Author: Conall

This year there has been so much going on in our projects they really are emerging and evolving at pace, flying – to quote from The Story of Zero Waste made with the Artitude Project “growing wings”!

With our projects being so emergent and self-sustaining it is important for us to meet in celebration of our achievements and to cross-pollinate each other with ideas, hopefulness and stories of learning and success.

Committee Updates

The ZWNW Committee completed major work on policies this year, including:

A Volunteer Policy, a Safeguarding Policy, a Health and Safety Policy, and guidance on our Ways of Working. Equality and Diversity Policy, a Grievance & Problem Solving policy. Also organising further training on Safeguarding.

Usual bookkeeping work by Stewart and Marian including Helping Lifecycles Fly the Nest.

Lots of work going on by all sorts of members to remain in contact and supporting Partners and similarly aligned organisations. Too many to mention them all.

Anjuli special thanks to Attending ZW Europe event in the Spring

Maeve O’Neill with her links to Council and Unions.

Mary McGuiggan and all the networking involved with gathering.

As always, the comms team welcomes all updates/ blogs/ news and media, notice of events and the like for the website, please contact: comms@zerowastenw.org to have your material uploaded.

The Gathering

This year, The Gathering itself happened at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy, 28-29 June. It opened with an event advocating for an independent EPA. The main event focused on the crisis at Lough Neagh and featured scientists and activists. Highlights included primary school students reading their poetry about water and Food for My Soul, a performance about the Lower River Bann directed by Mary McGuiggan. The Gathering donated £300 to the Save Our Sperrins campaign based on contributions made at the event.

The Mobuoy Dump is one of the largest illegal dumps in Europe right on the banks of the River Faughan. The sentencing for waste crime is to take place on November 29th in Coleraine. Another podcast was made about Mobuoy for BBC 4. The series is called Buried and is available on BBC 4 as podcasts and on iPlayer.

Separate from that the Gathering continues to support grassroots campaigners through email, social media and attending in person events, marches and fundraisers, speaking at rallies and taking part in panel discussions, online events and symposiums.

The current groups with the Gathering include the Rights of Nature, Language, Health, Waste Crime, Planning, and the Aarhus Convention. Videos explaining the topics discussed in each  sub group are now available on the ZWNW web site. The Gathering subgroups continue to meet most months, with links to these meetings available on the ZWNW website.

Next year’s Gathering possibly will take place in Moville. If anyone would like to join the Gathering Events Team, contact Mary.

Rights of Nature

The island-wide Rights of Nature group continues to gain momentum. In Derry, the group hosted several screenings of the EJNI films with panel discussion, including at Ulster University and CCA Derry-Londonderry. The new DCSDC Climate and Sustainability Commission has appointed Liam Campbell to represent the interests of the Foyle. ZWNW members are collaborating with others on the newly-created Foyle Guardians group.

The Foyle Inquiry Group is a 6-week exploration of our personal relationships with Foyle Waterbodies which will end in December. 

Climate Fresk

Conall has run Climate Fresk events at the Northwest West College (My World my Home), in Belfast, and online. Conall is working with other facilitators as they work through the Active Hope podcast.

Education

This autumn a group has started to meet about teaching about zero waste and the circular economy in schools. If you’d like to learn more or take part contact Conall.

Litter Pick

In addition to the litter picking that ZWNW members do independently, just this autumn a litter picking group has started. Christine is facilitating this, with the idea a group of pickers will tackle new areas in particular need. Keep an eye on Facebook for announcements about upcoming litter picks.

Toy Library 

The Toy Library, located at CREEVAGH CROI opened weekly for the Friday Stay and Play last year, with a break over the summer. There’s been a strong cohort of attendance with new links made with Bunscoil. Volunteers helped keep the database of members current and new signage was created. The Toy Library was been shortlisted for funding from the John Moore’s Foundation. If funded they will open a stay and play on Saturdays with a paid facilitator. In the coming year they will continue to recruit new members and do a refurbishment of the toys with a focus on toys for older children.

Transform Trade

When the Zero Waste hub was open, the sale of fairtrade stock was slow. Since the closure of the Hub Stewart continues to make available tea, coffee, chocolate, along with Zaytoun and tissue products with any profit from sales going to ZWNW. 

With time and energy Fairtrade could be promoted by using the ZWNW website to show what fairtrade products are available in our council area and the shops that sell them. Facebook could be used to give updates from the wider Fairtrade movement and coffee/café owners could be contacted to encourage the use of fairtrade.

Recently contact with Fairtrade Ireland was re-established. Jim Keys and Stewart attended the Supporters Conference on the 1st December 2023 in Limerick.

The biggest challenge for Fair Trade is companies and producers are now setting their own ethical standards, which are not as thorough as Fairtrade.

Little Footprints

Within the last year, Little Footprints has continued to host weekly drop-ins on Tuesdays at the Verbal Arts Centre. The drop-in provided peer support, communication centric play, and arts and crafts. All encourage creativity without the noise of commercialisation. The group continued to support sustainable parenting ideas that met parents and caregivers where they were at.

The project was holding space for exploring the Parenthood Penalty, which loosely translates to anything being converted into a currency/debt that parents would ‘pay for’ as a direct result for caring for their child/children. Little Footprints hosted an information session on Type 1 diabetes and also hosted fun days for Halloween,  Christmas,  St. Patrick’s day and Easter inviting the Fountain Primary School. 

In November the group moved to the Aras Colmcille heritage centre at the Longtower and has started to host get togethers on Monday from 10:30 to 12:00. The focus will be special education needs inclusive play. Peer support will continue and with that signposting when necessary.

Life Cycles

Life Cycles continues to thrive in 2024.

In the previous 12 months LC have saved over 1800 bicycles from Pennyburn Landfill. The group is actively pursuing additional space to be used for salvaging bicycles, training volunteers, and teaching bicycle maintenance.  LC has seen 23 volunteers this year, most on a weekly basis. Three youngsters completed their Duke of Edinburgh award through LC. Four youngsters completed their NI EPIC Award for volunteering at least 50 hours of community service. LC taught the basic bicycle maintenance class to boys from St Joseph’s School and men from the local Triax Men’s club. They’ve also hosted bike doctor repair sessions throughout the council area. The group has trained led ride leaders, led a confident cycling class for older people, and led the course “ditch the stabilizers”. They completed 14 led rides for various groups around the Council, including a haunted cycle for Halloween, a Tour de Foyle ride, and a Christmas ride

LC has proven itself as financially sustainable and has progressed to being able to pay its managing director, Monica, a regular monthly wage! LC has separated its finances from Zero Waste Northwest as it has “flown the nest.”  LC donated £1000 donation as a thank you for all that ZWNW has done for them over the past five years. Life Cycles wishes to remain a committed partner of ZWNW and provide whatever assistance it may in both the near and distant future.

Other News

Congratulations to Caroline and all the volunteers at Repair and Share Foyle who have successfully opened the Library of Things and continue to host Repair Cafe. 

Artitude

ZWNW is partnering with the Playhouse, Northern Ireland Resources Network, DSDC and Queens University Belfast on Phase 2 of the Artitude project. In September we launched a major output of Phase 1- the short animated film, Story of Zero Waste North West. In Phase 2 we will be advising on a climate arts festival and artist residencies. Look to the Playhouse’s social media feeds to keep posted on associated events. Also in the coming year ZWNW will be dedicating our partnership funding from Artitude to Participatory Budgeting, so stay tuned for that.

Nappy Library

4 Cloth Nappy kits (out of 9) are currently out and being used: 1 x Newborn kit and 3 x Birth to Potty kits.

Ethical Weigh Cooperative have arranged for the Men’s shed in Eglinton to build a purpose-built box to store 2 kits. It means that we can use EWC as a drop off and collection point 2 of the kits.

The Hive borrowed a kit for a demo – Maeve talked them through the kit beforehand so they can point people in our direction in future with the right info. 

Maeve has now rearranged the 5 kits she has at home so that they are more evenly distributed where items were missing and all have the right accessories needed. She has taken fresh photos and typed up inventories to match. 

Besides Maeve there are 3 other nappy library designated volunteers who are each taking responsibility to look after one kit each and be a touchpoint for any questions the user of that kit may have. They are Helen, Margaret and Ruth. Space for kits is still an issue. Maeve currently has 5 kits at her house and other bags of donated nappies. 

If the kits were out and being used this would be less of an issue but there are currently not enough people working on the nappy library to drive this forward. Although we have volunteers to wash some of the kits ( which is wonderful and a big job in itself ) we don’t have a dedicated Nappy library team that meets regularly. Maeve welcomes another person to come forward and lead on this.

North West BAPS

The parent-led group North West BAPS (Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support) have had a great year!

This group which was initially nurtured at the ZWNW Hub on Spencer Road during 2023 has gone from strength to strength with their aim to increase awareness, visibility and support for breastfeeding in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. This Council area has notoriously held the record for having the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world for the past 30 years.

North West BAPS has a Core Team of 6 volunteers – Sarah, Joanie, Jessica, Noella, Sinead and Maria. They have established a Network consisting of 35 parents, advocates and representatives from community, voluntary and statutory organisations who are passionate about supporting mothers who want to breastfeed. The North West BAPS Network is supported by the Council, and provides an opportunity to hear what everyone is doing, and discuss how we can work together. In the past year, 2 Network meetings were held – in Jan and June 2024 – co-chaired by Dr. Maria Herron and Councillor Sandra Duffy.

In Feb 2024, the North West BAPS hosted Breastfeeding in Public Day on 22 Feb 2024 at the Guildhall. Special guest and author Graine Evans read her poem ‘Nursing in Public.

The North West BAPS hosted a Global Big Latch On event in collaboration with the Central Library in Derry in April 2024, and we had special guest Maeve Leahy from Music Kin singing a special rendition of ‘What’s Milk Got to Do With It’ supported by backing singers from ZWNW!

Sinead O’Kane from North West BAPS designed a Vibrant New Banner which was launched at Free Derry Corner ahead of World Breastfeeding Week 2024 celebrations in Derry.

North West BAPS had their annual celebration of World Breastfeeding Week in St.Columb’s Park House in August 2024, which was attended by almost 200 participants and 26 organisations hosted stands at the event – many of whom are involved in the North West BAPS Network.

North West BAPS have attended a number of events during the year including the Women in the Community Open Day in VOID Art Gallery, and the International Women’s Day event organised by Derry Women’s Centre. These events are great for networking & hearing directly from mothers – and grandmothers about their own experiences of breastfeeding & their ideas about how to improve breastfeeding support locally.

NWBAPS – Upcoming events:

North West BAPS continues to host the North West BAPS Walking Group on Monday mornings at 10am along the Quay from Sainsburys to the City Hotel. This Walking Group which was established by Dr. Noella Gormley, also meets in Brooke Park over the summer for the convenience of families who have older children with them. The North West BAPS Christmas Lunch will take place on Mon 2 Dec 2024 in the City Hotel who have welcomed and supported the North West BAPS Walking Group throughout the year.

North West BAPS are currently working on 3 exciting new projects! They recently received some funding from the Keadue Foundation to develop a Breastfeeding Support Kit and a website. They are also working on a collaboration with the NI Science Festival and the Council to host a special event on Breastfeeding in Public Day on 22 Feb 2025. North West Baps are also just about to launch a massive BIG Project in the City which will be a first for Northern Ireland – in collaboration with Surestart Edenballymore and some funding from The Honourable The Irish Society. For more updates, follow North West BAPS on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank You

Thank you so much for reading this far, and for being an active supporter. All present at the AGM were blown away by how much good work we’ve done in the past 12 months and were delighted to follow the AGM with a little social event.

Finally a reminder that membership fees for the coming year were set at £5. You can contribute here.

North West BAPS is thrilled to announce the launch of a stunning new breastfeeding mural – the first of its kind in the North of Ireland – created by the talented artist collective Peaball, to celebrate and support breastfeeding mothers. The event will take place on Friday, 29 November 2024 at 12:30pm, at the mural site on the gable wall of the Pram Centre, 14 Great James Street, Derry.

This vibrant mural, commissioned by North West BAPS, is a testament to their mission to increase awareness and visibility of breastfeeding and to campaign for nurturing support for local parents who want to breastfeed. Derry City and Strabane District Council has the lowest breastfeeding rates in N. Ireland, and the Mural is located in the Moor which has the very lowest breastfeeding rates in the Council area.

The mural’s unveiling by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council will be followed by the telling of the story behind the Mural and refreshments at Cultúrlann, located at 37 Great James Street.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Barr said she was delighted to see this incredibly beautiful and creative mural. “This is a wonderful way of supporting mothers and highlighting the benefits and joys of breastfeeding and to let women and their families know that there is support available locally. The mural beautifully depicts the special bond between mother and child and is a great way of encouraging breastfeeding and raising awareness and visibility among the community.”

“We are excited to bring this beautiful piece of art to our community,” said Sinead O’Kane North West BAPS representative who coordinated the Mural Project. “This mural not only represents the beauty and importance of breastfeeding but also symbolises our continuous efforts to listen and reflect what parents have been telling us about their experiences.”

Artist Peaball shared their enthusiasm: “North West BAPS are doing great things here in the city by providing a platform for informative discussion and support. We hope the commissioned piece of street art can help not only raise awareness, but help the organisation to grow”.

Join us for this celebration of art and community spirit as we unveil this new addition to Derry’s cultural landscape. Everyone is welcome to attend and show their support for breastfeeding awareness and the incredible work of North West BAPS.

—

Notes:

The North West BAPS Breastfeeding Mural which will be launched on 29 Nov 2024, is the first breastfeeding mural in Northern Ireland. There are 2 other breastfeeding murals in the Republic of Ireland:

Waterford’s “Annabelle and Billy” Mural: This mural was created by renowned French street artist Zabou in 2023, and is located in Ballybricken, Waterford. The Mural was commissioned by Waterford Walls and sponsored by Waterford City and County Council, and it has won awards for its impactful message.

Sligo Campus Mural: Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Sligo unveiled a mural to celebrate National Breastfeeding Week 2024. This mural was created by artist Marian Noone (Friz) in collaboration with the Health Services Executive (HSE). It depicts the artist’s niece being breastfed and aims to encourage conversations about the importance of breastfeeding.

North West BAPS (Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support) is a parent-led initiative in Derry City and Strabane District Council aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates and improving breastfeeding experiences. The project was launched in December 2022 in response to the ongoing low breastfeeding rates in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, which has had amongst the lowest rates in the world for the past 30 years.

The initiative provides a signposting service on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, offering accessible information about local and online breastfeeding support. North West BAPS also hosts events, such as the World Breastfeeding in Public Day and the Big Latch On, to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding.

The North West BAPS hosts a walking group which meets every Monday at 10am, providing a supportive environment for parents to meet and an opportunity for new parents & babies to practice breastfeeding in public.

The North West BAPS project is supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, which co-chairs the North West BAPS Network. This network aims to foster discussion and collaboration among parents, advocates, and local organisations who are committed to supporting parents who want to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding Statistics: According to the latest available statistics, the proportion of ANY Breastfeeding (exclusive or mixed breastmilk/formula) at Discharge (from Hospital/Home Birth) is 50.8% in N. Ireland, 40.6% in Derry City and Strabane District Council (lowest Council figures in N.Ireland), and within the Derry Strabane Council, the area with the lowest breastfeeding rates on discharge is 33.1% in The Moor District Electoral Area.

At 3 months, the proportion of babies receiving ANY breastmilk (exclusive or mixed breastmilk/formula) is 96% in Hungary, 40% in Ireland and 29% in Northern Ireland. Derry City and Strabane District Council has the lowest figures in N. Ireland for ANY breastfeeding at 3 months at 20%.

(Sources: Children and Young People’s Indicator Set DCEDIY 2023; Public Health Agency Health Intelligence Briefing Breastfeeding in Northern Ireland 2024)

For more information: 

North West BAPS via email nwbaps@gmail.com

Follow North West BAPS on Facebook and Instagram

This autumn Zero Waste North West is hosting a series of events to explore the meaning and possibilities for rights of nature on these islands. Zero Waste North West is part of the movement that seeks to fundamentally change the way humans relate to and respect the interconnected web of life so that we might enable a flourishing future for all beings. 

Derry City and Strabane District Council was the first council on these islands to pass a rights of nature motion, advanced by People Before Profit councillor and Zero Waste North West member Meabh O’Neill. Since then, Omagh and Fermanagh and Donegal councils have done the same. Moreover, the 2023 Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss recommended the Republic of Ireland enshrine the Rights of Nature and the human rights to a health environment within the Irish Constitution. This autumn series of events explores how rights of nature ideas shift our practices and mindsets.

On 10 September from 6:30-7:15, the Derry Rights of Nature group is hosting a meeting via Teams to learn about ways the Hare’s Corner Collective in Garvagh represent the interests and voices of nonhumans within their work, including within their meetings and decision making. Join the conversation here.

On 21 September from 4:30- 5:45, the Centre for Contemporary Art Derry-Londonderry will be screening the 40 minute film “Rights of Nature” in association with the closure of the exhibition Strata. Artworks within the Strata explore minerals, extractivism, and embodiment. The film introduces the rights of nature concept through a distinctive Irish perspective and was produced by Ravenhill Films and the Environmental Justice Network Ireland. Following the film will be a short Q&A and panel discussion featuring Meabh O’Neill, Mary McGuiggan, and Marella Fyffe. This film is the first in a short series that ZWNW is coordinating alongside the Playhouse as part of the Artitude Project. Reserve your seat here.

On 12 October, Ulster University’s Magee campus will host a symposium, “Rights of Nature and Heritage on the Island of Ireland”. This symposium is organised by ZWNW committee member Anjuli Grantham. The symposium features academics, activists, and heritage practitioners as they explore the connections between more than human wellbeing and heritage practices within Ireland. Register for the symposium here.

Come join the conversation!

Remember the hugging tree in Prehen Woods?
A number of mature trees around it have now been felled. More are marked with an X for felling. The hugging tree is now very vulnerable.
Gemma has sent us this poem she wrote.
Can we help her raise awareness!?

CHAINSAW MINDLESSNESS

Chainsaws

Curseit Chainsaws

Roaring and burring as they cut deep into life 

Felling majesty in minutes

Decades of Being…

Brought to the ground in a thunderous thud

No respect for what they truly were

Slavishly slaying God’s creation

Greed Gaugers

Wagers

Killing chances of survival with their chainsaws.

– Gemma Harkin

Please share widely… some photos taken yesterday:

Join Zero Waste North West at Climate Justice Now, a panel discussion convened by Trócaire, at 7 PM on Tuesday 13th August at Pilots Row Centre. Anjuli Grantham of Zero Waste North West, Fidelma O’Kane of Save Our Sperrins and Sinéad Loughran of Trócaire will share visions for climate justice, both locally and internationally, and consider ways that climate justice is underway now in the North West and beyond. 

This panel is associated with the Climate Justice Now photo exhibition at Eden Place Arts Centre. The exhibition features the impact of climate change on global communities and the activist catalyzing solutions. The exhibition will be open to visitors from Saturday 10th August – Saturday 17th August.

Come join the conversation!

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with North West BAPS at St Columb’s Park House & Gardens on Saturday 3 August 2024 at 12 noon

 Entertainment for little ones

 Information about Breastfeeding, Perinatal & Parenting Support

 Activities for all the family

 Bring a picnic rug / camp chair & a plate of food to share

 Raffle with amazing prizes

 Free Entry – Register via Eventbrite

 A few stands still available – contact nwbaps@gmail.com 

Breastfeeding Support for the week ahead 

Handy list of local, online and telephone breastfeeding support for the week ahead!  The North West BAPS Walking Group is meeting outside the Cafe at Brooke Park on Monday 29 July at 10.30am – join us for a short walk and a cuppa to get the week started! 

Celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2024 across the North West

Lots going on across the North West to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week – check out these flyers & this brochurefrom the Western Trust ?

Happy World Breastfeeding Week 2024!

Maria, Noella, Sinead, Jessica & Joanie

On behalf of North West BAPS

Follow North West BAPS on Facebook and Instagram

Email nwbaps@gmail.com

Thank you so much to Poet and Educator Maura Johnson for leading us in a creative exploration on the Saturday morning at the recent Gathering at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy. The Theme was “Water Is Life”. Some of the beautiful creative people there have kindly agreed to share their compositions with us all below. Fabulous.

The edge of the Island. Tir fo Thuinn

– by Narayan O’Tuathalain 

I am at the edge of this Island

Water rushes up through the passage

Slapping the rock in churning white foam

The ground here is older than water’s memory

I step as close to the drop as I dare

As three seagulls call back and forth

Talking to seagulls under the sea

I only see a gigantic, prehistoric rock

As I slip down the grassy bank

Near sliding into an underworld

Of foaming water, chronometic waves

As I find my feet I look over

Would I survive down there, Tir fo Thuinn

Climb out of the watery cave, find a footfall on rock

The mother rock of this Island

But only the wing’ed ones will ever walk there

This writing is inspired by the headland of Banba’s crown at Cionn Mhalanna (Malin Head)

 Water Is Life

– by Rosaline Callaghan

We gathered at this place beneath the summit of Sliabh Liag. Angry gusts tossed our hair and carried our incantations over the Atlantic, where they swooped over troughs and crests, kittiwake and a circling pair of peregrine falcons.

We paid homage and beseeched the waters of the wellspring to keep our sailing menfolk safe – to cut a boat path through the roiling ocean – and bring them home again.

We gathered at the Well of the Fair Winds, before the old ways shorn and scattered, before beehive huts and  transubstantiation of sacred springs to holy wells.

An Bhanna

– by Mary McGuiggan

Panic, Anger, Fear

The oak barrel, black and silver

Overflowing, gushing

Rain water from my shed roof.

How dare they!

How dare you pollute my waters

Birds chittering from roof top to roof top

From beech to oak,   hawthorn to elder.

Danger: 

Suffocating slurry, toxic dumping,  

flooded river banks, sodden grass, parched hedgerows,

Withered plants, mud laden lanes, poisoned rivers.

How dare they!!

How dare you pollute my lands.

An Bhanna,

The Godess, the shining Bann

Bereft, 

Overwhelmed, overflowing, oversight.

Her life ebbing.

The Flough, the spongy, wet bog, alive with fluffy bogcotton

White bristle like seed heads

Smiling in the breeze, healing properties, indicator of hazard.

Stacking the turf, spongy and wet.

Soggy sandwiches, sunburned necks,

Overbrewed tea.

Stories and laughter.

Recordings

Sea Swimming

– by Veronica

Paddleboard Yoga

– by Conall

Water – The Mighty Notwani

– by Les Gornall

A bit like running with the bulls at Pamplona. 
– Conall Morrison

My chest is still sore like having done too many push-ups, or taken a knock.

It’s from the shoves of the police “Get back” as they surround the vans leaving Court but we find a way to flow through them and tap the sides to communicate our support for those inside. I’m sorry it’s come to this, I’m sorry that you’re inside. It’s not fair 4 and 5 years locked-up. 

For what?

I think it hasn’t sunk in yet?

I call it peaceful protest,

Wilful obstruction of the highway? Public Nuisance? Not conforming. 

Checking the papers later the judge decrees them guilty of “conspiracy to cause a public nuisance for coordinating direct action protests on the M25 over four days in November 2022”

And yet every mention of climate change inadmissible. “The end of the world is neither here nor there”.

I cried when the news came out: 4 years for 4 of them and 5 for Roger. Cressida is only 22. The bitterness and hate that they will experience makes me sad.

I didn’t bring my phone

So that if I was arrested they couldn’t tell who I was immediately. This wastes their time… and means they can’t arrest so many people.

I didn’t think that there was a high likelihood of arrest, (I wrote Ruth’s number on my forearm, just in case). I wanted to be present, able to feel it, and also to make friends.

To act in solidarity. These people are going away for 4 years the least I can do is to turn up for an afternoon.

At the end of the road when the van pulled out into the traffic and hummings of the high street hustle-bustle, people stopped wide eyed and stared, “What is going on?”

“5 years for peaceful protest!” We shout, “not democracy!”

Heart beating hard in my chest,

police running at me from a long way off.

I got separated from the crowd with one other man. The police man was trying to grab hold of me and I made it to a side street. After a short while afraid of arrest it quietened down.

I made my way signless back to the front of the court. Wondering if anybody would be there still… and it was just like before, maybe just warmer in the sun.

Dale Vince, Chris Packham hanging around with aides and organisers, the same faces smiling back. The police back behind the iron gate, catching their breath. I rehydrate, should’ve brought a banana.

The second van came out, we carried a song and chanted “we love you!” to those inside. Again drumming on the sides and shouting and whooping to show support.

I saw some of the famous activists motion go for a drink. And was invited a couple of times to go for soup (you can get arrested for that). I’m tired, I’ve been enough of a nuisance on one hand and on the other not nearly enough. I go home.

I shook a few previous-to-then strangers’ hands and shared a smile. I talk to a covid masked lady on the tube, still doing outreach with her sign “Stop Jailing Truth Tellers” she has deep concern for the trees. I missed my stop, she apologised and I said “not at all”

Debriefs are important and I watch the footage when I get back.

It looks like quite a crowd, quite a nuisance, and again so sad. A victory for the elites, the string pullers, the point zero zero one percent.

I watched it back with brother in law Simon and again, able to pick myself out. Great tactic from the man just lying in the road. He does it at least 3 times. The crowd like water…

The police under-resourced just like the teachers, the doctors and the nurses. Only just hanging on. The illusion of power, that can crumble fast.

The strength of the arm of the law pushing people away and moving along, like some kind of swarm defense of a sports team, the risky high press.

I feel it now again in my chest, like Christiano Ronaldo, 

My pride muscle

————————

This was written after the sentencing of 5 Just Stop Oil members that were guilty of being on a zoom call inviting people to join them in Nonviolent Direct Action, specifically climbing gantries on the M25.

The following speeches (YouTube playlist link) were made after the sentencing by other activists:

Throughout The Gathering, held at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy on the 27 and 28 June, we celebrated the work of environmental activists, learned about the many challenges and solutions underway to restore the integrity of Lough Neagh, and bolstered our own resolve to continue protecting what we love.

A man walked among the thick trunks of beech, chestnut and oak trees in Prehen, the ancient woodland remnant within Derry City. There, he encountered George, who has worked tirelessly over the years to protect this small, remaining fragment of ecological vitality. The man shared with George how Prehen saved his life, providing him with a healing place as he battled cancer.

The sedge warbler never sings the same song twice. It’s syncopated whistle rang through the room as Doris Noe shared how people in Northern Ireland adore birds, but that this adoration is ignored when development projects destroy habitat, even within designated conservation areas.

Lough Neagh residents have been working for years to regain their rightful ownership and become stewards of the lough, Bernadette McAliskey affirmed. In fact, this was part of her campaign in 1969! Her children were raised in the boglands around the lough, so unaccustomed to walking on concrete that it hurt their legs to do so.

Lough Neagh is amidst an ecological crisis, one that will likely persist for many years due to the accumulated phosphorous within its bed, according to environmental scientist Les Gornal. The most urgent task is to stop harmful agricultural runoff, he says. Alan Keyes of Ballinderry Rivers Trust shared biotic surveying as a rapid way to assess water quality within streams, thereby locating polluters within Lough Neagh’s catchment and targeting the worst offenders first. James Orr shared the principles local citizens have developed as a just transition plan for Lough Neagh, including community ownership and and a rights of nature framework for the lough.

It’s through poetry, stories, song and performance that we both celebrate and mourn. In the morning, Maura Johnson led a writing workshop. Thomas McErlean led a walking tour to the Strand at Lough Beg, where attendees sang amidst the trees and listened to Heaney’s poetry. Later in the day, children from local primary schools shared poetry about water as part of a learning programme initiated by Maura. Jim Cor performed his famous song about Lough Neagh eel fishers. The Gathering ended with “Food for My Soul,” where history, memories, song, dance, and poetry celebrated the Bann.

Over the weekend, we heard many messages united around a common theme: local citizens, working together, have been the independent EPA of Northern Ireland. And now, we demand not just protection, but also justice and restoration.