Ecoeye inspired by Tipperary's community energy scheme

- Duncan Stewart sees groundswell build in face of "massive change”

RTE’s Ecoeye on Feb 4^th showcased the work of an unique LCDP-supported community energy project in North Tipperary.

Reflecting afterwards on this and a project he visited on Inis Mor, presenter Duncan Stewart said, “I believe we’re on the cusp of a massive change… it’s slow but it’s coming."

All credit to the people in Drombane and Upperchurch in Tipperary, as well as North Tipperary Leader Partnership, for setting the example and showing how it can be done.

The programme is available to view for 3 weeks on the RTE Player.

RTE's Ecoeye visited Drumbane-Upperchurch to see how the Tipperary Energy Agency worked.
Their work featured in a broadcast on Feb 4, 2014.

Duncan is optimistic about communities showing resilience in the face of climate change: 

“Each community needs champions and a committed team. On Aran, it’s a co-operative; in Drumbane and Upperchurch, it was the local energy team. The idea of community energy is beginning to catch on.

Community workers seek to harvest ideas for the future

By Robert McNamara and Allen Meagher

INTRODUCTION

A new way of looking at communities in Ireland is being sought in the run-up to the 20^th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit.
President Michael D Higgins thought this work was important enough to officiate at the opening in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, of Convergence 2012 which was filmed by 'Changing Ireland'. The move is towards promoting “community resilience” in place of “sustainable development.”

BACKGROUND

A wet summer's day in Cloughjordan

Most of the global promises made in Rio in 1992 were not honoured while economic growth continued to be promoted, destroying ecosystems and increasing Ireland’s temperature in the intervening two decades by 0.75 degrees, meaning we’re on course for a four degree rise here within the lifetime of some of today’s children. 

The message 20 years after the first Earth Summit in Rio is that too few people took notice of the “Think Global, Act Local” slogan to change their lifestyle, become more active citizens and embrace sustainable development.

Instead we’ve had industrial and economic development on a global scale and that’s despite nations promising to slow down to avoid irreversible climate change, the destruction of habitats and so on.

But if the doomsday predictions of societal collapse and species wipe-out didn’t get the message across, what will people listen to? What values shape our behaviour?

That’s the question being discussed around the country this year as part of what’s called Convergence 2012, led by environmentalists and community workers in County Tipperary, who feel we’ve reached the point of “Peak Everything” – a time when the best ideas are likely to come to the fore – as nations and societies begin involuntarily to slow down.

Rest in peace Richard Douthwaite

Richard Douthwaite, Westport, Co. Mayo, has passed away. He was a hero to many of us in Ireland and abroad who strive to promote sustainable local development as opposed to growth and materialism. Tributes are pouring in from around the world and can be read here on Feasta's website.
Richard was a fortune-teller of sorts and his work and writing educated many about green economics. He wrote 'The Growth Illusion' (1992) and 'Short Circuit: Strengthening Local Economies in an Unstable World' (1996).

Thanks Richard and rest in peace.

- A. Meagher

The SPRING EDITION of 'Changing Ireland' has just been published online (click here for a pdf)! The print version will be out later this week.

Inside, we've 24 pages of coverage on:

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• 5000 TÚS 'JOBS' on the way nationwide through the LCDP
• FINE GAEL PLANS for communities
• ANTI-RACISM update
• MEDIATION saves lives and money (in Mayo)
• PILOT delivers (for parents)
• VOLUNTEER interview (Patsy Cronin)
• COMMUNITY RESILIENCE training (Editor's recommended top read on page 23)
• PARTY promises - 5 pages on what the parties promised communities
• News report: GARDA cuts crime by texting
• COMMUNITY Services Programme profiled
• HORACE - EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD NEWS FOR IRELAND!