Archive for Extinction Rebellion

Cycle to school in Skibbereen!

· March 2, 2020

Starting on Thursday 5th March children in Skibbereen will be able to cycle safely to school as part of the new Cycle Bus scheme.

Three schools are taking part- St Patrick’s Boys, Abestrewry National and the Skibbereen Gaelscoil. Any students who want to cycle safely to school can register with their school and join the convoy as it travels through the town, picking up cyclists on the way and delivering them to the three schools.

The convoy will run on Thursdays and be accompanied by adult volunteeers and a cycling Ban Garda. It is being organsied by Katie Mann of Cycle Sense.

Cycle Sense write “Soon children in Skibbereen will be able to go to school on their bike by joining a Cycle Bus (a group of cyclists supervised by marshals) This group will stop at various places around town and finish at the school… Watch this space!”

To find out more contact your school.

Why cycle to school?

In the Uk and Ireland many local authorities and cities are encouraging cycling for all generations. Broxap reports

With children spending more time behind screens than outside, cycling can be a healthy and fun way of encouraging children to enjoy the outdoors. People of all ages can enjoy cycling, but learning to ride from a young age will equip children with a skill for life. Cycling to school is a good starting point to get children out and about and on their bikes. Providing cycle parking at school will encourage more pupils to ride to school.

Benefits of Cycling To School

Encourages independence and builds confidence
Good for the environment
Reduces congestion – especially around school gates, making it safer
Provides an active start to the day, children will be more alert in lessons

Pictured are Katie of Cycle Sense and Brian of Sustainable Skibbereen and St Patrick’s BNS.

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Climate Action & Renewable Energy for Skibbereen

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· November 14, 2019

Developing Skibbereen as a Model for Climate Action & Renewable energy

West Cork Hotel Skibbereen Wed 20th November 7.30pm

An information session for business and owners and community interests.
Can Skibbereen become a centre of excellence for action on climate change and renewable energy?
How business owners and community interests can collaborate on the installation of renewable energy technology, including the installation solar PV array on their roof-tops.
The building owners and occupiers will benefit from lower energy costs and make a substantial contribution to reducing the carbon foot-print of the town by reducing their CO2 emissions.

About the Event

You are invited to an information session for business and owners and community interests to discuss how Skibbereen can become a centre of excellence for action on climate change and renewable energy. The event will take place in the West Cork Hotel on Wednesday 20th November commencing at 7.30pm business owners and community interests can
collaborate on the uptake of energy efficiency measures and the installation of renewable energy technology, including the installation solar PV array on their roof-tops.

Building owners and occupiers will benefit from lower energy costs and make a substantial contribution to reducing the carbon foot-print of the town by reducing their COj emissions.
While the project will have clear benefits for the businesses, households and community interests in reducing costs it will demonstrate that business and the local community in Skibbereen is committed to playing its part in meeting national climate change and renewable energy targets.

Financial supports are available through grant funding through from SEAI including the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme (SEC) and the Better Energy Communities Programme (BEC) and the event will provide information on the operation of these programmes and how to participate.

Confirm your attendance

If you wish to attend the event please confirm with Jim O’Donnell:
Mobile: 086 243 3126

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There will be no Plastics Factory in Skibbereen!

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· October 17, 2019

As the SOS campaign slogan said “There will be no Plastics Factory in Skibbereen”. That turns out not just to be an aspirational goal, but literally true. The brilliant news after a High Court review is that the application by RTP to build the factory has been quashed. With expenses awarded to the campaigners, and many legal arguments still to make, the application by RTP has stalled. The campaign has succeeded. So congratulations to the SOS team for their tireless campaiging, lobbying, researching and fundraising which have brought it to this point.

Even better, the case is now closed for the forseeable future because RTP have subsequently decided not to pursue an application to build a plastic factory in Skibbereen.

The only loose end is what to do with the Poundlick site, and what will happen to its industiral designation. So share the good news, but keep in touch with SOS for further news on that front.

The original judement as reported by SOS read

“In the High Court on 30^th July 2019, An Bord Pleanala consented to the Court granting an Order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the Bord dated 29^th November 2018 which had permitted the construction of a thermoplastic compounds production facility at Poundlick, Baltimore Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.

And it is ordered that the subject matter of the said decision be remitted to An Bord Pleanala to be decided in accordance with law.

As is normal in cases of this kind, the subject matter of the decision will be remitted by the High Court to the Bord for further consideration which may result in a request to Daly Products Limited for a Natura Impact Statement. We will be a copy party to communications between the Bord and Daly Products Limited and to any NIS and will have opportunity to challenge or object.

We are advised that it will take a year to 18 months for procedures between the Bord and Daly Products Limited to play out and that no development can be commenced in that period.

Unusually, Daly Products Limited has not engaged in any way in the current process.

An Bord Pleanala has agreed to pay our legal costs.”

RTP withdraws

Now the latest announcement is that RTP Company have withdrawn their planning application.

As reported by SOS “An Bord Pleanála sent notification on September 16th 2019 to our Chairperson Brendan McCarthy that RTP Company T/A Daly Products Ltd. have withdrawn their application for the plastic factory and that there is no ‘live’ planning application now. This case is now closed. The SOS campaign has been successful in ways they could never have imagined. This has been a brilliant example of ‘People Power’.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh!!!

Thank you everyone for your support!!!”

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Alicia O’Sullivan talks about climate action

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· October 17, 2019

Bev and Rob from Sustainable Skibbereen interview climate activist, campaigner and Skibbereen resident Alicia O’Sullivan. The interview explores Alicia’s many roles as Ambassador, climate change activist and rights campaigner. Praised by Senator John Kerry as a teenage activist alongside Greta Thunburg, Alicia talks about local and global issues, and the future.

From Our Ocean Wealth: “At an early age Alicia began volunteering and campaigning for change on many different issues. She joined Cork County Comhairle Na nÓg (i.e. youth council) in 2016 and has been part of a group successful in working on the reform of sexual education in Ireland.

In 2017 she began working with YMCA Ireland and with this organisation she began developing her digital media skills for advocacy and creativity.

In 2018 she won a mentorship with the ESB as ‘TechSpacer of the Year’ for her outstanding participation in digital creativity projects by using digital tools to achieve social change.

In 2019 she was titled Lions Club Youth Ambassador for Ireland and began developing ‘GenerationZ’ which is a project aimed at helping parents understand their children and to succour communication on a variety of issues like mental health and LGBT+ matters.

Alicia is one of millions of Climate Strikers around the world and is passionate about youth voice and engagement. She hopes to pursue law and politics after school”.

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Together we can fight climate change

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· July 23, 2019

“My whole life has been wrapped in plastic”

Out of a number of powerful statements made by 16 year old environmental activitist, Saoi O’Connor, at a climate change workshop hosted by St. Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan yesterday, this one really stuck. She said that she can’t relate when her granny talks about a time, not so long ago, when she could buy food and other household items without bringing home a bin-full of plastic.

Environmental scientist, Dr. Cara Augustenborg, used images and statistics to demonstrate the devastating impact of climate change, resulting from human activity.
Three 6th year students from Belvedere College in
Dublin also spoke powerfully about their fears and hopes for the future.

It was impossible not to feel frightened and disturbed at times during these talks, but the overwhelming feeling afterwards was that this is a FIGHT and we’re all in it to win it.

The audience was a room full of about 60 people, the vast majority of whom were retirement age. Watching the interaction between youths, fighting for their future, and elderly people ready to fight to ensure the future for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one could only feel inspired.

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Extinction Rebellion Ireland

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· July 23, 2019

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY

We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. The government has failed to protect us. To survive, it’s going to take everything we’ve got.

OUR DEMANDS

Tell The Truth

The Irish government and media must adequately inform the public of the climate and biodiversity emergency and communicate the urgency for change and the consequences of not doing so.

Act Like It’s An Emergency

The Irish government must act to immediately halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030, while reversing all policies not in alignment with that position.

Ensure A Just Transition

All policy changes must be in keeping with the ideas of a just transition, where the most vulnerable are not expected to sacrifice the most. This just transition must be made within a global context and ensure that profits are not placed before our planet.

JOIN THE REBELLION

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