Threat to the Environment is from Government Policy not Climate Change

There was some very positive news recently, as environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman, managed to quash an attempt by the Irish Government, specifically the Minister for Culture and Heritage, to remove protections for the rare Pearl Mussel in the river Blackwater. The Minister eventually admitted that they had breached the Strategic Environmental Directive (SEA) before the High Court Judge could rule. So on the one hand, the Government pays plenty of lip service to Climate Change and reducing emissions, but then sinisterly sets about destroying what's left of our environment. By so doing, it is able to lay the blame at "climate change" and divert blame away from itself.

The Department claimed that the protections for the pearl mussel would negatively affect their plans to urbanize more of Ireland's environment:

The Department meantime was made aware by Cork County Council and Irish Water that the inclusion of the 

pearl mussel in the qualifying interests for the Blackwater Main Channel was making it extremely difficult to allow 

developments to occur in the towns and villages along the river. Partly in that context, but mainly given the 

approach  recommended by the national expert, the Department decided that the Blackwater Main Channel 

should be removed  from the First Schedule to the 2009 Regulations, while retaining two tributaries, the Allow 

and Lickey.

And of course, the national experts, the ones who's job it is to restrain stupidity, are the very 

ones giving credence to it. 

Well done to Peter Sweetman for doing the job that our well funded NGOs are supposed to be 

doing.