Speaking prior to the debate, Mr Harte explained that “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Mr Harte noted that in the current debate on climate change, we have perhaps gotten stuck in the ideology of left and right, and he believes that there needs to be a new way in which challenges need to be perceived. Mr Harte suggests that people could be defined as those who believe in ecological limits, and those who don’t.
“I think there is perhaps a challenge for all of us to come to terms with the global perspective and how we bring that into a local and national story, how do we make it relevant to our politics and the way we live our lives.”
Earth Talks, according to Mr Harte, is an attempt to have debate on these larger issues, such as climate change, and also to examine their relevance to our political representatives, the electorate and individuals in general.
The question that still needs to be answered, according to Mr Harte, is how we are to make sustainability fit within the boundaries of capacity. “Is the idea of infinite growth something that can be sustained, forever into the future?” asked Mr Harte.
“The purpose of Earth Talks is really to harness some of the views and opinions, particularly at a time like this, with an election and how this sits with our political system and our candidates,” he explained.
“I think it has an issue of relevance, as it has many facets to it,” said Mr Harte.
The lunchtime event was subject to time constraints, so each candidates was given an initial 3 minutes to discuss the topic, and a further minute later on to elaborate or answer issues raised by other speakers.
With sustainability in mind, Mr Harte brought a bicycle bell with him to sound out the end of each speaker’s slot.
The discussions were heated at times, but were carried out in good spirits. The consensus was that the Poolbeg Incinerator is a bad idea, and all claimed that their respective parties didn’t want it.
It seemed that Mr Gormley from the Green Party bore the brunt of the criticism. With Lucinda Creighton - Fine Gael, Mannix Flynn – Independent , Dylan Haskins – Independent, and Ruadhán Mac Aodháin - Sinn Féin all taking their turn to criticise him.
He seemed to cope well, but just as he was recovering, a late arrival, Annette Mooney from People Before Profit, re-ignited the debate.
An interesting concept overall and a well organised lunchtime event that highlighted some candidates’ awareness, and others’ lack of awareness, on the climate change front.
View the full debate at http://www.earthtalks.org/
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