If finding a new role is one of your new year resolutions, you may be interested in a vacancy with the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).

SWAN is an umbrella network of twenty five of Ireland’s leading environmental groups working together on water policy issues. The role of the Network, Administration & Policy Support Officer is to assist the SWAN Coordinator in ensuring the smooth running of the SWAN office; to provide support to our member organisations; to facilitate smooth and effective communication amongst member organisations and between member organisations and other bodies and to assist with the delivery of advocacy plans and policy research projects.

For more details, visit SWAN’s website.

It was a busy year that kicked off with work on the Climate Change Bill before  work began on the General Election. We drew up a Doorstepping Guide for Candidates and carried out an analysis of the new Programme for Government.

We then moved onto household waste workshops in local communities, an appearance on TV3 talking about illegal dumping and an article about food waste for TheJournal.ie

Since then, we ‘ve been busy behind the scenes working on policy consultations on household waste collection, Rio+20 and the EU ETS Phase III to name but a few! We even made it into the national papers when we responded to Phil Hogan decided an Irish Climate Change Law wasn’t a priority.

But none of this would be possible without your support, and the support of people like you. So a very big thank you to all of our supporters.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

The VOICE Team

This fun animation provides a vision of what a post-consumer society could look like, with people working fewer hours and pursuing re-skilling, homesteading, and small-scale enterprises that can help reduce the overall size and impact of the consumer economy. Narrated by economist and best-selling author Juliet Schor (http://www.julietschor.org).

The shorter work week reminds us of the New Economic Foundation’s (NEF) ’21 Hours’ project, where everyone works just 21 hours a week. You can find out more about the NEF project by clicking here.

Today, we have a guest post and bonus online article to our Winter Newsletter  from Brian Morris who explains why efforts to tackle the thorny issue have failed and what we must do in the future.

The Bogs: How To Reach a Just Solution

by Brian Morris

At the present moment, one of the most political hot topics in the country are the bogs if you are to believe a certain West of Ireland TD and he is right to a point. The government’s efforts to restrict turf cutting on 55 raised bogs (out of a total of 1500 raised bogs) are a dynamite issue which is facing massive political opposition. And we in the Irish Environmental movement are losing the debate. We have failed to explain the importance of peatlands, we have failed to explain how Ireland contains the best examples of peatland habitat in Western Europe and we have failed to be leaders.  For a country with such a deep connection and history of bogs, we should be world leaders in their conservation and sustainable use. Sadly we are not.  The Irish state has not even attempted to restrict turf cutting beyond a handful of raised bogs, to the remaining 15% of the original peatlands of Ireland still worthy of conservation and given the political fallout from trying to restrict cutting in a few raised bogs, it is unlikely that any further measures to protect our bogs will be brought in anytime soon.

The saga of the government’s decision to protect these 55 raised bogs started in 1992 with the signing of the Habitats Directive by the EU, which brought in requirements for member states to protect their ecologically important ecosystems. This Directive was transposed into Irish Law by the Natural Habitats Regulations in 1997. The government of the day knew that bogs would be a key habitat to protect however reassurances were given that domestic turf cutting would be protected and then we as a country fudged.  In 1999 the government reached an agreement over cutting turf in habitats protected by the Habitats Directive known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The government gave a ten year grace period – backbench TDs knew that this issue would cost votes.

This grace period should never have been given. It makes no sense to have a law at the EU level since 1992, in Irish legislation since 1997 and still claim that turf cutting can continue for ten additional years. This grace period was not based on scientific reason and it wasn’t even used to assist people who depend on turf for heating and in some cases their livelihoods to finding alternative means of heating their homes or livelihoods. This sent out the wrong message to those opposed to the protection measures: that protesting would stop the restriction coming even after the ten years. And protest they have.

The issue is a dynamite one, across the West and Midlands. One TD has been elected on the issue in Roscommon-South Leitrim. TDs in all the major parties have voiced support, for the turf cutters. At one meeting in Athlone on the issue, the turf cutting lobby got 2000 people to attend. The destruction of the bogs of Ireland has helped cheaply heat many families over the centuries who did not have an alternative fuel source and people are deeply angry over any attempts to restrict with what they see as their God given right to do, i.e. cut and burn turf. Knowledge and understanding of the importance of bogs is limited. It has to be understood that cutting turf has been going on for centuries and people are incredibly short term in their thinking. To them talking about the loss of peatlands seems ridiculous. “Sure isn’t there too much bog, it will last for years” or “You can’t eat the scenery” is the prevailing attitude. This issue is a serious vote catcher and loser. The environmental movement has not even come close to matching the strength or emotion of the pro-turf cutting campaign.

The pressure on the government to protect the bogs comes from Europe – the   government faces millions of euros of fines if it does not bring in the necessary protective measures for raised bog habitat. It is a pity that Irish environmentalists are not the main pressure. At present the EU is not exactly popular and rural Ireland has a collective memory of the landlords and of resistance to foreign powers telling them what they should do with their land. If the debate on the bogs is to be won, we in Ireland have to take ownership of it, people who are concerned need to support action, the government needs to see voters here want to protect the bogs. We need to explain why the bogs need to be saved and to me the most important reason of all is climate change.

Globally peatlands store an equivalent of 75% of the total amount of atmospheric carbon. This is why we need to protect peatlands, if we are going to have any hope of preventing dangerous climate change; we need to keep every ounce of carbon we can in the ground and to protect those habitats that actively sequester carbon. It is estimated that active peatlands in Ireland sequester about 57,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. That figure would be considerably more if we had not destroyed our bogs. So instead of a carbon sink, we have a source. At present domestic turf cutting in Ireland causes the release 808,000 tonnes of carbon per year directly from degraded bogs and a further 323,000 tonnes is released from domestic burning. In total 2.64 million tonnes of carbon is released due to the exploitation of our peatlands both by domestic and industrial factors. It is clear that if we wish to address the issue of global warming, we in Ireland have a moral duty to protect what is left of our bogs and to repair the damage where we can.  It is also clear that it is not just the industrial scale exploitation by Bord na Móna that needs to be tackled, contrary to what the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association would have us believe. It is also small domestic scale exploitation.

The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association has been hysterical and illogical throughout the debate on the bogs. However, the Association does have one clear point which I have to admit does appear valid. The compensation scheme on offer is not sufficient.  The recent government offer to the turf cutters is €1000 per year over fifteen years. This would cost about €20 million euro in total over the 15 years. The turf cutters argue that this is not just compensation.

For arguments sake we will take that the average cost of heating a house is €2000 per annum, there is a significant difference between a €1000 and €2000, not even taking into account the capital cost of switching to an alternative heating system. Furthermore we have to recognise that many of the bogs being closed if left open would provide turf for a lot more than 15 years. We also have to recognise the economic difficulties many people are in when discussing this issue. There has been a significant increase in turf cutting since the start of the recession. The increase in turf cutting is down to the fact that people are desperate to make ends meet. People are struggling to pay the mortgage, so people have now returned to the bank of turf their family have worked for decades. The government should have acted on this issue during the Celtic tiger, not as many people were cutting turf and those who were, were not in the dire economic circumstances that people are in today. These dire circumstances are definitely contributing to the emotional debate on turf cutting in the Midlands and West of Ireland.

I passionately believe in protecting our bogs and I believe we are not going far enough, all bogs should be closed and works should start to repair the damage we have done where we can. However we cannot ignore the turf cutter’s concerns. A compromise has to be reached.

My solution to this problem, is that every household that has turbary rights (there are about 20,000 with such rights on raised bogs that qualify as SACs and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)) should be given grant to insulate their home and to put in some form of green heating system similar to the now defunct Greener Homes Scheme along with the annual stipend of €1500 over the course of 20 years. The benefits of such a scheme would be that people get a more financially rewarding compensation package, thus incentivising them to give up their turbary rights and the money is used to support the implementation of sustainable energy systems. Furthermore the grants for new heating systems would help create jobs in the regions affected. This will cost money, however if we are serious about protecting our climate our biodiversity we have precious little choice. The turf cutting lobby is a powerful lobby. This lobby will not just go away, and we need action now to protect these peatlands, every year that passes more damage occurs.

The Irish environmental movement has to throw its weight behind the fight to protect peatlands, we have to lobby TDs to take a positive stand on the issue and the movement has to reach out to rural Ireland, to explain the importance of peatlands to work with rural communities to develop positive alternatives to turf cutting as a livelihood and heating source. That is the only way we can guarantee the long term protection of the bogs.

The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is opposed to badger culling and the use of snares. Not only is it barbaric and unethical, recent findings have shown it to be ineffective in the war on bovine TB. Badgers can die over extended periods struggling in these hideous devices while their young starve underground. Nobody has ever counted badgers accurately in this country and while it has always been assumed that they are common animals, this can no longer be taken for granted.

• 115,000 badgers have been killed by the Irish Government since 1984
• 6,000 snares are set in Ireland every night
• €70 million of citizen’s money has been allocated to the disease eradication programme this year alone
• Badgers are a protected species by Irish and European law

The IWT wants this practice to stop immediately. It is cruel, wasteful and damages Ireland’s reputation for its ‘green island economy’. We recognise that bovine TB is a major problem for Irish farmers but it also must be recognised that culling does not work. Resources should be focused on a national vaccination programme. Faulty science and politically driven motives should not be used as excuses for slaughtering our wildlife.

Scotland and most of mainland europe are officially TB free!! Scotland achieved this in 2009 without badger culling through better farming methods, movement testing and restrictions. This is a proven solution that has worked in many other countries. Why can’t we do this?

You can learn more about badgers in Ireland and the impact of culling on www.iwt.ie where you can also donate to our campaign and be in with a chance to win a specially commissioned oil portrait of a badger family by Ireland’s top wildlife artist Morgan Gibbs.

www.iwt.ie

This year has been very busy for VOICE with a lot of our work done on policy issues, telling the Government what we think they should be doing differently. In this edition of our Newsletter we give you an update on the promised climate change bill on page 1 and you can read about the rest of our policy work on pages 6 and 7.

We have focused a lot of our attention on food waste this year. You can read our article on food waste that appeared in TheJournal.ie earlier this year on page 2 and check out our review of Tristram Stuart’s insights into the wasteful world of the global food system in Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal on page 7. And for those who would like some tips on how to reduce their food waste, read our 5 helpful food waste reduction tips on page 3.

This Newsletter also includes a section on sustainable lifestyles, where you can read all about the Transition Initiative in Ireland and Northern Ireland on page 4 and see how you too can get involved. And for all of you dreaming of a green Christmas this year, you can have a read of our green Christmas tips and advice on page 5.

We hope you all enjoy reading our Winter Newsletter 2011 and we wish you a very enjoyable Christmas season.

Feasta is inviting anyonewho knew him or who was influenced by his work to leave comments in the tribute section of their website. Tributes are already pouring in from across the world.

Fellow environmental NGO and member of the Environmental Pillar, Feasta, is holding an event on Tuesday 15th November in Dublin City Centre. Read on for more information:

A lecture by Steve Keen, author of Debunking Economics: the naked emperor dethroned. He is a winner of the Revere Award for being the economist who most cogently warned of the crisis, and whose work is most likely to prevent a future one. He is professor of economics and finance at the university of Western Sydney.

Followed by a panel discussion with Prof Keen and including Richard O’Rourke of The Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO Ireland) and Gillian Fallon and David Korowicz from Feasta, The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability.

On Tuesday 15th November at 7pm (for a 7.15 sharp start) at the Davenport hotel, Lr Merrion st, Dublin 2.
Entrance €10 (€5 Feasta & ASPO members, unwaged).

Phil Hogan reveals true colours by delaying Climate Bill

The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership expressed disappointment at today’s announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, that a Climate Change Bill is not a priority. This represents a significant backtrack on the Government’s commitment to deliver climate change legislation by 2012.

Commenting on behalf of the Pillar today, Tara Connolly, convenor of the Pillar’s Climate and Energy Working Group, said

“This is paralysis by analysis. We are only 9 years away from our 2020 targets and we cannot wait another year to implement policies that reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions. The climate policy review by the Department of Environment clearly states that we will not meet our 2020 targets under current policies and measures. We need a Climate Change Bill to make sure this government and future governments don’t pass the buck.”

Minister Hogan intends to seek concessions for the agricultural sector. He claims that climate change concerns have to be balanced with food security in the context of an increasing global population.

Commenting on this on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, Molly Walsh of Friends of the Earth, also member of the Climate and Energy Working Group, said:

“With 7 billion people on earth, it is more important than ever that we reduce our carbon emissions. Ireland is never going to be the bread basket of the world and we must recognise the profound impacts that climate change will have on our food security. Inaction on climate change is a threat to food security, not action.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

This submission was developed using the Environmental Pillar processes but is not necessarily the policy of each member group in the pillar.

Environmental Pillar members:An Taisce. Bat Conservation Ireland,BirdWatch Ireland. CELT – Centre for Ecological Living and Training. Coast Watch. Coomhola Salmon Trust. Crann. ECO UNESCO. Feasta. Forest Friends. Friends of the Earth. Gluaiseacht. Grian. Hedge Laying Association of Ireland. Irish Doctors Environment Association. Irish Natural Forestry Foundation. Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Irish Seal Sanctuary. Irish Seed Saver Association. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Irish Wildlife Trust. Just Forests. The Organic Centre. Sonairte. Sustainable Ireland Cooperative. VOICE. Zero Waste Alliance Ireland.

CONTACT:

For further details, info, opinion, etc. please contact:

Michael Ewing. Co-ordinator, Environment Pillar of Social Partnership -
Mobile: 086 867 2153. Email: michael@ien.ie

Danny Walsh. Communications Officer, Environment Pillar of Social Partnership -
Mobile: 086 8127139. Email: danny@ien.ie

The launch comes after the release of a report by Global Citizens that found GM crops do not increase yields but do promote much higher levels of pesticide and chemical use.

GM Moratorium is collecting signatures for a petition that will be presented to the Irish Government. You can add your name by going to their website: www.gm-moratorium.com