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I feel the green movement in Ireland is moving backward.

  • 25-01-2008 9:00pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,417 ✭✭✭


    I'd like to point out that anything in this post is just my own personal opinion, and in that, is the opinion of someone who is not overly knowledgable on any of the subjects mentioned.

    In saying that.....I have to say, I feel that the good work done by Ireland in relation to recycling, vehicle reclaim, appliance recycling etc is being kind of undone, and the green movement has a harder time ahead of them now than they did before.

    I myself am relatively green. I'm big on recycling, public transport where possible, and anything I can do to help the Earth. When recycling in Ireland became a big thing, I worked in the waste management industry and the positive response from all types of people was hugely encouraging. Companies took time to send staff on recycling awareness courses, paid extra to do it right, people at home took to green bins with gusto, and things seemed to be heading in the right direction.

    But lately, I feel that the vibes towards a greener world are darkening and people are beginning to get p*ssed off with the whole thing. Every now and then you even see on boards the threads about recycling with private companies being a farce, and newspaper articles to back them up. The sad thing is though, that a lot of this news is sh*te, and cant back up its claims.

    I have a horrible feeling that the green recycling image is being tarnished, (not least by the green party who have left the nation befuddled over the apparent reversal on the only issues that were actually in the news that related to them) and really needs a major public campaign to let the people know exactly how well we are doing in some areas thanks to the efforts of everyone.
    All the time now, I hear people bitching about recycling, poor waste collections, how its all a joke, a rip off, and sure even the Green party cant be trusted to do what they say.

    Does anyone agree that there are signs of negative feeling towards the things we should be doing? What do you think could be causing it?

    I feel that the things that have tarnished the good work so far include:

    Negative publicity in newspapers and TV articles.
    SOME waste companies doing the dirt and handling waste badly.
    Increasing costs that are never justified by waste management companies.
    The green party announcement on CFL bulbs and their imminent banning.
    The confusion rising from the new announcement about changes in car tax due to carbon emmisions. I know two people who want new cars but have no idea if they should wait or not.
    The green parties renewed interest in Nuclear power.
    The allowance of the M3 through Skryne Valley (which I'm in favour of incidentally).
    Lack of publicity of the facts and figures as to what we have done right.

    As i'v said above, I'm not expert on any of these matters, and I do expect to be google-linked to death disproving everything I've said, but as an ordinary Joe, I really feel that something has be done to tackle this negative u-turn in the publics opinion.


Comments

  • Site Banned Posts: 5,904 ✭✭✭parsi


    If Uncle John says its alright then it must be.

    After all he is the man who interpreted a failure to achieve a necessary majority as a mandate to proceed with the item under discussion i.e. the Lisbon Treaty.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,189 ✭✭✭Gekko


    I'd say that there are a number of problems:
    - as you point out some of these ideas are more about the gesture of being green than the actual result. If there's a high cost eg to taxpayers, the media will latch onto it.
    - the green movement is more ideological than being interested in proven real results. John Gormley isn't doing the greens any favours with his flip-flopping. The likes of Duncan Stewart on Eco Eye have good intentions but at the end of the day their message comes across as wishy washy.

    - Recently I've spoken to a number of people who have business backgrounds, innovative ideas and genuinely entrepreneurial and original thinking. If you want to know where the future lies, these guys are on the ball and they're speaking to both businesses and politicians to test the waters and get these into policy and the public realm.


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