No To Plastics!

No To Plastics! 

2nd year CSPE Action Project

By Rosaleen Boahan

Last week, a guest speaker called Brendan McCormack came to our CSPE class.  He spoke about Save Our Skibbereen, a committee set up in opposition to the construction of a plastics factory in the nearby town of Skibbereen. 

This proposed thermo plastic factory planned to use plastic nurdles. He told us that when plastic is set on fire,  harmful chemicals are released into the atmosphere. The factory was going to be located south-west of the town, right on the path of  the prevailing wind. It was also going to be built in a residential area. It would have affected streams and rivers, having a detrimental effect on wildlife. Plastic nurdles would get stuck in the drains and would have a negative effect on our ecosystem.

Huge public support for Save Our Skibbereen followed. Even Greta Thunberg sent a video in support of the campaign. Last September, after four years, the High Court ruled in favour of Save Our Skibbereen and the planning application was withdrawn. 

We enjoyed learning all about Save Our Skibbereen. It  told us to never stop fighting for what we believe in. It also educated us on how sustainable living is the only way forward.