Large Cork attendance at climate march

Representatives of a wide array of Cork groups attended the National Climate March in Dublin last weekend.

Thousands braved poor weather to urge Government to put people before big polluters. Speakers at the rally included Katie Morgan, Vice President of Fórsa, Thomas Morelli from Stop Shannon LNG and Grecia Eugenia Rodríguez Navarro, a Mexican human rights defender.

A bus from Cork travelled to Dublin for the march bringing people from different Cork-based community, civil society and volunteer groups, including Cork Friends of the Earth, Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) Cork, UCC Students’ Union, volunteers from Trócaire, and sisters from the Bon Secours Group for Justice, Peace and Integration of Creation from College Road last Saturday.

The march, which was part of a global day of action for climate justice, to coincide with the COP30 World Climate Negotiations in Brazil, was organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and supported by Friends of the Earth and a wide range of civil society organizations, trade unions and community groups. There were calls for Government action on climate that addresses inequality, stands up to big polluters and improves the wellbeing and living standards of people and communities.

Paul Doherty of Cork Friends of the Earth said: “Countering avoidable global heating and its already catastrophic impact on nature and on the lives of so many of our fellow human beings is a pressing concern for us. We feel that it is important to support the national demonstration to make it clear that, as citizens of Cork and of Ireland, we are willing to do our part in limiting climate change and that we expect everyone to similarly use their personal, professional, and political influence to address what is a shared problem and therefore a shared responsibility.”

Maire O’Donohoe of Cork Friends of the Earth added: “We are ready to take the next leap, as momentous as abolishing slavery, or giving women the vote.”

Speaking at the march, Deirdre Duffy, Friends of the Earth Ireland’s new Chief Executive, who is originally from Ballincollig said: “People showed up in their thousands today to show the Government that climate justice is their highest political priority. People and planet must come before the profits of polluters.

“The call for climate justice has been loud and clear - people want to see climate action that results in healthier, connected communities, whose wellbeing and health is prioritised ahead of corporate profit. We all deserve to have good quality homes that don’t break the bank to heat, to have healthy air to breathe, to have access to reliable public transport that lets us move around freely.

“But the Government is failing us on these basic needs and instead letting big polluters run riot. It’s letting data centres guzzle up energy and water resources that homes and public services need. All of this is a recipe for driving up energy bills for ordinary people, not to mention adding fuel to the fire of climate breakdown.

“This Government can’t have its cake and eat it. I hope the Government takes heed, listens to the people and starts to act.”