Part 2 > IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > Sunday/Monday, 23/24 July, 2000 > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Incinerator in North East region opposed > > > > Dublin government plans for a network of waste incinerators > throughout the 26 Counties are running into trouble. The Draft Waste > Management Plan for the North East region is now in limbo after > council meetings in Louth and Monaghan on Monday, 17 July. In > Louth, councillors voted to defer a decision on the Plan, which > covers Counties Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan and which relies > heavily on incineration. In Monaghan, the Sinn Fein group secured > major amendments to the Plan. > > There is growing concern throughout the country at the prospect > of incinerators and the health risk from their emissions. A > recent report from the US Environmental Protection Agency showed > that 11% of all cancer in the US is attributable to dioxins and > that Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators are the major source of > dioxins. At present, Ireland has relatively low levels of > dioxins. > > Sinn Fein councillors in the North East region are opposing > incineration. The party's sole councillor on Meath County > Council, Joe Reilly was one of four, including two Fine Gael > members, who voted against the Plan on 2 July, but the Fianna > Fail and Fine Gael majority voted to adopt. On 9 July, the Plan > was pushed through Cavan County Council, with Fianna Fail and > Fine Gael again combining to defeat a motion from Sinn Fein > Councillors Charlie Boylan and Pauline Tully to defer a decision > to a special meeting. "It is totally unacceptable that > councillors should have dealt with the many public submissions on > the Draft Plan in such a cursory way," said Tully and Boylan, who > voted against the Plan. "We had no opportunity for real analysis > and debate. A special meeting was promised. Instead this Waste > Management Plan has been railroaded through Cavan County > Council." > > It was on this Monday, however, that the Plan really ran into > trouble. Louth County Council voted by 13 to 11 to defer a > decision pending a full and detailed examination of the health > implications of incineration. The decision had cross-party > support from Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors. > Sinn Fein's Arthur Morgan described the decision as "a success > for opponents of incineration". He said it provides an > opportunity to "reshape the Plan to provide a real waste > management strategy which does not rely on incineration". > > The second blow to the Plan came later that day at a three and > half hour meeting of Monaghan County Council. The group of six > Sinn Fein councillors tabled ten amendments to the Draft Plan. > The amendments reflected the detailed response to the Draft Plan > which was published by the Sinn Fein Councillors in the North > East region and presented by Caoimhghin O Caolain TD. Despite > strenuous opposition from consultants MC O'Sullivan, who drafted > the Plan and were represented at the meeting, the council adopted > a Sinn Fein amendment to extend the door-to-door collection of > segregated waste to all households, rather than only towns of 500 > or more households as proposed in the Draft Plan. The amendment > was proposed by Caoimhghin O Caolain and seconded by Cllr. Brian > MacUaid. > > The Sinn Fein councillors also secured amendments, proposed by > Caoimhghin O Caolain and seconded by Noel Keelan, to strengthen > the agricultural waste element of the Plan. This was vital given > the huge problem of agricultural waste in the North East region, > which means that the mushroom and poultry industry cannot expand. > The Sinn Fein amendment also committed the council to appoint an > Agricultural Waste Officer. > > Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors joined forces to defeat a > Sinn Fein motion proposed by Jackie Crowe which sought to remove > the incinerator option from the plan. Councillor Crowe and his > seconder Councillor Keelan cited the health concerns about > incineration and the fact that an incinerator would work against > waste reduction as it would require a constant stream of waste to > keep it running. The Sinn Fein group was more successful with > another amendment requiring industry to meet targets for waste > minimisation within the period of the Plan. > > There was uproar in the council chamber when the six Sinn Fein > councillors voted against the adoption of the Plan. Commenting on > the vote, Caoimhghin O Caolain said: > > "It was with regret that my Sinn Fein colleagues and I were left > with no option but to oppose the adoption of the Draft Plan. > While we secured eight of the ten amendments we tabled, the > inclusion of the very worrying waste incineration option, which > we had sought to delete, meant that the Plan had to be opposed. > The concerns over the health implications of incineration have > not been addressed." > > As the Draft Plan for the North East requires approval by all the > county councils, this week's developments represent a setback for > government plans to impose incineration as the main waste > management option throughout the 26 Counties. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Feature: Peltier remains unbeaten > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > The following is a statement by Peltier from Leavensworth > Penitentiary to mark the 25th anniversary of the shoot-out which > led to his unjust incarceration. Leonard is appreciative of the > continuing support of the membership and leadership of Sinn Fein > and many of the people of Ireland. Each time activists gather for > Leonard Peltier, they gather for all political prisoners and > recognise the suffering is the same. > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > > June 26, 2000 > > > > Greetings Friends and Supporters, > > > > Twenty-five years has passed since the fatal shoot-out on the > Jumping Bull Ranch occurred, and for 25 years I have been forced > away from my people and my home, which I consider Oglala to be. I > miss being with all of you as I have always loved and respected > the Lakota ways. I have always admired the Lakota people, > especially the Oglalas for their strength, determination, and > courage to continue the struggle to maintain our traditional ways > and sovereignty. Not a single day passes when I do not dream of > being home with you. Twenty-four years is a long time to be in > prison, but if I was out and you were facing the same kind of > brutality you faced under the Wilson regime, I would not hesitate > to stand next to you and resist the violent oppression you were > forced to endure. > > But I am not out, I remain locked up in here, and it has not been > an easy 24 years. Prison is a repulsive, violent place to exist > in. But again, none of this could stop me from standing with you > until the great Oglala Nation is free. I know a lot of problems > continue to exist for you. Corrupt tribal government officials > are still taking advantage of the people and crimes committed > against Natives receive little if no priority. It makes me very > sad to know that after everything we went through in the 1970s, > our people still continue to suffer so much. The memory of all > of those who lost their lives during that time also continues to > haunt me. > > As we gather together during this time of remembrance, I am aware > that the FBI has also organized a 25-year memorial for their dead > agents. I do not fault them nor do I disagree with what they are > doing. I think all people should gather in memorial for any of > their fallen. But, when you analyze this whole event of theirs, > you are slapped in the face with the cold reality of racism. Not > once have they, nor will they mention our fallen warriors and > innocent traditionalists slaughtered in the 70's after Wounded > Knee II. > > They will not even as much as mention Joe Killsright Stuntz. We > cannot even get an acknowledgment from them that they were wrong > in supporting such a cruel and corrupt regime as Dick Wilson's. > They continue to deny that any Indian people were killed as a > result of their direct input with the terrorist squad, the GOONS. > The fact is they do not think of Indian people as human beings. > Whenever you deny that such atrocities happen, and we know they > did happen, it only means they don't consider the people who died > to be human. Hitler's regime felt the same about the Jews. > > But please don't misunderstand my frustration for a lack of > sympathy about the loss of the agents, lives. I do feel for the > families of the agents because I know first hand what it is like > to lose a loved one. I have lost many loved ones through the > years due to senseless violent acts. If I had known what was > going on that day, and I could have stopped it, I would have. > > But in order for us to bring reconciliation to what was a very > difficult time we first must have justice. We must continue to > ask when the lives of our people will be given the same respect > and value as others. When will they stop carelessly locking up > our people without applying the scrutiny and care the judicial > system is supposed to guarantee? When will guilty beyond a > reasonable doubt become a standard that applies to us? When will > our guilt have to be proven, rather than assumed? We suffer > equally, but we are not treated equally. There is hope for a > better future and for peace. But in order for us to live in > peace, we must be able to live in dignity and without fear. > > In closing, I want to say that your voices are important and your > involvement in the effort to gain my freedom is crucial. You > know the truth and only you can express the reality of those > brutal times. It is also important that you explain to the youth > what we stood for and why, because they are our hope for the > future. They can carry out our dream for our people to have > pride in their culture, good schools, food, and health care, and > most importantly, justice. Please know that I continue to be > here for you too, although I am limited in what I can do from > behind these walls. However, I will continue help in whatever I > can from here. The one thing my situation has brought me at > least, is a voice, and my voice is your voice. So please do not > hesitate to write me or contact the LPDC to inform me of what is > going on. > > I am growing older now and my body is beginning to deteriorate. I > sometimes wonder just how much longer I will be with you all on > Mother earth. I hope that it'll be a while longer because I long > to be with you, my family and friends, to share some time > together. If not, and I don't make it home to you, I will always > be with you in spirit, at every Sun Dance and Inipi Ceremony, > remembering both the happy and the painful times we shared. > > In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, > > Leonard Peltier > > > ------- > > > LEONARD PELTIER'S IMPRISONMENT > > > Since the early 1970s, traditional Lakota Peoples have opposed > leasing and selling reservation lands for mining operations. The > U.S. government-backed and supportd Tribal Government, headed by > Richard Wilson, favored uranium mining and its short-term > benefits and vehemently responded to anyone of an opposing view. > It was quite clear that violence would be applied against any > opposition. > > There were over 60 reported violent deaths to American Indian > Movement (AIM) members and/or supporters between the years 1972 > and 1975. AIM was summoned to the Pine Ridge Reservation for the > protection of the traditional Lakota Peoples. The FBI was > supporting the tribal police with weapons and training. > > Leonard Peltier was among those who responded to the call for > help. They came knowing that Richard Wilson's police were backed > with superior assault weapons, tactical support and FBI-supplied > intelligence regarding AIM and its supporters. Fear and tension > was near boiling point on Pine Ridge at this time. > > It was in this explosive atmosphere, that on 26 June 1975, two > young FBI agents (unknown to anyone at Pine Ridge), drove off the > main highway in cars that no one could identify, and came > directly into an AIM encampment known as Tent City on the Jumping > Bull property on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. > Their own 302 radio transmissions acknowledged that they thought > they were in pursuit of Native American Jimmy Eagle, who was > suspected of stealing a pair of used cowboy boots. With tensions > high, a firefight ensued and the two agents and one Native were > killed. > > There has been no government investigation of Native American Joe > Stuntz Killsright's death to this day. However, when FBI agents > are killed, the government feels compelled to resolve their > deaths, and it appears, at any cost. > > Of over 20 participants, the government chose four people and set > out to apprehend and take them to trial. Those named were Dino > Butler, Bob Robideau, Jimmy Eagle and Leonard Peltier. Robideau > and Butler were apprehended, and with two in hand, the government > decided to go to trial without Eagle or Peltier. > > Almost as quickly as the case was presented, acquittals were > rendered by the jurors. Robideau and Butler were both found not > guilty by reason of self defence. The jury saw it as an invasion > by a hostile, armed paramilitary force on sovereign Pine Ridge > Reservation land. > > The government then dropped the charges against Jimmy Eagle, and > set about applying its full prosecutive weight towards Leonard > Peltier, who had traveled to Canada just prior to the > Robideau/Butler trial. > > The US government managed to secure Peltier's extradition in > controversial circumstances and the subsequrent trial venue was > changed at the last minute from Cedar Rapids (site of the > acquittals), to Fargo, North Dakota. The judge was also changed > at the last minute. Everything was now in place for a conviction. > Evidence that was admissible in the Cedar Rapids trial was not > admissible in the North Dakota court. Leonard Peltier was > convicted on two counts of first degree murder, one each for the > two agents. He has been in federal prison since 1976. > > He was denied consideration for parole on 12 June last, despite > having served almost 24 years in US federal custody. > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Analysis: Restoring our Gaelic placenames > > BY GERRY McGEOUGH > > > > There's a beautiful bay near the tip of Mizen Head in West Cork > called Barley Cove. Signposts in the area give its Gaelic version > as Baigh Na Heornan, and for me this illustrates perfectly the > absurdity of the official so-called bilingual approach to > placenames in the 26 Counties. > > I don't know who churns out these signs, but if the bureaucrats > involved had bothered to consult with Irish language and cultural > enthusiasts in the area, they wouldn't have made the mistake of > assuming that the 'Barley' concerned was the English version of > an agricultural crop, which they then translated accordingly. > What we have here is actually a bizarre double corruption of the > Gaelic placenames Cobh Barr Liath - The Bay of the Grey Headland. > > The official approach to placenames in the 26 Counties has little > or nothing to do with bilingualism. If we had 'The Fort of the > Foreigners' and 'Two Lake Valley' alongside 'Dun na nGall' and > 'Gleann da Locha' now that would be bilingual; but the current > 'Donegal' and 'Glendalough' are merely gibberish. These are > English phonetic renditions of the original Irish and might just > as easily have ended up as 'Tonnycal' and 'Glendilock', depending > on the disposition of the English military surveyor of the time. > > To put it in another perspective, 'der Kaffen' and 'Majau' might > be good German renditions of 'An Cabhan' and 'Maigh Eo', but > linguistically they are just as meaningless as Cavan and Mayo, > and equally insulting to the original Gaelic. > > At the last Ard Fheis, the Trinity College Sinn Fein cumann > forwarded a motion to the effect that a future Sinn Fein > government would commit itself to a root and branch Gaelicisation > of all placenames in the country and, by extension, the dumping > of all foreign renditions. In other words, why bother with Mallow > and Enniskillen when we can just as easily say and use Maigh > Ealla and Inis Caitlin? Apart from the satisfaction of undoing > the English colonial legacy, the implementation of this policy > would ensure a deep, long-term effect on the psyche of this > nation. Not only could we inculcate a sense of national pride in > the overt reclaiming of our territorial culture, but we would > also create a general climate favourable to the overall promotion > of Gaelic culture in all its forms. > > It was interesting to note that some of the West Brit press tried > to ridicule our motion, and for me this was very encouraging. > These are the people who are continuously trying to undermine and > eradicate Irish-Ireland and all manifestations of republicanism > and nationalism, and they know a threat when they see one. > > Again, though, our greatest obstacle is indifference, and many > people might be inclined to ask if such a project were feasible. > Happily, we can point to tangible examples. In the 1920s, it was > the norm to speak of Kingstown and Queenstown and places like > Queen's County. Yet within a generation, people were comfortable > with the original Gaelic of Dun Laoghaire, Cobh and Laois. Who in > their right mind would send a letter to Queen's County nowadays > and expect it to get there? Had the powers that were simply > Gaelicised every placename in the country at the time, they would > now roll off our tongues effortlessly. > > Still, it's never too late and this is yet another area where > Sinn Fein can set the train in motion. > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Events in Ireland and Britain > > DAMHSA FAILTE ABHAILE/WELCOME-HOME FUNCTION: For ex-POW Michael > Gallagher. 10pm Friday 28 July, Ostan Loch Altan, GORT A CHOIRCE, > County Donegal. Ceol le Spirit of Freedom > > SF FUNCTION: Music by Spirit of Freedom. Friday 28 July, Carraig > Springs Hotel, CROSSKEYS, County Cavan. Taille #5 > > SF FUNDRAISER: Featuring Spirit of Freedom. Friday 28 July, > Carrick Springs Hotel, CROSSKEYS, County Cavan. Taille #5 > > RFB FUNDRAISER: In aid of the Volunteers Smith/Harford/Doherty > RFB. Featuring Dublin Blackthorn. Saturday 29 July, Cappagh > House, FINGLAS, County Dublin. Taille #4 > > THE James Larkin RFB will be staging a parade to mark the 4th > anniversary of its founding in 1996. The parade will assemble on > 12.30pm SUNDAY 30 July, Tithebarn Street, LIVERPOOL, England, > following a route around the Vauxhall area. All welcome > > REPUBLICAN BALLAD SESSION: Featuring Borderline. 9pm Thursday 3 > August, The Curracloe Hotel, CURRACLOE, County Wexford. Raffle > and bar extension. Taille #3 > > GUN-RUNNING COMMEMORATION: Assemble 5.30pm Sunday 6 August, Main > Street, KILCOOL, County Wicklow and march to the Monument, Sea > Road. Speaker: Gerry McGeogh. Social in the Mill Room, Doyles > afterwards > > VOLUNTEER COMMEMORATION: Annual Volunteer Sean Russell > commemoration. Assemble Saturday 12 August, Five Lamps, North > Strand, DUBLIN. SF speaker and RFB in attendance > > TOM DELEGATION TO BELFAST: Thursday 10 - Monday 14 August. > Delegation Costs: #45 unwaged; #55 Waged; #80 High waged. The > price includes food & accommodation. It does NOT include travel > costs to Belfast. Troops Out Movement PO Box 1032 Birmingham B12 > 8BZ Tel: 0121 643 7542. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > WELCOME-HOME FUNCTION: For ex-POW Paddy Kelly. 10pm Friday 18 > August, Old Village Inn, DRUMLISH, County Longford. Music by > Spirit of Freedom. Taille #5 > > > > > > > c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit. > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > RM Distribution > Irish Republican News and Information > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113 > PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > RMD1000724154958p4 >
