Marianne Heron

So, where do naturists keep their mobile phones?

AS I SEE IT

MARIANNE HERON

IT’S not often in the current climate that a news story will make me laugh and then smile at the resilience of human nature. But an article about one of the more unexpected side e ects of the pandemic did recently. e Irish Naturist Association reports a 68% increase in membership in the last two summers. As a reaction to lockdown that sure beats baking sourdough bread.

Being in the bu can be a sensuous pleasure in a nice warm home but the thought of getting together in the altogether to roam a chilly Irish hillside or cycle the by-ways brings me out in goosebumps. e story didn’t reveal if the 500 strong membership wore masks or cycle helmets during their activities but it did point out that exercising in the cold minus track suits helped to burn o calories. I’m all for a spot of skinny dipping — remembering bathing in peat brown mountain streams and drying o in the sun and wind while sitting on a mossy stone. And sea bathing would be more pleasurable without all those contortions under a towel that you have to do on Irish beaches although that can be avoided now by donning one of those dry robes. which probably could be equally useful when slurry spreading.

But when it comes to baring all in public, I am a bit chicken. Having arrived on a nudist beach in France by a mistake where I felt foolish in a swim-suit I ended up lying on my front, occasionally taking a peek at fellow sunbathers and marvelling at the sheer diversity of the human form. Not that I am prudish; we didn’t cover up at home when I was a child, although my mother used to tell a cautionary tale about a small boy who was obliged by his parents to go without clothes even in the chilliest weather. He grew fur. e point of this story – no it’s not a hairy dog story — was to get me to wear my vest in winter.

Apparently, the rise in naturism as a reaction to Covid is an international trend and perhaps as a reaction to being locked down, with baring it all giving a welcome sense of freedom. e trend has given rise to all kinds of activities — aside from the usual — being carried on as nature intended. ere was even a photo competition for world nude gardening day. Wouldn’t be tempted to enter that one, there are far too many nettles, thistles as ell as extra thorny roses in my garden.

Somehow, I don’t imagine that the trend is going to catch on with our politicians here although the Greens might go for it. Can you imagine the kind of things that would happen, someone would leak that one of the coalition ministers had applied for membership of the Naturist Association and a row would erupt as to whether the Taoiseach had been blindsided by the move.

Aside from the fact that nudism must have health and psychological bene ts it’s good to promote body positivity and it certainly has advantages when it comes to sustainability.

You can’t be consuming environmentally unfriendly fashion if you aren’t wearing any clothes or compete with fashionistas over designer handbags costing ve or even six gures. I do wonder, though, how naturists manage their mobile phones with no back pockets to put them in.

A CHILD born today faces living through, on average, seven times more heatwaves than their grandparents, research has found, the London Independent reports.

Children born in 2020 will also experience double the number of wild res, 2.6 times more droughts and almost three times more river oods and crop failures than someone born in 1960, the analysis says.

Writing in the journal Science, the international team of climate researchers say their ndings “highlight a severe threat to the safety of young generations and call for drastic emission reductions to safeguard their future”. e analysis comes just days after young people took to the streets around the world. including in Dublin, Galway and Belfast to demand more urgent climate action ahead of Cop26, the crucial global summit taking place in Glasgow in November.

One of the organisers, Catherine McDonagh, said those attending the demonstrations wanted to see faster action from the Government in relation to environmental safeguards.

She said the next generation of voters were watching the activities of the Coalition and needed to see de nite steps being taken to address the climate crisis. e Science journal ndings are conditional on countries meeting their current climate pledges, which are not ambitious enough to meet aspirations of limiting global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

Study lead author Prof Wim iery, a climate scientist at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, said: “Our results show that newborns will face a seven-fold increase in exposure to extreme heatwaves across their lifetime relative to their grandparents.

“We also nd that people who are under 40 today will live an unprecedented life in terms of exposure to heatwaves, droughts, crop failure, and river oods - even under the most ambitious climate policies.” e researchers made estimates of lifetime exposure to six extreme conditions — droughts, heatwaves, crop failures, river oods, tropical cyclones and wild res — for every generation born between 1960 and 2020. ey examined extreme weather exposure under several possible scenarios, including one where temperatures are successfully limited to 1.5C and one where countries instead meet their current climate pledges.

“If we manage to drastically reduce our emissions in the coming years, we can still avoid the worst consequences for children worldwide,” said Prof iery.

“We can cut the intergenerational burden by at least 40% if we increase current ambition levels and limit global warming to 1.5C.”

Another report just released, ‘Born Into e Climate Crisis’, uses research for 178 countries led by researchers at Vrije Universities Brussel to predict how climate change will a ect children born today over their lifetimes under the current trajectory of emissions.

“A baby born last year in Papua New Guinea will face over 10 times as many heatwaves and double the risk of res as their elders, while children in Vanuatu who are already recovering from a barrage of devastating cyclones over the last few years will face new challenges including three times as many droughts,” said Erin Ryan, report co-author and Save e Children’s policy and advocacy advisor for the South Paci c. e report found that low and middle-income countries will be disproportionately a ected, even though they contribute less to global emissions.

It also found natural disasters will occur more regularly in those countries and perpetuate existing inequalities such as poverty, discrimination, access to health and education, malnutrition, and exploitation.

Ms Ryan said the research found Australian children woould not be immune to the ravages of global warming either.

“In Australia, the report nds that children born in 2020 can expect to experience over four times as many heatwaves, over three times as many droughts, as well as a 30% increase in exposure to bush res,” she said.

For 15-year-old Melbourne high school student Ella Simons, that reality has already begun.

Ella was one of the thousands of Australians a ected by the Black Summer res of 2020, when she had to evacuate from a camp in regional Victoria.

“It just felt so real, like I know res happen all across Australia and I know about the 2009 bush res in regional Victoria which was really scary.

“But to actually be in the thick of it and to not know what was going on, it was really scary, and it kind of just instilled in me how urgent this is and how important it is that we all take action,” she said.

Ella is Australia’s Youth Delegate at the Youth4Climate summit, the UN youth climate summit held in Milan. e event was taking place ahead of the global climate talks in Glasgow in November, where world leaders will outline how they will limit global warming to 1.5C.

Ella said she and her peers are expecting their voices to be heard. “I think my generation is very angry, and we’re just so frustrated. You can’t just sit there anymore and watch nothing change,” she said.

SPECIAL REPORT Our children and their climate fears

e average six-yearold will live through roughly seven times as many climate disasters as their grandparents ever did

Castlecomer playing its part in fight for climate

CASTLECOMER’S Discovery Park welcomed Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Fidelis Doherty recently to showcase some of their environmental projects being completed with the council’s waste prevention programme.

e latest project was the design of two environmentally themed banners located at the start of the pedestrian walkway leading into the park that highlights how visitors can limit their impact on the environment. “We were always keen to improve the environmental performance of the park and teaming up with the Council’s Environmental Awareness O cer at the start of the summer has really assisted our focus,” said Kathy Purcell, the Parks Manager.

“A green charter was adopted at the start of the summer by our board and has led to a number of successful greening measures including tweaking some of our back-house operations to improve our recycling systems and prevent waste generation,” she said.

“The banners are beautifully illustrated by local artist Dominika Stoppa and remind visitors can do to minimise their impact on the park and suggests a climate change call for action.”

Belview appeal for Supreme Court

AN Taisce has been granted leave to appeal directly to the Supreme Court in respect of the High Court judgement on An Bord Pleanála decision granting planning approval for a cheese plant at Belview. A spokesperson said: “An Taisce believes the original judgment gives rise to points of law of general public importance about how the environmental impact of large projects should be assessed by planning authorities such as An Bord Pleanála.”

In its determination made by Chief Justice, Frank Clarke and Justices O’Malley and Baker, the Supreme Court noted that “bringing further clarity as to the proper approach to evidence or argument in relation to relevant scienti c matters in judicial review proceedings of this type is a matter of general public importance which arises in these proceedings”.

An Taisce said it welcomed the Supreme Court decision to accept this appeal which it believed Ould provide clarity on important points of law. e matter will return to court in several weeks following the exchange of legal submissions at which point a hearing date will be assigned.

An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, is a charity that works to promote environmental awareness and action in the context of the climate and biodiversity emergencies. It was founded in 1948.

New hotel, short-let ats get planning

PERMISSION sought by Veridical Limited for the demolition of an existing wholesale warehouse and the construction of a hotel and short-let apartments in the Walkin/Lower New Street area of Kilkenny City has been approved by Kilkenny County Council. e development of the site will include: (i) e demolition of existing single-storey, two-storey and three-storey wholesale warehouses, stores and associated facilities. (ii) e building of a hotel on for levels with 38 bedrooms on three upper levels over the lobby and reception, bar/ restaurant, kitchen and ancillary support services at ground level) (iii) Construction of detached short-let apartments on four levels (34 one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units) (iv) Construction of detached single-storey service building comprising electricity substation and plant room.

SERIOUS damage was caused to a section of a Kilkenny citycentre street after a steel bollard was removed from the ground. e incident occurred at Kieran Street. Cobblestones surrounding the bollard were also damaged.

Gardai are investigating. Anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000.

AN investigation is under way at Cork University Maternity Hospital after multiple baby organs were incinerated abroad without the consent or knowledge of bereaved parents, RTÉ Investigates has learned. e incinerations occurred on two occasions last year when the organs of 18 babies were sent to Belgium along with clinical waste.

City centre vandalised Rise, and splash out for Frances’ good cause

THE renowned singer Frances Black, now a senator, launched the 2021 Rise Foundation Big Dip swim challenge, which takes place on Sunday, October 10.

Participants are asked to fundraise, or to make a donation to the Rise Foundation, and then take a quick dip or a leisurely swim , wherever they are in Ireland or around the world.

The money raised will help fund the foundation’s work in support of those who have family members or a loved one with an alcohol, drug or gambling problem. The registered charity was founded by Senator Frances Black in 2009 and provides therapy and other supports for people dealing with the addictive behaviour of others.

It is hoped people from all over Ireland will take part, swimming in rivers, lakes, pools or the sea, maybe with the family, their wild swimming buddies or pool pals.

“The rise in popularity of sea swimming around our coasts was a feature of the Covid pandemic. Sadly, so too was an upsurge in addictive behaviours, as people tried to cope with lockdown, job loss and other challenges,” she said.

The Rise Foundation is a registered charity founded by Senator Black in 2009. It is focused on family members of those with addictive behaviour (alcohol, drugs, gambling, food or sex addiction).

Rise (Recovery In a Safe Environment) is dedicated to helping family members free themselves from the stress and anxiety of having a loved one with addictive behaviour, and to understand the nature of addiction and the profound effects it has on relationships.

Baby organs sent to waste probe Pre-law scrutiny for Tracing Birth Bill

THE Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth has resumed pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021.

A meeting was scheduled with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth will be broadcast from Committee Room 2 of Leinster House.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kathleen Funchion said: “Earlier this year the committee agreed to prioritise the scrutiny of legislation aimed at bringing justice and closure to the survivors of Mother and Baby Homes, including the Birth Information and Tracing Bill.

“We have previously sought written submissions from interested groups and individuals and held a number of public meetings with relevant stakeholders. We now look forward to discussing the Heads of the Bill with Minister O’Gorman to hear the Department’s view on this important legislation,: she said. e purpose of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021 is to enshrine into law the importance of an individual knowing their origins. e Bill proposes a right to access birth certi cates, birth and early life information for people who have questions in relation to their origins, and also all people who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal birth and others with questions in relation to their identity. e legislation also proposes the establishment of a comprehensive Tracing Service and a statutory Contact Preference Register to support people wishing to make contact or share information.