Issue 29 Summer 2016 The Programme for Government What should be prioritised? CONTACTS Systematic failure Friends of Northern Ireland is failing its people A prime example of this is the and its environment. It is a systemic dualling of the A6. Although better the Earth failure that permeates every level of options were available, the selected government. So insidious is it that it route cuts through flood plain 7 Donegall Street Place causes people to defend it and act between Lough Neagh and Lough against their best interests. Beg. Not only is this precious wetland Belfast BT1 2FN an important feeding ground for Tel: 028 9023 3488 It begins with a political system swans, geese and other birds, it is Fax: 028 9024 7556 that is obsessed with economic also the landscape that inspired and Email:
[email protected] development. This is despite the nurtured Séamus Heaney, arguably Website: www.foe.co.uk/ni mounting evidence that this the world’s most popular poet. obsession with economic growth is James Orr leading us towards disaster – climate To borrow from another Irish literary Director change, resource decline, biodiversity figure, to fail to regulate once may be collapse, poverty, inequality, ill-health, regarded as a misfortune, to fail to of iStock courtesy Photo Tel: 028 9023 3636 and unhappiness. We have lost touch regulate twice looks like carelessness, rules. What will happen at the site This will get worse unless we change Email:
[email protected] with the things that are important to continue to fail to regulate looks now that the company is leaving direction.