‘The story of tissues’ claims top prize in the EPA’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ 2022.
A video exploring the environmental lifecycle and impact of tissues has won the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ 2022 competition. This year’s competition attracted over 200 entries from schools across the country, as well as the highest number of Irish language entries to date. The winning entry was created by Wong Cheuk Yin Cayden from St Columba’s College in Dublin, who claims the top prize of €500 for himself, along with €500 for his school.
The winning video brings together elements of digital animation, live action, and original scripting and voiceover. It examines the effects of tissue manufacturing on deforestation, water consumption, habitat destruction and human health, and signposts viewers to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The entry ends with a strong reminder that taking small steps when it comes to everyday decisions can have a lasting, positive environmental impact.
Now it its sixth year, The Story of Your Stuff competition empowers young people by encouraging them to realise the influence they can have on their friends and family when it comes to making environmentally responsible consumer choices. With its focus on sustainability, waste management, climate action and environmental protection, the competition asks young people to think, talk and make small changes that can have far-reaching impacts.
Competition ambassador, citizen candidate-astronaut candidate and award-winning STEM advocate, Dr Norah Patten commented: “From tissues and wet wipes, to beef, circuit boards and much more besides, the topics selected by this year’s competition entrants demonstrate an inspiring amount of creativity and critical thinking skills among our young people. Given the ever-present urgency of the climate crisis, these are qualities to be nurtured. The Story of Your Stuff competition is a reminder of the important collective voice that young people have on climate issues. It is beholden on all of us to not just hear that voice – but to really listen to it.”
Dr Jonathan Derham of the EPA and chair of the judging panel, added: “We are once again heartened by the extent and depth of the response among students to this year’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ competition. This reflects the sincere commitment of Ireland’s young people to encouraging behaviour change and driving climate action. Moreover, it highlights how our young people view environmental issues in a way that is creative, proactive and solutions oriented. On behalf of the EPA, I would like to extend my congratulations to the winning students, and to all those who entered.” ‘The Story of Pens’ by Holly Walshe from Loreto College Foxrock, Co. Dublin won second prize and ‘The Story of Circuit Boards’ by Liam O’Sullivan, Thomas Shaughnessy, Michael Duggan & Lochlann Mechan from Portumna Community School, Co. Galway came third.
The prize winners for the climate topic and Irish-language awards were:
Climate topic prize: Hari Pranavam, Kimi Alcantara, Conall O’Brien and Raeem Siddiqui from Saint Eunans College, Co. Donegal for their entry, ‘The Story of Beef’
Irish-language prize: Ellie Ni Chonaill and Anna Ní Mhurchú from Gaelcholaiste Charraig Ui Leighin, Co Chorcaí for her entry, ‘Scéal Certíní’ which looks at wet wipes.
Concluding, Director of the UCD Earth Institute, Professor Tasman Crowe said: “It was a privilege to virtually connect with the shortlisted entrants of this year’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ competition. Their ingenuity and insight, as evidenced through their entries, bodes well for a future that demands creative thinkers to help solve pressing environmental issues. I hope the entrants will continue to question and challenge these issues, much as students from the UCD BSc in Sustainability whose videos were shown during the final event do, and I hope to see some of them in UCD in the future”
Concerns have been raised by public health officials, following a Cryptosporidium outbreak, within the Mid-West Region, latter which consists of counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick.
Public health chiefs are urging the public to be vigilant around the washing their hands with soap and water, in their attempts to try to offset the risk of contracting this parasitic disease, following an increased recent outbreak here in the mid-west region.
Crypto lives in the gut of infected humans or animals. An infected person or animal sheds Crypto parasites in their poop, resulting in an infected person shedding 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 Crypto germs in one single bowel movement. Shedding of Crypto in poop begins when symptoms like diarrhoea begin and can last for weeks, after symptoms come to a halt. Swallowing as few as 10 Crypto germs can cause this infection.
The present announcement, confirmed by the Department of Public Health Mid-West, comes after it had managed a recent outbreak on a farm within the region.
In this case, alcohol hand sanitiser is NOT effective against Cryptosporidium, and washing hands with hot water and soap is the most effective form of hand hygiene.
With newly born Spring farm animals being petted, same incurs an increased risk of exposure to Cryptosporidium, especially among young children. Officials confirm that there were some 121 cases of Cryptosporidium recorded in the Mid-West region in the year 2021, which amounted to almost three times more, the number recorded the previous year (2020) and the highest infection rate yet recorded over the past 10 years.
Those employed working in agriculture are being asked to maintain regular hand-washing with hot water and soap, and also to test and treat their well water, in order to reduce the risk of any infection.
Local authority grant schemes for private wells in the Mid-West are readily available to well owners.
Ireland’s power generation and industrial emissions increase by 15% in 2021
In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies – covered by the EU Emissions Trading System – increased by 15% (2 million tonnes).
Emissions increased by 21% from the electricity generation sector, due to increased electricity demand, less wind power availability and use of older plants including a coal fired plant.
The overall increase in industrial emissions is about 7%, with the cement industry emissions increasing by 17%.
Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by 11% compared to 2020, which reflects some recovery from the impact of Covid-19.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the Competent Authority in Ireland for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), yesterday released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.
In Ireland, 105 major industrial and institutional sites were required to report their emissions for 2021 by 31 March 2022 under the Emissions Trading System. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement, lime, and oil refining sectors. Also included are large companies in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies increased by 15% (2 million tonnes) in 2021. This compares with an increase of approximately 9.1% across Europe, according to preliminary analysis by carbon analysts of the data released today by the EU Commission.
The increase in emissions is largely due to increased carbon intensity of Ireland’s electricity production in 2021. Several factors came together to compound this – a decrease in wind power availability, some relatively modern gas fired plants being offline and an increase in electricity demand. Older plants, including the coal-fired plant at Moneypoint, were used to ensure that power was available.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “Ireland’s Emissions Trading System sector delivered a decrease in emissions from 2017 to 2019, largely due to the higher level of renewables on the National Grid, and again in 2020 because of Covid-19. The increase we are seeing for 2021 sector is disappointing and is a reminder of the need for policies and decisions which support sustained emissions reductions in power generation and industrial emissions. The challenges faced in the power generation sector are in sharp focus at the moment. We must ensure that we are taking decisions now which recognise the urgency of the climate change challenge and that will deliver reductions in emissions”.
Aside from power generation, the increase in industrial emissions collectively is 7%.
Cement industries recorded a 17% increase overall;
Emissions from pharmachem industries increased by 3%.
Aviation emissions from flights within the European Economic Area (reported to Ireland by 31st March) increased by 11% compared to 2020, to 5.3 million tonnes. This is still much lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 12.8 million tonnes. Some restructuring of routes has taken place and the operators of the new routes may not be reporting to Ireland, but emissions data reflect that recovery of the sector was slow in 2021.
Thurles Fianna Fáil councillor Mr Sean Ryan, (Thurles, Municipal District Council) together with Fianna Fáil T.D. Mr Jackie Cahill, both regrettably failed to raise objections in relation to the destruction of the 176 year old piece of Great Famine heritage, now destroyed in its entirety, at Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Despite both being advised as to its historical importance, both elected public representatives through their deliberate silence, joined their fellow colleagues, (Fianna Fáil Cllr. Mr Seamus Hanafin, and Independent Councillor Mr Jim Ryan), to ensure the total eradication of this Mass path; Right-Of Way; and Great Famine artifact.
However, in the past, Councillor Mr Sean Ryan and Mr Jackie Cahill T.D., it would appear, have perhaps colluded to object to one other planning application in the past, which had been initially submitted by Starrus Eco Holdings. [Note: latter company set up on Wednesday May, 15th 2013, with registered offices at Panda Waste Management’s Solution, Ballymount Road Upper, Dublin].
We do not wish to comment on the merits or otherwise of Starrus Eco Holdings actual planning application.
However, we are mystified by the objection submissions made by both Cllr Mr Sean Ryan [sent on June 30th, 2020] and Deputy Jackie Cahill T.D. [sent three days later on July 3rd, 2020].
All Planning Application details ref: 20550 Tipperary County Council, can be viewedHERE.
See both planning objections which were submitted, hereunder.
Aboveobjection lodged by Cllr. Mr Sean Ryan.
Above objection lodged by Mr Jackie Cahill T.D., three days later.
We sent a query to Cllr. Sean Ryan initially on Saturday, October 2nd 2021, @ 3:22pm, regarding this matter. As expected, Cllr. Mr Sean Ryan chose to once again, remain silent.
Before reading further, note first, the 2020 Irish general election took place on Saturday, February 8th, to elect the 33rd Dáil Éireann T.D. membership. This election was called following the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil by the Irish President, Mr M.D. Higgins, at the request of the then Taoiseach, Mr Leo Varadkar, on January 14th 2020.
Both planning objections were lodged with Tipperary Co. Council after the General election of Saturday, February 8th.
With this knowledge shown above, in the interests of openness and transparency, a series of questions must now be publicly asked and more importantly answered, in writing.
(1) Why are T.D’s and Councillors, on high salaries exempt from paying planning fees, when persons earning minimum wages and those unemployed, must pay fees to their Local Authority, in the event of a planning appeal?
(2) When and where did Mr Jackie Cahill T.D. reside in Littleton, in July 2020?
(3) Why does Mr Jackie Cahill, T.D. call himself a“Councillor”, when in fact he was a “T.D.” on July 2nd 2020?
(4) Has Mr Jackie Cahill T.D completed the annual register of interests, which must be completed by all Oireachtas members, [Latter was introduced under the 1995 Ethics in Public Office Act, and include directorships in private sector companies; rental income from property and farming ], in relation to property owned or rented by him in Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary?
(5) Ten other persons objected to this planning submission, but only two public elected representatives, (both Fianna Fáil), namely Cllr. Mr Sean Ryan and T.D Mr Jackie Cahill, raised objections., Did Cllr. Mr Sean Ryan collude by giving / sending a copy of his objection to be copied / scanned by T.D Mr Jackie Cahill, same which was then forwarded (pasted & copied) to the County Tipperary planning office, without the necessary due care and attention to detail, by his staff?
(6)With this information contained in T.D. Mr Jackie Cahill’s planning objection incorrect, and sent by Mr Jackie Cahill T.D’s. office, why was same accepted, stamped and acknowledged by Tipperary Co. Council’s planning officials, knowing it to be incorrect?
(7) Was any other Waste Recycling plant within the Tipperary region, with known connections to the Fianna Fáil party, involved in this collusion / objection to this requested planning permission?
Perhaps one or both named elected representatives might like to answer our queries raised herewith, so that same can be published for the benefit of the local electorate.
A 20 cent levy on disposable coffee cups is expected to come in to effect later this year according to Junior Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication, Mr Ossian Smyth.
Mr Smyth confirmed this morning that the Circular Economy Bill 2021, will lay out the necessary legislative basis for the levy, aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating an estimated 200 million cups that are thrown into landfill each year.
Mr Smyth has stated that the aim is not to raise money from the levy, but to change the habits of consumers. The Bill hopefully, which has already been approved by Cabinet, will now make Ireland the first country in the world to eliminate the use of disposable coffee cups.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland has said it has some concerns about the proposal and is anxious to know more.
Continuing on the topic of littering; Mr Smyth has confirmed that local authorities will soon be empowered to use CCTV footage to bring prosecutions in relation to those persons found fly tipping. Local authorities have in the past attempted to collect the evidence required to convict people and have found that they run up against current privacy and data protection issues.
Such required regulations are regarded as being long overdue.
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