A voice for the environment
Robert Allen reports on the formation of a new environmental group
in Ireland
A new voice for the environment was heard this month. It is a
voice which, if it is sincere, could become a catalyst for Irish
green activism in the 26 Counties.
Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment (VOICE) has emerged
out of the debris of Greenpeace Ireland which was forced to close
earlier this year after failing to pay its own way.
The former leadership of Greenpeace, which includes Fr Sean
McDonagh - a priest who has been attempting to ``green'' the
Catholic church for many years, persuaded Greenpeace
International to put up the seed money for the new organisation.
But that's where it ends. VOICE is now on its own and is looking
for membership subscriptions.
McDonagh is the chairman of VOICE and he is joined on the board
by Gay Brabazon, John Dunne, Paddy Mackey, Hilda Duff, Denis
Leonard Collins, Paul Bracken. VOICE has been set up as a limited
company but no decision has been taken on charitable status.
VOICE has nine ``prominent'' Patrons - Sr. Mary Minehan, Darina
Allen, Pauline Bewick, Don Conroy, John Feehan, Brendan Kennelly,
Christy Moore, John Seymour and Michelle de Bruen.
It is the belief of the people who have set up VOICE that
Greenpeace Ireland left behind unfinished business - protection
of Ireland's waterways - and that will be the focus for the new
group, starting with a campaign to highlight the pollution of the
Liffey.
Iva Pocock, a former Greenpeace Ireland researcher who has been
employed as VOICE's full-time campaigns co-ordinator, has been
entrusted with this task - one which she believes will reflect
the long term strategy of the fledgling group.
``It is difficult to know what we can achieve in our Liffey
campaign but I think it is difficult to see the fruits of
environmental campaigning in the short term. We are working with
foresight and VOICE is in the minority in this regard - along
with all those whose vision extends beyond this generation. But
obviously it is vital that there are a few voices rising above
the present tidal wave of an environmentally destructive booming
economy.
``Simply we want to bring to public attention the fact that the
Liffey is slowly dying - that the river is not in a chronically
polluted state but that slowly the cumulative effect of
river-sewer is killing this river. We want to make the links
between many other environmentally destructive practices in the
catchment, to the issue of the quality of the Liffey's water. We
want to expose the failure of legislation to protect this river
and the constant pollution that toxic based industry and
agriculture produce.''
``We are looking at such things as sewage treatment, industrial
discharge, quarrying and also agricultural run-off. In the new
year we will be releasing our findings,'' says Pocock, adding that
by ``choosing the Liffey we are not ignoring the rest of Ireland's
rivers and lakes rather using the Liffey catchment to highlight
problems which are common to all waterways''.
Given that VOICE are following in Greenpeace Ireland's footprints
it would be easy to assume that they will make the same mistakes,
but Pocock is adamant that the new group will find its own
identity and will establishment itself in a manner that
Greenpeace failed to do.
Whether VOICE will remain truly apolitical and still work with
everyone who is concerned with green issues remains to be seen.
Pocock has no doubts. ``VOICE acknowledges that it cannot do much
alone. Our ethos is to inform and encourage people not previously
active in environmental campaigning to take ownership of their
water, air, earth. In order to do this we must do preliminary
research and avail of the help of many people in many walks of
life as a starting point to inform people about what is really
going on.''
Pocock also feels that VOICE must approach the Dublin Government
and the 26 County State in a much more inclusive manner and
challenge the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency.
``In terms of dealing with the Government it is vital that as an
environmental organisation we do not simply engage with the
Department of the Environment. The environment is not something
that can be neatly packaged; in fact decisions that are made in
other Government departments have far more affect on the
environment. It is vital to engage with these people.''
If Pocock is saying that VOICE will respond to the social as well
as the environmental needs of communities there are many who will
welcome the new group into the firmament of green groups, but she
is aware that VOICE must not be seen simply as propagandists and
lobbyists. ``Actions will be taken when deemed necessary,'' she
stresses, adding that ``surely the purpose of them is to get
things to change,'' refuting the notion that they should be media
stunts.
VOICE are certainly welcome, especially as they are Irish and
understand the unique problems that affect the Irish environment.
``The bottom line is that our lakes and rivers cannot be used as
both spring and sewer'', says Pocock ``The basic ecological
principle that everything is connected must be central to all
decisions regarding Ireland's waterways.''
VOICE can be contacted at: 14 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-6618123 Fax: 01-6618114 E-mail: avoice@iol.ie
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