Save Ireland’s forests

This music video from Ireland says about itself:

28 April 2013

Christy Moore performing at Save Our Forests Protest in Avondale on Sunday April 2013. The ‘Walk in the Woods’ was organised by Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Woodland League and many more.

From the blog of Richard Boyd Barrett TD in Ireland:

Thousands take part in ‘Walk in the Woods’ to save Ireland’s Forests

April 28, 2013

Several thousand people turned out for the “A Walk in the Woods” today (Sunday April 28th) in Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. The event featured songs, poems and readings from prominent musicians, actors and poets including: Christy Moore, Paddy Casey, Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack, Dave Lordan (Award winning poet), Brid Ni Neachtain (Actor), Denis Conway (Actor & Director, Oroboros Theatre Co.), Landless (Folk Musicians), Larry Beau (Singer), Madu (North African Singers) & more.

Speaking at the protest Richard Boyd Barrett TD said: “We are getting an enormous response from across the country for this event and expect a large turn-out for our “walk in the woods.” People are utterly shocked when they hear of the government’s intention to sell-off this priceless piece of our natural heritage to pay off the gambling debts of bankers. The purpose of this event is to urgently ring the alarm bells and alert the wider public of the imminent threat to our public forest estate – an absolutely precious cultural, historical and economic asset. We are delighted that so many, prominent musicians, actors and poets are taking part to highlight that this proposal to privatise our public forests is not just an act of economic theft but it is also a shameful betrayal of our culture, our heritage and our history. It is beyond belief that we are being forced to sell our forests to pay the debts of bankers and bankers may end up owing our forests. It is an act of cultural and economic sabotage and must be stopped.”

Andrew St Ledger, PRO The Woodland League said, Irelands Public forests belong to the grandchildren of Ireland and their grand-children, they should be managed wisely using a new community oriented model to ensure a future for the generations to come. This underhanded short-sighted plan to sell Public Forests must be stopped.

The “Walk in the Woods” is also supported by: Sebastian Barry (Author), Stephen Rea, Catherine Murphy TD, Clare Daly TD, Joan Collins TD, John Halligan TD, Thomas Pringle TD, Paul Murphy MEP, Martin Ferris TD, Patrick Nulty TD, People Before Profit Alliance, Keep Ireland Open, Friends of the Earth, Unite Trade Union, SIPTU, United Left, Socialist Workers Party, Sinn Fein.

May 2013. A river in Northern Ireland’s County Antrim has a new natural ally as 2,000 native saplings now dot the banks of the Glendun River in the scenic Glens of Antrim, not far from Cushendall: here.

Walk in the woods to protest forest sale (irishtimes.com)
Sale of Coillte unlikely, says Rabbitte (irishtimes.com)
Moving toward deep sustainability: people gathering for Ireland’s forests this weekend (ecoartfilm.com)
Crowds gather for Wicklow Coillte protest (irishtimes.com)
Blackcap, robin, tree pipit, pondskaters (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)

8 thoughts on “Save Ireland’s forests”

Hi,
the walk was also attended by the Green Party too, you might be interested in this update from the Green Party yesterday http://greenparty.ie/news.html?n=211

LikeLike

Reply ↓

petrel41 on May 4, 2013 at 4:08 pm said:

Hi Cathy, thank you for this additional information!

However, I must say here that the Green Party in Ireland lost a lot of support because of their participation in the previous coalition government with Fianna Fail, which had many anti-ecological policies.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Cathy Fitzgerald on May 4, 2013 at 4:35 pm said:
  
  Yes, I know – there was a real dilemma whether such a small party should enter into coalition with Fianna Fail to try and make a difference. But from the very small no. of greens in that govt there was good work done on civil equality, civil partnership, nitrogen, climate, disabilities, planning. Sadly there is not enough support or understanding for green politics generally although in EUrope there is growing support. The media has a huge part in this in Ireland, how there is such focus and reporting on economics and not much else, so other issues fall off the agenda. Long term policies that detail the best in ecological practice and planning are needed more than ever.
  
  In regards to forests, I hope the news spreads that not only is the sale of Ireland’s forests a retrograde step but policies and support for permanent, continuous cover forests are needed urgently – our monoculture tree plantations are both biologically poor and will be increasingly at risk from disease. No other party has addressed a new sustainable vision for Ireland’s forest that not only deal with economics but also important ecological and cultural aspects.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - petrel41 on May 4, 2013 at 4:58 pm said:
    
    Hi Cathy, thanks for your extensive reply!
    
    In the Irish Green party joining the Fianna Fail coalition, you mention civil partnership. That, however, is not marriage equality for LGBTQ people.
    
    This blog has mentioned these issues before. Eg:
    
    Donegal Greens split from Irish pseudo-Greens
    
    Joining the Fianna Fail coalition meant for the Irish Green Party, stopping their previous support for the fights against the Shannon airport torture rendition flights, against Shell in the West, against the Tara hill highway, etc.
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓