Futureproof Clare

Words of Bethlehem Pastor Rev Munster Isaac:

"Gaza today has become the moral compass of the world.
Gaza was hell before October 7th and the world was silent.
Should we be surprised that it is silent now?"

Silent night, unholy night ....

Please read. This is catastrophic.

“It doesn’t get any worse,’’ the World Food Programme’s chief economist, Arif Husain, said.

“I have never seen something at the scale that is happening in Gaza and at this speed – how quickly it has happened in just a matter of two months.”

Entire Gaza population facing hunger crisis, famine risk: UN-backed report The proportion of households affected by acute food insecurity is largest ever recorded globally, the report says.

So delighted to hear that Clare CoCo passed the motion today to formally support the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement against Israel - as well as to call for a permanent ceasefire. 😃
Special thanks to Cllr Donna McGettigan for proposing it.
And thank you to all who contacted councillors ahead of the meeting.
This feels something we can hopefully build on. ✊

***Update: Deadline for objections 22nd Dec***

We will be objecting to Aughinish Alumina's application for renewal of its license to dump dredged materials at sea.

See application here:
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/terminalfour/DaS/DaS-view.jsp?regno=S0026-02

Risks associated with dredging include:
Loss and alteration of seabed habitat and associated species at the location of the dredge/deposition areas, which lie within the lower Shannon special area of conservation. Protected species in this area include the highly endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Sea Lamprey, Brook Lamprey, River Lamprey, Salmon, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Otter.

Other risks associated with dredging include:
-Water quality impacts from increased suspended sediment and turbidity levels in the water column at the dredge location.
-Disturbance to species through smothering from the deposition of suspended solids
-Temporary noise disturbance from dredging plant
-Water quality impacts from accidental oil spill associated with fuelling activities of the suction hopper dredger

Any member of the public can object - please feel free to do so.

In the meantime we are still looking for donations to our gofundme so that we can pay for fees, experts etc https://www.gofundme.com/f/legal-case-against-toxic-bauxite-refinery

Tomorrow at 12 pm at the Dail there is a protest in support of the Traveller community. If anyone at all can make it they would so so appreciate our support and solidarity

UPDATE: The UN Secretary General has just taken the unusual move of invoking Article 99 to push Security Council member states more strongly towards calling for a ceasefire in Gaza - and this includes the power to impose sanctions against Israel. This is a good time to talk to our county councillors to encourage them to take similar action. See below!

An urgent call to contact your councillor/s this week!

Clare County Council will be voting on a motion next Monday (11th) which calls on the council to support the call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to formally support the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement against Israel.

All violence against civilians caught in conflict should be condemned and much suffering has been inflicted both in Israel and Palestine in recent weeks. The ongoing indiscriminate bombing and denial of basic survival needs which the Israeli Government has been inflicting on the people of Gaza (as well as the numerous attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank) flouts international law and universal human rights. There has been no secret made of the fact that this is a collective punishment being wrought on the 2.1 million men, women and children living in the enclave – and this against a backdrop of decades of oppression and control. Over 6,600 children are now dead and many thousands maimed and without surviving family members.

Councillors need to hear their constituents care about this. There are very few in the council who will (without a nudge) speak out on this issue. Please, if you feel something needs to be done about the genocide unfolding in Gaza, copy the template below and email to your councillor (or even a few of them if you can). A quick phone call could be even better! We have a chance here to make a small difference.

Thank you

Emma

List and contact details of Clare councillors
https://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/contact-the-council/councillors/
_______________________________________________________________________

Dear Councillor

It is with urgency and deep concern that I contact you to ask if you would support a motion calling for a ceasefire and formal support of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel at the next council meeting on December 11th.

The wording of the motion can be found below and will be proposed by Cllr Donna McGettigan.

All violence against civilians caught in conflict should be condemned and much suffering has been inflicted both in Israel and Palestine in recent weeks. The ongoing indiscriminate bombing and denial of basic survival needs which the Israeli Government has been inflicting on the people of Gaza (as well as the numerous attacks on Palestines in the West Bank) flouts international law and universal human rights. There has been no secret made of the fact that this is a collective punishment being wrought on the 2.1 million men, women and children living in the enclave – and this against a backdrop of decades of oppression and control. Over 6,000 children are now dead and many thousands maimed and without surviving family members.

Dun Laoghaire Council passed a similar motion a couple of weeks ago (https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2023/11/13/dun-laoghaire-council-votes-to-support-boycott-divestment-and-sanctions-on-israel/) and Dublin City Council has backed the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions movement) since 2018.

Kerry County Council passed a similar motion calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire recently.

Why do we think supporting the BDS movement is also necessary?

At its simplest, BDS is a global non-violent protest movement. It attempts to use economic and cultural boycotts against Israel, financial divestment from the state, and government sanctions to pressure Israel’s government to abide by international law and end its controversial policies toward Palestinians: policies now described by some human rights experts and legal scholars as apartheid.

BDS takes direct inspiration from the South African anti-apartheid fight and the US civil rights movement, both of which effectively used boycotts. South African anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a spirited defender of the BDS movement, calling the parallels between apartheid South Africa and Israel “painfully stark.” (https://www.vox.com/world-politics/23935054/boycott-movement-palestine-against-israel-bds)

The words of the motion coming before Clare CoCo on the 11th December are as follows:

That Clare County Council, notwithstanding the current short term truce, condemns the ongoing bombardment and collective punishment by Israel of innocent men, women and children in Gaza over the last seven weeks. We therefore formally endorse and support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to compel Israel to comply with international law and universal human rights. In addition, we support calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and full humanitarian intervention to alleviate the suffering of the people of the besieged Gaza Strip. We call for the release of all hostages and prisoners by both sides as part of a comprehensive ceasefire.

Yours sincerely

Councillors - directory of councillors | Contact the council and opening hours | Council | Clare County Council Contact details for library branches in County Clare.

Amazing action this morning by XR who occupied the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Communications against Government plans for a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal, as emerging from the long waited Energy Security Review. Again the government is pursuing a short-sighted, fossil fuel reliant strategy that is completely unacceptable in times of planetary crisis. This energy is not for the people it is to suit corporate and geopolitical interest - such as the US aggressive LNG exports and the colonisation of Ireland by data centers. Minister Eamon Ryan and its greenwashed party have NOT the support of grassroots environmental groups in this country.
https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2023/1116/1416829-lng-protest/

Anyone in Dublin - important action happening tomorrow morning on the foot of the energt security review which has (unsurprisingly) recommended a floating LNG terminal. Insread of following IPCC recommendations for no new fossil fuel infrastructure, Ireland will be charging every household to build a fracked gas terminal instead of investing in renewables.

Join our rapid-response protest against LNG at 9 am tomorrow, Thursday 16th Nov outside the Department of Environment Climate and Communications, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin D02 X285.

Along with many allies, we've been fighting for years against the threat of LNG coming to Ireland. Now is a pivotal time for us to show up to the fight again - following the release of DECC's Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 report, which recommends a floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) as a strategic storage option. That means LNG!!

Let’s use this protest to show our outrage and get LNG off the table!

Please bring banners and signs and be ready to MAKE SOME NOISE!

Futureproof Clare stands with Palestine! 🇵🇸

At times like these, it is important to see the intersections between our struggles and to condemn oppression and injustice wherever we see it.
While we absolutely do not condone Hamas' horrific massacre of civilians, some of whom were peace activists who had fought for Palestinian rights for decades, we also condemn the attempted genocide currently underway in Gaza by the Israeli apartheid state in the strongest terms.

The roots of this violence lie in the violent settler-colonial occupation of Palestine which began around a century ago. The violent colonial logic of the Israeli state is the same logic which is at the root of the ecological crisis today. These are various facets of the same struggle.

It is also important to recognise what our struggle is. The Israeli state has long marketed its colonial project as green. For example, through planting trees on stolen land to “turn the desert green”. This is a hideous greenwashing of the racist notion that Israel “made the desert bloom”, ignoring the millennia of peoples who had lived there before 1948. This is not the kind of environmentalism we pursue.

How can we fight for land justice when Palestinians are constantly uprooted from their land? How can we fight for water justice when Israel turns off the taps to Gaza? How can we fight for a better future when the future of over a million Gazan children is stripped from them by Israel? Climate and ecological justice must go hand in hand with decolonisation, peace and a just future for all!

All welcome to a beach clean on Sunday organised by Sea Shepherd Ireland

Great feeling of solidarity from spending tine with other activists working hard all over the country for the greater good. Feeling inspiration and solace knowing we are not alone in our struggles...so much learning and connection. Thanks to all the organisers for a fantastic weekend.

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/climate-activists-pull-up-hundreds-of-sitka-saplings-on-coillte-land-in-north-leitrim/a1581152927.html
Futureproof Clare Slí Eile - Action for a Planet Beyond Capitalism Save Leitrim Extinction Rebellion Ireland and others. Well done all!

Climate activists pull up hundreds of Sitka saplings on Coillte land in North Leitrim Campaigners from Save Leitrim were joined by climate activists from across the country on Sunday as they pulled up hundreds of Sitka spruce saplings from Coillte peatland and demanded, ‘Trees for climate, not for profit’.

Looking forward to getting together with other activists. Let's make the Irish environmental movement stronger - see you there ✊🏽

Climate Camp Ireland – Climate Camp in North Leitrim, Ireland | 9th-13th August 2023 Resistance ● Education ● Coming Together We’re excited to invite you to Climate Camp 2023, which will take place in a big field in North Leitrim from 9th to 13th August. The camp will build on the success of last year’s memorable gathering in North Kerry, where we supported local resistance ...

Welcome to the "green transition" folks. The green growth neoliberal capitalist model is based on the idea that technology and investment will get us out of the planetary crisis. Therefore mining of raw materials for renewables etc is considered necessary. However, a model of degrowth,where wealthy people in affluent countries would use less resources, is never givennany consideration by politicians and certainly not considered by corporations as it would lead to less profit. Mining is a huge profitable and destructive industry. Communities need to come together and say no

EU countries seek to stretch raw material targets, add aluminum - MINING.COM The European Commission proposed in March that EU extraction of 16 "strategic raw materials", including lithium and copper.

Deep sea mining is not the answer to the planetary crisis.

Norway has moved to open up its waters for deep sea mining of geothermal metals, and earned widespread condemnation from environment groups in the process. Cartoon for Global Ideas : https://www.instagram.com/dw_globalideas/

Brilliant talk by Professor Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre at Mary Robinson Climate Change Conference in Ballina this morning. No more talks about Net Zero in 2050 just to buy us more time, the government needs to act now. Equity is the big elephant in the room: if business, the elites, the experts, corporate actors and billionaires gave up their huge, disproportionate carbon allowance and financial power we could have and an organised and feasible transition for all.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/limerick-code-red-for-health-from-silence-to-empowerment-tickets-661432962797?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse&keep_tld=1
Check out this public event taking place next week in Limerick City exposing serious issues at Aughinish Alumina which have affected the local community for decades. The event is organised by Neart an Neadúir featuring Askeaton artist Michele Horrigan, journalist Gerry McGovern and others.

Limerick Code Red For Health - From Silence To Empowerment Highlighting the local impact of the mining industry and governance and the empowerment of communities uniting to turn the tide.

Please have a listen to this interview and tell us what you think...what is the best course of action an individual can take at this stage of the climate and biodiversity crisis?

Futureproof Clare Says Data Centres Are Responsible For Ireland's High Carbon Output - Clare FM Futureproof Clare says responsibility for the country’s surging carbon output lies with industrial ventures such as data centres. It comes as a joint UN-EU report has revealed that Europe’s average temperature is rising at twice the global rate with Ireland listed as one of a number of countries...

Well done to Keep Tulla Untouched for hosting a successful meeting about mining this evening

URGENT!!!!
The Minister for the Environment intends to grant prospecting licences for Base Metals, Barytes, Calcite, Gold or Silver to Hannan Metals Ireland Ltd (PL 3643 and 3508) in an area of 32.93 sq.km. and 33.29 sq. km. in Bunratty Lower and Tulla Lower. See here:
https://dcenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=00f17d83b7bc4ba1887ee600cbe217df&find=3788

We have till tomorrow, the 17th of June, to object to the application by putting in our submissions. If enough people object, we can send a strong message that WE DO NOT WANT MINING IN CLARE and that they have NO SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE HERE.
Please use this template (feel free to adapt) and mail it to the Dept of Environment BY TOMORROW 17th JUNE.
Exercise your to say no.
SUBMISSION TEMPLATE here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EzeLEZP75TBhNM-Jme4Je2z-iHjyOctuLuZawz0k4gc/edit?usp=sharing
PLEASE ACT AND SHARE

Important petition about divesting from.fossil fuels, please take a minute to sign.

Irish Funds - Expel the fossil fuel funders! The Irish Funds Industry Association (Irish Funds) is the representative body for the international investment fund community in Ireland. According to Irish Funds, Ireland is the domicile for 5.9% of world-wide investment fund assets, making it the 3rd largest global centre and the 2nd largest in Eu...

https://twitter.com/extinctrebelsie/status/1659263398457090055

Well done to Rebels who disrupted a fossil fuel conference in Dublin today

Extinction Rebellion Ireland on Twitter “From the website: “To provide European citizens with better opportunities to create a more secure future.” And yet they allow their members to invest on our extinction. There is no secure future in fossil fuel.”

Check out Gerry McGovern's article about mining in Hot Press

PART 2: Can We Avoid The Great Irish Mining Disaster? | Hotpress In the last issue of Hot Press, Gerry McGovern outlined how – in an apparent cross-border policy that covers the whole island – over 25% of Irish land is...

🎉👏 We are thrilled to announce that Futureproof Clare has won its legal challenge to the expansion of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Co. Limerick. This is a hugely important result, this is the first time that the operations of Rusal at Aughinish Alumina have ever been struck down in the Courts.We challenged An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant permission to expand the waste disposal area of the Russian-owned facility near the banks of the Shannon Estuary, and we are proud to say that An Bord Pleanala conceded the case on the basis of one of the points in our statement of grounds which noted the failure of ABP to take into account An Taisce's submission to the board. 🏭🌳

This is a significant result for Futureproof Clare, and it shows the important role that judicial review plays in ensuring that those with responsibility for carrying out environmental assessment of major industrial development such as that at Aughinish do so in a legally compliant way. 🌍🙌

We want to extend a huge thank you to our legal team at FP Logue and Ecojustice Ireland, for their tireless work and support. We also want to thank everyone who has supported us along the way, all of our supporters who have donated to support our ongoing legal challenge. This victory would not have been possible without your help. 🤝💚

However, while Rusal are still operating, we cannot rest. We believe that there are more serious environmental issues around the operation of the refinery that need to be challenged and we intend to hold Rusal, and those responsible for overseeing and consenting their continued operations, to account. This victory is just the beginning, and we will continue to resist any attempts to expand the waste disposal area of the Aughinish Alumina facility. 🛡️🌳

Aughinish Alumina has been in operation since 1983 and during this time has produced millions of tonnes of environmental waste and laid them on the banks of the River Shannon in close proximity to a Special Area of Conservation.This area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Ireland's largest population of bottlenose dolphins. It is a vital part of Ireland's natural heritage and an important ecological resource that must be safeguarded for future generations. 🐬🌊

In the face of this victory, it is important to recognise that we still have a long way to go. The fight to protect our environment is ongoing and requires continuous effort and dedication. We must continue to work together to push for greater accountability and responsibility for those who have the power to make decisions that impact our communities and our planet. 🌿💪

We need continued support from the general public to continue our legal battle. If you would like to support us, please consider donating to our fundraiser at the link below. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in this fight to protect our environment. We are truly grateful for your support and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our voices are heard and our environment is protected. 🙏💚

Fundraiser link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/legal-case-against-toxic-bauxite-refinery

More information:
https://www.buzz.ie/news/irish-news/aughinish-alumina-futureproof-clare-court-29902474

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Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery, organized by Futureproof Clare Futureproof Clare is a grassroots environmental organisation with members… Futureproof Clare needs your support for Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery

We did it! We won our case to prevent the expansion of the largest Aluminium Refinery in Europe! We are very grateful for the hard work of our solicitor Eoin Brady of FP Logue and legal team, and the support of Community Law and Mediation as well as all of our donors and supporters so far. This is huge - please share our Press Release https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wM0wKzATNDP3wAghs9spXn6gb5ceoVMTcoe1ElDJziA/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR3NY5JFMJ4ksLulmyVdCIFMMH4OYhEUSeghpOq9ryD2A1N2D_u2rfNm09M . We anticipate there will be more battles to be fought with Aughinish and we are still fundraising so please make a donation if you want to help us https://gofund.me/f81c8904

Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery, organized by Futureproof Clare Futureproof Clare is a grassroots environmental organisation with members… Futureproof Clare needs your support for Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery

What is a ‘just transition’ and what should it look like? Scariff event. Join Clare PPN and TASC for a free training workshop and brainstorming session on socio-economic rights and just transition in Scariff.

Please donate to this cause - we need to raise 11k to pay legal fees to

https://www.gofundme.com/f/legal-case-against-toxic-bauxite-refinery?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery, organized by Futureproof Clare Futureproof Clare is a grassroots environmental organisation with members… Futureproof Clare needs your support for Legal Case Against Toxic Bauxite Refinery

📣 Attention all environmental activists, concerned citizens, and anyone who cares about the planet! 🌍

https://youtu.be/vEp1lWB8494.

A public meeting to raise awareness about the High Court challenge to the expansion of Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina Rusal refinery near Foynes, County Limerick, will take place on Friday 24th March at 6pm in the Schumann Building, University of Limerick. 🗓️🕕

The event, organized by Futureproof Clare (FPC) - the grassroots environmental justice campaigners behind the High Court challenge - will also be livestreamed via the Futureproof Clare Facebook account. 🎥📲

Join the meeting to learn about the ongoing environmental and social impacts of the smelter, which has been in operation adjacent to the Shannon Estuary for approximately 40 years. 🏭💨

“We have organised legal and environmental experts to speak at the meeting so it may be of interest to any campaigners who would like to stand up to unsustainable developments, like the proposed Aughinish waste disposal area expansion,” explains Sinéad Sheehan of FPC. 🌿

The meeting is an opportunity for concerned citizens, environmental campaigners, politicians, and anyone interested in learning more about the High Court challenge to come together and hear from legal and environmental experts.

Futureproof Clare is deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of the alumina refinery, which is owned by a Russian company called Rusal. Futureproof Clare believes that the cumulative impact of the facility over the past 40 years it has been in operation adjacent to the Shannon Estuary has not been properly assessed in the company’s application to expand until 2039. The group is also critical of the amount of fossil fuel energy the refinery uses.

Futureproof Clare cite a number of safety concerns about the proposed expansion, including concerns for habitat and wildlife regarding rock blasting, as well as the increased possibility of leakage of mining waste from the facility into the Shannon Estuary. They believe that the proposed expansion to the alumina refinery poses a significant risk to the environment and wildlife in the area, as well as the health and well-being of local residents.

At the public meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a range of experts, including legal and environmental professionals, about the ongoing High Court challenge and the potential consequences of the proposed expansion.

The event is free to attend and open to the public. Anyone interested in environmental justice, sustainability, and protecting the environment is encouraged to attend or watch the livestream. Futureproof Clare is hoping to raise funds to support our legal challenge, as well as create more awareness about the issue.

Anyone interested in environmental justice, sustainability, and protecting the environment is encouraged to attend or watch the livestream. Futureproof Clare is hoping to raise funds to support the legal challenge, as well as create more awareness about the issue. If you care about the environment and want to help make a difference, please join us! 🙏💚

We did it! Today with people power, a small step towards protecting Clare's waters has been taken. Today a ban on the use of cyanide, sulphuric acid and mercury within the extractive industry has, like in Leitrim and Sligo, been written into Clare's Draft County Development Plan thanks to pressure from groups and individuals to implement this change in the face of the nine prospecting licences that have been granted to East Clare. We are delighted, grateful and hopeful. It took a lot of time and effort and this success needs to be celebrated. So share this good news about local water protection in Clare, and maybe other County Councils in Ireland can be inspired to do the same!

Protecting our water resources is critical for a sustainable future, and this article highlights why we need more commitment towards it in our county's development plan. Let's take action now to secure a better tomorrow for generations to come.

https://www.clareecho.ie/more-commitment-to-protecting-water-needed-in-county-development-plan/

Futureproof Clare and Keep Tulla Untouched will be gathering at Clare County Council's offices (Cappahard) on Thursday 9th March at 3pm to push for a ban of cyanide and mercury in the new County Development Plan (CDP)

Cyanide and mercury exposure has been associated with rapid breathing, tremors, and general problems related to the nervous system.

Clare County Council offices 📌
Thursday 9th March 📅
3pm 🕜

If you would like to get involved in Futureproof Clare - email [email protected]

1pm in Eyre Square on Friday. It's been a long time since we had a climate strike. Please join if you can.