On this edition of Enviro:

Studio Interview: with Molly Aylesbury of Zero Waste who will talk about the -Zero Waste Festival Forest Friends Collaboration event which will take place in the Arts and business Campus 40 Lower Drumcondra Road Dublin 9- We will refer to the article “Down in the Dumps: Our Growing waste pile” by Kim Bielenberg carried in the Saturday Review Irish Independent 10/2/18

Phone Interview with Tony Lowes: The High Court has comprehensively rejected two challenges to An Bord Pleanala’s determination that the industrial extraction of peat from raised bogs in Ireland’s midlands requires planning permission. Tony Lowes, Director of Friends of the Irish Environment brought the cases before the Appeals Board. http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/
The following News items were discussed and debated and Molly Aylesbuty of Zero Waste took a full part in discussion and debate on the subjects.    

• We read ‘Hare coursing just a cruel game’ Press release by John Fitzgerald Callan Co. Kilkenny
• A sniper was hired to kill more than 200 deer in the Phoenix Park Dublin in 2016/2017-we discussed whether this was the right way to go about it and there were differences of opinion.
• We celebrated the fact that the Dáil called time on fossil fuel exploration in historic vote. Bill to end offshore drilling licences passes first legislative hurdle. The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition has described today’s Dáil vote in favour of the Climate Emergency Measures Bill as “historic”. The Bill, proposed by People Before Profit TD Brid Smith, will if it is fully enacted end the issuing of licences to explore for oil and gas in Irish waters. It passed the second stage debate and was referred to the Climate Action Committee by 78 votes to 48, with cross-party support. The Government failed to support the Bill and was defeated.
• Tree felling in Molesworth Street, Dublin City Centre: Reference was made to Tim O’Brien’s article in the Irish Times February 10^th in which he described the aftermath as “a sight that would sadden the heart of any environmentalists-or anyone who appreciates the ability of a tree to enhance an urban scene”. The article stated that the tree felling was part of an improvement scheme agreed between the council and the developers at the Green Reit development at Number One Molesworth Street across the road from the former EU block. The 35 year old London Plane trees were at the Dawson Street end of Molesworth Street.
• Richard Branson recently launched the world’s first visitor centre dedicated to climate change, the Cool Planet Experience (CPE) in Powerscourt Estate Enniskerry Co. Wicklow. The exhibition will open to the public in February of this year
• In response to a consultation made by Colombia, the Inter-American Court recognized the right to a healthy environment as fundamental to human existence. They also recognized the impact of climate change on human rights.

Producer/Presenter-John Haughton: Panellist-Joe Dunne

Review of “The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben” was deferred