Protecting Our Environment | Palestinians Treated as Subhuman - Amnesty Report | Hunger for Justice

 

Protectingour environment

Lastweek the Northern Executive took welcome and decisive action to protect ourenvironment, our health and jobs by committing to a ban on all forms of onshorepetroleum exploration and production, including fracking. This decision is partof the Executive’s commitment to tackle our dependence on fossil fuels. ConorMurphy, the Economy Minister announced that, following drafting andconsultation, he will be introducing legislation next year to block licensingapplications.

Tenyears ago I travelled through the border counties of Sligo, Cavan, Leitrim andFermanagh. It was part of a visit culminating in a speaking engagement at ananti- fracking conference in the Lough Erne Hotel in Fermanagh.

Atthe time there were efforts underway to promote fracking in the region.An Australian shale gas exploration company was planning to drive a borehole over 700 feet into the underground rock. Local people were rightly angryat this threat to their environment.

Thescenery of the west is striking and beautiful. There is a grandeur about thelandscape which catches the breath. I once had the pleasure of flying low overthis region in a helicopter. From the air the view is stupendous. The rollinghills and loughs, the rocky inclines, the streams and rivers snaking their waydown mountain sides and through lush green glens.

Everynow and then you can spot a Neolithic fort or tomb – a prehistoric relic ofthose who once lived here. There is a sparkle from the crystal clear waters ofthe numerous waterways. Upper and Lower Lough Erne are dotted with scores ofislands. Cavan is said to have 365 loughs, one for each day of the year. It isalso claimed that the islands of Upper and Lower Lough Erne achieve the samenumber - although in truth it’s around 200.

TheShannon-Erne Waterway links the two rivers. The source of the Shannon, known asthe 'Shannon Pot', is just a few miles north of Dowra, on the Cavan Way.

Theimportance of the water system to Fermanagh and Cavan and Sligo and Leitrim andto the island of Ireland can be found by simply googling the tourist literaturefor the region. The water system of this region services the population ofthese counties and more with their drinking water. But it does more than that.It sustains much of our tourism, business, and inland fishing industry.

Theabove and below ground water system of these counties is an indispensable partof this community. Its drinking water ensures life for the people and animalsand fauna and fish. Its presence provides leisure and tourism and jobs.

Takeall of that away and the social and economic cost to the people of that areaand of this island would be incalculable. This beautiful landscape does notbelong only to our generation. It was here before us and our duty is to ensurethat it is here after us and for our children and our children’s children.

Thatis why we must oppose fracking which involves extracting natural gastrapped in layers of sedimentary rock between one and two kilometres beneaththe surface. Horizontal wells are drilled and filled with a mixture of waterand sand and chemicals which are forced at high pressure. This fractures therock and allows gas to seep into the wells where it makes its way to thesurface for collection and distribution. An average well will use up to 20,000cubic metres of water. About  a third, containing treatments, sandsand other chemicals, is returned to the surface where it has to be disposed of.

Frackingcan cause serious environmental pollution, health risks for people, and is a significant and dangerous threat to our countryside. It can damagefish stocks. It poses a very real risk to our farming industry, and to thehealth and safety of rural communities, as well as undermining our tourismindustry.

Frackingor onshore petroleum exploration is not the answer to the energy needs ofthe people of the island of Ireland. So, well done to Minister Murphy and theExecutive for this sensible decision.

 

Palestinianstreated as subhuman – Amnesty Report

Lastweek Amnesty International published a landmark and damning report onIsrael’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. The report entitled, ‘YouFeel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, documentshow the Israeli state has “carried out acts prohibited under theGenocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.”

Thereport examines the results of investigations into Israeli “genocidalacts of killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm.” Theseacts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm and deliberatelyinflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life intended to bring abouttheir destruction.

Amnestyexamined the context of dispossession, the Israeli apartheid regime andunlawful military occupation of the occupied territories over decades.Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard described Israel’s objective: “Monthafter month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman groupunworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physicallydestroy them.”

TheAmnesty report determines that Israel is fully aware of the harm it is doingand continues to do in defiance of “countless warnings about thecatastrophic humanitarian situation and of legally binding decisions from theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to take immediatemeasures to enable the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians inGaza.”

Beforearriving at its conclusion Amnesty International examined the claims by thestate of Israel that it was targeting Hamas and other armed groups and not thecivilian Palestinian population. It also looked at Israeli claims that the unprecedented destruction and denial of aid to the Palestinian peoplewere as a result of the actions of Hamas. Amnesty concluded that these claimsare not credible. On the contrary Its research found that Israel repeatedlyfailed to ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to protect the civilianpopulation. It found that the Israeli state views “Palestinians asdisposable and not worthy of consideration” and this “in itselfevidence of genocidal intent.”  

Amnesty’sAgnès Callamard described the international community’s shameful failure topress Israel to end its atrocities in Gaza, and the continued supplying ofweapons, “is and will remain a stain on our collective conscience.”

Sheis right. Too many governments pretend that they are powerless to end thegenocide. They need to uphold international law and move beyond expressions ofregret and take decisive action. They also have a duty and responsibility torespect the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for warcrimes and crimes against humanity.

Thereis an onus on the new incoming Irish government0, to give a lead on this byurgently passing into law the Occupied Territories Bill and by imposingeconomic and other sanctions against Israel.

Hungerfor Justice

Iwant to ask your support for an important initiative aimed at drawing attentionto the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and also to raise muchneeded funds for UNWRA. This columnist is committing to join the Hungerfor Justice - Troscadh ar son na Córa initiative. This is a 24-hour fast takingplace across Ireland on the 12th December, 2024. The event is being organisedby former republican hunger strikers, including Laurence McKeown and JackieMcMullan, in conjunction with Nenagh Friends Of Palestine. All funds raisedwill go to UNRWA. The aim is to get at least 1,000 people across the island ofIreland to participate.

Participantsare encouraged to not only take part in the fast but to organise an event intheir local area on the 12th. The event can be as small as 2-3 people holding ashort vigil, or can be much more imaginative.

Anyonewishing to take part in the 24-hour fast can do so by completing the shortonline form at: https://forms.gle/jxUXaL8dSWviYYAQ8

Anyonewishing to donate to it can do so at:

gofundme.com/f/hunger-for-justice-gaza

AFacebook page has been set up specifically for the event:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568421206188&locale=en_GB

Ifanyone participating wishes to make a short video stating their name and ashort message that can be put on the webpage that would be muchappreciated. 

Samplesof such previous videos can be viewed on the Nenagh Friends Of PalestineFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NenaghFriendsofPalestine

Foradditional information on HUNGER FOR JUSTICE please contact the organisersat hungerforjusticeireland@gmail.com