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Demonstrators in Dublin today.

Extinction Rebellion stages 'slow cycle' in Dublin city calling for action on biodiversity loss

Separately, an Irish member of controversial anti-fossil fuel group Just Stop Oil has defended the group’s actions.

EXTINCTION REBELLION IRELAND held a ‘slow cycle’ through Dublin City today, marking Earth Day and calling for the government action on biodiversity loss.

Demonstrators gathered at the Garden of Remembrance this morning and made their way to Stephen’s Green where speeches were held. There were representatives from XR, as well as non-governmental organisations, environmental groups and members of the public.

Along the way, XR said that demonstrators let off a number of colourful smoke bombs and music was played.

The demonstration marked Earth Day, an annual event held each year since 1970 to raise awareness and support environmental protection. Demonstrators called for measures to protect Ireland’s biodiversity and plant and animal life.

In particular there were calls for the Government to implement the recommendations of the the recent Citizen’s Assembly report into biodiversity loss in Ireland, published earlier this month.

Over 150 recommendations for action were put forward in the report. These include:

  • Holding a referendum to amend the Constitution to protect biodiversity.
  • A new national strategy for the protection, maintenance, restoration and expansion of Ireland’s network of hedgerows.
  • Reducing the use of pesticides in public and private by at least 50%.
  • An immediate timeline on the phasing out, and eventual ban, of the sale of invasive plant species.

Commenting today, Leslie Marce of XRI said that the protection of biodiversity was “the future of humanity”.

“Unless urgently stopped, the destruction of ecosystems due to climate change, pollution and land use changes will lead to severe consequences, including on human health, but also on food and water supply,” she said.

Just Stop Oil

Separately, an Irish member of controversial anti-fossil fuel group Just Stop Oil has defended the group’s actions.

The group has garnered a lot of attention and caused controversy in recent months for a series of direct actions. These included pouring soup over a Vincent van Gogh painting, scaling bridges and bringing traffic in London to a standstill.

This week, two protestors were arrested after they disrupted the World Snooker Championship on Monday, with one throwing orange powder on the table at the Crucible Theatre. Yesterday a different two protestors were jailed for scaling a bridge in England on the Dartford Crossing last year.

Speaking on Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin on RTÉ Radio One, Amy Rose Friel O’Donnell said she has been involved in a number of actions with the group, including disrupting sections of the M25 motorway in England, causing them to be shut down last November.

Friel O’Donnell said she was due to appear in court over this action. Questioned whether she was worried about the effect her actions may have on her future and whether they were worth it, she said:

“It’s not really a question of a price worth paying. 

“I have made a very clear decision in my head that there’s only really two directions this is going to go.

Either we win this fight against the climate crisis. Amazing I am proud of what I done, I regret nothing. Or we lose this fight and we are dead. And I will lose everything I will and I will lose my home. 

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    Mute El Sparko
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:06 AM

    “taxied to a remote stand” – is that not where Ryanair flights go by default??

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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:50 AM

    @El Sparko: usually land around Jodrell Bank and don’t forget only hand luggage

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    Mute Rúraíocht
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:04 PM

    @El Sparko: brilliant !

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    Mute Luan Willis
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:11 PM

    @El Sparko: Hahaha…..actually Stansted is the designated landing airport for security threats in UK airspace because it has remote stands well away from the terminal & other services. Even if the destination is elsewhere the aircraft is directed there with RAF escort by protocol.

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    Mute Fergal McDonagh
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    Aug 31st 2020, 8:46 PM

    @El Sparko:

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    Mute Euro McPúnty
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    Aug 31st 2020, 8:55 AM

    Serious bown trouser time when your enjoying your flight and all of a sudden see an RAF typhoon pull up beside the plane.

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    Mute Barry Evans
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:08 AM

    @Euro McPúnty: Enjoying your flight??? Ryanair???? You’re having a larf aren’t ya?

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    Mute Denise Kinsella
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:40 AM

    @Barry Evans: I’ve flown with Ryanair plenty of times and never had any complaints

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:30 AM

    @Barry Evans: Ryanair are fine – very few complaints and I’ve flown with them a lot over the years

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    Mute Robbie Farquharson
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:40 AM

    @Denise Kinsella: Exactly. Board the plane. Sit down and “enjoy” the flight. Land and disembark.

    Some proper snobs on this site alright!

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    Mute Bryen O Murchu
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:30 PM

    @Denise Kinsella: That’s coz you were in a medically induced coma or something else you ingested.

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    Mute Divad Nayr
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:31 AM

    Wouldn’t have happened in Ireland, We don’t have the Jets to defend ourselves.

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    Mute Paul Hedderman
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:33 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Thanks Captain Obvious ;)

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    Mute Richard Cronin
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:35 AM

    @Divad Nayr: ring the RAF & ask nicely to borrow one

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Divad Nayr: I don’t know what the threat was, but what exactly could the RAF Typhoons do in the circumstances? They are outside, the threat is inside.

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    Mute Proudly Italian
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:03 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: extreme measures, shot the airplane down.

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    Mute Bran Brans
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:07 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: Well, for instance, if there was a successful attempt to commandeer the aicraft and fly it into a populous area i.e. London, I’m sure the RAF Typhoons would have something to say about that.

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    Mute MickN
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:09 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Spud gun/hot air balloon with a cop with a megaphone “pull over the vehhiccle”

    54
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    Mute Brian Farrell
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:33 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: Target acquired.

    Missile away.

    23
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:42 AM

    @Divad Nayr: Ah come off it—–A few good young fellows with catapults!!

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    Mute Ted Nugent
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    Aug 31st 2020, 11:23 AM

    @Divad Nayr: In the Garda helicopter armed with a laser pointer.

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    Mute Bryen O Murchu
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:32 PM

    @Deborah Blacoe: They can blow up the plane by rockets if it does not obey there instructions and is on a flight path deemed to be intent on crashing causing civilian casualties.

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    Mute Criostóir McCormack
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Bryen O Murchu: Rockets? How old are you???

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Aug 31st 2020, 1:25 PM

    @Criostóir McCormack: very amusing

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    Mute DeeM
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    Aug 31st 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Deborah Blacoe: shoot the plane down if the cockpit was compromised and the perpetrators threatened to crash land the plane in Central London!

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    Mute Alan Richard Scott
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    Sep 1st 2020, 9:16 AM

    @Divad Nayr: we have deals with the RAF so yes we do. Maybe If Irish people stop their anti British dung they might engage with us more?

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:01 AM

    What constitutes a “potential security threat”?

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    Mute Jon Mackey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:05 AM

    @Peter Cavey: that’s why you’ll never make an operator of 999 calls :)

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    Mute Ger
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Peter Cavey: maybe asked for harissa with his scone.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:34 AM

    @Jon Mackey: tell me then? Did they have guns or bombs on-board? Were they going to hijack the plane? Were they drunk and were trying to open the door of the plane? Were they fighting each other or other passengers? Were they assaulting the cabin crew? The article is so vague.

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    Mute Ethan Lennon
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:53 AM

    @Peter Cavey: could have been any suspicious behaviour/items. The article doesnt say presumably because that information hasn’t been released

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:03 AM

    @Peter Cavey: if you need to know that much, call up and ask. If that information was publicly available we’d know.

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    Mute Canyon
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:31 AM

    @Peter Cavey: more than likely a threat a bomb was on board…some drunk leaving a note on a seat or in the jax

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    Mute Brian Farrell
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:34 AM

    @Peter Cavey: a tip off would suffice.

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Aug 31st 2020, 10:46 AM

    @Canyon:
    Might have threatened to light their fartz and become human blow-torches…..

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    Mute SquintEastwood
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    Aug 31st 2020, 3:38 PM

    @Peter Cavey: somebody shouted I got a text..I’m POSITIVE and I left my mask in the toilet

    3
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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Sep 1st 2020, 4:21 PM

    @Peter Cavey: brown skin and a phone left it the jacks it seems!

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    Mute Michael Curran
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    Aug 31st 2020, 12:16 PM

    Helps with their budget requests if they can provide a few high profile cases. Must make it look like they’re doing something

    15
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    Mute corco80
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    Aug 31st 2020, 7:01 PM

    What ever flute thought a mobile phone was a suspicious device would want squeezing

    15
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Aug 31st 2020, 4:35 PM

    When you hear hoofbeats outside, think horses not zebras!!

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    Mute SteveBuzzard
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    Aug 31st 2020, 6:09 PM

    Ryanair plane escorted by two RAF Typhoons …. €30k ??? Who picks up the bill I wonder?

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    Mute Roberto González
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    Aug 31st 2020, 9:59 PM

    Crew obviously didn’t feel like doing the third and fourth sector

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Sep 1st 2020, 2:29 AM

    All sounds like Team America to me, durka durka, drop the WMD.

    1
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