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PROTESTERS SAY NO TO PLAN FOR CROSS-BORDER PYLONS

This protest has been reported prominently in THE IRISH TIMES (Monday, January 31, 2007, page 2 print ed.) and in yesterday's (January 1, 2008) BELFAST TELEGRAPH ("News", page 16, print edition). As I'm in Belfast right now, I will transcribe what greeted me in the BELFAST TELEGRAPH on the first day of 2008. It's putting our EHS campaign on the right foot as we set off on the long march towards justice in 2008.

The accompanying large inset photograph in both papers is very impressive--it is a bird's eye/aerial view of the ruins of Bective Abbey, Co. Meath set in expansive unspoiled green landscape with the vast "NO PYLONS HERE" sign imprinted in the ground encircled by a human chain of protesters. The IRISH TIMES though thought fit to omit this human chain.

Before I transcribe here is a related aspect: For anyone who might have access to the RTE1 (Radio Telefis Eireann) channel: tomorrow (Thursday, January 3, 2008) it's "Farming" program at 7.00pm will focus on this anti-pylon campaign. Here is the blurb on tomorrow's program as it appears in The Irish Times Jan. 29, 2007 edition:

"Farming: Ear to the Ground, RTE, 7.00pm A look at an issue gathering steam in Meath, Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone. Eirgrid plans to erect overhead electricity pylons across the counties--a move that's proving a big health worry for locals. Maeve Dineen (right) meets Francis Lally, a farmer from Kilmessan who is especially worried about the risks. Another Shell to Sea dispute in the making?"

Imelda O'Connor

BELFAST TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2008. Page 16

"PROTESTERS SAY NO TO PLAN FOR CROSS-BORDER PYLONS

By Robin Morton, Business Correspondent

Campaigners from Northern Ireland have joined a protest in Co Meath over plans for a power line which will feed into the proposed second cross-border electricity interconnector. The peaceful demonstration took place at Bective Abbey on Sunday, and was organised by the North-East People Against Pylons pressure group. Around 2,500 people formed a human chain around a giant sign reading "No Pylons Here", enabling aerial photographs to be taken to highlight their campaign. The group is opposed to a plan by electricity transmission company Eirgrid for a £73.5m 400kV electricity cable in Co Meath, which will connect into the proposed cross-border link from Co Cavan to Co Tyrone. At present, Eirgrid is assessing three possible routes for the line, either through the west or centre of Co Meath or Co Cavan. Among those taking part in the protest were campaigners from counties Armagh and Tyrone who are opposing the cross-border link-up. The protesters claim high-voltage power lines pose a health risk, intrude on the environment and devalue property. Colin Andrew, secretary of the North East protest group, insisted there was evidence of a link between overhead cables and depression, miscarriage and leukaemia. He called for the cable to be buried underground, and claimed this was common practice internationally. But Eirgrid maintains that there is no evidence of any danger to people's health, and say that the additional north-south link is a key component of the Single Electricity Market. A spokesman for Eirgrid denied that such cables were put underground, pointing out that under 1% of the 100,000 km of power lines in Europe had been buried beneath the surface. He said: "Overhead is the international standard, as it has been found to be the only way to deliver secure, reliable and economical electricity." The Co. Meath power line will provide a vital link between the cross-border interconnector and the Republic's grid. North of the border, there has been a storm of protest over Northern Ireland Electricity's plans for the main £120m interconnector. So far, the precise route for the power line has not been identified, but it is likely to run from the Dungannon area to Co Cavan, augmenting the existing cross-border link from Tandragee in Co Armagh to Co Louth. NIE and Eirgrid say that the additional line will more than double the current cross-blrder electricitiy trading capability. The two companies hope that the link will be in operation by 2012, and say it will deliver "very significant benefits" for electricity users, north and south."

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