Comhaontas Glas i nDeisceart an Dúin
The South Down Green Party election campaign made its way to the Newry & Mourne last week on the canvass with Green Party leader John Gormley.
On visiting Newry and the local area Green Party Leader John Gormley took the opportunity to respond to the concerns of Environmentalists in the Co. Down and Newry area on his Governments policy on badger-culling in and confirmed that this practice is to end.
- Greens on the trail, Green Party end to badger cull promise
Down Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright praised local conservation group Lecale Conservation who organised the very successful art exhibition that finished in Downpatrick Library last week. More than 20 local amateur and profession Artists supported the exhibition, and many pictures were sold over fortnight.
Lecale Conservation were highlighting odd proposals from the Department of the Environment to retract the Area for Outstanding Beauty Status for parts of the coast between Killough and Dundrum.
Cllr Enright said “The insanity of areas like Tyrella, Minerstown and Rossglass losing their Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status – while the ASDA car park and McDonald’s fast food are proposed to take their place speaks for itself!”
“This fantastic response by local artists reflects overwhelming community opposition to this foolish proposal by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Now the consultation period is over local people and the statutory who opposed this proposal are awaiting the decision of the NIEA to see if the 100% opposition to the proposal during the consultation period has been taken into account,” concluded Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright.
Steven Agnew, Green Euro Candidate, visits Downpatrick.
Downpatrick Cllr Cadogan Enright and retired Cllr Bill Corry of the Green Party hosted the launch of Green EU Candidate Steven Agnew’s Campaign in South Down.
Meeting in the Saint Patrick Centre Steven Agnew listened to the concerns of many local environmentalist groups, community activists and human rights campaigners.
Downpatrick Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Keith Bradford said, “I was impressed with this intelligent and committed young man and things bode well for Northern Ireland when we have people like this coming forward as potential political representatives.”
Jim Marks, a local farmer and environmentalist campaigner, from Killileagh shared many of the concerns in the Lecale area with Steven Agnew including multiple instances of river pollution, unsustainable development and flagrant disregard for EU Directives in the area of health and the environment that are rampant in Northern Ireland.
Cllr Cadogan Enright pointed out how Down District Council had still failed to implement a Biodiversity Action Plan and is only now beginning to look at implementing its responsibilities under Local Agenda 21 – That is how Down District can be made sustainable for our children and grand children.
Cllr Enright said, “When you look at Britain, Germany and even central and south America and see that local authorities in all these regions are planning for the future in terms of biodiversity and climate change. Its embarrassing that we here in Down District Council have failed to deliver a local plan despite the best efforts of a number of councillors from different parties to bring this forward.”
Bill Corry praised Steven Agnew and held him up as the sort of young person we need in politics to change priorities for the future and create a better life and future for everyone in Down District and Co. Down.
The Green Party EU Candidate Steven Agnew thanked everyone for showing up to express their concerns and was continuing to amend his election platform to reflect these and other matters brought to his attention by similar meetings in Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Hilltown and Warrenpoint.
Press Cuttings: Councillor criticises the lack of local action plan
This article has been uploaded on behalf of the Down District Fairtrade Committee.
The Down District Fairtrade Committee have handed in a motion to the Down District Council last week as part of its activities for “Fairtrade Fortnight”.
The motion will be proposed to local councillors by Cllr Cadogan Enright of the Green Party and Cllr Robert Burgess of the UUP.
Down District Fairtrade Activist Emma Whitehead said, “This motion will ensure that the Down District Council is committed to sustainable development both locally and globally through its support of the Fairtrade Foundation in helping to improve the quality of life for people in less developed countries.”
“Fairtrade initiatives provide a key tool for tackling poverty and environmental damage in the developing world and so it is important we promote the use of Fairtrade products in the Down District area,” Concluded Emma Whitehead.
Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “I have been enthusiastically following the work of the local Fairtrade Committee and look forward to proposing this motion at council. I have already confirmed support for the motion from Cllr Anne MacAleenan from the SDLP, Cllr Jim Wells MLA of the DUP and Cllr Willie Clarke MLA of Sinn Fein.”
Cllr Robert Burgess said, “I was delighted to hear that the management team at the council has already signed up to the Down District Fairtrade directory and have been buying Fairtrade tea and coffee for some considerable time. The Fairtrade movement is making a serious difference to people in developing and third world countries and this is why I am supporting this motion and the work of the Fairtrade committee.”
Fairtrade Activist Emma Whitehead said, “If anyone would like to get involved in the campaign please send us an email at downpatrickfairtrade@gmail.com”
Press Cuttings: Fairtrade fortnight
This article has been uploaded on behalf of the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee.
The Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee had their monthly meeting last week to discuss their plans for the next year.
A Down District Fairtrade Poster is being drafted which will be distributed to those businesses in the Down District who have Fairtrade Products on sale or available to customers.
Chair of the Fairtrade Committee Helen Corry said, “Many businesses are already stocking Fairtrade Products so we feel the best way to support them is raising awareness of the Fairtrade brand and pointing out to the public where they can purchase these products.”
Helen continued, “If a business was provided with the poster, we are drafting, they can put it on their window so that passers by can see that their business is supporting the Fairtrade cause.”
Local Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright, a member of the committee, explained to those in attendance at the Fairtrade Meeting the process of putting a motion to the Down District Council in support of the Fairtrade Campaign.
Cllr Enright confirmed that he has received cross party support for the Fairtrade Campaign and councillors from different parties wishing to back the campaign at council. Cllr Enright also said there is a great interest from Down District Council Officials.
Fairtrade Chair Helen Corry concluded, “If anyone would like to get involved in the campaign please send us an email at downpatrickfairtrade@gmail.com”
Press Cuttings: Fair Trade, Fairtrade products to be highlighted in Down, Fairtrade campaign gains momentum
This article was uploaded on behalf of the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee.
The Downpatrick Fairtrade has been continuing its campaign to support local ethical business.
The Committee recently had a meeting in the Health Store Café Downpatrick. The Health Store stocks many Fairtrade products in its shop and café.
Julia Gill of the Health Store said, “The ethics of our Health Store is to stock local, organic, Fairtrade and ethically sourced foods and gifts. By doing so we hope to raise awareness of how the exploitation of many farmers across the world is still a major blight to many developing and third world countries.”
Helen Corry of the Fairtrade Committee said, “We had a very productive meeting and I was delighted to support the Health Store and learn more about the wide variety of Fairtrade and ethical products they have available.”
The Committee was joined by Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright and discussed the motion presently being prepared for the Down District Council which Cllr Enright has agreed to propose.
Cllr Enright said, “The Fairtrade committee were aware that a motion was already past a few years by the council in support of Fairtrade. The new motion will be to re-instate this support by aiding the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee in its endeavour to make Downpatrick a Fairtrade Town.”
“I am delighted to see the enthusiasm for Fairtrade in Downpatrick and the Down District. I have agreed to host a directory of Fairtrade Business on my website www.downgreens.com as another way to support the efforts of the Fairtrade Committee in Downpatrick.”
Downpatrick Fairtrade Chairperson Helen Corry concluded, “Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers in developing and third world coutries. It is for this reason that the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee supports those local businesses who have taken the step to introduce Fairtrade Products onto their shelves.”
Press Cuttings: Councillors will be urged to make Downpatrick a 'Fairtrade Town', Business support for ethical trading
fairtradecanvass1, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.
Green Party members Mark McCormick and Brenda Cooke of the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee.
Pictured are Green Party Activists Helen Corry (L), Brenda Cooke (R) and Fairtrade Campaigner Emma Whitehead (C).
Following Fairtrade Fortnight 2008, Fairtrade campaigners in Downpatrick have decided to set up a Fairtrade Steering Committee to promote the Fairtrade message in the local area.
The campaign will focus on making Downpatrick a Fairtrade Town. Fairtrade is a tool for development that ensures disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries get a better deal through the use of the international FAIRTRADE Mark.
Fairtrade campaigners will be calling in to the local shops, businesses and schools giving information packs on how they can support the Fairtrade cause.
For more information on the campaign we would invite you to a meeting being hosted by the Down District Green Party on the 16th April in the St. Patricks Centre at 7pm where the Downpatrick Fairtrade Committee will be formed. Everyone is welcome!
Press Cuttings: Fairtrade, Down Democrat, Fairtrade, Mourne Observer, fairtrade meeting call
Brenda Cooke (BFA, MSc) is full-time environmental campaigner on Energy, Water and the Environment since 1998 working for Sustainable Development Ltd. Brenda is currently managing the first zero-carbon housing development in Britain and Ireland as a demonstration project, based on German building standards. This means negotiating with the regulatory authorities to get past rules intended to protect vested interests and build affordable homes that can reduce fuel bills by up to £500 per annum.
Mother of five, Brenda is also a champion of women’s politics and views the Greens as the natural successor to the Women’s Coalition. “I supported the Women’s Coalition and their critical role in the peace process. The Greens come from the same stock of activists and plain speaking advocates of equality and common sense.”
