Sunday 3 December 2006

Campaigners scramble against incinerator

The Examiner:

DOZENS of protesters were dressed as Father Christmas yesterday for a march against plans for an incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

Campaigners also held a memorial service for the victims of 1984 Bhopal disaster when thousands were killed in a chemical leak in India.

Dow Chemicals, the company behind the chemical plant in Bhopal, is a shareholder in the Indaver firm behind the proposed incinerator in Cork Harbour.

Yesterday, about 70 protestors in costume made their way along a one-kilometre route from Ringaskiddy ferry port to the incinerator site as part of their protest against Indaver.

Campaigner Mary OLeary, of the Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE), said the protesters wanted to show solidarity with the Bhopal victims.

People are still suffering in Bhopal because of what happened said Ms O'Leary who is the chairwoman of CHASE.

From our collection today we will be making a donation to the victims of Bhopal.

She said if the fight were lost against the incinerator then Dow Chemicals as an Indaver shareholder would have a say in the future of Cork Harbour.

We are appalled and this incinerator must not be allowed to happen,” said Ms O’Leary.

About 70 protesters turned up for what CHASE dubbed a Santa scramble against the incinerator, which will generate electricity by burning 200,000 tonnes of household and toxic waste annually.

Proposals for the incinerator were initially turned down by a planning inspector but An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision and gave the go-ahead.

The campaign group is pinning its hopes on a High Court action being mounted by 11 residents who live near the proposed site.

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