Laudato Si’ and the Importance of Water
Laudato Si’ and the Importance of Water
Columban Ecological Institute, St. Columban’s, Dalgan
Saturday May 28th 2016, 9.00am – 3.30pm
09.00am – 09.30am Registration
09.30am – 10.45am The State, Wellbeing, Importance and Influence of the Oceans.
Dr. Paul Connolly – Senior Scientist: Marine
Institute
10.45am – 11.00am Short question time
11.00am – 11.30 am Morning Tea/Coffee
11.30am – 12.30 pm
Preserving our water quality – past, present and future
Dr Eleanor Jennings: Lecturer in Environmental Studies, DKIT.
12.30pm – 01.30 pm Lunch
01.30pm – 02.45pm
Laudato Si’ – Theology of Water
Fr. Sean McDonagh – Eco-theologian
02.45pm – 03.30pm
Open Forum on above topics
Please book with Elizabeth Mc Ardle
Email: devofficemail@gmail.com or Sean McDonagh seanmcdonagh10@gmail.com
Cost €30 or £25 (includes lunch and morning tea/coffee. Students €10)
As regards environmentalism, I think that something needs to be done about wind turbines. These things are ruining some of the most spectacular Irish landscapes – the most amazing landscapes are being blighted by these things. I reckon it’s a scam to make the rich richer, as they are not anywhere near as efficient as they are made out to be, and the subsidies means this is a real money spinner. I think folks need to be more discerning about this. Making the turbines and installing them is anything but green. This is a moral issue for us and future generations. God’s amazing green earth is a testimony to His glory and should be respected – we need to do this. Ireland being a small country has very little wilderness so we must protect what we have. Wilderness nourishes and enriches the soul like nothing else.
Mark @ 1 – the greater problem with monolithic wind turbine structures is although it creates a cleaner, more sustainable option, it does not address the root cause of established consumerism which is a the ability for a strict few to enforce a monopoly on a limited commodity. The commodity in this case is made freely available to everyone (wind/solar) but the collection devices are to be controlled by a select few.
The desperation of Laudato si is warranted but if it is used to usher in another corporate grid, it is an opportunity lost for autonomy. We don’t all need to be slaves to an energy grid. We can each individually farm the wind and sun for our own necessity. There is a race now for corporations to factory farm this resource and establish their networks. Autonomy from this servant/master relationship is as an important step as any in the grand scheme.
The establishment, until now and possibly to this day, is afraid of wind/solar technology because it can be harnessed by everyone. Our homes can be retrofitted with the technology needed to be self sustaining. The next step after this is simple, we will all want to grow our own sustenance.
Technology can eventually make us take a step backwards. Working 40 hours a week to support “the man” is no one’s dream. Having our own little slice of heaven and developing a community that is local and not global is where this energy independence puts us.
This is where we need to go – the sooner the better.
Lloyd, I recently drove past the Ox Mountains in Sligo and it would disgust you at what has been done. These natural heritage areas of outstanding natural beauty have been blighted by the profiteers and to hell with what anyone else thinks! This had been repeated all across the Irish countryside.
This is an old story – I think the project went ahead. Vital habitat was damaged. For some reason, the wind industry is exempt from normal planning regulations.
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/objectors-claim-wind-farm-project-would-cause-massive-damage-27549499.html
I would appeal to Fr Sean McDonagh to use his influence to work on reducing the harm caused by the wind industry to Ireland. Along with fracking, wind turbines are among the most harmful issues we are looking at.
I completely agree that they are unsightly Mark but what is the alternative? Offshore like in Denmark, for example.
This is a problem where convenience trumps rationale. It is convenient to put them wherever easiest and those who hold the $$, hold all the rationale needed, right?
There needs to be less of a push towards the factory end of wind farming and more of a focus on consumer based systems that will power a small home. Vertical axis wind turbines were all the rage 10 years ago as found here :
http://aerotecture.com/
I would favour nuclear power. I know there are risks but it can be done safely. I think the French are good at it.
What wind farms do is destroy natural heritage which, as I’ve said, is of vital importance. They industrialise the landscape, meaning our spirits cannot be nourished, enriched, and formed by the natural beauty of wilderness. It’s a form of iconoclasm, I believe; since God’s glory is written into the splendor of nature, it is wrong to deface this.
Off-shore farms are very expensive as the I think inefficient.
I do think it would be ideal if small wind turbines were to supplement individual homes if desired and off they are agreeable to the neighbours. Solar panels on roofs are also popping up. These devices would be owned by the people and the energy theirs to use or sell to the power companies.