Editor's Note: The following is a timely discussion after our preceding post, where two activists from a Sea Shepherd ship were taken hostage after endeavouring to enforce a recent and overdue Australian Federal Court injunction ordering the cessation of all whaling activities in its waters. The idea of eco-policing ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in January, about Environment & Wildlife
Getting into government has been a mixed blessing for the Green Party of Ireland. It has meant coming in from the political hinterland, but has also been a test of their eco-credentials. Would they go the way of many formerly radical parties upon entering government and find themselves acquiescing on ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in January, about Politics, Weather
Ever browsed Amazon and felt hopeless at the level and speed of wanton consumerism? What if there was a green Amazon…? Well there is, and as alternatives go Evo.com is certainly one of the more considered attempts at bringing green shopping to the internet. It works on a kind ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in December 2007, about Consumerism
For green activists in Ireland, last summer’s news that the Green Party would enter a coalition with Fianna Fáil came as a surprise. Fianna Fáil are not a party known for their environmental concerns, but we felt that perhaps the Greens would have enough of an influence to shake ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in December 2007, about Politics, Weather
Scotland is a nation whose climate change declaration commits all its thirty-two local authorities to both local leadership and action. Responsibility does not rest solely with government, but with business and the individual as well. It’s an obvious point, but the difference is that the relationship between individual and ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in December 2007, about Biofuels, Transport
As the Christmas season creeps up on us it might be time to reflect on its environmental impact. From the green perspective the excesses of Christmas tend to be the most dramatic of the year. This is no doubt linked to the fact that at no other time is the ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in November 2007, about Consumerism
Greenwashing is a relatively new pejorative term for the process wherein corporations attempt to portray their product as environmentally friendly through deceptive means. Its meaning has broadened over the years to encompass a whole range of marketing practises. In the twenty-first century companies are not content to be neutral, but ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in November 2007, about Consumerism, Industry
This short essay is a response to Steven F. Hayward’s paper entitled “The Fate of the Earth in the Balance: The Metaphysics of Climate Change”. That Hayward is reading Heidegger into Al Gore is something worth considering. Heidegger evokes, in the political mindset, fascism, Nazism, reactionary politics and political ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in October 2007, about Philosophy & Religion, Politics, Weather
‘Shell to Sea’ are an Irish organisation resisting attempts by the Shell conglomerate to construct a gas pipeline through the Mayo town of Rossport as well as the building of a refinery near Bellanaboy intended to treat gas extracted from the nearby Corrib gas field. The campaign has rarely attracted ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in October 2007, about Coal & Oil, Industry, Politics, Weather
There is an old adage that one should never talk about sports, religion or politics (or climate change!) with friends, but the recent news that a gathering of religious leaders congregated on a Norwegian vessel just beside the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier warrants attention. It’s a unique pilgrimage which transcended ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in October 2007
Editor's Note: Today we welcome Paul Ennis to the writing team. Paul writes out of Ireland, where he's studying for a PhD in Philosophy, with a particular emphasis on the philosophy of ecology. Watch out for some interesting posts from Paul! Does the allocation of funding for research ... keep reading
Written by Paul Ennis in September 2007, about War
