Galway Advertiser 2000/2000_06_22/GA_22062000_E1_031.pdf 

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Comment & Letters

World Invocation Day
Dear Friend, Today, millions share the conviction that there is an inner spiritual unity which transcends the outer differences of faith and belief. Since 1952, people from all parts of the globe have given practical expression to this sense of unity by joining in a day of world-wide prayer and meditation known as World Invocation Day. They use a world prayer, the Great Invocation, to help focus human aspiration and to channel light and goodwill into the consciousness of humanity. World Invocation Day is a quiet, background event that makes a powerful contribution to the spiritual renewal of the world. This year World Invocation Day was observed on Bloomsday, Friday, June 16. The Great Invocation From the point of Light within the Mind of God Let light stream forth into the minds of men. Let Light descend on Earth. From the point of Love within the Heart of GOd Let love stream forth into the hearts of men. May Christ return to Earth. From the centre where the Will of God is known Let purpose guide the little wills of men The purpose which the Masters know and serve. From the centre which we call the race of men Let the Plan of Love and Light work out And may it seal the door where evil dwells. Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth. Many religions believe in a World Teacher or Saviour, knowing him under such names as the Christ, the Lord Maitreya, the Iman Mahdi, the Bodhisattva, and the Messiah, and these terms are used in some of the Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Jewish versions of the Great Invocation. Men and women of goodwill throughout the world are using this Invocation in their own lan guage. Will you join them in using the Invocation ever day - with thought and dedica tion? By using the Invocation and encouraging others to use it, no particular group or organisation is sponsored. It belongs to all humanity. Yours sincerely, Gerard Timmons, 41 Main Street, Kinsale, Co Cork timmons_ger 12 @ emc.com

H u n t i n g is n o t h u m a n e p e s t c o n t r o l
Dear Editor, Significantly, it concluded that hunting with hounds was not an effective way of keeping down the fox popula The findings of the Bums report on hunting with dogs in tion. Of course, this was obvious to campaigners for the UK could sound the death knell for bloodsports in some time. Hunts FEED cubs in the closed season to Ireland. It should be studied carefully by our own gov ensure a plentiful supply of victims for the winter. And ernment authorities with a view to protecting wildlife foxes are introduced into areas where they have become from organised thuggery and exploitation. The report has scarce. Agriculture Minister, Joe Walsh, can no longer banished for all time the myth that foxes, hares, and deer fob off the case against hunting with the claim that quar do not suffer unduly in the course of being hunted or ry species are 'dispatched humanely'. The latest evi baited by hounds. dence confirms the common-sense view held for cen The independent inquiry showed that a fox, far from turies: that bloodsports are cruel, vicious, and dehuman being killed by a 'nip to the back of the neck', is subject ising pastimes. They serve no useful purpose whatsoev ed to prolonged and agonising pain before it expires. er. Hunting is not humane pest control. The redcoats are And this doesn't allow for the stress and terror of the HUMAN PESTS OUT OF CONTROL. chase preceding its demise. It was critical too of the Thanking you, practice of cubbing, which involves the baiting of young John Fitzgerald foxes as a prelude to the official hunting season. Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports Likewise, the report says that coursing hares 'have their Lower Coyne Street, welfare seriously compromised' by the savage ill-treat Callan, ment of them for sport. Co Kilkenny

Deja vu, third time
campaign, "It's the land question, stupid!" Let me clearly declare an interest in For, as Henry George, said over 120 the housing crisis in Ireland. years ago, "The ownership of land is Mine was the only one of 14 sub the great fundamental fact which missions to the first Bacon Report to ultimately determines the social, the be sent by an independent individ political, and consequently, the intel ual, rather than a professionally lectual and moral condition of a peo interested body or vested interest. In ple.' my submission to that first Bacon Peter Bacon is a qualified economist inquiry, (January 15, 1998) I stressed and yet he seems bemused by the what I had stated in my open letter demand side of the housing equation to the Irish Times, previously printed and cannot understand how come on November 10, 1997, 'the only that, with the supply side now being solution to escalating house prices is increased to what he said in 1998, it the immediate and total implementa should be to solve the shortfall, there tion... of full site value rating for is, still, it would seem, an unsatisfied land, at full market value, on all housing demand. Why should this land.' be? Three half-baked Bacon reports and The demand, Mr Bacon, is not an ever-more-run-away housing cri directly for housing, it is economi sis later, and the ministers of this fal cally for land. Even a third level lible government are no nearer see freshman in economics knows that ing (or wanting to see) the big pic any improvement which gives to ture. To borrow, slightly amended, a labour the power to increase more sound-bite from the first Clinton wealth, causes an increased demand Dear Editor,

around?
for land, and the supply of land being inelastic, the site value of land can only increase as the demand for land itself increases. Because the government is not prepared to imple ment the only tax (the site-value tax irrespective of use) which will first slow and then reverse the seemingly irreversible rise of land values, the only remaining economic remedy, and one coming, alas, too soon will be an economic crash of catastrophic proportions. As with prize-fighters, so with land-value bubbles. The big ger they come the harder they fall. It is ironic that the Minister of Local Government when there was last a housing price crisis, in Ireland, back in 1973, was one Mr Bobby Molloy. The more things change, the more they remain the same, indeed. Deja vu, anyone? Yours sincerely for Georgism, Herbert Meyer, 150 Seat-rest Barna Road, Galway

Pension pinching
Dear Editor, It would appear that it is now the lot of the public service pensioner to be in continual conflict with his/her former employer on the question of interference with his/her pen sion. Over three years ago an effort was made to break the parity relationship between pension and current pay which has traditionally always existed. The present government had promised to restore the relation ship as one of the planks of its election policy in June 1997, but it took months of protest and campaigning, after they were elected to have the prom ise honoured, and even at that the parity has not been restored at all. Now there appears to be further threats to our pensions, ie, first ly, under the third phase of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the pensioner is apparently excluded. Secondly, the Commission on Public Service Pension has completed its deliberations but there is no sign of publication and the rea son for the delay, we suspect, is again the possible introduction of further detrimental changes. Lest anyone may be under the illusion that we receive a free pension - that is not so. We have paid superannuating con tributions of 6 1/2 per cent of gross pay all through our work ing lives. This money was used to finance current public expen diture, thereby saving the tax payer massive interest pay ments on public borrowing, ie, the interest which should have been accruing to a pension fund went on public spending. All efforts are now being made to exclude us from the enjoy ment of the benefits of the "economic miracle" to which we in no small way contributed during working years. Is all this not "pensioner mugging" in a civilised manner? Yours sincerely, Thomas Maher, Secretary, National Association of Retired Public Employees, (formerly Public Service Pensions Action Group), 40 Taney Crescent, Goatstown, Dublin 14

Community support for asylum-seekers
Dear Editor, 1 work in Clifden in Connemara. For the past six months, our town has welcomed refugees from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Spontaneously, our communi ty created a support group to help asylum-seekers adjust and integrate. We facilitate visits in the area, social events, community voluntary work, school events, sports activities, arts and crafts, computer training, access to the net, and help with paperwork, clothing, language, and housing. Having to deal on a daily base with these women, men and children, we all get to know them per sonally, through our children, on the football pitch, in the pubs and even along the shores while fishing or sightseeing. The main fear of communities in Ireland is that they will be 'invaded', will lose their identity, that things will 'never be the same again'. But things were never the same after the famine: things were never the same every time an Irish made emigrant left. We all know the huge contributions the expatriate Irish to the culture and workforce of the United Slates, Australia, and New Zealand. Now the Celtic Tiger can take up the challenge of wel coming people in distress and reap the benefits of cultur al diversity too. I believe strongly that Ireland's destiny is to be an example to the other developed nations... an oppressed nation, now thriving and independent, with a high sense of compassion and justice. Ireland can set a new standard for other EU countries rather than follow the UK and their legislation towards asylum-seekers. Wc should establish a more humane and Irish way of dealing with refugee issues. We have a forest of help wanted notices in Ireland. The refugees are skilled in many professions and trades that are sorely needed in Ireland. Moreover, they truly want to work. Current refugee regulations deny these people the right to work while the - applications for asylum are being adjudicated. Ireland should permit asylum-seekers to be at work after a short pen- d of adjustment and inte gration. Private accommodation should he a priority to promote better contact with the p-'palation and exchanges between children. Clifden la^k hate no problems in that area. In Galway, an 11 -year-old or! created a club com posed of Irish and African t.NMrca and they are having a wonderful experience. The integration of diverse, cultur al, and artistic talents is a very natural process in Ireland. In our small community, wc are well used to multi-eth nic music, painting, dancing, and theatre. Our yearly Arts Week in Clifden has promoted talents from all over the world for many years and is an inspiration for many Irish creative artists. As a nation, Ireland has been generous in providing aid and religious and other humanitarian missions to people in need in Africa, Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. Now we are facing the challenge at home and this time everybody can participate in the process with out leaving our home. People in need are at our doorstep. Let's open the door, let them in. and enjoy giv ing and receiving. Ireland can be the first country in Europe to consider the asylum-seekers a gift and not a problem. Sincerely, Dr Sophie Kahcrt> The Square Cliften, Co Galway

M I L L E N N I U M PROJECT PROPOSAL:

Clean up Galway
Dear Editor, In reference to the proposed millennium footbridge project which will lose government funding according to Galway corporation, this is so pre dictable. How many times have we witnessed this attitude towards people's democratic decisions. The pattern from City Hall is as follows: 1 Propose a project 2 Reject public opposition 3 Reject proposed alternatives 4 Threaten the loss of funding 5 Take legal action with public funds to force the project though. Galway Corporation has gone against public opinion on many occasions and will surely do so again. They have a difficult job to do, trying to manage a city like Galway. This city has been mismanaged and badly planned for years and today's city executives are struggling to cope with years of apathy towards the real needs of a growing city. I have a proposal for a millen nium project. CLEAN UP GALWAY 1 Weed the hundreds of over grown flowerbeds. 2 Remove the grass from the footpaths. 3 Repair the dangerous play grounds. 4 Clean up and replace the filthy recycling bins. 5 Cut the overgrown green areas. 6 Sweep the streets regularly. 7 Empty the public bins. 8 Provide more public bins. 9 Examine the many dangerous potholes in footpaths and road ways towards permanent repair. 10 Employ more Corporation staff on the ground. There are too many managers, engineers, and executives. Simple ideas which will give this important tourist location a boost, but then again they may not be controversial enough. Yours sincerely, David Connolly