Costa Rica, Pura Vida in Practice

Costa Rica, Pura Vida in Practice

Costa Rica, Pura Vida in Practice

Volcano in Coasta Rica
Aisling Stevenson initials

2nd of February 2022

Costa Rica is known for a lot, but what many don’t know is its approach to sustainable living. We hear that word thrown around a lot these days, but what does it actually mean?

Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present, without affecting future generations in meeting their needs. To be sustainable is more important than ever, especially now with the current climate crisis we’re living in. The things we do now will affect the planet for years to come, that is why everyone should look into becoming sustainable.

An example of a sustainable country that we could all learn a thing or two from, is Costa Rica in Central America. A place I recently visited and noticed the different things they do to combat climate change, a beautiful, sustainable country, that is highly recommended.

Costa Rica is known as a green travel destination. It is an environmentally friendly country, the lush green country sides, extraordinary biodiversity, and the diverse tropical ecosystems help with being green too. Tourism and ecotourism are a major industry in Costa Rica, it is one of the main driving forces that sustains a large proportion of the population. The upkeep of the country, and the sustainability of it is paramount if they want to keep tourism afloat.

Costa Rica is small, around the size of Ireland, with a similar population too. Our differences are that it’s warm in Costa Rica, their sea is warm, and Costa Rica has 5% of the world’s biodiversity living there. From the unusual racoon like creatures, Coatis, to the amazing jungle flora that may only be present in certain areas of the country. When traveling from the Caribbean side to the Pacific side, you see a completely change in landscape. The Caribbean side is more humid with a flatter landscape, compared to the Pacific side, which has a lot more mountains. When I was there, I looked out to a valley near Monteverde, it was like I could have been in Switzerland. The lush rolling green hills, the blue sky. What makes you realise you’re not in Switzerland are the birds flying past you. You do not get Macaws and Toucans in the wild in Switzerland.

There are over 250 species of mammals in Costa Rica, from monkeys and sloths to manatees and jaguars. It also has around 900 different species of birds, and of course a range of reptiles such as crocodiles and iguanas.

Due to the diverse wildlife and plants, Costa Rica has 5.25% of its territory protected. The environment and conservation are extremely important there. Conversation being a national priority, with around 20 national parks, 8 biological reserves, various animal refuges, with over a quarter of the land being protected. From my experience of being there recently, one thing that stood out to me was the fact that you were not allowed to flush toilet paper. It had to be deposited in a bin next to it. Everywhere you went were signs in bathrooms reminding not to flush paper, do not leave taps running, do not flush too much, turn off lights when not in use. These are some of the measures in place to help with its sustainability. Some places that did this as the septic systems were not fully equipped to handle too much in them, without clogging. This is to help with sustainability, less waste going into the water and clogging pipes.

There are a total of 112 volcanoes in Costa Rica as it lays on the Ring of Fire. Additionally, Costa Rica has 12 microclimates from beaches, mountains, waterfalls, to volcanoes, earthquakes, tropical jungles, etc…

Nearly 93% of the electricity used there is from renewable resources, showing how truly sustainable the country is. Seeing the abundance of rainfall, and vast rivers, hydroelectric power is most commonly used with 78% of the population using it. 18% of the people use geothermal resources from volcanoes. Wind and solar energy are found to be used too.

In 2017 Costa Rica hit a milestone: for more than 300 days only renewable energy was used without any fossil fuels. This is an amazing feat. They planned to be completely carbon neutral in 2021. But that is still a work in progress, a goal of which I believe will be undertaken soon, especially with all sustainable resources already in place.

I truly believe we as a people could learn a lot from the way Costa Rica has challenged climate change, doing everything in its power to be sustainable and help the planet out. They have done a good job at it so far: we can see lush protected national parks, free-roaming animals, most of the country is protected, and recycling bins and signs up reminding people everywhere to live as suitably as possible.

 

Photo by Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash

 

 

This article was brought to you by Carlow's Student Weekly

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STAND News Interviews: Live from Glasgow

STAND News Interviews: Live from Glasgow

STAND News Interviews: Live from Glasgow

Caoimhe O'Carroll and Stand News in conversation

2nd November 2021

We go live with Caoimhe O’Carroll the USI Vice President for the Dublin Region and ask her about her experience so far at COP26. Together we’re demanding leaders keep their promises and act with urgency.

You can #RISEUP for climate now and take the pledge for our joint campaign here

Keep an eye on our channels for more updates, briefings and resources. To read more about Caoimhe at COP26 click here

Visit our Instagram @stand.ie to keep up to date with all things #COP26

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Inside COP26: USI’s Caoimhe O’Carroll Heads to Glasgow

Inside COP26: USI’s Caoimhe O’Carroll Heads to Glasgow

Inside COP26: USI’s Caoimhe O’Carroll Heads to Glasgow

Panel discussion at COP26
Caoimhe O’Carroll initials

1st of November 2021

Hi there! My name is Caoimhe O’Carroll and I’m attending COP26 on behalf of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) from the 1st to the 6th of November. I’ve never been to a COP so I really don’t know what to expect but I’m really grateful for the opportunity and keen to share my experience! 

So, what is COP? COP stands for the Conference of Parties and refers to the meeting of 197 members of the UN on matters relating to climate change. At these annual conferences, world leaders commit to certain pledges/ambitions in the area of climate action. For example, in Paris 2015 the Parties adopted a legally binding international treaty to limit global warming – aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. In short, COP is “the room where it happens” when it comes to combating climate change.

 

because USI represents over 374,000 students on the island of Ireland, we believe that we have a real stake in what happens at COP26

Why have I been invited? I work as USI’s VP for the Dublin Region, and because USI represents over 374,000 students on the island of Ireland, we believe that we have a real stake in what happens at COP26. Climate Action may not be at the centre of our mission as an organisation but there’s no doubt that it’s at the centre of our future as young people. 

It’s really exciting to be able to actively participate in the conference this year. We were granted access by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications at short notice but there was no chance we were going to pass it up! COP is a fantastic opportunity to network with like-minded people, to learn more about climate injustice and to spread the message that we need urgent action now to save our planet. 

As a real newbie to the workings of COP, imposter syndrome began to kick in real quick… I am sorely aware that I am no expert on all things environmentalism. I’m no plastic-free, all organic, vegan. However, these concerns soon dissipated in some pre-meetings with colleagues from Friends of the Earth, STAND, Stop Climate Chaos, COP26 Coalition Ireland. They kindly reminded me that you don’t need to be an expert to engage with the COP and the voices of regular civilians are just as important as climate activists.

Heading to the airport!

How am I preparing? With the existential crisis out of the way, I’ve been getting ready to travel abroad for the first time post-pandemic. I found it impossible to pack since becoming so accustomed to life at home in lockdown! I’ve also been busy reading COVID testing requirements, following through with those tests, and recording the results accordingly. The restrictions surrounding COP are very tight and I’m required to do both a PCR test 48 hours before arrival in Glasgow and then daily LFT (Lateral Flow Testing) which is quite a demanding regime!

Packing light!

What will I do while I’m there? I don’t yet have a set schedule when it comes to my time in Glasgow. However, one thing is certain – I’m going to be busy! A lot of the official events have already been booked out but there will be plenty of side events, stalls and protests for me to participate in. I have loose plans to go live on Instagram every evening to discuss each day’s events and bring COP home in any way I can. I’m looking to push myself out of my comfort zone and be open to any opportunities that come my way. 

What are my expectations? So far, I don’t know what to expect! From my own perspective, my ambition is to engage with as many people as possible and to relay all my learnings back to the Irish student population. From a policy perspective, my hope would be that COP26 marks a turning point in climate action and climate policy. It’s key that COP26 brings about progressive and radical change to the global approach on climate change in order to adequately address concerns that our generation have. 

 

Want to learn more about what Caoimhe is up to in Glasgow for COP26? Follow STAND social media accounts for regular updates including an Instagram Live check-in!

 

Make your own contribution to confronting climate change by take the pledge to #RiseUp! Click here to learn more, to take the pledge, and to receive an action pack with 100 ways to make a difference.

 

 

 

Featured photo from UNFCCC

 

This article was supported by: STAND Student Engagement Coordinator Aislin Lavin

 

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More trees, more wealth

More trees, more wealth

More trees, more wealth

tall buildings behind large park
alex mulhare

25th August 2021

 

Wealthy suburbs can be identified by the amount of tree coverage in the area. 

 

The School of Geography at University College Dublin published an extensive report in 2017 that verified this statement’s accuracy. This study found that in comparison to North American and European cities, Dublin falls into the category of cities with the lowest tree coverage at 10 per cent. 

 

Paris, France has a similar level of tree canopy coverage, with 10.8 per cent of the city shaded by greenery.

 

However, these figures are dwarfed by North American cities. 50-53 per cent of Atlanta, Georgia is shaded by tree coverage, along with 54.64 per cent of Sacramento, California. 

 

Although Dublin City recorded 10 per cent tree canopy coverage, there exists a disparity between the number of trees in north Dublin versus south Dublin. Fingal County Council recorded 9.80 per cent canopy cover across its constituency, while the figure for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council was 16.38 per cent. 

 

This disparity suggests that a greater number of trees and greenery are planted in areas populated by larger, more expensive homes beyond the city centre.

 

“Participation and inclusion are key to fostering a sense of ownership and pride in public space.”

“Responsibility for the installation and maintenance of public space trees rests with the council, but this should not preclude the public from engaging and participating in what is planted and where,” said Barry Lupton of Horticulture Connected in a statement to STAND News. “Participation and inclusion are key to fostering a sense of ownership and pride in public space.”

 

The financial divide between north and south Dublin was evident even before national house price inflation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2018, a year after the publication of UCD’s tree coverage report, the average house in south Dublin was worth €459,229, with north Dublin homes recording an average value of €343,177. 

 

“Local Property Tax should be part of the contribution for tree planting,” said Fianna Fáil Councillor for Kimmage-Rathmines, Deirdre Conroy. She noted that she does not “understand why Dublin City Council have never planted trees in particular areas, such as Crumlin’s large green spaces.”

 

The shade cover provided by leafy trees during the summer months can quite literally prove to be the difference between life and death on a hot day. This becomes an especially grave concept when rising global temperatures and the increasing frequency of Irish summer heatwaves are considered. With fewer trees planted in inner-city and less wealthy urban areas, their residents may feel the impacts of climate change and hotter summers more strongly than those in suburban areas. This trend has also been observed within the United States, with less wealthy people disproportionately affected by a lack of leafy shade coverage.  

 

According to American Forests, a nonprofit organisation and creator of the Tree Equity Score map, “tree cover in almost any American city is also a map of income… lower-income neighbourhoods usually don’t have as many trees.” Inevitably, this means that residents in lower-income areas are more likely to fall victim to heat-related illness during high temperatures. 

 

Research has revealed that the heatwave mortality risk increases 2.49 per cent for every 0.6 degree Celsius increase in heatwave intensity. The mortality rate then increased by 0.38 per cent for every one-day increase in heatwave duration. 

 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations also argues that if trees are strategically planted in urban areas, they can cool the air by 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. This would reduce the need for air-conditioning units in warmer climates by 30 per cent and reduce energy consumption in the area. 

 

Alwyn White of Greenleaf Ireland spoke to STAND News, saying that “Success is not really about [the] quantity of trees planted. If a lot of tree planting fails or has to be removed before they mature, then the return on investment is never realised. Planning and investment in getting the correct structure for the trees to develop within is essential to get good long-term outcomes where the trees can thrive and people and property are protected from root heave damage.”

 

Ultimately, trees improve the quality of life in any given location, and the unequal access to tree coverage around the globe appears to be indicative of a greater social divide. 

 

 

 

Featured photo by Stephen Leonardi

This article was supported by: STAND Programme Coordinator Aimee + Programme Assistant Alex

 

Data centres struggle to balance foreign investment and climate action

Data centres struggle to balance foreign investment and climate action

Data centres struggle to balance foreign investment and climate action

data centre cables
alex mulhare

12th August 2021

 

Data centres may restrict Ireland from reaching its long-term climate change goals.

 

Currently, there are 70 data centres around Ireland, making it the data centre capital of Europe.

 

54 of these data centres are located across County Dublin, with 10 more under construction as of 2021.

 

Planning permission has also been granted for a further 31 data centres in the coming years.

 

In the last year alone, ten new data centres came online in Ireland. As a result, data centres represented 1.85 per cent of Ireland’s total carbon emissions during the same period.

 

€7.13 billion was invested in constructing Irish data centres during the last decade. A further €7 billion is estimated to be spent on data centre construction within the next five years.

 

Operating 24 hours per day, data centres consume a vast amount of electricity.

 

“Data centres are part of the core infrastructure of the digital economy by enabling data storage, including e-payments, secure transactions, banking, streaming, video, and outbound IP traffic, and disaster recovery services,” said Neasa Hourigan, a Green Party TD (Teachta Dála) for Dublin Central, in a statement to STAND News. “They have become increasingly important in the context of remote working during the pandemic and also support high-quality jobs.”

 

Ireland’s data centres (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, among other multinational companies) consume 900 megawatts (MW) of energy. To put this amount of energy into perspective, one wind turbine will typically produce 2 to 3 MW.

 

In 2020, data centres occupied 11 per cent of the country’s total energy demand.”

EirGrid, an electric power operator that is committed to producing renewable electricity in Ireland, has predicted that data centre capacity could account for 29 per cent of the country’s total electricity demand by 2028. In 2020, data centres occupied 11 per cent of the country’s total energy demand.

 

The EirGrid Generation Capacity Statement 2019-2028 suggests that an energy deficit could occur by 2025 due to Ireland’s data centre electricity requirements.

 

The concentration of data centre construction around Dublin puts the capital and its surrounding areas at heightened risk of suffering the consequences of an energy deficit. 

 

“I do not believe it is sustainable, or that it is possible to make it sustainable,” said Bríd Smith, a People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-Central, during a Dáil Éireann debate on 10 March 2021. “If we take the climate crisis seriously, we will not go down this road. It is not in our interest to gobble up renewable energy and water on this scale. Ireland bends over backwards to facilitate foreign direct investment.”

 

Responding to these comments, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, said, “Offshore wind has the potential for us to go even further, such as an additional 30 gigawatts (GW). That is the scale. It is almost nine times what we are using at present in terms of scale. There will be opportunities in this country whereby, if we locate [data centres] correctly and have the grid correctly connected to them, we will be able to run data centres efficiently with low carbon.”

 

Under the Climate Bill set out by Government in 2021, Ireland has committed to reducing its emissions by 51 per cent over the period to 2030. 

 

This plan also provided the legislation for Ireland to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, meaning that the amount of emissions released into and removed from the environment must be equal.  

 

Water conservation is also an emerging area of concern as data centres must use a significant amount of water in their cooling systems.

 

The average data centre consumes approximately 500,000 litres of water per day, according to figures gathered by the Sunday Business Post.

 

With climate change causing Ireland’s temperatures to rise, as seen with the recent heatwave, Irish Water is coming under pressure to take action. 

 

In warmer climate conditions, data centres can require up to 5 million litres of water per day. 

 

The July heatwave resulted in domestic Irish Water customers being advised against excessive water usage but it is unclear whether the same warning, if any, was issued to data centres.

 

Ireland is expected to host a further €4.5 billion worth of data centre construction by 2025. 

 

 

 

Featured photo by Thomas Jensen

This article was supported by: STAND Environment Editor Anastasiya + Programme Assistant Alex

 

Climate change is a racial justice issue

Climate change is a racial justice issue

Climate change is a racial justice issue

first nations women protesting
Kate Bisogno

6th August 2021

 

What is environmental racism? The term, first coined in 1982 by US civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis, can be defined as ‘‘racial discrimination in environmental policy-making, the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of colour for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities, and the history of excluding people of colour from leadership of the ecology movements”.

 

The birth of the environmental justice movement took place in the 1980s in the US, as reports and findings came out that indicated that communities of colour are disproportionately affected by health hazards through policies and practices that essentially force them to live closer to toxic waste sites and pollutants. 

 

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which began in 2014, is a clear example of ongoing environmental racism in the US. In a cost-saving move, the city’s water supply was switched from Detroit’s system to the Flint River. As a direct result of inadequate treatment and lack of water testing, residents of Flint were burdened with a series of major health and water quality issues, including foul-smelling and discoloured water, causing skin rashes, itchy skin, and hair loss.

 

Complaints by residents were continuously ignored by government officials and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission concluded that such a poor governmental response to this crisis was clearly due to systemic racism. 

 

While there are unfortunately many examples of environmental racism and discrimination in the US, it is clear that climate injustice is a global problem.  

 

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate highlighted in a now-viral Twitter video that she could for the first time in her life understand ‘‘the definition of the word racism,’’ after she was cut out of an image with four other climate activists by US news agency Associated Press in early 2020. The image also included young activists Greta Thunberg, Loukina Tille, Isabelle Axelsson and Luisa Neubauer, with Vanessa being the only one removed from the picture.

 

‘‘We don’t deserve this. Africa is the least emitter of carbons, but we are the most affected by the climate crisis. You erasing our voices won’t change anything. You erasing our stories won’t change anything,’’ she also said in the emotional Twitter video accusing the media of blatant racism.

 

“Climate justice recognises that the people who suffer the worst environmental consequences are often the ones least responsible for climate change.”

It was also discovered by Twitter users that some media outlets had actually misidentified Vanessa Nakate as Zambian activist Natasha Mwansa.

 

Many fellow activists and supporters came to Vanessa Nakate’s defence, highlighting the urgent need to address issues of climate injustice and the importance of opening up a conversation on racism and lack of representation within environmental movements themselves.

 

Climate justice recognises that the people who suffer the worst environmental consequences are often the ones least responsible for climate change.

 

As a result, not only is climate change a racial justice issue, it is also a socioeconomic issue as well. Youth Work Ireland’s Climate Injustice Report 2020 found that “71 per cent of landfill sites and waste incinerators in the country are located in areas that are below the national average of deprivation, as indicated by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index.’’

 

Former President of Ireland and Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, established her eponymous foundation – Climate Justice, which is a platform for solidarity, education and advocacy on the urgent need to secure justice around the world for the poor and marginalized people vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

 

Mary Robinson also currently holds the position of Chair of The Elders, which is a non-governmental organization of public figures, brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela. The Elders promote climate justice and the need to eliminate discrimination and encourage diversity within environmental spaces. 

 

One such blog post on The Elders’ website includes Colombian-American climate activist Jamie Margolin, in which she outlines how ‘‘the fight for climate justice and the fight for social justice are inseparable.’’

 

Jamie highlights that as a white Latina, she is someone with privilege within the climate movement and she calls on the climate community as a whole to support the Black Lives Matter movement. She points out that while the climate itself isn’t racist, the systems that caused this climate crisis are. Therefore, it is the responsibility of particularly those in the environmental movement who are not black, to use their privilege to support and stand up for racial justice on a global scale. 

 

As Jamie Margolin puts it, ‘‘if you care about climate justice, you have to care about racial justice too.’’

 

 

 

Featured photo by Pascal Bernardon

This article was supported by: STAND Environment Editor Anastasiya + Programme Assistant Alex

 

Are you not entertained?

Are you not entertained?

Are you not entertained?

two elephants at sunset
anastasiya stand news

16th July 2021

 

Ah the circus, a place for fun and games, where bears wear cute tutus and tigers jump through hoops, the smell of popcorn filling your nostrils and the stickiness of candy floss on your fingers. It brings us all back to our childhood filled with laughter and clowns, complete ignorance of what happens behind the scenes and the question of how wild animals become showmen. The truth is, most circus animals are treated poorly; beaten, starved, and kidnapped. They sit in tiny cages travelling from place to place for our entertainment. Have we ever thought about what the once big and mighty beasts feel when they are dressed in silly costumes and forced to perform tricks that are dangerous and downright unnecessary? They do not perform because they enjoy it, it’s because they are forced to. Why can’t they just stop and not perform then? That is a very simple answer, they are afraid. Afraid of what will happen if they do not perform.

 

Animals are trained and punished with whips, muzzles, tight collars, electric prods and metal rods. There are multiple videos and photographs showing animals being beaten and abused in cruel ways. Those fake smiles and cheers from the circus trainers and handlers are all for show, to trick you into thinking that the animals enjoy performing and that they are loved. Tigers and lions have a natural fear of fire, but due to the desires of their circus trainers, they are forced to jump through hoops which have resulted in many animals being injured. These mind tricks are precautions circus trainers take in order to avoid being reported, since the only real way a circus can get punished for mistreating their animals is by being reported by the public, and governments do not monitor what happens behind closed curtains.

 

Circus animals often have a lot of pent up anger and frustration from years of abuse. There have been multiple cases worldwide were circus animals have escaped and attacked people and their surroundings. The animals that go crazy are not sedated and given care, instead, they are killed.”

While travelling the circus, owners often keep animals in trailers or trucks. Big cats are crammed into tiny, dirty cages and elephants are chained down. Circuses travel all year round in various weather conditions meaning the animals are often exposed to the elements, forced to suffer through hours and days of travel without getting the chance to move around. Circus animals often have a lot of pent up anger and frustration from years of abuse. There have been multiple cases worldwide were circus animals have escaped and attacked people and their surroundings. The animals that go crazy are not sedated and given care, instead, they are killed. For example, take the 2014 Moolah Shrine Circus show in Missouri. During the performance, three elephants escaped from their handlers in the children area after being put under stress from the noise. They were loose for 45 minutes which resulted in multiple damaged vehicles. This was not the first time an elephant got loose, and it wouldn’t be the last.

 

Thankfully there have been circus bans in place in multiple cities and countries around the world which restrict the use of animals for entertainment. The Animal Welfare Act states that circus animals have the right to be protected and treated humanely, so circuses that disobey this act and mistreat their animals are breaking the law. Most circus cases focus on elephants, however, all animals should be protected from harsh treatment. The training of elephants begins when they are babies, they have all four of their legs chained up for 23 hours a day and while chained they are beaten and choked with electric rods to break their spirit. Most wounds are covered with make-up or blamed on the clumsiness of the animal.

 

An investigation by the Animal Defenders International found that dancing bears spend around 90% of their time inside a cage. ADI had also published a video showing a bear circling around a tiny steel cage measuring about 3½ feet wide and 8ft high, demonstrating the surreal life conditions these animals have to endure for our entertainment. It has been reported by the United States Animal Welfare, that most major circuses which used animals had been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set out by them. It has been documented that since 1990, 123 attacks on humans were made by large captive cats in the US, 13 of which were fatal.

 

There are three countries in the world that led the movement of banning the use of animals in circuses, the first being Bolivia, followed by China and Greece. The UK has banned the use of “wild” animals and the United States are currently fighting to ban the use of exotic animals. Ireland has banned the use of wild animals as of 2018 making it the 42nd state globally to do so. We can confront the use of animals in circuses by boycotting those circuses and supporting animal-free circuses like Cirque Du Soleil and Cirque Dreams, as well as the first ever circus using holographic animals, Roncalli, in Germany.

 

 

Featured photo by Mylon Ollila

This article was supported by: STAND Environment Editor Anastasiya + Programme Assistant Alex

 

Interview with Sustainable Radio

Interview with Sustainable Radio

Interview with Sustainable Radio (Dublin South FM 93.9)

OutSTANDing Stories Episode 2

Laura Kelly – Sustainable Radio (Dublin South FM)

14th July 2021

 

 

Listen to our interview with Laura Kelly from Sustainable Radio on the following platforms:

Spotify

SoundCloud

In this episode Laura Kelly from Sustainable Radio (Dublin South FM 93.9) interviews two guests. The first is Ken from the source bulk foods in Rathmines. They talk about how buying in bulk will become the new norm, if the EU is doing enough to ensure we have a plastic-free future and their global donation of 45,000 to Support Shepard’s. Then, Laura interviews our Marketing Coordinator, Madeline, to discuss our organisation and our campaigns. We talk about the pressure young people have to be the catalyst of climate action, the #ConsciousConsumption campaign and how we can get involved to bring about change.

 
 
 
You can learn more about the Dublin South FM here.
To take the pledge and read up about our #ConsciousConsumption campaign visit 10000students.ie

 

 

 

This podcast was hosted by Laura Kelly from Sustainable Radio

 

 

Cuba’s green revolution: what to expect when you’re expecting

Cuba’s green revolution: what to expect when you’re expecting

Cuba’s green revolution: what to expect when you’re expecting

a bowl of tomatoes is shared in the hands of two people
Ciaran Boyle

8th July 2021

 

Ripe ‘n’ ready but never really ripe or ready avocados on supermarket shelves. New bougie Ethiopian-Bosnian-Plant-based-Fusion food truck parking down the road. The bewildering stroll through an Asian supermarket searching for the eight poxy ingredients needed for the ‘quick and easy’ recipe you saw on Instagram. The unlimited options Deliveroo throws at us when we’re lying in bed at 3pm on Sunday dying a slow death caused by the night before. One of the benefits of living in the neoliberal (a pro-capitalist belief system that favours a freer trade market) age is the excessive choices we can make about what to shove in our gobs on a daily basis.  With the sheer volume of food available to us, of course we feel secure in knowing that a Big Mac is only a languid mash of our phone screens away. 

 

With the oncoming climate catastrophe, we’re about to see how insecure we really are. We’re standing in a nice warm shower about to step out into the cold harsh light of a winter morning. And realising we forgot a towel. And realising we’re in our partner’s parents’ house. And realising the bathroom is on the bottom floor. And realising your partner’s room is on the third floor. And realising you’re going to have to waddle through the kitchen covering your bits with a hand towel past your partner’s ma making breakfast. And their dad who is about to be abruptly disturbed from reading the Sunday paper to see the flash of your bare arse darting past. 

 

Sounds like a bit of a recurring nightmare but this is the state we’re in. The old neoliberal model of food production, that is ‘export what you’re good at, import the rest,’ leaves us teetering on the edge of catastrophe. Neoliberal globalisation, agricultural intensification and the push for high-yielding crops in the Global South has left us with fragile supply chains and more complex bureaucracy than Stalin ever dreamed of. The fragility of this system is deeply embedded but almost counter-intuitively, it’s also pressing the fast-forward button on the inevitable collapse. Monocropping culture (growing the same crop on the same land every year) destroying biodiversity, the overuse of fertilisers and pesticides ruining fertile soil and local ecosystems, and not to repeat myself but our ever-growing demand for more choices leaves us with a house of cards that is ripe ‘n’ ready to collapse. There’s a reason why food security is an urgent priority for everyone involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This is all without even mentioning the exploitative and oppressive socio-political aspects of the global food production system – that’s a can of worms for another day.  

 

The old neoliberal model of food production, that is ‘export what youre good at, import the rest, leaves us teetering on the edge of catastrophe.”

Our current response to this problem is based off of a conceptual framework called ‘ecological modernisation’ or the more commonplace waffle of ‘greening the economy.’ This basically amounts to let’s do everything in our power to keep the current economic and political systems intact while the tech bros plaster up the leaks as they spout.’ GMOs (genetically modified organisms), hydroponic farming (substituting soil with water) and plant-based meat alternatives are some of the solutions we’ve come up with under this self-deluding paradigm. We’re stuck in a rut of trying to tweak a system that creates the problem and leaves us more vulnerable to the consequences. It’s not all doom and gloom though, there are numerous examples of more stable and sustainable food production systems that can be replicated if we just took the time to look over the parapet.  

 

Right, so imagine if you can: overnight, Ireland is excommunicated from the EU. Facebook and all of the other Yank companies pack up and leave (ugh, the dream), all trade ties are cut and we’re left floating, lonely in the Atlantic and entirely dependent on ourselves. Pretty hard to picture. Well, this is a fairly similar scenario to the one that Cuba faced three decades ago. Cuba relied heavily on the USSR for subsidies and most of their imports, from oil to tomatoes, leaving them with a food system even more vulnerable than ours. With the collapse of the USSR, US embargoes and an economy over-dependent on sugar plantations, Cuba was left in the dystopic scenario that keeps people up at night thinking about climate change. According to the UNFAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), calorific consumption dropped by more than half of what it was from the late 1980s to 1993 while Cuba lost 80% of its international trade.  

 

During what was known as the Special Period, instead of crawling back to the US and asking for a handout, Cuba decided to look inwards. Without the oil needed for industrial agriculture and no way of importing fertilisers and pesticides, Cuba needed to be revolutionary for the second period in its short history as an independent nation. The focus of  its economy was shifted to maximise food production with the limited resources available. This shifted Cuba away from the exportation of mono-cropped agricultural goods, allowing it to focus on small organic and urban farms. Without degenerating into a click-bait article, you won’t believe what happened next… 

 

In the Cuban capital, Havana, 90% of the fruit and vegetables consumed are provided by these  ‘organopónicos.’ This provides income, employment and access to cheap, healthy and organic foods for the majority of the population in Havana.”

Cuba now boasts over 7,000  ‘organopónicos,’ small allotments in the centre of tower blocks, rooftops and gardens. In the Cuban capital, Havana, 90% of the fruit and vegetables consumed are provided by these  ‘organopónicos.’ This provides income, employment and access to cheap, healthy and organic foods for the majority of the population in Havana. Quotas are given to the government to make sure that the people of Cuba are well fed and the rest is allowed to be consumed by the farmers or sold in the markets for a small profit. The urban allotments were matched with the Programme for Local Agricultural Innovation that sought to push small scale organic farming and agroecology beyond the city walls. This has led to over 50,000 small farming cooperatives taking part in the programme where they can share knowledge, network and help tender a vision of the future of Cuban agriculture.  

 

The (very limited) international attention on Cuba’s green revolution has been portrayed with heady socialist idealism and the typical ‘we should go back to the good ol’ days of subsistence agriculture’ belief that is persistent in some sectors of the environmental movement. Romanticism aside, let’s be realistic. We’re not going to get your deeply cynical uncle Gerry to step away from his pint of Guinness on a Thursday evening to join the Ballywhatever Urban Farm Co-op. What we can do is look to Cuba as an example of a food production system that has built stability, provides cheap and healthy food, and is relatively invulnerable to external shocks, and say ‘’Hey, that might be a more straightforward solution than growing a steak in a Petri dish.” There are already examples which take this re-localised approach to the food economy such as, Transition Towns and Urban Farming Initiatives. We don’t have to go the full Castro but Cuba serves as an example of simple solutions to our ever-growing list of problems.  

 

 

Featured photo by Elaine Casap

This article was supported by: STAND Environment Editor Anastasiya + Programme Assistant Alex

 

Our house is still on fire but where is our extinguisher?

Our house is still on fire but where is our extinguisher?

Our house is still on fire but where is our extinguisher?

people gathered at climate protest with globe on fire
Orla Leahy

11th June 2021

 

It’s been over two years since Greta Thunberg stood before the World Economic Forum and declared that our house is on fire. Over those two years we, the housemates, the world’s population, have begun to overcome several challenges, Covid-19 being one of them, Brexit another, but yet, our house fire still rages. Emissions may have decreased slightly, thanks to lockdown and improved environmental practices, but where is the true extinguisher that will quench the ever-threatening fire?

 

Scientists widely acknowledge that the continuation of current emissions will result in a crisis point of irreversible damage to our house by 2030. Consequently, it is imperative that we act, and that we extinguish the growing flames with haste.

 

“Accepting that our house is on fire is naturally the first course of action, but solutions are the next, most integral part of extinguishment, and current, viable solutions must not only be explored, but implemented by us citizens.”

The following five solutions are often overlooked but pose a strong starting point.

 

1. Eco-bricks

While Covid-19 has seen reduced transport emissions, landfill waste has increased dramatically. Rather than let our non-biodegradable, non-recyclable waste pile up and slowly decompose, a new innovative alternative is on the horizon. Irish indigenous business, Reuzi, have suggested filling unwanted bottles with such waste to create an “eco-brick.” Companies and groups are currently striving to create eco brick banks, where citizens can drop eco-bricks in Ireland. The bricks will then be used to develop contemporary furniture. In the meantime, why not start filling some bottles, in preparation for the launch of Irish eco brick banks? 

 

2. Improved Refrigeration

Have an open-door refrigerator at home or work? Did you know that “Project Drawdown” have identified open door refrigeration as the greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions and that 105 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions were released from such refrigerators in 2017? Installing a door on a refrigerator is well worth the investment, both to your pocket, in terms of long-term energy bills saved and more importantly, to our planet. 

 

3. Join the Bike to Work Scheme

Though not feasible for everyone, if cycling to work is an option for you, why not check out Bike to Work and register today to avail of tax-free bikes to cycle to work? Transport emissions, which are classified as energy emissions under the SEAI, amount to almost 60% of all Irish emissions. Hence, not only is the Bike to Work Scheme kinder to your health and pocket but actively contributes to the reduction of our Irish emissions. 

 

4. Recycle Electronics

In 2018, the United Nations recorded 50 million tons of electronic waste accumulating in landfill on a global scale. The effects of electronics rotting in landfill can be detrimental to human health, as harmful toxins are released which are known to exacerbate tumours and cancers when leaked into water and soil. Around the country, WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection sites function, at both shops and local authority civic amenity sites to avoid an accumulation of WEEE at landfill and incineration. Apple offers a recycling service with free credit upon purchase of a new device, or charities such as Jack and Jill recycle mobile phones in order to offer free nursing hours to ill children. There is no reason for WEEE to be thrown away and added to our fire’s kindle anymore. Taking the extra step by recycling is rich in positive environmental consequences.  

 

5. Education

As with any fire, to effectively extinguish it, one must understand its composition. Effective education regarding climate change has the power to encourage more swift and impactful action by society. For example, the Cool Planet Experience based in Wicklow offers an interactive, enjoyable learning experience for all ages. Visitors have the opportunity to calculate their carbon footprint and receive tailored advice on how to actively reduce it. Alternatively, podcast series, such as Mary Robinson and Maeve Higgins’ “Mothers of Invention” make great listening, or publications like “Project Drawdown” make expert reading. There exists a multitude of fantastic resources that provide well researched, valuable information. 

 

Thunberg’s speech at the World Economic Forum gave us cause to pause and listen. We can no longer deny that our house is on fire, but will we take meaningful steps to release the extinguisher before the fire escalates beyond control?

 

 

 

Featured photo by Simone Buzzoni on Unsplash

This article was supported by: STAND Environment Editor Anastasiya + Programme Assistant Rachel

 

Where does my waste go?

Where does my waste go?

ENVIRONMENT

Where does my waste go?

plastic container on beach
Sanghamitra C. Mukherjee

29th April 2021

 

Trash has always been a major problem in developing countries. Strangely enough, for residents of the developing world, litter can become such an accepted fact of life, that apart from perfecting the muscle memory involved in sidestepping any litter that bars someone’s progress to their destination, little thought goes into where it came from, let alone coming up with a solution.

 

 

I have long been acquainted with litter whilst growing up in India. Our school required every student to stay behind after school to clean their classrooms before leaving the premises, and organized random litter picking days when students’ cleaning efforts left the campus spotless. And yet, beyond the school boundaries was a different world. In the neighborhood was one of the city’s biggest slums that was eyed with suspicion and where children from more ‘respectable’ families were never allowed in. A sense of ‘othering’ permeated many levels of society, and when it came to litter, there was a belief that one’s trash was another’s problem.

 

 

People in developing countries typically consume far fewer products and with less packaging than consumers in more industrialized countries do, and yet waste is so much more visible in these countries. Part of this problem may be attributed to their inadequate waste management system and policies, improper trash collection systems, and insufficient recycling facilities (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Also, although per capita waste generation is very low, the facilities that exist are frequently overwhelmed due to the sheer population of these countries. Untreated waste ends up cluttering land and waterways, and the rapid urbanization process means that big cities are the worst affected (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). Premature deaths are high from fumes and toxins, and regulation to prevent these is poor (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation).

 

“It is accepted that pollution is inextricable from economic growth, and there will be winners and losers in this game. A misplaced notion of economic progress is traded for a massive public health and environmental concern.” (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)
 
 

Indeed, the many dumps strewn around urban areas provideeconomic opportunitiesfor the poor, mostly women, who scavenge through no doubt many dangerous items laboring for countless hours to find something of value that could then be exchanged for money or food with traders who inevitably drive a hard bargain (SDG 5: Gender Equality,SDG 2: Zero Hunger). Children often drop out of school to help their families with this income generating opportunity (SDG 4: Quality Education,SDG 1: No Poverty). With few other economic opportunities, the poor remain poor and caught up in such vicious cycles that barely sustain them.

 

 

I moved to the UK about a decade ago, and ironically, I first began thinking more deeply about litter only a few years afterwards when I was volunteering with a charity as a retail assistant for a period. I wondered where the second-hand clothes that were not sold eventually landed. What I learnt shocked me at the time. These items of clothing wereshipped to a developing countryin Asia or Africa, and afterwards ended up intheirlandfills and incineration units if they failed to sell in countries that werealreadystruggling with their own waste management problems (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities).

 

 

More recently, I learnt the astounding fact that many industrialized countries have been exporting their plastic waste to poor countries since the 1970s, seemingly ignorant of the fact that much of this waste is either contaminated or unsuitable for recycling, ending up therefore as an additional environmental and economic burden in countries that received these exports, with the majority of these countries’ inhabitants oblivious to where it originated but suffering from its health and wellbeing consequences, and yet looking for economic opportunities amidst it all, the latter often being put forward as a justification for perpetuating such injustices into the future (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities). Yet another instance of what has been dubbed“waste imperialism”.

 

 

Litter is therefore inherently anenvironmental justice issuefor three main reasons (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities). Firstly, waste, especially plastics, is regularly dumped into countries that are not prepared to manage it. Secondly, when waste is not managed effectively, it typically ends up in more vulnerable communities even within the boundaries of the most industrialized nations. Finally, on the one hand, corporations choose to keep profiting from single-use plastics and syntheticsknowingthat no number of recycling facilities can ever tackle the sheer amount of waste the world’s population generates as a result. On the other hand, people living around and handling waste are regularly exposed to toxic fumes when plastic is burnt, forced to consume crops that have been poisoned by toxic wastewater, and compelled to make an uncertain living sifting through the likes of broken glass earning an inconsequential fraction of what the CEOs of such corporations make.

 

 

The current coronavirus pandemic has further ushered in anew single-use plastic pollution crisisas masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are being used and disposed of at unanticipated volumes. Waste management systems are already frail and clueless about the fate of this new toxic waste. Our oceans, coastal and marine life are already bearing the brunt of this (SDG 14: Life Below Water,SDG 15: Life on Land). The full impact of sinking even deeper into the already precarious plastic waste problem is yet unknown.

 

 

When it comes to climate change, there is a key question that inhibits people from taking climate action — is there enough evidence yet that we must act (SDG 13: Climate Action)? Granted, summers are warmer but not yet unbearably so in the West, and stories of occasional typhoons and droughts reach us from distant lands, their effect seemingly muted by the time and effort taken to cover the distance. Litter is undoubtedly a more visible issue, a fact of life in any developing country and familiar to Western tourists who have visited some of the world’s most famous (and dirtiest) beaches, a few in their own countries making the list in recent years. Even on the coasts of Dublin, eco warriors regularly collect tons of plastic waste washed up on its shores. It is thus less likely to be confusing as to why we must act now to stop it getting any worse.

 

“In a planet connected by one ocean and with strong ocean currents, waste generated in one part of the world could end up on the shores of remote lands thousands of miles away due to poor management and pollute and jeopardize nations that could in fact have the best policies surrounding their own plastic use and disposal.”

Solutions exist, and as with tackling the pandemic, these must be enacted cooperatively between governments and corporations to have any major impact (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals). key step in the right direction would be for industrialized nations to invest heavily in their own recycling capabilities and introduce airtight bans on waste exports as for instance in the EU where less than a third of its plastic waste was recycled and 1.5 million tons exported in 2019. In addition, plastic waste that cannot be recycled can be turned into alternative fuel(SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy).

 

 

Several governments have also recently implemented a single-use plastic ban in some form, including plastic bag bans in Bangladesh since 2002, Kenya since 2017, Tanzania since 2019, and New Zealand since 2019, and a planned ban on single-use plastic straws, cutlery and other disposable items in the EU in 2021, a move that has been significantly delayed, most notably in the developed world. In contrast, plastic bag levies and gradual phase-out programs have been more popular in the industrialized West. However, for a measurable impact on pollution, a ban or a levy is not enough. Restrictions on retail distribution must be paired with moving to a circular economy framework that regulates throughout the lifecycle of plastic bags restricting manufacturing, production, and imports as well (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production).

 

 

A crucial piece of the puzzle remains fuzzy — to figure out how to incline human behaviour towards reducing consumption where restrictions are not in effect. Fast fashion, with its artificially low prices and impressive variety, has for instance made it incredibly easy and tempting for consumers in the West to consume beyond their needs, whilst being next in line to the oil industry as the leading contributor to global pollution. Such exploitation must end. We need systems where products are priced at levels that compensate producers fairly and in turn provide the right price signals to consumers making purchasing decisions. We also need to embrace and scale up innovative solutions that promote reuse and longevity without compromising convenience or quality and thereby provide a myriad of alternatives to single-use plastic and other harmful synthetic materials. Some recent initiatives include reusing plastic bottles to make PPE, using PPE waste to make beds, converting vegetable matter to create compostable shopping bags, and using origami designs to extend the life and use of traditional clothing. However, to create sustainable change, we also need more accountability. We need people at all levels who are fully aware of the issues and take responsibility for their actions (SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). We need to create cultural shifts in societies everywhere where one person’s waste is not considered another person’s problem. We need more people asking, “Where does my waste go?” and feel a sense of discomfort at the answer.

 

 

 

 

 

Featured photo by Beth Jnr on Unsplash

 

 

Coláiste Dhúlaigh Series: Why heavy rain is bad news for swimmers

Coláiste Dhúlaigh Series: Why heavy rain is bad news for swimmers

 

ENVIRONMENT

Coláiste Dhúlaigh series: Why heavy rain is bad news for swimmers

bring back our girls protest in nyc
Elizabeth Quinn

16th April 2021

 

This series is in collaboration with first-year Investigate Journalism students in Coláiste Dhúlaigh CFE

 

A nice day for a dip

19 June 2020 was the first dry day after a few days of intense thunderstorms. Ireland is in lockdown but Dubliners lucky enough to live within 2kms of the sea can take advantage of our beautiful sandy beaches. On Dollymount, Portmarnock, and Sandymount beaches, signs have been erected. Perplexed would be swimmers, on seeing the sign, wonder how heavy rainfall makes the sea dirty.

 

What’s going on at Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant?

Everyone knows that the waste from your house goes down the sewers into the pipes is carried to Ringsend is treated and then released into the sea.

 

But we may not know that the use of combined sewage outlet pipes means that rain that goes into the drains at the side of the roads is also emptied into the same pipe.

 

So, after heavy rainfall, Ringsend treatment plant must make a decision. They can open the storm water overflows and discharge the untreated excess from the sewer directly into the sea or do nothing and risk the treatment plant becoming inundated and homes and streets being flooded with sewage.

 

Images taken from EPA Urban Wastewater Report (Figure 8: Storm water overflow.):

 

Irish Water advise that by releasing the storm water into the sea that this wastewater is highly diluted with rainwater and has been screened and settled to remove debris. However, they still must notify the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and in conjunction with DCC (Dublin City Council) and the HSE (Health Service Executive) take the decision to prohibit bathing, as a precaution.

 

Precautionary Notices

The EPA Urban Wastewater report published in November 2020 states that: “A precautionary approach is taken when reporting bathing water pollution incidents, meaning that not all incidents actually result in a deterioration in water quality. This precautionary approach is taken to protect bathers’ health. “

 

Once the precautionary notice is issued, it cannot be lifted until a second sample is tested. This is frustrating for frequent swimmers like, Green Party Councillor, Donna Cooney, who told me that: “currently testing has to go to a lab and can take 48hrs to 3 days to get a result. Often the water turns out to have been ok during that time, but bathing has been prohibited as they err on the side of caution. What’s worse is when you find out you have been swimming in contaminated water for up to 3 days and didn’t know it.”

 

Testing of Bathing Water

DCC monitor the bathing water quality and during the 14 weeks of the bathing season from 1 June to 15 September, they take 20 samples.

 

We need more frequent testing. This is a view shared by local campaigners Save Our Seas who started an online petition calling for the water to be tested daily. So far, they have 18,500 signatures. Their slogan is “heavy rainfall = sewage dump into Dublin Bay.”

 

Emily Williamson of EPA told me, that during the overflow incident on 17 June (the one that caused the warning notices on the beaches on the 19th) Irish Water notified them that it had discharged 49.8 million litres of untreated waste water. Enough to fill 20 Olympic sized swimming pools.

 

This was just one of 7 discharges, during the bathing season, of untreated water from Ringsend. Figures supplied in the DCC 2020 Bathing Water Report advise that bathing was prohibited on Dollymount for 5 days in June, 8 days in July and 21 days during August and September.

 

I asked Irish Water if they could tell me the amounts of untreated wastewater discharged each time, but they could only furnish this information upon receipt of an Access to Information on the Environment Request (AIE).

 

Last year, Stephen McDermott of The Journal found out through an AIE request from Irish Water that: “a total of 320 million litres of untreated wastewater was discharged from storm holding tanks at Ringsend over 7 occasions in 2019.” Enough to fill 128 Olympic sized swimming pools.

 

Why can’t Ringsend cope?

The Ringsend plant treats approximately 44% of Ireland’s public wastewater, treating the whole of Dublin and parts of Meath. It has a capacity to treat wastewater for approximately 1.64 million people, but there are approximately 2 to 2.4 million users

 

The capacity is not big enough, even before it rains, and it is failing to meet national and EU treatment standards.

 

What is Irish Water doing to fix it?

Irish Water say that work on the plant to add capacity for an extra 400,000 population will be completed in 2021. Further works to bring it up to capacity to meet 2.4 million population will be completed by 2025.

 

In the meantime, they are proposing an investment of €500 million to build another treatment plant to relieve pressure on Ringsend. The new plant would be in Clonshaugh in north Dublin. It would take wastewater from the Blanchardstown area, treat it in Clonshaugh and then pipe it to the coast. The pipe would enter the sea near Baldoyle and continue out beyond Ireland’s Eye where the treated wastewater would be discharged.

 

Planning permission was granted but following a successful appeal in November 2020 by Portmarnock residents the permission was overturned.

 

What is the government doing?

Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien met with Irish Water in November following release of the EPA report. The minister has cleared €100 million extra for Irish Water capital spending. As he said to Kevin O’Sullivan in the Irish Times: “I am committed to giving funding so projects can proceed and catch up if they need to.”

 

New type of testing

Donna Cooney says: “The testing period should be extended as more people are now swimming all year round. Testing should be done every day, even a quick test will give an indication.”

 

Ruth Clinton, water innovation officer at the Water Institute – Dublin City University (DCU), told me that to manage the bathing areas and inform the public quickly of the presence of “faecal pollution” they had developed: “a rapid on-site test for E. coli detection and successfully tried and tested on environmental water samples. This test has a time-to-result of less than 75 min.”

 

The results of this on-site assessment of water quality could work in tandem with the current alert systems and give an early indication of pollution.

 

Clinton, advised: “that the technology is at an early stage of development and that they are currently applying for funding to develop it further.”

 

Can’t get into the sea but what about the beach?

Donna Cooney says “people often don’t realise that when the tide goes out the sand left behind is contaminated and could pose a health risk to kids playing in the sand, pregnant women, people with immune deficiency, and pets.”