We at the IWT acknowledge that agriculture and fisheries play an vital role in the Irish economy and have the potential to provide sustainable growth and jobs. We are not opposed to ambitious expansion of these sectors however there must be recognition that they are rooted in natural processes which are capable of delivering only finite returns. The IWT is concerned that the Government and agencies such as Bord Bia use the word ‘sustainable’ without any real appreciation of its actually meaning. This is seen repeatedly when economic targets are set with no genuine acknowledgement of the environmental problems facing this country, its long-standing and continuing negative record in implementing environmental law, or any pro-active attempt to improve environmental conditions. This Bord Bia ‘Origin Green’ campaign is no different in this ‘greenwash’ approach. Vacuous statements like “Sustainability has always been at the source of who we are. Our climate has always been this mild, our landscape this lush. Our fields have always been this green and windswept and rain washed. Our seas always teeming with fish” have no basis in reality. The intensification of agriculture over the past few decades has contributed to the degradation of the Irish environment. Ireland continues to be the source of the second highest number of environmental complaints in the EU. According to the recent Habitats Assessment by the NPWS, of the 58 habitats assessed only 5 are considered to be in a ‘good’ condition. Over fishing has driven many fish stocks across the EU into a precipitous state and ravaged the ecosystems they are part of. Words are meaningless without action. So when Bord Bia pays Saoirse Ronan to say “We did not inherit this world from our parents, we borrowed it from our children. One day we will return it to them and when we do it should be every bit as bountiful as when we found it. That’s what sustainability means and it’s what the world needs now” demand that they back these statements up. No more ‘greenwashing’ from corporate spin-doctors. DONT TELL US WHAT SUSTAINABILITY IS. SHOW US!
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:11:15 +0000
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