The island of Ireland is an ecological unit and two jurisdictions. Separated by unrecognizable boundaries of water systems, pollutants and air. Since the neoliberal policies of the two governments actively attract interest from the mining industry, it is an isolated island.
Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland have been identified as new hotspots European mining boom. So far, Twenty-seven% South and Twenty-five percent The northern region has obtained a mineral exploration license.
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The global gold industry has been the driving force of this mining boom, one of which is The most ecologically and socially destructive industry in the world. From Sperrins in Tyrone and Derry counties to Donegal and Connemara, rural communities are facing plans to mine gold. Most of the interest comes from Canadian mining companies.
north
Although we often cited the urgent need for economic decarbonization as the reason for the increase in the global mining industry, there is usually little or no debate on whether it is necessary. Reduce our consumption, Especially in the north of the world.It is clear We cannot escape the climate crisis No sacrifice countryside And indigenous communities.
The Sperling Mountains is an undulating Highland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Northern Ireland. Here, Canadian exploration company Dalradian Gold Limited applied to open a large gold mine near Greencastle Village in County Tyrone.
In 2017, Dalradian submitted a huge 10,000-page planning application. They are seeking approval for an underground mine, a 17-story waste storage facility and a processing plant. The opposition is fierce, and 37,000 opposition letters have been received so far.This journey is not easy, and the plan will bring the community and the defenders of the planet face Threats and intimidation.
Local communities pointed out that the impacts of such programs are diverse, including biodiversity destruction, air pollution, water pollution, health effects on local people, and loss of livelihoods and sense of place.
One of the ecological impacts of such projects is the threat to the tributaries that flow into the transboundary Lake Foyle. Owen kiliu (SAC) And Owen Ray (axis) The river is adjacent to the proposed site.Both are protected as rare homes Freshwater pearl mussels.
In any case, the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs approved Dalradian to discharge sewage into these rivers. In November 2019, Save Our Sperrins member Fidelma O’Kane High court.
south
The southern part of the island is also facing an invasion by the global gold mining industry. Kang Ruijin Has been exploring in Monaghan County, and the Canadian company Arkle Resources has two locations-one in Wicklow with one Inishowen, County Donicalake
Since the threat emerged in 2016, the resistance organization Save Inishowen has been opposed to these plans. In Connemara, the Geltacht (Irish) region, the resistance organization Protect Connemara successfully defeated the Vancouver gold prospector BTU Metals Corp. They petitioned the government to oppose these plans, stressing that mining would harm the local economy, which is heavily dependent on the local economy. Tourism and small-scale agriculture.
Donegal, Sperling and Connemara are all rural landscapes facing marginalization and socio-economic exclusion. However, they are also extremely rich and ancient landscapes shaped by thousands of years of culture and tradition. A landscape of immeasurable intrinsic value.
Jacqueline Keenan of Greencastle explained: “The people here love their land, there is too much history there, and the past generations have suffered too much when handing it over to us. We hope to pass it on to the next generation. We have a deep-rooted foundation”.
female
all around the world Women are at the forefront of the fight against exploitationIn Ireland, women are an important part of these struggles. These land defenders are taking on leadership roles and less visible roles that sustain the movement, such as key family and administrative tasks. These women come from all walks of life, from artists, housewives, linguists, teachers, lawyers to farmers.
Strategies include public meetings, Judicial review, One Profession Dalradian’s proposed site near Greencastle, as well as face-to-face events and webinars to share experiences and promote solidarity with other frontline communities Peru, Cyprus, Romania, Colombia to Lakota.
The resistance of the entire island is increasing, not only gold, but also a series of mineral exploration and mining. In February of this year, a network of community groups called CAIM (Community Against Unfair Mining) was established.
Rose Kelly from Save Inishowen said: “The formation of this network is important because we live on a beautiful island and it is threatened by squeezing. As a community on the front lines of this destructive industry, we must work together. Very important.”
“Caim” is a Celtic term that means a protection circle for superhuman communities. This is the spirit embodied in women’s efforts to keep gold underground.
This author
V’cenza Cirefice is an activist researcher, studying for a PhD at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She discussed the resistance to abstractionism from the perspective of feminism.
Ms. Cirefice was the first recipient of the New Ecologist Writers Fund established earlier this year to support and provide a platform for writers from underrepresented communities in the history of environmental journalism, including writers of color, Female writers, LGBTQI+ communities and working classes. Please continue to support the Ecologist Writer Fund Donate now.
