Category: Uncategorised

On Saturday 30th March Zero Waste North West members organised a protest which turned into a lament at the spot of the ecocide of 4 trees (3 very mature trees and one smaller tree a few metres away) behind the Guildhall at Harbour Square.

They left gifts of flowers, art speaking for the trees and sang songs of solidarity, connection and gratitude to the earth. They also left protection orders around the remaining trees. The children joined in the protest at the destructive actions of the DCSDC by wearing animal masks, holding signs such as “No Trees to climb” and drew pictures of birds in their nests who may have chosen these trees to nest in.

We have nothing against the artwork, but we simply believe there are plenty of locations it could have gone without the need to destroy trees.

“Every single tree is a planetary frontline; a call to defend and co-exist.” Peter Doran.

DCSDC was the first Council on the island of Ireland to propose and agree to the Rights of Nature. We are, therefore, shocked by the unnecessary destruction of these trees through a joint decision of the Council and the Department of Infrastructure.
We are further saddened to hear of the cutting down of mature Cherry Trees on the Ebrington site – and we wish to raise this as yet another example of the disregard for the value of trees and nature by our decision-makers.

Maeve O Neill said “It is unacceptable for the Council to be cutting down trees during nesting season. This action completely contradicts any positive climate action the Council are attempting. No doubt they will find justification for their environmental harm but ordinary people see through this. We have so little tree coverage in the Council area. Every tree matters and Council should be leading the way in protection rather than leading the charge in destruction.”

Zero Waste North West are requesting a formal meeting with the relevant council decision-makers to discuss the council’s plan for planting new trees and nurturing established trees(including ancient woodland) in the City and wider District.

We believe, as Peter Doran put it, that “There is literally no substitute for the art of nature”

Mums and babies from across Derry City & Strabane District Council area came together last week with staff from some of the key local breastfeeding and perinatal support services to attend a special celebration of World ‘Breastfeeding in Public’ Day organised by North West BAPS.

Special thanks to Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Patricia Logue for supporting the event. We greatly enjoyed listening to Gráinne Evans sharing her beautiful poem ‘Nursing in Public’ and she has kindly given permission to share this here with you. 

Details of the event and further photos can be found in this article by the Derry News. North West BAPS has also compiled a reel to celebrate breastfeeding in public, based on photographs shared by local mums of breastfeeding their children while out and about.

North West BAPS Walking Group 

Fancy a walk? Meet us at Sainsbury’s at 10.30am (Mon 26 Feb) for a stroll to The City Hotel Derry for a cuppa and a chat 

All welcome – while the main focus of North West BAPS is for more accessible and timely support for parents who want to breastfeed, we would also like to see improvements in many other aspects of perinatal support and services for families.

Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support for the week ahead

Lots of support available this week. Check out these in-person groups if you need some help with breastfeeding and follow us on Facebook or Instagram for up to date information on a range of sources of support for new parents.

Women’s Health & Wellbeing Day – Tuesday 27 Feb 11am – 3pm

We are looking forward to having a stand at this event in VOID Art Gallery on Tues 27 Feb organised through The Churches Trust.

Maybe see you there?

Hope you have a great week!

Maria, Noella, Sinead, Jessica & Joanie

On behalf of North West BAPS

Follow North West BAPS on Facebook and Instagram

Email nwbaps@gmail.com

North West BAPS Walking Group

Fancy a wee dander out this morning? Wrap up well and join us at the Statues over at Sainsburys for a walk along the Quay, and then into the City Hotel for a nice hot cuppa!

North West BAPS Network Meeting

Thanks to everyone who participated in the North West BAPS Network Meeting last week. There was a great turnout, and we look forward to the next meeting (date to be arranged for June) to find out how everyone is getting on with efforts to increase awareness, visibility and support for breastfeeding in our Council area. If you would like to get involved in the Network, or have ideas for a collaboration give us a shout on nwbaps@gmail.com 

Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support for the week ahead

If you have any queries with feeding your baby, you can contact the delivery ward anytime up to 28 days postpartum. You can also contact your midwife or health visitor during working hours.

Here is a handy list of in-person breastfeeding support available locally this coming week. There’s also lots of great telephone & online support out there – see our social media pages for further details.

Have a great week!

Maria, Noella, Sinead, Jessica & Joanie

On behalf of North West BAPS

Follow North West BAPS on Facebook and Instagram

Email nwbaps@gmail.com

The Irish Government has launched a new plan which will see 3,500km of cycle facilities delivered by 2040.

Read more:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41305903.html

To share a wee blast from the recent past. Zero Waste North West’s very own Maeve O’Neill in conversation with Northern Ireland Resource Network’s Rosalind Skillen. Talking about the origins of ZWNW, Maeve’s personal story, a lot of the things we’re doing (our many arms) and some of our current projects!

Our Maeve certainly knows her Zero Waste stuff!

Great wee series of Podcasts if you want to find out more:

At the end of June, Collaboration for Change (CfC) invited activists from across the North West to participate in the Nurturing the Groundswell workshop. The workshop was organised as part of The Gathering, an all-Ireland network of environmental activists who were holding their annual meeting at The Playtrail in Derry as part of the Artitude Festival (https://www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/event/the-gathering). The workshop was designed and led by Kevin Flanagan, and coordinated by Marian Farrell from Zero Waste North West. We are very thankful to The Greenpeace Movement Fund for supporting the development of this workshop.

Read more – https://cfctogether.org/nurturing-the-groundswell/

Exciting training opportunities!

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, a local environmental charity,
in partnership with the Department for Agriculture,
Environment & Rural Affairs, has put together a host of fully funded
training options, to help you with questions on Climate Change.

If you are interested in learning about Climate Change and what you can
do to be part of the solution, take a look at the range of training the
Climate Action team at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful have available,
at no charge.

We offer free training to community groups, with a wide range of
structures to suit your time and interest.

Your Climate Future sessions, offer a quick 30 minute introduction to
climate change followed by guest interviews.

(sign up directly with this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/your-climate-future-a-guide-for-communities-1992159
[1] )

Climate Smart sessions, offer a one off 1.5 hour training in climate
science and climate action, with future drop in sessions available on a
range of topics.

Carbon Literacy Training, provides an accredited and certified programme
through the Carbon Literacy Project. This can be completed in a short,
modular format and is our most comprehensive training package.

If any of these free training offers interest you, please use the link
below for more details, check available dates and sign up.

https://keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.etinu.net/cgi-bin/generic?instanceID=73

All training programmes are funded by the Department for Agriculture,
Environment & Rural Affairs.

We would like to share this with you all:

“Dear Zero Waste North West,

Extinction Rebellion NI and Fridays for Future NI are inviting you and
your organisation to join us for this year’s Global Climate Strike
happening Friday 15thSeptember on the streets of Belfast City Centre,
marching from Custom House Square to City Hall at 12pm.

People across thousands of towns and cities around the world will march
together to demand a future without fossil fuels. A future that is green
and sustainable for all life on Earth.

This summer has seen unprecedented levels of climate refugees, record
breaking temperatures, wildfires and flooding that have claimed the
lives of hundreds of people and displaced thousands more.

We demand Climate justice which also means social justice, gender
justice and racial justice. A just transition for workers, indigenous
communities, and reparations made for Most Affected People and Areas
(MAPA) by the climate crisis who are also the least responsible for it.

Our clean air, fresh water, and food security are all under threat, even
our right to protest about it.

Northern Ireland has its own role to play in securing a liveable future
by stopping our own greenhouse gas emissions. Ecocide happening here
directly contributes to loss of life globally, such as gold mining,
dumping raw sewage in rivers and lakes, plastic pollution, intensive
farming, bottom trawling, deforestation, emissions from coal, oil, and
gas.

This is a call to action from Indigenous and First Nations, youth
activists, civil society organisations, social movements, feminist and
migrant rights groups, trade unions, faith institutions, academic
centres, health institutions, people of all genders and backgrounds,
everywhere. We need all hands-on deck to win this fight!

Follow FFF on social media @Fridays for Future Northern Ireland or visit
https://fridaysforfuture.org/september15/ for more info.”