Local resident Betty Schult spoke on the theme of occupation at Afri’s event organised in association with Friends of the Earth entitled “Ar Scáth a Chéile: Sustaining Hope and Humanity” in Glenamoy Community Centre, County Mayo, on the 19th August 2012.
Rights group criticise Shell and Garda over traffic blockage
The justice and human rights group Action from Ireland (Afri) has condemned the actions of Shell and the Gardai in Erris, County Mayo, over the bungled transport of tunnelling equipment for a controversial gas pipeline that has seen roads closed in the area and local people arrested, and has re-iterated its call for suspension of the project.
Afri coordinator Joe Murray said that the latest incident “represents a continuation of the long established trend whereby the health and safety of local residents has been jeopardised to boost the profits of a multinational corporation”.
“If Shell are not to be trusted to carry a piece of equipment by lorry, then how can they be trusted to transport raw, flammable gas by pipeline under an estuary and past people’s homes?”, Mr Murray asked.
Mr Murray particularly criticised the arrest yesterday of local farmer Willie Corduff for his protest at the chaos caused by the fact that a lorry carrying Shell’s tunnelling equipment had jack knifed and blocked road traffic. “Instead of charging Shell with reckless endangerment, the Gardai chose to arrest a man doing nothing more than peacefully safeguarding the welfare of his family and friends”, Mr Murray said. Mr Corduff, the winner of the prestigious Goldman Medal which is often described as the environmental Nobel Prize, was later released without charge.
Afri has previously been highly critical of the policing of the Corrib Gas dispute and has pointed to what it says were abuses perpetrated even against human rights monitors. Afri is calling for immediate suspension of all work on the project pending a thorough review of all aspects of it, including human rights, health and safety and environmental impact. Afri pointed to Shell’s much criticized environmental and human rights record in many locations throughout the world, from the Niger Delta to, more recently, the Arctic Circle, as further evidence for the need to review and revise the Corrib project in its entirety.
Rights Group Criticises Shell and Garda over Traffic Blockage: Irish Times, 7th August 2012: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0807/1224321631080.html
Afri expresses dismay at the EPA decision to grant GM potato licence
Press Release, 26th July 2012
The justice and human rights group Action from Ireland (Afri) has expressed dismay at the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency to grant a license to grow genetically modified potatoes in Ireland.
Joe Murray of Afri described the move as short sighted and one that threatened Ireland’s economy by eroding its reputation as a ‘green, clean’ food producer. “The move by the EPA to grant approval for the GM potato trials by Teagasc is completely ill-advised. It will do serious reputational damage to Ireland’s flourishing organic industry at a time when there is an ever increasing demand for organic food. By contrast, there is little appetite for GM foods either in Ireland or in Europe” said Mr Murray.
“The argument that Ireland needs a blight resistant GM potato is ridiculous because there are already blight resistant potatoes in Ireland – and they are not genetically modified and therefore do not pose any risk of contamination to other crops,” Mr Murray continued.
Waylon (Gary) White Deer, Choctaw artist, whose ancestors sent a cash donation to Ireland during the Great Famine, also criticized the decision of the EPA calling it a “dangerous step”. Mr White Deer described the decision as having critical consequences for food sovereignty and biological diversity. “It is important that the Irish people don’t give up their food sovereignty. This is a risky experiment which, if unchecked, will eventually lead to the corporate control and manipulation of Irish food sources. Now that GM has gotten its tentacles into the Irish soil it is important that we don’t let them spread.”
Shell Disloyalty Card
Greenpeace have come up with a creative way of registering an objection to Shell’s plans to commence drilling in the Arctic…the disloyalty card. If you click on the following link here you can download and print off a form which you can send by freepost to Shell.
You can also sign Greenpeace’s petition against drilling in the Arctic by clicking here.
Famine Walk 2012: Corporations, Crops and Control – Seeds of Life or Seeds of Strife
Joe Murray, who was present at the first Famine Walk in Doolough in 1988, reflected, in his opening remarks, on the past twenty five years and how the Famine Walk remains relevant today.
It’s hard to believe that the Doolough-Louisburgh Famine Walk has been on the road for 25 years! When Afri initiated this walk of remembrance and solidarity in 1988 the Great Famine was hardly commemorated at all and, if it was, the link with contemporary famine and hunger throughout the world was rarely made. Afri set out to ensure that the Great Famine would be commemorated because of its singular importance in our history. We also wanted to ensure, however, that it would be commemorated not in a self-indulgent or self-pitying way but rather in a way that links it to contemporary issues of hunger and famine throughout the world. We sought to ensure that the lessons learned from the Great Famine in Ireland would be applied to today’s world.
It is encouraging to see that the Great Famine is now being commemorated in Ireland and that the contemporary dimension is almost always included. However, in the ensuing 25 years the situation for the world’s poor has not improved, in fact things have gotten worse. The numbers now experiencing hunger in our world has increased to a staggering one billion. One billion people who experience hunger in our world of plenty! The Famine Walk focuses on the causes of hunger such as unjust economic structures; unfair trade; the war industry (costing in excess of $1600 billion in 2010); climate change and a relatively new cause of famine – the issue of genetic engineering. This year’s walk is in solidarity with those affected by the genetic engineering of food crops. This is not an academic argument as its impact is felt by millions of people throughout the world. Continue reading “Famine Walk 2012: Corporations, Crops and Control – Seeds of Life or Seeds of Strife”
Even the Rain
Even the Rain – a film written by Paul Laverty (the screen writer of The Wind that Shakes the Barley and friend of Afri) – will open on Friday the 8th June, in the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin for 1 week only.
The film centres on a filming crew who are in Bolivia trying to film the story of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America while in the background there is civil unrest due to the privatisation of the water supply. Even the Rain stars Gael García Bernal and is directed by Icíar Bollaín, and comes highly recommended.
You can read what screen writer Paul Laverty says about the film by clicking the following link: ENG Intro by Paul to published screenplay Even the Rain 10-03-11
Afri calls for Suspension of Corrib Gas Work in wake of Earthquake
The Justice and Peace organisation Afri, has reiterated its call for a suspension of works and an independent assessment of all safety issues surrounding the Corrib Gas Project, in the wake of the magnitude 4.0 earthquake, which occurred on the 6th June 2012 60 kilometres from Belmullet, close to the Corrib gas field. The controversial project to extract gas, headed by Shell, is continuing, involving the building of a 5 kilometre pipeline linking the offshore pipeline to the Bellanaboy terminal.
Continue reading “Afri calls for Suspension of Corrib Gas Work in wake of Earthquake”
Global Day of Action on Military Spending
Global Day of Action on Military Spending, April 17th 2012
Over 130 different actions will take place in 40 countries worldwide, with participation in over 50 cities in the United States alone. The events, which coincide with Tax Day in the United States, emphasize the staggering amount of taxpayer money that goes toward military spending. Amidst global economic and climate crises, groups will be calling for a shift in spending from war and militarism to expenditures on human need. An annual report on global military spending will be released on the same day, and is expected to show an increase.
Continue reading “Global Day of Action on Military Spending”
Protesters Oppose Introduction of Genetically Modified Potatoes to Ireland
The justice and human rights group Action from Ireland (Afri) held a protest action at the Department of the Environment on Easter Monday to express its opposition to the proposed introduction of genetically modified (GM) potatoes into Ireland. Protesters wearing potato masks, and carrying a banner with the slogan “hands off our genes”, called on the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Teagasc’s recent application to introduce GM potatoes to County Carlow.
Afri spokesperson Lisa Patten described the Teagasc application as “contaminating” Ireland’s green reputation. Ms Patten said “this move would be a serious blow to our food sovereignty and undermine this indigenous and flourishing part of the Irish economy which is part of the fabric of our social and cultural heritage. Introducing genetically modified food into our food sector is a cul de sac for the Irish people and seriously damaging to our reputation as a green, clean island. Our government should be doing everything they can to develop our proven potential to become the hub for GM-free food which the European market in particular is demanding, as well as safeguarding the safety and food security of the Irish people.”
Continue reading “Protesters Oppose Introduction of Genetically Modified Potatoes to Ireland”
The Jimmy Gralton Film Club
Each Wednesday in April in the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, join Benbo Productions and Afri for the Jimmy Gralton Film Club! Showing films such as The Jimmy Gralton story, Even The Rain, The Pipe and Gaslands, followed by a questions and answers session.
