Stop The Poolbeg Incinerator -Protest March To Dail - Weds 22nd Oct

by info Thu Oct 02, 2014 23:29

CRAI is also raising funds for their public court case against this.

Here are the account details if you can donate even 1 euro to help fight the cause on a legal front.

Combined Residents Against Incineration.
Bank Of Ireland
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Branch sort code 90-09-73
Account Number - 9009 7327 6689 08

by Maura Harrington - pers cap Sun Oct 05, 2014 17:39

From experience, would urge extreme wariness towards a whole lot people, organisations etc.

I'm thinking particularly of An Taisce and what they did in their last Judicial Review (JR) of part of the Shell/Corrib project.

There was money collected, both locally in Erris, and nationally, to fund the JR; An Taisce's subsequent behaviour was, I believe, nothing short of disgraceful - the JR was 'settled' with the state for what amounted to a mess of potage.

There are many good, altruistic members of this body but, as in most things in this rotten state, the closer you get to the top the more 'iffy' things become ... and they're not the only ones ...

I can be contacted by phone if anybody wishes - 087 959 1474.

by rua Wed Oct 08, 2014 08:42

Im absolutely horrified and appalled that this rubbish burning incinerator is going ahead,im also disgusted that enda kenny was invited to a do a climate change speech,the man is such a hypocrite.
I will be donating 50 euros next week for this into your account,this is an absolute disgrace and it needs some credible opposition..

by W. Finnerty Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:44

The full text (in over two dozen languages) of the United Nations "Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters" -- the "UN Aarhus Convention Treaty" in other words, is available via the following UN web page:
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/treatytext.html

As far as I know, and although I'm not a lawyer, now that the Republic of Ireland has ratified this UN Treaty, the Government of the Republic of Ireland can be brought before the appropriate law courts if they violate it.

Related Indymedia (Ireland) link:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/103389#comment294892

by Stop Poolbeg Incinerator Sat Oct 18, 2014 13:38

Please spread the word - protest against the Monster Incinerator that Dublin City Council Management is pushing through against the wishes of the Dublin people. This will not just affect the people of Ringsend and Sandymount where the incinerator will be built but all people living in Dublin. It will pump out hazardous toxins for decades - it will be run by a private US company - Covanta who have been fined for numerous breaches of pollution levels in the US. This is anti-health, anti-democratic and anti-environment. Join the protest on the 22nd from Ringsend Church at 5pm to the Dail or meet us at the Dail 6pm

by markus Sun Oct 19, 2014 08:51

This is not just a dublin problem,these fumes/toxic smoke can blow all over ireland,wherever the wind takes it...And who asks for a 45 year contract and gets it anyway?

A smoker has a choice if he/she wants to wreck her/his lungs,what choice do we have in breathing in these toxic fumes?

Where are our rights?

Its a public nusiance and also endangers the heatlh of the population around dublin and beyond..

The nature of these companies are very secretive,look at any plastic manufacturing company they are shrouded in secrecy.

What we don't realise with these companies is that plastic by products graunels are added to exfoliators and toothpastes,im only going to brush with natural eco friendly powder toothpastes with no plastics in them.

Imagine injesting the plastics from your toothpaste,how many times have people accidently swallowed some of their toothpastes?

There is so much plastic added to everyday things we don't realise.

The minister for the enviornment should be throughlly ashamed of himself,letting rubbish burning facility for this go ahead and standing idly by,it is clear he is not doing his job! He should be fired asap.

by W. Finnerty Sun Oct 19, 2014 18:21

"Viniczay added that the committee's decision could prevent Austria from approving the incinerator, which is seen as an environmental and health hazard for Hungarian towns just across the border."

"Austria has discriminated against Szentgotthard by denying the town an opportunity to lodge an appeal against its decision. This is why the town has decided to approach the UN's Compliance Committee of the Aarhus Convention in connection with the Heiligenkreuz project, the mayor said."

"The Aarhus Convention was signed in 1998 (by the Republic of Ireland as well) to ensure an opportunity for all affected parties to participate in procedures concerning projects of a significant environmental impact."

The three excerpts just above are from the following www location:
http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page...880a5

Assuming they ever get to hear of the plans for the Poolbeg Incinerator, and allowing for the prevailing "winds from the west that blow across the seas to Ireland", I wonder how "the people" of places such as Holyhead, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds (and surrounds), for example, would take to the idea of being saddled with regular doses of airborne "Poolbeg Dioxins, PCBs, and Heavy Metals" for the coming 40 years or so: whether they like it or not?

Map showing parts of Wales and England to the East of Poolbeg (which is very near, or possibly part of, the City of Dublin):
http://tinyurl.com/pkuzkav

Of course when the wind is from the Eastern, the Southern, and the Northern directions, it's "the people" of Ireland who will be saddled with the "toxic" set of airborne problems in question: whether they like it or not, and assuming that this particular project ever comes to fruition, that is.

Related Link:
"Incinerators, Dioxins, PCBs, and Heavy Metals, Health Hazards ..."
http://tinyurl.com/pq4dego

All of the people I know who have read it, seem to feel that it is not really necessary to be a lawyer to get the "general picture" of what the official text of this crucially important piece of United Nations "human rights law" represents, and strives for: as set out in the official version of the "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" pdf text at the following UN www location:
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/pp/documents/cep...e.pdf

by W. Finnerty Tue Oct 21, 2014 15:39

Excerpts from "Health Effects of Waste Incinerators" Report by CHASE (Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment) ...

"Incineration does not destroy waste – it merely converts it to other forms, such as: stack gases, minute dust particles, and ash. All these contain pollutants that are harmful to our health.

Emissions from incinerators include: dioxins, PCBs, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, etc.). All of these are persistent, bio- accumulative and toxic.

Dioxins and PCBs are toxic chemicals that can have severe health effects, especially on the developing foetus and young children. Known health effects include: cancer, impairment of the immune, hormonal, and reproductive systems, congenital abnormalities, delayed cognitive and motor development in children, disruption of critical stages of embryonic development. (Source: WHO and International Agency for Research on Cancer).

But by far the greatest risk of exposure to dioxin is through the food we eat. Dioxin from incinerator emissions settles on vegetation, in soil, and in the oceans, and so enters the food chain."

The above excerpts have all come from:
http://www.chaseireland.org/HealthEffectsDocuments.htm

===

" ... and in the oceans ..." (please see above):

The planned Poolbeg Incinerator, in the Dublin Harbour area, seems to be ideally located for spewing toxins of the types referred to above into the Irish Sea; and, allowing for the highly dynamic ways in which sea currents operate, it appears reasonable to assume that a significant proportion of these toxins would have no little or no difficulty at all probably in making their way from the Irish Sea out into the Atlantic Ocean: and thus into the "marine food-chain" of both the Irish Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean?

Related e-mail to a selection of Yahoo Groups, dated October 19th 2014, and titled "The law is the law, is the law, is the law ...":
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/YahooGroups/19October...l.htm

by W. Finnerty Mon Nov 03, 2014 20:38

The text below has almost all come from the following www location:
https://www.facebook.com/william.finnerty.3/posts/10204...461:0

=== === ===

Brendan (Kelly) and Philomena (Cornu),

With this coming Wednesday's (November 5th 2014) High Court "Aarhus Convention Treaty" challenges in mind, the main reason I'm now sending you the information in the section below is because I have in recent weeks come across a few bits and pieces of "www text" (by accident while looking for something else) which has strongly suggested to me that the "Waste Management" legislation being used -- JUST NOW APPARENTLY -- to try to RAM THROUGH the "Poolbeg Incinerator Project (in the Dublin Harbour Area)", is almost certainly the exact same, or very similar, to that which was the subject of the failed "An Bord Pleanala Appeal" I sent through the registered post on February 21st 2004 (Bord Pleanala Reference Numbers: PL 07.205181 and P.A.Reg.Ref: 02/3811). Also, and as Brendan will no doubt confirm, we both sat through the entire An Board Pleanala "oral hearing" which followed, which was held in an Oranmore Hotel (near Galway City), and which lasted for several days.

More information relating to this potentially "extremely serious" matter can be found below.

=== === ===

Excerpts from the "An Bord Pleanala Appeal" text dated February 21st 2004:

"As I mentioned to four local politicians at the end of an Anti-Dump Meeting in Kilconnell on December 8th 2003, I have long believed that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 is in breach of Article 28A of the written Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. This is because of the fact that it completely removes all power from the democratically elected local government politicians regarding important local community matters connected with the location of huge rubbish dumps (e.g. those now planned for Kilconnell and New Inn), and instead places it entirely in the hands of UNELECTED County Council managers."

"I also e-mailed all of the Galway TDs regarding this matter on December 17th 2003. In response, I received an e-mail from Minister Eamon O'Cuiv T.D. dated December 23rd 2003 stating that as Article 28A (and the closely related Aarhus Convention Agreement) "comes under the remit" of Minister for Justice Michael McDowell T.D., he had forwarded my e-mail to him for "direct reply" to me. To date, I have heard nothing at all from Minister McDowell."

"As I trust Board Pleanala will understand, the fact that the politicians concerned appear unable to answer me suggests that there really is something VERY seriously wrong regarding the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001."

"Please note that the problem with Article 28A of the Constitution has also been pointed out to the European Parliament (just over 2 years ago). This can be seen at:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/petition1/feb-...2.htm "

=== === ===

The full text of the Bord Pleanala Appeal dated February 21st 2004 can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.finnachta.com/BordPleanalaAppeal.htm

More information on the "Poolbeg Incinerator Project (for which VERY ADVANCED plans are ALREADY in place I understand) can be found at the following www location:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/105046#comment299756

A final point ...

A final point relating to the "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" is that I have also come across what I believe is good quality legal information which very strongly suggests (to me at least) that, under international law, once any country "signs up" to such a treaty, they immediately -- from that MOMENT onwards -- become legally obliged to NOT do anything which would UNDERMINE it.

Sadly, and almost unbelievably (as I see things), all that the entire membership, of all of the three main branches (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) of the Republic of Ireland governments have been doing up to now, since, that is, the government -- of the time -- signed the "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" in 1998, is to make smithereens out of it; and, which the entire membership of the present Republic of Ireland Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial), without a SINGLE exception as far as I know, is STILL doing: well over 16 years later.

Related Internet Search Engine Listing:
"Making smithereens of the Aarhus Convention Agreement, Human Rights Ireland ..."
http://tinyurl.com/oauj79n

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Closely Related FACEBOOK Publication:
https://www.facebook.com/william.finnerty.3/posts/10204...461:0

=== === ===

by W. Finnerty Tue Nov 04, 2014 17:57

The origin of the text in the section below, written this afternoon, can be viewed via the following www link:
http://tinyurl.com/nr3ydh6

=== === ===

Brendan and Philomena,

RE: "We were hoping to get the Aarhus Law Tested in the High Court tomorrow but the Barrister defending the 10 does not want to use it because he thinks Irish Law takes Precedence!" ... ( From https://www.facebook.com/philomena.cornu )

Although I'm not a lawyer, and although I don't know what charges any of "the 10" are facing tomorrow, I nevertheless believe the above lawyer's statement is incorrect for the following reasons:

1) According to the contents of the United Nations web page at the address just below, the Aarhus Convention Agreement VERY CLEARLY has the status of a United Nations "TREATY":
https://treaties.un.org/pages/viewdetails.aspx?src=trea...ng=en

2) The following piece of Wikipedia text states that "A treaty is an agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an (international) agreement, protocol, covenant, convention, pact, or exchange of letters, among other terms. Regardless of terminology, all of these forms of agreements are, under international law, equally considered treaties and the rules are the same." (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty )

How can Irish law take precedence over international law?

Personally, I can't help feeling the "the 10" would do well to get the advice (in writing) of an international lawyer or law-firm before they go any further; and, if necessary to ask to have tomorrow's hearing postponed until they have found such a lawyer (or law firm) to advise them.

Finally, a few excerpts from a related Indymedia (Ireland) comment dated November 3rd 2014 at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/105046#comment299807 :

"Sadly, and almost unbelievably (as I see things), all that the entire membership, of all of the three main branches (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) of the Republic of Ireland governments have been doing up to now, since, that is, the government -- of the time -- signed the "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" in 1998, is to make smithereens out of it; and, which the entire membership of the present Republic of Ireland Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial), without a SINGLE exception as far as I know, is STILL doing: well over 16 years later."

Related Internet Search Engine Listing:
"Making smithereens of the Aarhus Convention Agreement, Human Rights Ireland ..."
http://tinyurl.com/oauj79n

And, all because the Republic of Ireland legal profession has been VERY SUCCESSFULLY fooling "the people" of the Republic of Ireland for the past 16 years or so regarding their legal rights under "Aarhus"?

Enough is enough!!

All things considered, it appears to me that -- one way and another -- there might be a LOT AT STAKE here for "the people" of the Republic of Ireland?

=== === ===

by W. Finnerty Sun Nov 09, 2014 13:44

The United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty, and the Republic of Ireland "Environmental (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 are closely linked ...

What the "Environmental (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011" is basically:

"DONE AT AARHUS, DENMARK ON 25 JUNE 1998 ..."

"AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE AIR POLLUTION ACT 1987; THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACT 1992; THE WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT 1996; AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1997; TO MAKE PROVISION FOR COSTS OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; TO GIVE EFFECT TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS DONE AT AARHUS, DENMARK ON 25 JUNE 1998 AND FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE TO BE TAKEN OF THE CONVENTION; TO AMEND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000; THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1998; THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2001 AND THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS."

The text in the paragraph just above has come from:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0020/ind....html

Further important information relating to the above, which includes a 13 minute 24 second audio report, can be found at:
http://www.tirnasaor.com/forum/topic/show?id=3214356%3A...topic

As might be expected, taking into account the way things appear to have been done (up to now) regarding the planned Poolbeg Incinerator Project, the content of the audio report referred to in the paragraph just above suggests (to me at least) that there are MASSIVE PRACTICAL FAILINGS on the part of the Republic of Ireland Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) to uphold the principles of the international United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty, which it signed up for in 1998, and ratified in 2012.

It seems our Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) "can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk", regarding this EXCEPTIONALLY important "human rights" UN treaty?

Similarly of course with regard to "Irish Water", The "Rossport Situation" (Shell Oil), certain "Coillte Projects" (I understand), the Celtic Waste/Greenstar Rubbish Dump in Kilconnell, Fracking Plans/Liciences, and so on.

by W. Finnerty Mon Nov 10, 2014 14:24

The text in the section below, which is believed to be self-explanatory, has come from a FACEBOOK message published this morning.

=== === ===

Philomena,

RE: https://www.facebook.com/philomena.cornu/posts/85530059...37753

Many thanks for this information, and all of your ongoing efforts.

I feel sure that many people all around the world will be deeply appreciative of what you are doing by way of trying to correct the way that all of the potential benefits of the "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" have -- so far -- "failed to register" here in the Republic of Ireland.

I personally have long believed that, years ago, "Aarhus" should have been embedded -- "lock, stock, and barrel" -- as an "Amendment" into Bunreacht na hEireann (the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland), especially when it is the case that there is little (or possibly nothing) in Bunreacht na hEireann that relates directly to the important matter of the protection of the environment.

Best wishes,

William (Billy) Finnerty.

PS: A thought ...

"Is é Dia an fhírinne agus saorfaidh an fhírinne muid."
"God is truth, and the truth will free us from the falsehoods which have entrapped us."
http://tinyurl.com/km9dt5o

Related NOVEMBER 3rd 2004 "United Nations Aarhus Convention Treaty" APPLICATION FOR LEGAL AID information:
http://www.annmariekelly.org/LegalAidApplication/3Novem...4.htm

Related "Government Corruption, Crime, Cover Ups, Bullying, and Impunity" Information Listing:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/IrishLegalProfessions..._List

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by W. Finnerty Sat Nov 15, 2014 13:56

A United Nations "Aarhus Treaty" related e-mail was sent last Thursday (November 13th 2014) to Republic of Ireland Chief Justice Susan Denham.

Titled "Government Crime, Government Criminals, and Government Impunity", last Thursday's e-mail was also copied to Republic of Ireland Prime Minister Enda Kenny TD, and to Republic of Ireland President Dr Michael D Higgins.

A full copy of the "Gmail Email" in question, which, in addition to the three people referred to above, was also copied to over one hundred other e-mail addresses (using the same e-mail), can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/ChiefJusticeSusanDenh...l.htm

by W. Finnerty Sun Nov 16, 2014 20:00

This fellow (name removed -ed) really does seem to be making some good quality attempts to make the potential benefits of the UN Aarhus Treaty a reality for all of us. For anybody interested, more information on his efforts can be found at:
http://the-law-is-my-oyster.com/2014/09/23/the-aarhus-t...-now/