Having fresh water available publicly will help reduce the use of single use plastics. The European Parliament recently voted to ban single use plastics. Under the proposed directive, items such as plastic straws, cotton swabs, disposable plastic plates and cutlery would be banned by 2021, and 90 per cent of plastic bottle recycled by 2025. This is a clampdown on the top culprits of plastic products that most often end up in the ocean. Lightweight single-use items such as plastic bottles can easily travel long distances and damage marine flora and fauna. The 2107 Waste Reduction Bill, which proposes an Irish ban on single-use plastics, and a deposit and return scheme (DRS) on plastic bottles and aluminium cans, has passed initial stages in the Oireachtas. It takes three times the volume of water to manufacture one bottle of water than it does to fill it, and because of the chemical production of plastics that water is mostly unusable. When you pick up a water bottle at the supermarket, hold it up and imagine it filled ¼ with oil. That’s how much in fossil fuels it took just to manufacture a single bottle. In Ireland, we produce the equivalent of nearly 2,000 water bottles, or 5,550 disposal coffee cups, per person annually. Ireland is the top producer of plastic waste in Europe; generating an average of 61kgs per person every year - almost double what the UK produces. By introducing drinking fountains, we can make a conscious effort to reduce our plastic waste and protect West Cork's rich environment and food industry. Cork County Council have told me that they are considering this initiative but I want to show them that there is significant interest and support. I hope that with enough signatures we can make this goal a reality.

There are both health and financial benefits with the scheme. Small practical steps like this will save money, reduce the use of plastics and improve our environment. It is the first of many, and a small practical step to stem the tide of single use plastics & therefor plastic pollution, and of course provide free and safe drinking water in areas of high pedestrian footfall such as Salthill Promenade and our various parks. Unlike many European countries, Ireland took explicit ownership of natural resources in its 1937 Constitution. Water, as well as the nation’s other resources, ‘belong to the State’. Since the introduction of Irish Water in 2013 the infrastructure is already in place to easily implement such a scheme if the political will is there. Dublin city Councils are working with 'Cool Planet' with an aim to reduce the use of single-use plastics and we enourage Galway City and County Councils to follow suit. South Dublin County Council also plans to examine the provision of public water fountains by assessing suitable locations. Fingal County Council recently installed a public water fountain at Howth in an effort to reduce plastic waste and introduce water sustainability measures, a second fountain is due to be installed at Malahide Demesne.

Climate Change is accepted as an existential threat to the the planet and humanity. It affects us all and underpins every issue we fight for. The recent IPCC Report on 1.5°C is unequivocal: time is running out. Media in general and public service broadcasters in particular have a critical role to play in supporting public understanding of this issue and the transition to a low carbon future. Despite this, broadcasters still often obscure facts in the pursuit of so called "balance". In September 2018 the BBC became the first major broadcaster to implemented clear editorial guidelines to address this. We now call on RTE to issue a clear editorial policy in line with the science, in line with its public service mandate.

Posters are environmentally destructive, visually ugly and a waste of money; in the case of general elections, taxpayers money. We're sick of plastic and would like to see unnecessary plastic election posters eliminated.

Since 2001 the ESB has purchased 90% of its coal for Moneypoint from Columbia and two thirds comes from the Cerrejón mine in Colombia’s northern department of La Guajira. The ESB is 95% owned by the Irish government. The mine has displaced 1000s of indigenous Wayúu, Afro-Colombian and Campesino communities. 123 local leaders have been assassinated in the first 6 months of 2018. The local population has access to less than 1L of water each while the mine guzzles 17 million L per day. Not only is the Irish government complicit in these human rights abuses by purchasing blood coal but Ireland should be investing in clean energy. "The International Energy Association says that “Ireland’s location at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean ensures one of the best wind and ocean resources in Europe.” A clean-energy economy can happen. An Irish energy revolution can happen. But not without government help." The Guardian Please ask the Irish government to stop supporting the Cerrejón mine in Colombia (a Blood Coal company) and to work with local NGOs to rebuild the communities that their commercial practices have helped to destroy. Please read the full article here, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/oct/25/blood-coal-irelands-dirty-secret

We have lost 60% of Wildlife and biodiversity in the World since the 1970's. We are destroying wildlife habitat and replacing it for Palm Oil Plantations, to produce 'cheap' vegetable oil. Most products don't even need the ingredient as they had the same product before using palm oil. Do You know what Palm Oil is? Did you know that Palm oil is in most biscuits, cakes, crisps, chocolate bars, snacks, sweets, ice cream, crackers? It's in soap, shampoo, makeup and cleaning products? It's in drinks and health products too? It is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world and you probably don't even realise you're eating it!! Did you know that 60% of Wildlife has been removed since the 1970's? Palm oil doesn't need to be in any products we buy. It is there because its cheap and the industry wants to sell more and more of it. 180,000 Orangutans have disappeared in the last 100 years, due to hunting, capturing and now in the past 20 years the Palm Oil Industry. This Petition is a cry for help, It is to ask everyone and anyone to STOP buying palm oil products. Please take the time and JUST read the ingredients to see if what you are buying is apart of this massive environmental crisis. Stop buying products with Palm oil which support destruction. If you like your chocolate bars, just buy one that is organic and without palm oil and enjoy it more. We need to make a collective change in how we shop, buy and support the whole environment. We also need to start realizing that we have the power to make the change. Not allowing governments and corporations to make decisions for us, empowers us to make the right choices and in turn, the corporations and governments will have to follow US !! We have a massive opportunity to come together and fight for something that is bigger than ourselves. We all need the environment to support us. We need to start working with holistic systems, design, and management that carries good ethics, values, and morals with them. Please sign this petition but most importantly STOP BUYING Palm Oil Products, period. NO MORE. let's act together with our hearts, our heads and our consumer choice.

I am challenging Limerick City and County Council on their decision to refuse me retention of 21 solar pv panels on grounds of „ serious visual intrusion and that they set undesirable precedent for such development” https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/woman-claims-order-to-remove-solar-panels-forced-her-to-burn-fossil-fuels-1.3622137?mode=amp Since the picture was taken, I was brougt to court and I had to take down 14 out of 21 panels. Those panels used to heat home for me and my girls. Since I had to fit in a gas burner to heat our house for winter, my spendings up to date are over 5000 euro (applications to An Board Pleanala and CC Council, burner, taking down panels) and if I loose this case there will be legal costs for County Council, that I will have to cover. I am trying to change the legislation that only allows people to put up to 12 sq m of panels without prior planning. I belive that if we want to pass on Earth to our kids, Earth that would feed them and provide them with fresh air we need to change how we source energy and how we spend it. This will have an impact on everyone in Ireland, who wants to use pv panels and might not be able to afford to employ an architect and go through a planning process. Thank you for your support! And if you are arround, come by and support me in Kilmallock court on 13.11.18. Asia

Last week, two public bins were removed from Limekiln Ave Bus Terminus without consultation with the local community. This followed several complaints made over the last year and in particular the past few months by residents and public representatives These bins were not being collected as frequently as they should, one of the bins was broken and a huge amount of rubbish had been left lying around, which is not only an eye sore but also a serious public health issue. It should be noted that no household waste was observed being dumped. It was the kind of rubbish you would expect at such a location. Our community is extremely angry that SDCC has chosen to simply remove these bins rather than address the cause of the issue. Please sign the petition to demand that SDCC reinstate these bins immediately. Carly Bailey You can read more about this issue here: https://www.facebook.com/1418387828402340/posts/2236305246610590/

Our planet is dying due to our over reliance on plastic. Plastic waste is ending up not just in the sea but in our food chain. Plankton in the artic have been found with plastic in their system. If Burger king end their use of plastic straws and any plastic packaging they come in they as a worldwide company can lead the way in tackling climate change. We have no planet B we have 12 years left we must act now

We've just heard that we're on track to damage our climate so irreparably, we won't recognise the world we live in. But the Government has failed to act by letting the polluters who've put us in this situation off the hook. If we don't immediately escalate the action we're taking on climate change, we're on track for 3 degrees of warming - double the maximum amount said to be safe by experts. Leo Varadkar and the Government talk the talk - but when it comes down to it, they've let us down. Please sign so we can build a campaign big enough to make them retract their failure to act!

The top nine reasons why this is important is 1) We do not want to lose the SDCC depot as this will severely erode the ability to maintain the high standards within the park thereby threatening our Green Flag status 2) We will lose the precious and unique urban farm that delights children 3) We will lose the socially inclusive community garden 4) We will lose the St John of God garden that provides horticultural therapy for people with various disabilities 5) The highly invasive Giant Knotweed is present on the site. The proposal to move it is dangerous and reckless as Whitestown Stream runs parallel to the proposed building site 6) We will lose the last remains of a 200 year old bridge that should be a protected structure 7) Every inch of Sean Walsh Park is an Objective OS zoned area i.e.to preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities (as set out in the SDCC Development Plan 2016-2022) 8) Putting old peoples homes beside Tallaght Stadium which hosts matches regularly and will host concerts represents extremely poor planning 9) There is at least one more appropriate site available in Tallaght for the proposed Cluid development that would not not cause any of the foregoing problems and issues. *If you wish to support our offline please email [email protected] with your name and address* See why Sean Walsh Park should be preserved from property development: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MpP7Osf3YYo

Drug Policy, and the war on drugs has had children, parents, politicians and stranger murdered in broad daylight. Thanks to gang activity, I myself shake and fear at the noise of bangers going off. The entire country lives in fear of gangs, gangs fed through drug money, drug money coming from the "black market". Little do they realise that the failing drug policy, the politicians and their lobbyists are directly financing this through their stern, "moral" views on dirty drugs. It is absolutely unacceptable. I am sick & tired of burying my friends and lending their brokenhearted families a soaking shoulder to cry on because the government failed them. The governmental position on drugs, the policy set in place in the early 1970's, has absolutely failed them. Where were you when they found their bodies, that nobody heard of because the news would rather report the stash of Class A narcotics they found in a shed, behind a burnt out house and a car filled with hand guns and machetes. Where were you and where are you now? What are you going to do to change this? My name is Sandy Brun, I am a qualified Toxicologist and I hope to graduate with a Master's degree in Neuroscience & Pharmacology. You can find me on LinkedIn. I am sick and tired of burying my friends with dirty drugs in their veins, up their noses and everywhere else. I am sick and tired of being let down by this never ending agonizing political situation that is murdering my friends and breaking the hearts of their families. I've lived in Ireland since I was 10 years old, and I've buried a friend every year since I was 13. You're so proud of the 100th 1916 Easter Rising anniversary that the country celebrated 2 years ago. You're so damn proud to be Irish. You're so damn prejudicial and soft. Stand and fight. For our sons and daughters.