SOS

hiya

I’ve just finished work on a project aimed at saving our local environment, communities and eco-systems. They’re under threat from corporate interests in the form of a gold-mining company positioning to begin extraction from the Sperrins in Derry and Tyrone.

I’m not a very good activist. I’m a terrible activist. I know that I’m only really making a noise about it because it’s in my backyard this time. Where was I when they were trying to frack Fermanagh? On Facebook making ‘fracking’ wordplays, that’s where! I do have a load of strong opinions about things - politics and the like. Like everybody else. There’s always that worry though, that if I lend my voice to something, I’ll speak ill-informed or that my arguments will be found wanting. And then what does that do for the cause? You’re probably the same. That’s why I think it’s so important to support local activist groups that you believe in. Sign their petitions. Share their posts. They’re doing good work on your behalf. It’s all fine and well to say that these companies are providing jobs and boosting the economy, but for how long and at what cost? We need our landscapes, infrastructure and environment much more than they need that gold.

Joe Kelly and Cillian Molloy have co-written a song inspired by the Save Our Sperrins and Extinction Rebellion campaigns. It’s performed by Cillian, Sheena Curran and Cahir McLaughlin - I merely pointed microphones at it. It’ll be coming out soon and I’m sure there’ll be something about it in the local media. Please like the Facebook pages and share the videos.

all the best

daryl