#No.35 When “Public” Isn’t Public . A conversation with Gerard Moyne and Sean Gallagher

In this episode, I speak with Gerard Moyne and Sean Gallagher, residents of Donegal living downstream from the proposed Dalradian gold mine in the Sperrins. Our conversation centres on the transboundary issues that led to the suspension of the recent Public Inquiry  and what that moment reveals about fairness, participation and environmental governance. We explore the principles behind the Aarhus Convention and the Espoo Convention, and what they require when a project in one jurisdiction may affect communities in another. What does meaningful public participation actually look like? When is a Public Inquiry truly public? Gerard and Sean share their experience of preparing a submission on potential cross-border impacts and the decision to bring that submission directly to the Planning Appeals Commission in order to highlight what they believed were gaps in the consultation process. We also reflect on a deeper question that has surfaced repeatedly during this planning application: why are ordinary citizens so often the ones raising concerns about compliance with environmental law? Why does it fall to members of the public to scrutinise the fundamentals  the safety of water, land and air?   #dontmineus #SaveOurSperrins #notoxicmining  #EnvironmentPodcast #JusticePodcast #ActivismPodcast #IrishPodcast #HumanRights   📣 Share, review, and help amplify our story -Have a listen, and if you have time  hit the  follow button  5 stars and a review on the podcast app , and please share if you can. it really makes a difference to the algorithm    LINKS FOR THIS INTERVIEW  #No.23 Dr Steven H. Emerman – The Science of Failure: Truth, Risk, and Responsibility link below  https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/dr-steven-h-emerman-%e2%80%93-the-science-of-failure-truth-risk-and-responsibility/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins   https://www.youtube.com/@SaveOurSperrins   LINKS TO OTHER RESOURCES  http://caimnetwork.org/mining-in-ireland/ Mining in Ireland is a contentious issue, with 19% of the Republic of Ireland and 27% of Northern Ireland’s land area issued in prospecting licences. While mining companies claim to bring jobs and development, communities like those near Tara Mines and Gypsum Ltd have faced significant environmental and social impacts. Communities Against the Injustice of Mining (CAIM) is an all-island network resisting prospecting and extraction. https://yestolifenotomining.org/ The Yes to Life, No to Mining website is a global hub for communities resisting destructive mining projects. It shares stories from the frontlines, practical resources for local campaigns, and research that exposes the true costs of extraction. The network connects people around the world who are protecting their land, water, and ways of life, and promotes alternatives grounded in care for nature and community wellbeing. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/after-the-goldrush-by-gerry-mcgovern/id1681123169 Do Irish people know that Ireland has been selected as a Green sacrifice song for the so-called green technology, renewable energy transition from the beautiful wilds of Clare, Wicklow and Leitrim to the outstanding natural beauty of the Sperrin mountains of Tyrone. Rural Ireland is on Big Mining's chopping block. This podcast is about the power of community, about how communities of Ireland are organising to stop this disaster happening. For short term returns, the government wants to sell Ireland  to mining interests as silently and quietly as possible. Let's make some noises. We will try to unravel why the Irish government is doing this   LINKS TO Greencastle People’s Office(GPO) Facebook Page - and the site of the GPO ( The GPO is a humble caravan which has become a hub for the campaign against the goldmine )     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063579042613&sk=about   https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cz7FHdUoi5ByxECz7?g_st=ipc