Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Wexford launches anti-Sellafield badge

Wexford Sinn Féin launched an anti-Sellafield badge in Wexford's Bull Ring on Saturday, 16 March on Wexford's Quayfront. Wexford Sinn Fein Councillor John Dwyer performed the launch, which was followed by a colourful protest with people dressed in decontamination suits carrying mock nuclear waste barrels down Wexford's Main Street and up along the quayfront.

The badge uses the national colours and bears the slogan "SELLAFIELD AMACH - SLÁINTE ISTEACH". All proceeds from the sale of the 10,000 badges will go to County Wexford Hospice.

"We wanted to give people from all over the South East the chance to show their opposition to the continuing threat posed by Sellafield to our lives," said Dwyer. "With the recent expansion of Sellafield, the British government and BNFL have shown utter contempt for the lives, safety and health of Irish people by ignoring our wishes and going ahead with expansion instead of closing this death plant. While there is a real and obvious danger of attack post 11 September and the nightmare scenario that this would lead to, we must not forget that we also have two million gallons of radioactive water being pumped into the Irish Sea daily and BNFL has an atrocious safety record. In addition, there is the abnormally high incidence of cancer, which many believe may be linked to Sellafield. Here in Wexford, we all know someone or some family affected. That is why all proceeds from the sale of these high quality badges will go to County Wexford Hospice.

"This is not a party political issue. The death sentence represented by Sellafield doesn't respect borders. We must all unite, regardless of affiliation, to have Sellafield shut down. By wearing this badge, Wexford people will not only be raising awareness but will also be assisting a worthy local charity which all too often deals with those dying from cancer.

"We in Sinn Féin are calling on the government to join with others in forming an international alliance to embarrass and pressurise the British Government. While we must think globally but act locally, I am calling on Wexford County Council to write to the Environment Ministries in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway to solicit their support for a diplomatic campaign to close Sellafield. I firmly believe that building an international alliance can work as Japan are now considering stopping new contracts to Sellafield."

SF chair to launch north Wexford campaign

Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin will visit Gorey this Friday, where he will launch Councillor John Dwyer's election campaign in the Gorey district. The event takes place in the Ashdown Park Hotel (Tara suite) at 7.30pm and will also include the launch of a newsletter, North Wexford Republican. McLaughlin says the party leadership is confident that Dwyer, who was recently elected to the party's ruling Ard Chomhairle, will take a seat in County Wexford.

John Dwyer has said that from "meeting constituents from Kilmuckridge right up to Kilanerin, it is clear that North Wexford is looking for an alternative voice. We all know how Wexford has been neglected by successive governments. The north of the county has been particularly affected in many sectors, including health services, employment, youth facilities, rural deprivation, roads or the rail link. The area is also witnessing a spiralling drug problem. Local government appears to be opting out of waste management and despite the fact that Gorey is a rapidly expanding satellite of Dublin, its town council hasn't been given its proper status, unlike the other three main towns. This area has for too long lacked effective representation in Leinster House with tweedledum, tweedledee politics.

"I am appealing to all those who would like to help my campaign in any way, however great or small, to come along and meet Mitchel and me on Friday evening."