First Green Mayor of Galway Elected

by health expert iosaf Tue Apr 10, 2007 19:23

...during the course of the afternoon many concerned readers have emailed me regarding the illustration of cryptosporidium above & also to air their worries (in a civil & friendly manner might I stress) over my suggested course of action. [sacking Galway]
I'd like to lay minds at rest. The brown stuff is poo and the big green circular thing is a cryposporidium. I know it doesn't have teeth - it doesn't need teeth, it lives on poo - and poo is soft. The other colourful things in the photo are of course just that - colourful things. We need them in our diet because without them (they are generally called "E numbers") our food really does looks like shit & the more responsible amongst you wouldn't let a morsel pass your lips for fear of infection.

Let us move on to the next queries I've been fielding this afternoon : "is there an option to sacking Galway and burning it to the ground?"

This is honestly a difficult one, throwing money at the problem (not that this is an option in modern day Ireland) will not make it go away. The proud Galwegians have already exagerated their population & now happily talk of "100,000 or more" carriers of pestilence. That adds another few trillion on the reproductive estimate of cryptosporidium. There are drug alternatives, just as before during the H5N1 hoohaa the swiss patent holder of "tamiflu" made a fe billion, the holder of nitazoxanide's patent could be the sole winner in this dismal doomsday situation.....or maybe not......read on!

Tablets cost 7.97 US$ a pop. Now here's how it's going to work...

Mammy Harney bless her, is not going to send you these drugs. But I will arrange the shipment in the next 72 hours. I need you indymedia people to really pull your fingers out (& wash them) on this one & collect 33,475,000 euros which you will wire to me in Barcelona by Friday next. I will then send you a week's course of anti-diahorrea medication for not only the city of Galway but the whole province of Connaught. Yiz could round it off to 34million.

it's less than pittance (remember Harney wasted between 150 and 170 million on a computer system that was crap & declared the amount to be only a pittance). Let me also put your fears of my making a quick buck at rest : I'll be making less than 5% commission & handling charges - your pills will arrive on the Rosslare ferry in a consignment of kiddies cuddly toys. Some of you may suffer side-effects like hives, itchiness, sweatiness, swelling of lips, eyes and throat & I'm afraid any of you with HIV or Hepatitis are just going to die anyway. There you have it - you don't have to burn Galway. I have saved the world (or at least one small part of it) yet again.

bottom line = less than 34 million.

by Fred Johnston Tue Apr 10, 2007 17:39 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie 087.2178138

It is a matter of much pondering how Galway City Council can at once publicly announce that it will be throwing more money at the obscene Salthill Airshow this year, while at the same time they can't get themselves together enough to organise a project to spend money that will keep Galway citizens and others from poisoning themselves with the local water! If the bar owners, hoteliers and other retailers of Galway who so welcome the Airshow were also in charge of SELLING public water in Galway, the matter would never have arisen.

Attacking Niall O'Brolcháin, Galway's Mayor, over the current water crisis was a moment of extreme political opportunism. Minister Roche would'nt be seen within a hundred miles of Galway if there wasn't an election on the horizon. Oh, how Fianna Fáil quake at the thought of the Green Party's popularity!

by Derrick - An Taisce Tue Apr 10, 2007 16:32

Press Release on behalf of An Taisce - Galway Association

Observations on developments in the current Water crisis in Galway.

When Minister for Environment Dick Roche T.D., breezed into Galway on Frid 30th March, he immediately set about “knocking heads together” at City Hall, while agreeing a ‘sticking plaster solution’ to the crisis that is poisoning the drinking water used by approx 100,000 people living in affected parts of Co Galway & in the city.

This bombastic minister, as only he can, blustered his way through the day completely ignoring the cause of the current emergency, and never once mentioned during his stay that it was his, and previous governments planning policies, that have led to the deadly and increasing pollution of Ireland’s lakes and rivers.

The ‘throw money’ at the problem type of solution now being adopted in Galway, will only plaster over the cracks until the next outbreak of cryptosporidium occurs in some other water body, perhaps in some other part of the country.

Gathering together a cabal of the great & the good, and several FF election candidates while circling the wagons in City Hall; then cobbling together a plan to divert water from the, as yet, unaffected Tuam regional water supply at Luimnagh while ignoring the rights of our other elected council members to be kept informed, is typical of the FF way of doing things. His politicisation of the issue, by attacking the Mayor of Galway, and all opposition groups who have a right to be concerned about the outcome, and the lack of information being given them does his high office no service.

It is clear from documentation which we have seen as members of Galway City Council’s Transport & Infrastructure SPC, that water schemes in the pipeline going back to August 2003, deal primarily with extending water services to new housing development areas around the city. Have nothing to do whatever with upgrading, or, renewing the out-of-date Terryland water works (which for the past few years has featured as an industrial heritage exhibit during the annual Heritage Week).

It has been made quite clear by Mr. Jim Cullen, Director of Services for the environment in the County Council that, it is “far more likely that there were diffuse discharges into the lake (Corrib), as well as the weather conditions” which led to the current problem. An Taisce, in previous press statements have pointed to the unusual weather conditions and mild temperatures which have aided the development and spread of these spores. The winters flooding has brought many septic tanks, agricultural and forestry activities into contact with the waters of Lough Corrib. Leachate from any of these could be a likely source of contamination given the acceptance that cryptosporidium is now also being passed human to human.

The effect of changes in global and local temperature can be seen in the increase in localised river flooding in recent years. With the current level of development across the county and the level of further growth predicted, it is vital that climate change impacts are factored into local authority decision-making at the forward planning stage and subsequently when decisions are being made on individual planning applications, such as when new houses are being built along the shores of Lough Corrib.

It is fact, that in 2002-2003, 18% of public sewage was discharged raw into our rivers, lakes and estuaries, with no treatment. In comparison with our EU neighbours the quality of our water is relatively high, but this argument is a weak one and one behind which the government can no longer hide.

Minister Roche may have arrived in Galway with a cheque for 27m euro, to add to the 21.5m which is as yet unspent, but lingering within the system. He will have to do much more to create the conditions where, our poorly resourced, and inefficient, Local Government engineering services are able to deal with the planning issues involved in providing citizens with basic clean water. Centralised decision making, in place since the disastrous budget of 1977, has not helped.

It is quite clear to An Taisce’s Galway Association members, that the problem of water pollution in our lakes and rivers has been around for decades. It was in the early 70’s that public attention was first brought to the problems of pollution in Loughs Corrib, Mask & Carra. While angling groups at Loughs Conn & Cullin in the North West, Arrow and Gill in Sligo and around Loughs Derg and Ree on the Shannon, Sheelin in Cavan, at Lough Leane in Kerry, as well as various other locations around Ireland that have seen degradation of their fishing waters over many years of government neglect.

The government have patently ignored the pleadings of angling groups and the various environment NGO’s, who have consistently raised these issues. However, if real change is to be expected in the water quality of these lakes, many things have to happen, starting with planning.

In Co Galway, urban generated one-off housing, promoted by some prominent government Ministers, has led to a range of problems, including social isolation, car-dependency, increased carbon emissions, more traffic hazards, and the expense of providing basic services such as water and electricity. Particularly significant is water pollution. One-off houses are generally serviced by septic tanks or proprietary treatment systems which often result in pollution of nearby watercourses, either by design or accident. Their are thousands of planning applications to build one-off houses arriving in the post at County Hall each year. But as CSO figures now show, many of these are for holiday homes, which has the effect of pricing young people, who might otherwise have a right to live near their parents rural home - out of the market.

The hoo-ha created by a couple of anti An Taisce retired gentlemen (Messrs Caulfield and Connolly), on the RTE Late, Late show (23rd March), did little to advance their cause, which seems to be that people have the right to build wherever they like, but is indicative of their real purpose, which is to undermine An Taisce. All our policies reflect our core belief that a high quality environment is central to Ireland achieving a successful and sustainable economy, as well as a high quality of life. This is based on the view that prevention is better than cure, partnership and dialogue are better than conflict and monologue, and strategic planning surpasses reactive expediency. Their theory seems to be that some 5000 years ago the countryside supported a far greater population than now, QED, that it should be possible to so do today. These gentlemen are obviously oblivious of the downsides of their theory, which are now fast becoming apparent. Urban style housing complete with 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, washing machines, dishwashers, hot-tubs and jacuzies spell disaster for our future water supplies.

Finally. It is becoming increasingly urgent that government would review its Spatial Planning Policies. The complete contradiction between their rural housing policy and planning guidelines, is leading to the destruction of the environment, and storing up problems which will inevitably land our government back up in the European Courts, a place becoming very familiar to this particular government.

ENDS

10th April, 2007

Issued by Derrick Hambleton
Chairman
An Taisce - Galway Association
Kingston
Galway.

by boffin Tue Apr 10, 2007 14:50

Real poo. Learn to recognise it. Don't play with it. Check your fingernails for it. Poo or "shit" is not your friend.

by Health expert iosaf Tue Apr 10, 2007 14:48

I didn't though, having compared investment in "tamiflu" by other EU states and the "it won't happen to us" approach of Harney's Health board. Well, with tourist season and its tasty as contaminated as the Ganges staple oysters just around the corner it is time to ask :-

are we prepared for the imminent death of all Galwegian residents, livestock and fowl?

I hope you're not. Galway is a wonderful city and county & I for one will not sit idly by and watch it abandoned to its fate by FF/PD government or GP mayor. So I've prepared this short guide on how to survive cryptosporidium.

1) avoid water.
This is quite easy for many of us - except for the youngest who suffer nappyrash. But considering the demon bacteria is found in most water and soil in the developed world - you might like to stick to whiskey for the summer (without ice).
2) avoid shitting.
The less you eat the easier you'll find it to stop defecating. One bowel movement can release millions of crypto from your diseased intestines into the environment. If we consider the population of Galway city to be currently around the 71,000, and if we assume for the sake of mathematical laziness that each Galwegian enjoys one bowel movement a day - that's over 497 billion cryptos a week. In one month (such as the last one) the tiny but pretty city of Galway has produced over 1 trillion cryptosporidiums. I've scientifically proven it.
3) avoid Galwegians
Though most health experts will tell you drinking boiled water, canned fizzy drinks or buying any product produced by Nestle in bulk will keep you safe - it ought be apparant these measures only work for advanced countries with proper Health care . The startling facts I've outlined above ought put any one of you off changing a Galwegian nappy for life, felching a Galwegian or citizen of Connaught or even french kissing someone who has spent more than 24 hours west of the Shannon.

Thus the only real solution I can offer after much reflection is a difficult one I know, but it is I stress the only course of action left open to us decent people - sacking Galway.
BURN IT TO THE GROUND.

this is colourful little fellow is a crytposporidium. learn to recognise him. Shun him.

by .. Sun Apr 08, 2007 13:05

may not have been at the races over the contaminated water, but the rest of the pack is right there with him

by Pat O'Callaghan - Electorate Sat Apr 07, 2007 13:18

In reply to Pat, Wednesday June 21, 2006, 00.41, who states that The Mayor, Councillor O Brolchain would object to the wheel if it was invented today, I would like to add that not only would he object but that he would propose a square one.

by kermit the frog Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:14

It's not that easy bein' green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer bein' red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy bein' green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
Not standin' out like flashy sparkles on the water
Or stars in the sky

But green is the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean
Or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be

by hedgehog Sat Jun 24, 2006 04:06

Its good to finally have a green Mayor. We are behind you Niall.

by Clare Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:24 Dublin

Best of luck Niall with the new position. Hope you can make the most of it and don't be afraid to stand up to the bullies!

by Green Ink Thu Jun 22, 2006 02:14

Each of your examples had legimate reasons for opposition. Eyre Square for example should never have happened and cost businesses there tens of thousands of Euro in lost trade as well causing traffic snarl-ups on a regular basis. In your comment you refer to "people who want to object to everything just for the sake of it". Niall objected to Eyre Square, as did thousands of Galwegians, for valid reasons. Valid reasons for objection were behind each of your examples. I don't think someone that simply objected for the sake of it would be mandated by the electorate to represent them in CIty Hall.

by Pat 1 Wed Jun 21, 2006 23:17

hes objecting to the bridge that is so badly needed, we would all like a free flowing city with thousands of people on their bikes using cycle lanes etc but its not going to happen, he was also one of those who held up the start of the eyre square project because of a few trees which has eventually turned out to be a sucess (maybe not the best example admittedly) , What about the objections to mutton island that has now helped salthill regain the blue flag and is actually now a popular walk for people and an extention of the prom, and the plant is a great sucess, need I go on? I can confirm Pat C is not me.

by Green Ink Wed Jun 21, 2006 13:35

Can you tell me one instance that Niall has objected to something for the sake of it? I think you'll find that solving the transport problem that is strangling Galway is at the very top of Niall's agenda. Wouldn't it be prudent, and cheaper, to sort out the lack of public transport in Galway before bulldozing through Menlo?

by pat c Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:25

just want to make clear that i'm not the pat above. i would have disagreements with niall, but even niall is right some of the time. ;)

by pat Wed Jun 21, 2006 00:41

if this guy was around when the wheel was invented he would have objected, its a serious blow to galway and worse for those from the west side of the city who need a new bridge over the corrib, the city is growing , we need infrastructure not people who want to object to everything just for the sake of it, I'm not saying build everywhere but the dogs on the street knows we need this bridge