Horizons

"Incinerators are like beasts that have to be fed rubbish at a constant rate. The building of incinerators will undermine the economic viability of waste minimisation and recycling options because of the demand for unrecycled rubbish that they will create." Those were the words of John Bruton, Fine Gael TD and former taoiseach, opposing the proposed incinerator for Carranstown, Duleek, Co Meath.

"I can't see the sense in burning 150,000 tonnes of waste a year to produce 37,000 tonnes of toxic ashes," says Tom Prenderville of Earthwatch in relation to the same incinerator - due to be built by the Belgian company Indaver.

As Ireland's waste management crisis worsens, opposition to incinerators grows at various proposed sites around the country. Those who want to understand the issues involved can go along to a public meeting in Dublin next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, here is a summary of the anti-incineration groups formed in Ireland to date.

The Cork Alliance for a Safe Environment is an umbrella organisation of anti-incineration groups around Cork Harbour who are opposed to the proposed toxic waste incinerator for Ringaskiddy.

In Galway, the anti-incineration group Galway for a Safe Environment claims that incineration is an unacceptable health risk that will undermine recycling efforts.

In Co Meath, the group No Incineration Alliance strongly opposes the plans to site an incinerator at Carrenstown.

Anti-incineration campaigners in Co Kilkenny and Co Waterford recently resigned from the consultation forum on the waste management plan for the south-east. They claimed the plan was being drawn up solely by unelected consultants and county managers. A previous waste management plan for the region, which included an incinerator, was shelved following a major anti-incineration campaign in Co Wexford.

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dempsey, has commissioned a study on the effects of incineration, the results of which are due out next year. Campaigners are concerned that decisions will be made before the Government-commissioned study on the effects of incineration is completed.

Those in favour of incineration view it as one element of an overall waste management plan and claim that incineration is safe once gases from the burning process are completely cleaned.

The Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association, which is opposed to the incinerator for the Poolbeg peninsula, is holding a public meeting on the hazards of mass incineration and good waste management practices on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Scoil Mhuire National School, 15 Gilford Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4.

Speakers will include Tom Prendeville from Earthwatch and ┴ine Suttle from Galway for a Safe Environment. Contact Claire Wheeler on 01-6608582; or Tom Prendeville at Earthwatch: 01-4785100.

Dr Declan Little, project ecologist with the People's Millennium Forests, will give the annual Sean McBride Forestry public lecture on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Theatre FS01, Agriculture Building, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4.

In his lecture, Little will talk about trees in ancient European and Celtic culture, trees in Irish literary tradition and the folklore of trees in Ireland. For instance, Celtic tribes or Tuagh each had their own sacred trees, which they considered mystical protectors of the people who gathered around them at ritual assemblies. This type of symbolism survived in the Christian era, and medieval monasteries had their own special trees. To this day, a tree guards the local holy well in most parts of Ireland. Dr Little will also speak about the individual folklore attached to particular trees.

Calling all photographers who have a keen interest in the environment! There is less than two weeks left to get your entries in for the annual ESB Environmental Photography Awards.

Amateur and professional photographers are eligible to enter. Now in its fifth year, the competition is divided into five categories: international, professional, amateur, youth (15 to 24-year-olds) and junior (under 15 years).

Entries can be submitted under the following themes: plant magic, waterworld, animal wonders, form and composition, the world in our hands, wild world, city wonders, and where do we get our energy?

Judging by last year's winners, the emphasis seems to be more on a positive interpretation of the environment. In fact, this column commented on the need for another category in which the destruction of the environment would be captured as well as its beauty (judges take note).

Entry forms are available from the Administrator, ESB Environmental Photography Awards, 5 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6690030; e-mail aileen.merrick@ogilvy.com. The closing date for receipt of entries is October 26th.

Donal Synnott from the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, will lead a tree walk there tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. Organised by Forest Friends Ireland, the walk is open to all.

Anyone visiting the Botanic Gardens this weekend can also drop into the Education and Visitors' Centre to see the botanical art exhibition with paintings by Slovakian artist Margareta Pertl.

Web watch

www.unicef.org/voy

A sub-site of the InICEF site, this is the place where children can find out what affects other children in today's world. Visitors to the site are invited to share what they think and read what others have to say about children at work, children's rights, children and war, and children and cities. Check out the messages posted by children following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.