Danube Delta Chorus

Sunrise at an Irish raised bog and bog woodland mosaic in Co. Offaly. 

Raised bogs in Ireland, and other countries alike, have been drained and terribly over-exploited for fuel and horticultural products, particularly in the previous and current centuries. As a result, this extremely slow-forming habitat is now *much* rarer than what it once was, at least in an ecologically healthy state. 

Commercial mining of peat is coming to an end, but these precious spaces now face a new threat in the form of large-scale wind farms with accompanied draining and development. Of course we cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels, and renewable energy development is a must. But this needs to be approached with care, and turbines need to be placed in areas with the least impact to both humans and other creatures with which we share the planet. 

Some sites have undergone the first steps towards rehabilitation and rewetting - let's hope that this happens on a much needed larger scale across the country. We can't keep taking from nature - it will eventually break as is very much evident in Ireland. It's long since time stopped taking and gave back!

Bog Woodland at Dawn

Storm Isha hit Ireland today and brought with it heavy rain and wind. This piece was recorded in a local wood with the winds still gaining momentum. At this point they were about 55km/hr. It was amazing to sit there and just listen to the different sounds everything made. Each tree had a unique sound, just like human voices. Almost as if each one had seen and experienced things unique to itself. Some were creaking quite heavily, which made me nervous. When you're sitting next to a tree, many times your size, as it creaks and groans in the wind, it makes you realise just how small we are in the grander scheme of things. I guess you could call it humbling. Some trees had come down, and they hadn't been down long, so I was right to feel unsafe. Despite this intense weather, there were still birds feeding and calling. As I sat still, a red squirrel ran by, and seemed to pausedas a nearby tree left out a rumbling groan, as it fought off the forces of the wind. Moments like this make me realise that nature is a far more powerful force than humankind, despite us sometimes thinking otherwise.

Storm Isha

An interview with Independent Workers Union organiser Alex Homits, discussing what sets the IWU apart from other unions, what struggles they've been involved with, and why you should join a union and get active in your workplace. 

Anti-alienation action!

DDR E.09 Class War Trade Unionism with Alex Homits of the IWU

BeithGheal - Dolcenera

The first in a series of podcasts exploring the LIFELINE territory. Journey with Valerie Vetter,  Dublin City FM community radio presenter, and Kaethe Burt O'Dea, creative director at Bí Urban, along the route formerly taken by the Royal Canal from Broombridge to Broadstone to explore how the heritage of urban waterways can inform sustainable regeneration.

As we follow the flow of the Royal Canal south, we will pass through a lush watery landscape teaming with biodiversity rarely found in cities, a pollinator desert at Cross Guns Bridge and adjacent Mountjoy Prison, over Blacquire bridge (no longer a bridge) to visit the floating ecosystems restoring Dublin's secret jewel - Blessington Street Basin.

Lifeline Podcast

Co Leitrim demonstrator, Izzy Kamikaze, was physically assaulted during an anti-mask wearing protest in Dublin at the weekend. She had been curious to see how many were attending the event but claims she was singled out, which led to her being struck on the head and hospitalised

Co Leitrim protester relives physical attack at weekend demonstration

Dublin-based podcast documenting grassroots activism in Ireland

DDR E.09 Class War Trade Unionism with Alex Homits of the IWU

turningearthradio

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