Image Credit: @LoveLeitrim twitter

This past week Dáil Éireann (that’s the Irish Parliament, for our foreign friends) passed the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill, which means Ireland will likely become the first country to stop investing public funds in fossil fuels. This is fantastic news and a much needed step in the right direction for world environmentalism (especially considering the next four years look bleak where any American progress in this matter is concerned).

Last October, the Oireachtas agreed unanimously that legislation was needed in the area of fracking in Ireland and a bill proposing a complete ban passed the first stage of implementation. Now the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment wants to hear from you and what you think the next stage should be. It’s important that we as citizens ensure a total ban on fracking is introduced, sooner rather than later. There’s a whole host of information available online about the dangers of fracking and the disasters that have occurred, including earthquakes and water contamination in Texas, but LoveLeitrim has lots of Ireland-specific information available.

The public consultation ends this Thursday February 2nd so you’ve got to be quick! Luckily, LoveLeitrim have all the information you need here, including links to the EPA report for your reading pleasure and a link to various templates available if you’re not quite sure how to word your submission. Submissions can be emailed to Fracking@oireachtas.ie If you’re already running around like a headless chicken and don’t think you have the time for a submission, it only takes a few seconds to sign this Friends of the Earth petition. 

A ban on fracking is not just a gift to future generations but it’s also vital for the preservation of Ireland’s magical landscape. No one wants to go for a stroll in the woods and stumble upon a barren landscape full of Mad Max drilling rigs, only to run away in horror and fall into a moody, contaminated river.