#No. 37 The Sperrins at a Crossroads: Wind Power , Extraction and the Green Transition

Ann-Louise Bresnahan of Save The Moat – Save The Sperrins joins me to talk about the proposed industrial-scale wind development on the Moat, part of the Mullaghs in the central Sperrins ,  an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty now facing major upland industrialisation. What begins as a conversation about turbines opens out into something much wider. We discuss peatlands and carbon capture, water, grid infrastructure, data centres and the rising energy demands of Big Tech. We look at extractivism in its modern form,  how rural landscapes are being redesignated as energy zones and what that means for biodiversity, cultural heritage, community health and democratic process. This episode asks difficult but necessary questions about the so-called green transition: who benefits, who carries the burden, and what kind of future is being shaped for the Sperrins. #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  1. Mullaghclogher/ Save The Moat objection link Mullaghclogher Wind Factory – Save The Moat campaign. Background on the proposed Mullaghclogher wind factory in the central Sperrins, why local people are opposing it, and how to submit an objection or get involved. www.savethemoat.com 2. Petition – No New Data Centres in NI No New Data Centres in NI – petition I’ve signed this petition calling on the NI Executive to stop power-hungry data centres in Northern Ireland and put communities, climate and energy security first. https://my.actnowni.org/petitions/no-power-hungry-data-centres-in-northern-ireland?source=web_share_api&utm_source=web_share_api&share=e0c049e5-5164-467a-9cee-34755f58def9   3. Save The Moat – Facebook and Instagram pages Updates, events and resources from our community-led campaign to protect The Moat and the wider Sperrins from industrialisation. https://www.facebook.com/share/18Hw3CMqhb/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/save_the_moat?igsh=MWY5bjVyaWcxbm10cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr     A podcast to link to; is my conversation with Gerry McGovern where he talks about the myth of the green transition in more detail . Episode No. 31    The Cost of the Green Transition   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins     Save Our Sperrins YouTube Channel  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