July – Summer in Dublin, Working Equids Overseas

I completed the course online with the Law Society of Ireland in Environmental, Social and Governance, or ESG, Law. Changes are occurring fast now with EU laws recently passed and some more coming down the track. Among the Environmental issues covered were air pollution, climate change, goods from lands worked after deforestation, and safe working conditions. Governance includes how firms self-enforce compliance, how they adhere to paying taxes, whether they have a reasonable percentage of women at higher levels.
Social looks not just at responsibility in the community but whether staff are hired from minority groupings, such as people with disability, then are treated appropriately and included in social matters. Having a certificate in ESG Law, as ongoing professional training, helps to prepare me for a better future.

Summer here is a mix of cold and damp, and warm and sunny. Sometimes it’s been warm and humid. We’re coping, using the good days for photography, the washing, and exploring places of interest. I’ve got tree work done and put the new van to good use.



I attended an online session about working livestock in developing nations, hosted by the Brooke Hospital, which has a particular focus on horses, donkeys and mules, and trains local farriers, vets and harness makers. Working equids are essential to many people, and donkeys in particular help women and children with farming and carrying water and goods. On this occasion, held in conjunction with the World Farmers’ Organisation, we learned about farming in Guatemala, Kenya and Pakistan.

Small-scale farmers are caught in a cycle of shock-risk-poverty. Every dollar invested in resilience against climate disasters, means 15 dollars saved in recovery efforts, according to UN Rep Tori-Shea Ageela Freckton.

Dr. Muhammed Akram, the Chief Commissioner of Pakistan, agreed. The massive floods there of 2022 pushed food prices up 45%, as food is largely grown by subsistence farmers, 90% of whom use working livestock. Livestock should be included in local and national disaster plans. They need to be brought to safety in some cases, then feed, fodder, water and shelter.

Federd Valdiva gave us results from a case study of the Dry Corridor of Central America, which crosses five countries. He studied Nicaragua and found a high threat of drought, leading to 25% lower food production in drought years. Equids also are used to transport food, water, goods and people between communities post-disaster, and support people to move cattle to new grazing. The equids themselves suffered more at times of stress like this, including low body condition, thirst and hoof infections. Aid arrives on the backs of horses, he pointed out, and they are ambulances too when roads are bad. Nicaragua has been updating national tools for dealing with disasters, and in 2023, two million people participated in an exercise to mimic a volcanic eruption. This involved care and protection of working animals for the first time ever in Central America. Vet support was essential in preparedness plans.

We learned that in Kenya, over 80% of food comes from family farms. Several initiatives were explained that were more sustainable, used less water and made a better return for women farmers. The crucial part of the conference was clearly the sharing of studies, ideas and positive outcomes.
“We do not have to reinvent the wheel. The wheel is already there. We need to learn from each other,” said Alinne Olvera.
Brooke, a charity, can be contacted at: https://www.thebrooke.org/



This month I am making Murder Against The Clock free to celebrate the Dublin Horse Show held each August, and the recently ended Olympic Games. Download 17 – 20 August.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LTDYFXO

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LTDYFXO

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www.clareobeara.ie