Here is this week’s People’s Letters Page…
Dear Editor,
30 years ago global warming was front-page news so why has it taken our leaders this long to address these problems? Since the Paris agreement in 2015, we have seen rising emissions, rising temperatures as well as rising fossil fuel production – and it’s the vulnerable who suffer the most.
Countries in the global south contribute relatively little to climate change in terms of carbon emissions, but yet they are among the hardest hit partly because they rely heavily on rain-fed farming.
Rising temperatures and sea levels – as well as rainfall anomalies, have heightened the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, so why should these vulnerable communities have to suffer the most from the mistakes of the western world?
From working in Kenya since 2002, I have seen first-hand the result of climate change with the women and girls I work with, within Brighter Communities Worldwide – from having to walk even longer distances to access water and collect firewood on a daily basis, as well as working extended hours in fields to ensure food security, due to reduced crop yields.
This is having a major impact on their livelihoods and education, and so they continue to face a disproportionate impact from the climate crisis.
While we welcome the news of the additional aid funding of €2.1 million which will help address the impact of climate change in developing states.
There is no compensation for victims of climate disasters – more needs to be done now.
Yours, etc
Maria Kidney
Co-Founder Brighter Communities Worldwide
Cork.
Dear Editor,
As attacks against the Minority Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continue to worsen as another Ahmadi Muslim, Mr. Kamran Ahmad, age 40 years has been shot dead by an unknown assailant in Peshawar, Pakistan.
There is an increase in faith-based attacks on Ahmadis residing in Pakistan.
Despite such incidents the Government and the law enforcement agencies have failed to protect members of the Ahmadiyya Community or in curbing the hate speech.
This continuous persecution testifies to the utter disregard of the Community’s rights in Pakistan and creates a sense of deep insecurity within the Community.
On July 13, 2021, UN human rights experts expressed their deep concern over the lack of attention to the serious human rights violations perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya community around the world and called on the international community to step up efforts in bringing an end to the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis.
We the Irish Ahmadiyaya Muslim Community strongly urge the international community to impress upon the Government of Pakistan to honour its responsibility to provide effective protection and freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis and that perpetrators of such vicious attacks should be brought to justice, to bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards.
Yours sincerely,
Yusuf Christopher Pender,
Press Secretary,
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Ireland.
LETTER BELOW TO BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE BRANDON LEWIS HAS BEEN SIGNED BY 50+ IRISH LANGUAGE GROUPS
Dear Secretary of State,
We write to you on behalf of the Irish language community, as organisations on the ground who promote, develop and use the Irish language every day.
We note that your own deadline of October 2021 for progressing the New Decade New Approach
Irish language legislation has now passed.
Yet another delay in progressing language rights is deeply concerning and unjustified.
It is an entirely reasonable position for communities and stakeholders to expect the Government to keep to their word and deliver on commitments made.
You made a promise, and we expect you to honour it.
Anything less would be, without doubt, a dereliction of duty and an insult to the thousands of people who have, over recent decades, campaigned and lobbied for equality and language rights.
As a key component of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, all parties and both Governments committed to taking “resolute action” to promote and protect the Irish language and in 2006 at St Andrew’s the British Government gave a clear political commitment to introduce Irish language legislation, as part of an international peace agreement.
Those commitments remain outstanding. 15 years later your Government not only became co-guarantor to the New Decade New Approach Agreement, but co-authored the very legislation in question, alongside the Irish Government.
This legislation was a cornerstone component of that agreement.
It enjoys cross-party majority support at Stormont, Westminster and Dublin.
The DUP and others cannot be allowed to facilitate the continuous marginalisation and exclusion of our community.
All deadlines to date have passed, and still we wait.
Community confidence is now incredibly low.
The days of Irish speakers being treated as second class citizens here are now over.
Today, we request an urgent meeting with you, as Secretary of State, regarding your plans to implement Irish language legislation.
Above all else, we call on the British Government to immediately move this legislation at Westminster without any furtherdelay.
Rights delayed are rights denied.
We await your response.
The letter has been signed by the following groups:
An Droichead Teo., Aonach Mhacha, Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Iochtar, Cairde Teo., Cairde Turas, Cairde Uí Néil, Ciste Infheistíochta na Gaeilge, Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Comhaltas Uladh, Conradh na Gaeilge, Craobh an Iúir, Gaelaras Mhic Ardgháil, Craobh na Lorgan, Craobh Ard Eoin, Croí Éanna, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Cumann Chluain Árd, Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, Cumann Gaelach Leath Chathail, Cumann Gaelach QUB, Cumann Gaelach UU, Cumann Óige na bhFál, Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí, Cumann Óige Uí Dochartaigh, Cumann Rothaíochta Loch Lao, An Dream Dearg, Foram na nÓg, Forbairt Feirste, Gael Linn, Gael na Glinntí, Gaelchursaí, Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas, Glór an Ghleanna, Glór Mhachaire Fíolta, Glór na Móna, Glór na nGael, Glór na Speiríní, Glór Uachtar Tíre, Ionad na Fuiseoige, Ionad Uíbh Eachach, Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta, CLG Laochra Loch Lao, Misneach, Obair, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Pobal ar a’n Iúl, Raidió Fáilte, Seacht , Teach Mhamó, Turas, Tús Nua.