Celebration at Ringaskiddy for Life and against incineration

cork | environment | news report

Tuesday September 14, 2004 22:22

by Pooka McFee - Nameless Faery Horde

Celebration at Ringaskiddy for Life and against incineration goes ahead despite lashing rain and All-Ireland Final clash

September 12th saw a gathering of about 30 people converge on the beach near Haulbowline at Ringaskiddy. Considering the weather, the match and a number of other factors, like the marquee we were going to use getting seized by the gards at a party the previous night, this was a brilliant turn out. Participants included the newly formed Cork Food not Bombs group who provided an ace spread. Hot soup deeply appreciated in the overall wetness. Thanks folks! Also a band of drummers and a Brazilian guitar band who risked wrecking their instruments in the wet to keep our spirits up. Other actions included a clean up of the beach and a guided walk across the proposed incinerator site to the Martello Tower on top of the hill. Afterwards we all went to the pub. Fair play to the organisers (whoever they were) and to everyone who turned up. Collective enthusiasm and spirit turned what could have been a depressing washout into a memorable occasion.
We’re going to need more of this to stop this monster. Remember Carnsore Point! This issue is every bit as important but we won that one and we can win this one too.

Ideas that have been floating around on this issue that deserve a wider airing:

It’s easier to fight for something than against something. That site that Indaver want to desecrate is actually really beautiful when you get to know it. How about turning it into a People’s Park? Make it into a symbol for the safe and beautiful environment that we are fighting for, whether in the courts like the brave CHASE people or in other ways like the organisers of this picnic and who knows who else, working away quietly in their own fashions.

How about a really BIG festival, down there, on the beach, on the site? Let’s bring 1000’s of people to Ringaskiddy so they can see and feel for themselves the reality of the situation. A beautiful landscape and harbour, overburdened with polluting industry. Let’s fall in love with the place again. Let’s imagine a harbour area where the economy works for the place and the people, where our social structures preserve and protect our landscape, water and air. Where we respect fire as a healer and transformer. The first step to making it happen is envisioning it. Could a festival be the place where we do this? Maybe we’re all doing it already. Let’s get together and do it more!

Yours For The Future! This world is Ours!

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