Climate Camp 2010 comes to Victoria Bridge, County Tyrone

tyrone | environment | news report

Monday July 05, 2010 20:14

by Lulu - Climate Camp Ireland

info at climatecamp dot ie

Direct Action Camp to support local anti-road campaign

The Irish Climate camp will take place this year in County Tyrone, from the 12th to the 16th of August. The camp is taking place in support of the local community and their opposition to the proposed new A5. Climate Camp Ireland is a group of individuals that believe in taking direct action against the local causes of climate change. The Camp is open to anyone to attend, and will host numerous workshops on many aspects of climate change.

On Saturday July 3rd, Climate Campers took part in a rally organised by the Alternative A5 Alliance in the area surrounding Victoria Bridge, Co. Tyrone to mark their opposition to the planned building of a new dual carriageway. The rally was a silent and symbolic affair with a hearse carrying a coffin with flowers and wreaths. The coffin had a banner on it that read "Kill the road , not the environment".

Direct Action Camp to support local anti-road campaign

The Irish Climate camp will take place this year in County Tyrone, from the 12th to the 16th of August. The camp is taking place in support of the local community and their opposition to the proposed new A5. Climate Camp Ireland is a group of individuals that believe in taking direct action against the local causes of climate change. The Camp is open to anyone to attend, and will host numerous workshops on many aspects of climate change.

On Saturday July 3rd, Climate Campers took part in a rally organised by the Alternative A5 Alliance in the area surrounding Victoria Bridge, Co. Tyrone to mark their opposition to the planned building of a new dual carriageway. The rally was a silent and symbolic affair with a hearse carrying a coffin with flowers and wreaths. The coffin had a banner on it that read "Kill the road , not the environment", highlighting the damage to be caused to local wildlife and the environment. Dressed in solemn funeral attire the procession drove slowly from Aughnacloy to Stranbane with a cavalcade of supporters, stopping at each village which would be affected by the road. They gave out leaflets and information to raise awareness of how this dual carriageway will affect many of the local communities.

“ The symbolic nature of the hearse and coffin shows the severity of this unsustainable project which will directly contribute to climate change and people dying.” said Nancy Serrano, a spokesperson for Climate Camp Ireland. According to a report commissioned by the Geneva-based UN Global Humanitarian Forum in May 2009, climate change kills about 315,000 people every year through sickness, disease, weather disasters and the toll is expected to rise to half a million by 2030.

In 1989, the Southern California Association of Governments concluded that traffic-assistance measures, be they adding lanes, or even double-decking the roadways, would have no more than a cosmetic effect on Los Angeles' traffic problems. They concluded that building more highways and widening existing roads, almost always motivated by concern over traffic, does nothing to reduce traffic, and instead causes traffic to increase. Molly Walsh, from Climate Camp Ireland said "Trying to cure traffic congestion by adding more capacity is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt." We can't tarmac our way out of this mess."

After the rally, there was a meeting between local campaigners and Climate Camp participants with a site visit to further the plans for the Climate Camp in August. Climate Camp planning is well underway, but more help is always appreciated so get in contact and get involved!

Also...Check out Road Raging - Top Tips for wrecking roadbuilding for action ideas. http://www.eco-action.org/rr/

For more details contact:
WEB: www.climatecamp.ie, www.alternativea5allliance.com