Before any MLA decides to Speak in the Climate Change debate in the Assembly they might listen closely to the lyrics of iconic Canadian singer song writer Joni Mitchell environmental song “Big Yellow Taxi” which she released 50 years ago which include the immortal lines
Don’t it always seem to go; You don’t know what you got – til it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”
Joni Mitchell
Fifty years later that lesson has STILL not been learnt by those in the Executive who seem hell bent in destroying the farming industry in N. Ireland. One of the most effective ways of doing that is the total wholesale and unnecessary destruction of good farmland in the construction of massively wide dual carriageways – as shown in the attached photograph 3 miles west of Claudy on the new A6 which is being constructed.
When finished there will be 8 available road lanes of traffic between the small village of Claudy and the town of Dungiven with 6 hard shoulders so 14 potential road lanes in all. Nowhere-else in the world – would farmland wastage on this scale be tolerated.
Certainly not in the ROI -where 2+1 lane and using parts of the existing road where suitable is now the norm.
The excuse being used for the complete NI Government sponsored desolation of this hitherto outstanding beautiful area of farmland and countryside – is too create jobs and allow traffic to reach Belfast maybe 5 minutes quicker. The fact that traffic volumes in NI have already greatly reduced, because of the oncoming recession – people now working from home, and the huge increase on-line shopping etc.
You wouldn’t think that according to some experts that a major world famine could be imminent – if not already here. Over 3 million have died of Covid – but that is nothing compared to the projected 10’s of millions around the world who will die of hunger within the next 4 years.
Northern Ireland is fortunate to be on the North Western edge of Eurasian landmass, and therefore gets 3 times as much rain as farms in East Anglia, and up to 5 times more than most of Europe.
We need farmers here to be encouraged to produce as much food as possible – because farming in central Europe will be greatly hindered due to prolonged summer droughts – with temperatures in the mid 40’s.
Food production in Europe has declined sharply without restrictions being imposed by Governments – so why should the Executive here impose restrictions on farmers here when it will be counter-productive?