Irish Farmers Journal - 18-02-06
Farming concerns

The Minister Mr. Dick Roche asks farmers to live lightly on the earth. Perhaps the farmers should ask the Minister to do the same with regard to commercially burning our waste in incinerators, and thereby poisoning our land and losing our reputation for producing clean, fresh and healthy food.

There is an ethical concern which involves leaving a toxic legacy to future generations. Can we ask this Minister, and Bertie Ahern, does this generation have the right to hasten climate change and leave a toxic legacy to the next generation while we burn or use up resources that are finite. Future generations have the right to inherit an Ireland as fertile, beautiful, healthy and productive as the Ireland this generation inhabits.

The alternative to incineration is waste prevention which will also benefit producers of products, because of the savings achieved in terms of the cost of raw materials, energy and disposal charges.

We must be concerned about poisoning land, and hold onto our number one place in Europe for the lowest dioxins in Europe, ensuring Ireland has the competitive edge.

M. Bowen,
Monkstown,
Co. Cork.
021 4841036.