Action at Indaver offices, Cork

cork | environment | news report

Monday October 18, 2004 18:52

by John Johnson - Cork Grassroots

Indaver, a waste management company seeking to build two incinerators in the Cork Harbour area today received a visit from local activists keen to let them know they are not welcome if they persist with their plans.

This action was organised by a loose affiliation of individuals seeking to support the High Court action against the incinerator by the group Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE), while exploring alternative methods of resistance to plans to inflict more polluting industry on the Cork Harbour area.
Activists met at 12pm at the entrance to the Kinsale Road Business Park where Indaver have their offices. After a brief, hopefully productive flirtation with local media they displayed banners, beat drums and leafleted motorists on the Kinsale road roundabout before entering the business "park" (strange phrase that) and proceeding to the office of Indaver Ireland/Minchem.
Once there two members of the group took advantage of staff leaving for lunch to enter the office building itself, where after a brief interaction with staff, some amused, some not so, they encountered John Ahern, chairman and frontman for the company who offered space for a delegation to talk to him. This offer was refused and opposition to the incinerator was clearly stated. This resulted in what can only be described as an altercation during which Mr Ahern did a good job of attempting to bamboozle, obfusticate and generally cloud the issue. Meanwhile drumming and dancing carried on outside. One of the activists presented him with a bottle of water from the source of the Lee with the words "See this water, it's sacred. We're going to keep it that way."
The action continued outside the building as other activists harangued the chairman while staff looked on from upstairs windows and other businesses in the area (including the Southern Health Board ambulance service) were leafleted. Mr Ahern was heard to offer his support for sustainable methods of waste management and was even persuaded to sign a statement to this effect.
Is his signature worth the paper it's written on? Is this man simply a front for shadowy forces intent on using the waste crisis to extract more money out of an inherently unsustainable, unjust economy? We'll just have to wait and see I guess.
Sadly the exchange ended on a angry note. Mr Ahern said that Laura Burke, ex-Indaver high-up, now EPA high-up had done more for the environment than any of those present. One of the (male) protestors burst into laughter at this point to which Mr A angrily responded that Laura Burke was a better woman than said activist. True I suppose. Time will judge the effectiveness of this action and small though it was (about 12 people) the mood was positive. I think most people felt glad of the chance to direct their feelings against a tangible target. 1st of many?
CHASE are up in the High Court on the 27th Oct. They would appreciate solidarity from any of you Dubs or others.