plastic, photographed by DAERA (2019)

We have seen the success of the campaign. Dublin City Council (DCC) even hinted at it in their social media campaigns with over 300,000 people having enjoyed the pedestrianised. Yet, despite the popularity, DCC are looking to end the pedestrianisation. We want to see it continued as we still need Covid-safe environments to meet with friends going into the winter. Please also email your local councillor to make sure this happens. List here: https://councilmeetings.dublincity.ie/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?EM=1&ID=0

Because this affects EVERYBODY in Ireland, it is not something that happens to other people - it will impact all facets of business, enterprise, services and the private lives of individuals. Apart from the imminent and real danger to sick people living at home who require a regular, uninterrupted electricity supply and indeed to hospitals and care homes, just reflect on the effects of a power outage on electrical appliances and internet access. It will be too late to protest when the centres have been allowed to be built, most of which are absorbing energy without allowing any facility to use renewable energy supplies. It isn't just electricity supplies that will be affected, an inordinate amount of water is also required to keep these centre running efficiently. It is also important to note that these centres DO NOT employ many people. Many countries in Europe have put a moratorium on the building of these energy grabbing entities because they realise the devastating effect they have on national energy supplies.

For some years now, Fingal Council has shown very little interest in keeping a clean environment around the Broadmeadow Estuary catchment area. Volunteers in "Swords Pickers" were able to remove truck loads of dumped rubbish from Ward River Valley Park and Broadmeadow Estuary in the first half of 2021 alone. If something is not done to fundamentally correct this, plastic & other waste will continue to travel from the parkland in Swords, through the Estuary and out into the Irish Sea. Development of either the full size all-weather playing pitch and/or the Broadmeadow Greenway in 2021 will obviously add to the problem by multiplying volumes of human traffic.

Glyphosate the main ingredient in Roundup is poisonous to humans, wildlife and the environment. Studies recently found that this toxic weedkiller is in most people's bodies [1]. It is being sprayed on roadsides, paths, in housing estates close to where people live. Ireland has the second highest levels of glyphosate in surface water in the EU whilst other countries are banning it. In 2015 the World Health Organisation concluded that the pesticide was 'probably carcinogenic to humans' and again, [2] Despite this many local councils still use it and it is still being sold on shop shelves as Round Up. The EU re-approved the use of glyphosate in 2017 however, in the last few years it has been banned by countries including France, Germany, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, the Netherlands, Argentina, Columbia, Peru and Mexico. The EU licence renewal was due to happen this July 2022 but it's been pushed down the road again until July 2023. Big lobby’s already swooping in to convince politicians to vote to continue its use, ignoring the devastating effect it has on our biodiversity, water and our health.[3] Sign the petition to join the campaign so we can ban Glyphosate once and for all. Notes: [1] https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2022/07/09/disturbing-weedkiller-ingredient-tied-to-cancer-found-in-80-of-us-urine-samples/ [2] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/widely-used-herbicide-linked-to-cancer/ [3] Page 83 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4302/epdf

It’s terrible seeing all these useless face masks ending up polluting the environment and they keep producing more and more and giving them away

In recent years there has been a growing trend in purchasing a cask of whiskey for investment purposes. These casks need to be stored somewhere and distilleries are looking to our countryside to build large warehouses solely for the purpose of storing whiskey. Now West Cork Distillers Ltd. wants to build a whiskey maturation site on 26.5 acres in the heart of West Cork. The floorspace alone for the warehouses amounts to 24,480m2 (6 Acres), a road network is also required around these warehouses. The proposed development is only 1700m from the foot of Carrigfadda, that affords truly the most magnificent panoramic coastal and countryside views in West Cork. On clear days, one can see as far as the Old Head of Kinsale, the Kerry Paps, Hungry Hill and Sherkin Island, to name a few. This Large development doesn’t offer any extra employment into the area as it is mainly manned by CCTV operations or would have a maximum of two people on site. Our country lanes can’t support arctic lorries, the infrastructure is not there to support such a sizeable development. There is a potential for flooding in the area if the development goes ahead. A development of this size will lead to loss of habitat for our wildlife. This is an urban development that is more suited to an urban industrial area. We want to support our local enterprises, but we need our local enterprises to respect our rural communities. And we need your help to help us protect existing rural character and discourage urban style developments.

Parks should be public amenities that serve the physical and mental wellbeing of city residents. Even before the pandemic, many people living in cities are confined to cramped indoor living conditions during the summer, with parks providing an important refuge from this reality. Four Masters Park in the heart of inner city Dublin has the potential to be one of those thriving community spaces. However, at present it is closed off to the public despite Dublin City Council paying for its upkeep. Local residents and politicians have all repeatedly called for the park to be opened up but the Sisters of Mercy won't budge. The days of religious orders controlling our parks, our bodies, our hospitals and our schools are numbered. It is incomprehensible that public funds are being used on a space that can't be enjoyed by the people. Renewed media attention and the wider issue of church control in Ireland has brought this issue to the fore. Now is the time to put pressure on the Sister of Mercy nuns to release their hold on the park.

Achainí: Iarrann muid oraibh cúnamh a thabhairt dúinn scriosadh thírdhreach álainn agus ghnáthóga nádúrtha Chois Fharraige a stopadh. Tá sé molta i nDréacht-Phlean Forbartha Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe 2022-2028 go mbeadh go leor den talamh sa gceantar ‘Feiliúnach i bPrionsabal’ nó go mbeifí ‘Sásta é a Phlé’ i dtaobh tuirbíní fuinnimh gaoithe in-athnuaite a fhorbairt. Tá daonra mór agus tithe cónaithe go leor gar de chuid mhaith den cheantar atá molta don zónáil seo. Tá roinnt mhaith tuirbíní gaoithe sa gceantar cheana fhéin atá ag goilliúnt ar shaol an phobail, ar a mbaile agus ar a sláinte. Má chuirtear na ceantair atá molta san áireamh sa leagan deiridh de Phlean Forbartha Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe 2022-2028, ciallóidh sé go dtógfar go leor tuirbíní gaoithe eile sa gceantar seo agus go gcuirfear as do níos mó daoine agus don chaoi a gcaitheann siad a saol. Chiallódh sé freisin go scriosfaí go leor gnáthóga nádúrtha agus go ngoillfeadh sé ar na héanacha, na hainmhithe fiáine agus ar fhiadhúlra eile sa gceantar, chomh maith le tírdhreach álainn an cheantair a scriosadh go brách na breithe. Iarrann muid ort an achainí seo a shíniú agus cúnamh a thabhairt dúinn stop a chur leis an scriosadh a dhéanfar ar ár ngnáthóga, an chaoi a gcuirfear as dár dtithe, dár saol agus dár sláinte agus an dochar a dhéanfar do thírdhreach álainn Chois Fharraige nach mbeifear in ann a dhul siar air, má ghlactar leis na moltaí sa dréacht-phlean seo. This petition is in response to the Draft Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 pursuant to which it is proposed to zone additional lands in Cois Fharraige as suitable for renewable wind energy development. Petition: Please help stop the destruction of our beautiful landscape and natural habitats in Cois Fharraige. In the Draft Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, Galway County Council has designated a lot of our bogland areas as ‘Acceptable in Principle’ and ‘Open to Consideration’ for the development of renewable wind energy turbines. A lot of the proposed zoned areas are densely populated and in severe close proximity to people’s homes. At present, there is already a significant number of wind turbines located in the area which are affecting people’s lives, their homes and their well being. If the proposed areas as drafted are included in the final version of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, this will result in a massive increase in the further development and number of wind turbines located in the area and further homes and lives will be disrupted. It would also result in the destruction of many natural habitats and endangerment of species such as birds, animals and other wildlife inhabiting the area, in addition to destroying the beautiful natural landscape forever more. Please sign the petition below and help prevent the massacre to our habitats, the disruption that will be caused to our homes, lives and well being and the irreversible destruction to our beautiful Cois Fharraige landscape if this proposal goes ahead.

It is saving irelands folklore, history, and identity.

Residents in the Callenders Mill estate and surrounding estates do not want a shop built on the green area in front of their houses. This green is filled with children playing every day. Residents want to keep this green space as there is already a lack of green spaces for children in Celbridge. Callenders Mill is clearly a residential area. The proposed shop will be open from 7am to 10pm, which will cause serious disturbance and noise pollution for residents. There is already insufficient parking for residents in the estate. There are already a significant number of other shop in the vicinity. There are also vacant shop units within walking distance of the proposed site. We do not need or want a shop in Callenders Mill, Celbridge!

The Limerick - Nenagh - Ballybrophy Railway is a vital piece of national rail infrastructure but it needs a more holistic approach to investment and upgrading in order to deliver a proper service that will attract passengers. Public transport throughout the Midwest region is not good enough. I would hope people throughout the Midwest and supporters of the rail network throughout Ireland would support our campaign. Our requests are not unreasonable, they are modest practical requests that would massively improve the services available on the line. Your support would be greatly appreciated.