Environmental campaigners have revealed their 10 point plan to save Northern Ireland from becoming “the dirty corner of Europe”.
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland (FOENI) hosted an ‘Our Earth, Our Future - to mine or to mind?’ conference last weekend.
Speakers from across the globe headed to Co Tyrone to share some harrowing experiences of mining, quarrying and sand extraction.
Issues raised included marketing tactics used by prospecting firms and how they can split communities, as well as the aftermath of projects gone wrong.
FOENI director James Orr said it’s time for change.
His group want Stormont to sign up to a climate change act, ban the extraction of fossil fuels and bring nature back from the brink with a rewilding strategy.
They also want to see third parties given “the right to appeal poor planning decisions”.
“Northern Ireland has a lot of catching up to do,” he told Belfast Live.
“When it comes to healthy land, breathable air and clean water we are the dirty corner of the UK and increasingly the dirty corner in Europe.
“Some of the biggest illegal quarries, waste dumps and intensive factory farms in the whole of Europe are located here. Instead of creating wealth these industries extract wealth.
“Report after report identifies that our current system of environmental protection is failing. With Brexit we don’t want a dirty border but an opportunity to reshape our places to have flourishing ecosystems and healthy people.
“Only a healthy environment can make us prosper.
“The least we expect is an independent protection agency. Even Trump’s USA has one. We also need an environmental court. We don’t need new laws, we just want the existing ones applied.
“At a community level we see a new approach to protecting our places and regenerating our economy. It’s time government woke up and showed some leadership on the real issues that truly unite us - our landscape, rivers, lakes and air.
“We need a sea change, a revival in how we look after the health of our country and our people.”
Speakers at the event included Queen’s University’s Dr Amanda Slevin, Green Party deputy Tanya Jones and campaigners from communities blighted by mining in India, Honduras and Romania.
Mr Orr added: “The energy was palpable and we all learned so much about the extractive industry - both locally and globally.
“Another world is not only possible, she’s on the way and, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe.”
FOE’s 10 point plan for government:
1. A Northern Ireland Climate Change Act
2. Ban on fossil fuel extraction
3. Rewilding strategy
4. Energy efficiency programme
5. Third party appeal rights
6. Better public transport
7. An independent environmental regulator
8. More sustainable agriculture
9. An environmental court
10. Donor transparency
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