Blogs

The Irish government are supporting an initiative whereby trawlers would bring recovered plastic waste to shore.

With small traces of micro plastics in three quarters of fish checked in a recent Ocean survey the government say its in the interests of the industry to support the scheme.

A report here (including audio) from RTEs Southern Editor Paschal Sheehey. A fishermen's spokesman says the scheme will be supported:

https://www.rte.ie/…/20…/0111/1022541-plastic-waste-trawler/

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League

Attached below a query to the Chief Constable about the recent Treasury consultation on changes to Employed Persons Allowance (EPA)which would have raised the hours threshold for lone parents asking if the Constabulary contributed to this:

“The Chief Constable of the Isle of Man
Gary Roberts

CPHQ
Douglas

11th January 2019

By email:

Dear Chief Constable,

An Irish environmental umbrella group (The Environmental Pillar) which represents 26 national independent environmental non governmental organisations has expressed concern over government plans to manage the remote Skellig Islands of Co Kerry.

The Skelligs a priceless environmental asset famed for it bird and marine life which came to global fame when the location was used as a backdrop in one os the Star wars series of films,
Environmentalists expressed concern at the time about the potential for damage(link):

Several articles in the Irish media have celebrated the increase in the number of Corncrakes in 2018. However the publication Green News warns the numbers are still below the safe level for a threatened species. Interestingly the Green News item is illustrated by a photograph of one of the birds taken at Ballaugh Curragh in the Isle of Man (links):

https://greennews.ie/corncrake-numbers-still-not-safe-expe…/

This week marked the anniversary of the worst tanker tragedy in Ireland in which 51 people last their lives. Relatives of those who died at Whiddy Island Oil terminal in 1979 still feel let down by successive Irish governments.

The tragedy occurred when the French oil tanker ‘Betelgeuse’ exploded while discharging oil at the terminal in Bantry Bay (link Irish Times):

https://www.irishtimes.com/…/son-of-whiddy-island-disaster-…

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League

Report here on Manx Radio about the delayed Manx Gas report. Leader of the Manx Gas protest group Barry Murphy cannot contain his anger and disappointment with government over this issue which has seen people enduring another winter of outlandish charges:

https://www.manxradio.com/…/delay-of-manx-gas-report-unacc…/

As the merits or otherwise of providing homes in Mann for a handful of refugees from Syria those living in the makeshift camps of Lebanon are facing one of the harshest winters ever experienced.

As this report from Ahram Online says refugees are burning clothes and plastic to keep warm:

Report here over a controversy between Egypt and the National Museum of Scotland over a casting stone purportedly said to come from the Great Pyramid of Giza. However a renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass disputes this

Scotland wants to keep the artefact although the circumstances of its legal removal from the original site are murky.

The National Museum of Scotland is falling back on the ‘if we didn’t take it it might have been lost’ argument.

Report here from BBC (Isle of Man) on the call by Tynwald member Bill Henderson MLC for the return of the Chronicles of Man and the Isles currently held by the British Library:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-46724338

Bernard Moffatt

Assistant General Secretary
Celtic League

Stonehaven (Scottish Gaelic: Cala na Creige) is coastal town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It had grew around an Iron Age fishing village and lies in the shelter of Stonehaven Bay. It is an area of historical significance with evidence of prehistoric  structures at Fetteresso Castle, Neolithic pottery found after excavations in the Spurryhillock area and a number of Iron Age ring cairns. Ring cairns are mysterious structure, thought to have been used for a number reasons, including for ceremonial purposes and having an astronomic function purpose.