Press release

Stormont Executive in thrall to G8 economics

14 June 2013

On the eve of the G8 summit in Fermanagh, Friends of the Earth today has issued a briefing on the impacts of G8 economics on Northern Ireland. [1]

Friends of the Earth believes that there is a direct connection between the Executive's consensus on G8 economics (or free market economics) and policies that will permanently damage Northern Ireland's environment and future prosperity. The briefing calls for new economic imagination for Northern Ireland.

The environmental pressure group was speaking ahead of its participation in a mass march and rally that will take place in Belfast city centre on Saturday 15 June 2013.

Activists will use various props to represent a river polluted by the effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas.[2]

James Orr, Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, said:

"We are tired of hearing the excuse of, 'the economists made me do it,'[3] from our Executive ministers when they make decisions that please big business at the expense of Northern Ireland's people and environment."

"In order to please the enthusiasts of G8 style economics, our politicians are dragging us along on their race to the bottom."

Mr Orr continued:

"Be it keeping the identity of political donors secret[4], destroying the last fragments of our already permissive planning system[5], or allowing fossil fuel corporations to despoil our countryside in order to satisfy our carbon addiction, no ask is too big for the big five Executive parties.

"If our politicians do not learn the true value of what is in their stewardship, they will sell off Northern Ireland's family silver for a nugget of fool's gold."

Anyone interested in joining the anti-fracking action on Saturday 15 June should contact Friends of the Earth on 028 9089 7592, or email [email protected].

Notes

[1] The Northern Ireland briefing on G8 economics : http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/ni_g8_briefing_2013.pdf

[2] DETI has already offered licences for fracking in counties Fermanagh, Derry and Antrim, and is in the process of issuing many more that would threaten most of Northern Ireland with being in close proximity to a frack pad.  http://www.detini.gov.uk/consultation_on_proposed_amendments_to_the_gas__applications_for_licences_and_extensions__regulations__northern_ireland__1996_

[3] This is a paraphrase of DSD Minister Nelson McCausland's statement when he was challenged on why he arbitrarily abandoned the Green New Deal in favour of boiler replacement last summer http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/06/01/minister-feather-beds-middle-classes-rather-than-tackle-fuel-poverty/

[4] http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/ni_who_pulls_the_strings.pdf

[5] http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/consultation_responses/ni_planning_bill_2013_response.pdf

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Published by Friends of the Earth Limited