Vote Save Tara Valley

by Dub Mon Feb 05, 2007 18:17

Are you telling us that there will be a "Save Tara" candidate in Meath? or are you saying people should vote Labour, SF, and Greens to Save Tara? If this is the case I think it's a flawed strategy. All 3 of those parties want to get into Government with FF and FG and will do deals and 'compromises' to get in. A part of those 'compromises' will be issues like Tara, Rossport, Shannon, etc. If you want to enter dirty world of electoral politics why not run your own candidate?

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain - Save Tara Mon Feb 05, 2007 23:08

To my knowledge there is no candidate for Tara in Meath at present and this should probably be the way it should remain. There are anti-M3/present route candidates and these should be supported by those who do not want this present twice-tolled motorway. The Green Party, the Labour Party and Sinn Fein at local level have come out against this route. This was also demonstrated in the Dáil during the debate of November 2004 and the independent TDs by and large are supportive of the re-route option at least.
Putting up a Tara candidate will split this vote and annoy and irritate the parties who support the re-route already.
As to their coalition with FF and FG, it is possible that these smaller parties will have the Tara issue on the table as part of their bargaining chips. Indeed it is probably that some of them will. Therefore, this is how to use your vote whether in Meath or not.
Bringing up Tara on the doorstep and hitting politicians of all ilk with it will have an effect.
Remember that according to the RedC survey - the only independent survey carried out on the issue - 2 out of 3 people wanted the route changed and this is within the 3% margin of error that would be produced by a referendum.
If you want the route changed hammer the politicians with the issue and tell the FF TDs why you are not voting for them. Tell the Lab/SF and Greens that is why you are voting for them.
If in Meath tell Noel Dempsey why you are not voting for him, he was the local FF TD who was the Minister for the Environment when this idea was put forward in the first place.

by Con Connor - Ireland's Druidschool Tue Feb 06, 2007 14:33 info at druidschool dot com

Hi all,
If everyone in Ireland that wants to Save Tara Valley tells their FF / PD TDs that you are not voting for them because of their inherent corruption, bad decisions such as at Rossport, free gas to Shell, the forced troll road at Tara Valley and so on, then we can send a clear message for change. Ignore FG as they are FFish anyway..

If everyone that wants to Save Tara Valley tells their Labour / SF / Greens canditates that we want to them to stop the corruption, to revert bad decisions such as at Rossport, no free gas to Shell, re-route the forced troll road away from Tara Valley and so on the we can give clear instructions for change.

Everyone in Meath that wants to Save Tara Valley can tell Noel Dempsey that you are not voting for him because he was the local FF TD as the Minister for the Environment when this idea was put forward in the first place. His is a disgrace and should be shamed.

The government should be afraid of the people and the people should not be afriad of governance. Bad decisions can and must be changed. Your vote can change things for the better.

The Gaelic Royal City of Tara covers the hill tops of Tara and Skryne with the sacred Gabhra valley in the middle. This is our unique Celtic Heitage, it needs protection as a World Heritage Park with an Integrated Transport Plan which includes fixing the old disused rail to Dublin.

Vote Save Tara Valley where ever you live, but make sure that the canditates that call to your home know what you require of them.
Grá
Con

by Dub Tue Feb 06, 2007 19:05

You are right to not go near FF or FG politicians. They are corrupt and are obviously in the hands of big business. But I don't see why you have illusions in Labour? or in Greens? or in Sinn Fein? The Labour party have sold out in the past and have generally accepted FF and FG policies when in Government. They make great talk before an election to get left leaning voters but then do the complete opposite when in power. Greens and SF have not been in power. But I think that they will also sell out. SF are probably more likely at this stage than Greens. But lets look around Europe where Green Parties have been in Government. Germany saw massive cuts in social spending under a Green-SD coalition. In Ireland the Greens support Bin Tax which hit poor families hard.

My main point is: Don't have illusions in the electoral process. I agree that the parties should be hit on doorsteps when they call around. Not to do so would be silly. But it's also silly to think that establishment politicians wanting a few cabinet seats will not cave in on Tara Motorway. If you do endorse someone that candidate should be someone with a genuine record on Tara and will not do rotten government deals and sell-out the people that elected them.

This time next year if Labour and/or Greens are in Government with FF or FG we will still have to struggle against the destruction of the M3. If Labour and/or Greens have stopped this destruction then I'll gladly eat my hat.

by Paraic Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:01

The best way to protest in the coming election is to stuff the ballot boxes all over the country with your own Save Tara votes - spoil your votes, even the threat of doing this will make the political parties sit up !

by Dub Tue Feb 13, 2007 18:46

This is probably the best suggstion. I don't live in Meath. But there is no radical left-wing candidate in my constituency. I will write a slogan to spoil my vote. If I were in Meath I'd do the same with a "Save Tara" slogan rather than vote Labour, Greens or Sinn Féin.

by Elizabeth Tue Feb 13, 2007 19:29

The best reason is this:

The man who brought destruction to the community in Rossport is the TD for the area.
and take down his running mate for the sake of Tara.

Environmental bullying thrives on isolating small communities-, let FF know that
your people in this country will not be imprisoned because of globalisation.

by Paraic Tue Feb 13, 2007 22:26

Elizabeth, we must remember that Motorway Shane McEntee of Fine Gael is the most viciously anti-Tara pro-M3 T.D. in Dail Eireann. That's why it's best not to trust any of them and spoil your vote with a suitable slogan. The mere threat of thousands of voters doing this will make the parties and politicians sit up and take notice.

by Con Connor - Ireland's Druidschool Thu Feb 15, 2007 16:56 info at druidschool dot com

Can I suggest that the deliberate spoiling of votes is counter productive. This is because it entrenches the incumbents without any protest being cared about. On the other hand - Voting Green, Sinn Fein and Labour will throw the corrupt incumbents out on their ears.

Most of my adult life I did not vote in local or national elections as a protest. No body noticed. My dad used to vote the same as his dad even though the troubles were over. Many vote like that - as if they are asleep. I hope that the people who are angry do vote as a protest and displace the current power brokers. Not voting or spoiling your vote won’t change things. Voting Save Tara Valley will change things because we will see the spirit of the people being expressed.

A Vote is a powerful thing; many men and women fought many battles for this right. Do not throw your vote away (spoiled) in anger - use it to cause change. Eire needs change, the corrupt bullyboys are known and unrepentant - they hope you don’t vote or spoil your vote.

Use the power of your vote wisely.

I hope I've helped spoilers to cause change.

Vote Save Tara Valley and our Culture and Heritage

by Meehawl Thu Feb 15, 2007 19:37

But who do we trust, they all end up selling us out, that's why it's best to spoil your votes with suitable slogans, to let them know how utterly disgusted we are all over the country.

The elections will no sooner be over, and no matter who gets in the people of Rossport will be baton charged more ferociously than ever, people who refuse quite rightly to pay bin charges will be jailed, and they'll bulldoze Tara anyway.

However there is one good candidate in Meath East Constituency, which contains the Tara Valley. He has spoken out against the M3, opposes the section at Tara tooth and nail - and he seems to have a reasonable chance of being elected, Councillor Dominic Hannigan, leading candidate for the Labour Party in Meath East. If elected he would take the seat that Fianna Fail wants desperately. Perhaps he is the One Good Man and deserves a vote.

As for the rest, I'm going out to puke !

by Con Connor - Ireland's Druidschool Thu Feb 15, 2007 19:57 info at druidschool dot com

You can use your vote to sack the ones who sold you out. It is how the breaking of trust is fixed.

That is what the power of a Vote is.

I hope that people ask the political canditates who call on doors -

"Do you want to destroy Tara or Save Tara Valley?"
"Do you want to give away free gas to Shell?"
"Do you believe Shell should have the power to CPO?"
and so on...

Dont spoil - Vote Save Eire

by Meehawl Fri Feb 16, 2007 02:57

I have discovered that another general election candidate in Meath, this time in Meath West Constituency, is Navan-based Sinn Fein Councillor Joe Reilly who could, just could, topple English of Fine Gael, or more likely Brady of Fianna Fail, both nondescript T.D.s.

Joey opposes the M3 through the Tara Valley as well. Yes, worth a vote.

by Meehawl Thu Mar 08, 2007 16:40

It's just as we suspected, the PPP signed between the NRA and the Contractor yesterday - and not a whimper of protest in the Dail from Labour, Sinn Fein or the Green Party !

A sure sign that they intend to welch on their promises to stop the M3 in Government.

So, now that we know, don't waste your votes on any of these Chancers, they'll do and sign any deal to get their backsides into ministerial seats.

Spoil your vote, write a slogan Save Tara, and anything else you want them to know, across your ballor paper, fold it, and place it in the box.

Let's not reward them for Treachery !

by Dub Thu Mar 08, 2007 19:09

The appeal to vote SF/Labour/Green is disgusting. It really shows up how conservative you really are despite your 'radical' rejection of traditional religion. Do you honestly believe these parties will not demolish Tara? These parties are doing their best to get into government with Fine Gael and/or Fianna Fáil. Voting Labour/SF/GP will not turf out FF/FG! It will put them in power. They will happily sacrifice their election promises on the alter of power. You have to be an idiot to "vote Tara" unless there is an activist running from the campaign pledged to reject all coalitionism.

by Meehawl Thu Mar 08, 2007 20:07

In the General Election, write SAVE TARA straight across your ballot paper whatever constituency of the 43 constituencies you are voting in.

Those with an artistic flair could amuse themselves by decorating their ballot papers with red flags, red-and-black flags, black H-Block flags, clenched fists, AK47s, "Tiochaidh ar La " , "Shell Out" etc etc as well.

Comrades Everywhere, Enjoy "artistic voting" in this upcoming crappy election !

by John Murphy Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:01

Meehawl, I am surprised that you are preaching Revenge for the signing of the PPP contracts to build the M3 at Tara this week between the NRA and the main contractor.

Surely the candidates of all political parties in the upcoming general election across the country are not responsible for this ?

Calling of the mass spoiling of votes everywhere is surely the work of an Anarchist and not a gentle Druid ?

by Peter Thu May 24, 2007 17:36

In relation to the spoiling of votes as a way of protest,

Its an idiotic & moronic way of protesting and nobody will take any notice......how do you know if the vote was spoiled in error or intentionally as a protest, surely the counter only knows this!

If one wants to protest, they should use more visible means.

by Mia - student and irish heritage lover Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:48

I know meath needs the road but there are other ways to solve this,,i saw on primetime the wrong plans where shown and the road is nearer now than it was given the go ahead for thats not right,,, it would be the same as building a road through the pyramids that would not be allowed and neither should this... :(