The recent decision by the Minister of the Environment, Sammy Wilson, to prevent advertisements urging people to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon dioxide output, and the inevitable condemnation by every right thinking person that followed, have lead me to obvious conclusion that Sammy Wilson is fast becoming the DUP equivalent to Sinn Fein's beleaguered education minister, Caitriona Ruane.
As soon as Peter Robinson announced that Sammy would be replacing Arlene Foster as minister, in June 2008, there was widespread concern amongst not only the environmental sector, but across Northern Ireland, due to the ministers belief that there is no evidence that climate change has been caused by man.
As soon as Peter Robinson announced that Sammy would be replacing Arlene Foster as minister, in June 2008, there was widespread concern amongst not only the environmental sector, but across Northern Ireland, due to the ministers belief that there is no evidence that climate change has been caused by man.
Praise must go out to the Assembly environment committee which today passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister. SDLP environment spokesperson, Tommy Gallagher, who proposed the motion said, "The view is that the minister's remarks are seen as outrageous and his approach a very small-minded one. I feel we need to be seen to be taking environment issues much more seriously than the minister appears to be taking them."
I am the SDLPs spokesperson on sustainable development on Belfast City council and part of my role is trying to encourage the council to do all that it can to tackle climate change. For months now I've been reading up as much as I can on the issues involved and have done a fair bit of research on the topic. I don't claim to be an expert, by any stretch of my imagination, but to me it is obvious that man is responsible for the vast changes in our climate over the past number of decades. Since the Minister has written to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change to asked for the add to be banned I have also written to the Department asking them to do no such thing.
I can't get my head around the concept of climate change denial. Why do people persist in claiming that climate change is a con, a hoax, or a scam? What would they have to gain from it?
This would honestly be hilarious, if it wasn't so serious. It is a disgrace that Northern Ireland has a Minister charged with protecting the environment and trying to prevent climate change but doesn’t believe that it exists. It sounds like a script from Yes Minister, but it's not funny.
It is time for the DUP to show real political leadership and remove Sammy Wilson from his post or else he really will turn into a marginalized figure like Caitriona Ruane whose only retort against the criticism that he faces it by declaring, "I am the Minister."
Hopefully not for too much longer.
I am the SDLPs spokesperson on sustainable development on Belfast City council and part of my role is trying to encourage the council to do all that it can to tackle climate change. For months now I've been reading up as much as I can on the issues involved and have done a fair bit of research on the topic. I don't claim to be an expert, by any stretch of my imagination, but to me it is obvious that man is responsible for the vast changes in our climate over the past number of decades. Since the Minister has written to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change to asked for the add to be banned I have also written to the Department asking them to do no such thing.
I can't get my head around the concept of climate change denial. Why do people persist in claiming that climate change is a con, a hoax, or a scam? What would they have to gain from it?
This would honestly be hilarious, if it wasn't so serious. It is a disgrace that Northern Ireland has a Minister charged with protecting the environment and trying to prevent climate change but doesn’t believe that it exists. It sounds like a script from Yes Minister, but it's not funny.
It is time for the DUP to show real political leadership and remove Sammy Wilson from his post or else he really will turn into a marginalized figure like Caitriona Ruane whose only retort against the criticism that he faces it by declaring, "I am the Minister."
Hopefully not for too much longer.
Below is the video Sammy wants to ban.
Controversial stuff I'm sure you will agree...
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