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A 73-YEAR-old grandmother is going on hunger strike to protest against the country’s climate change policies.
Patricia Devlin – who is originally from Australia, but has lived in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, for 20 years – is taking on the four-day strike in hopes of meeting Environment Minister Richard Bruton and calling on him to implement tougher policies to tackle the climate emergency.
Launching her hunger strike outside the gates of Leinster House today, Ms Devlin kicked off a week-long global action by Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns against the current government’s climate polices, which they say will not meet environmental targets.
Ms Devlin, holding photos of her two grandchildren – Ollie, four, and baby Liam – said she has been an environmental activist off and on for 40 years, and was sparked back into action after becoming a grandmother.
“Since my grandchildren, they have just awakened in me a whole wonder at life. Being a parent is great but being a grandparent is just amazing,” she said.
“You’ve got time to reflect on life in these little people and, knowing what’s happening with climate change, I really fear for what kind of life will my grandsons have. Will they have a chance to have grandchildren like me?
“My emotion is wrapped up in fear that they won’t enjoy the same blessings that we have.”
Ms Devlin said she is blessed with good health for her age, and has done 48-hour fasts before.
“I think sometimes it’s meant to be, maybe I’ve been blessed with good health so that I can do this action at 73,” she said.
“I looked at the tradition of hunger striking, which dates back to pre-Christian times, particularly in Ireland, and that’s why it appealed to me.
“This particular action is a really classic way of the vulnerable speaking to power, so I’m hoping I can speak to Minister Bruton and it might be a good way to get him out of the little hermit shell he might be in.
“I’m going to be here until Sunday afternoon but if Minister Bruton wants to meet me before then I’ve achieved my goal.
“To go through with him the aims of Extinction Rebellion, and tell the truth, we need a lot more explanation and truth telling. I don’t think our climate change plan is going to be able to meet the targets, the aims are too low.
“We need a just transition, we need to make sure we bring everyone with us.
“Usually the poorest and most marginalised have an unfair burden to carry, and we’ve seen that with the closure of the Bord Na Mona bogs.
So far only six million euro has been set aside for climate change. They gave 16 million euro to the greyhounds, so it’s not hard to see where we’re at, really, it’s not good enough.
Much of this year’s climate activism has been sparked by children and young people, and Ms Devlin said she believes older generations also have a duty to protect the planet.
“One of my regrets is that I didn’t keep it up. Maybe if I did this 20 years ago and did it seriously then maybe I wouldn’t need to be here today,” she said.
“Again, in the Christian tradition fasting has been used for atonement, and maybe that’s worth thinking about for my generation.
“I think they should do it if they see the sense in it, I think all grandparents must be worried.”
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Covered in plastic! The irony
@Lien Lynch: not really. What would be wrong would be to dump what is already in existence and replace them with more products. Any CO2 used to make the raincoat has already been released. The correct process is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Note how recycle is last. She is at stage 2 – reusing.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: you’re wrong there Brian
@Levante Dublin: instead of just saying he’s wrong, pray tell us what is the right way. She is re-using what already is there.
@Jason Ebbs: looks pretty new to me
@Levante Dublin: no, it is you who is wrong. Time to make amends.
Too much Sun gone to her head
‘Man-made’ CO2 amounts to 3% of all C02 in the atmosphere.
So the 3% is the big bad boy that people are in frenzy over.
Of that 3% – China contributes 28% & Ireland contributes 0.12%.
Ireland could be wiped off the planet tomorrow and it would have no impact on the earths climate.
@Greg Daniel: oh but we have to set a good impression for our friends and tax tax tax to save the planet!!
@Greg Daniel:
And China is already ahead with its climate targets whereas ireland (with its minuscule amount to reduce) is struggling to even make an impression.
You see the difference is when the Chinese government says we’re going to close twenty coal fired power stations and build a nuclear one to replace them and in addition double the power generation capacity they do it. Same with windmills and solar. If Ireland wants to take a few bold steps the local TD’s seat and a horde of screaming banshees that has to be appeased is always the prime concern and as a result we just plod on and nothing changes bar our tax bills.
@Greg Daniel: Pre-industrial levels of CO2 averaged ~280ppm, 2018 averaged at ~410. That is an increase of ~45%. It is correct that manmade CO2 is a small percentage but what you fail to mention is that naturally occurring CO2 is part of a CO2 cycle that was kept relatively stable by natural sequestration. This natural sequestration is able to absorb about 40% of manmade CO2 but the rest stays in the atmosphere. That 60% of manmade CO2 keeps building up, hence the 280ppm growing to 410ppm. As CO2 levels rise not only does natural sequestration start to falter but in fact more CO2 and Methane are released from former sinks, such as artic tundra and rainforests. Manmade CO2 is not the be all and end all, it is just the first domino to fall and push the others.
@Tim Pot: thats a rubbish statement? Ever been to Bejing? See the smog there on a daily basis? And, theyre building even more coal powered stations. You’re like a propogandist for Extinction Rebelion anytime there’s a related thread on the Journal.
@Greg Daniel: Just to clarify, your 3% figure is post 40% absorption, it is 7% before some of it is sequestered.
@Steven Moens: China is building nuclear and coal power electricity generation station. So all thar rant for nothing.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/c1feee40-0add-11ea-b2d6-9bf4d1957a67
@Da Vid:
Was there a couple weeks ago actually. They have massive changes building a vast metro network in just over a decade. I particularly liked how nearly all the mopeds you see are electrified and running on dedicated roadways. I have also lived in London and I felt the air quality was comparable.
@Greg Daniel: Co2 is released from the melting ice caps, which are melting exponentially quicker due to human pollution. A small rise in Co2 may not seem to be a big deal, but a small rise is all that is needed to unsettls the pH of the ocean, brings stronger acid rain, etc. Ireland is a small part of the world, but regardless of size we are missing every mark when it comes to controlling climate change.
@Tim Pot: its much easier to meet targets when the bar is as high as it is for china, their targets are knowhere near as tough as Ireland’s.
@Joey Roche: we CAN’T control climate change, when are ye greenie alt left going to get that into your minute little brains? We are too small to have impact whatsoever yet we would wreck our economic competitiveness so iur politicians can be seen to be good when visiting their international friends.
@Dino: If every nation has the same attitude then you’re right. Everyone needs to play their part, big nations and small nations alike. Others’ inaction is not a good enough reason for our inaction.
@Dino: Do you understand why the likes of India and China have a lower bar?
@Steven Moens: I’m in tears laughing at your notion that our taxes will magically be halved if our government were to take bold steps and actually save the country any money. Taxes aren’t going to go down. USB isn’t going to vanish. Politicians are in it for the money. Maybe we should try halving their salaries and see if we attract a better quality of public servant. We seem to be using the wrong incentives.
@Fiona Fitzgerald:
She has great spirit, a reverse Greta, but ultimately nothing Mr Bruton can do here. We are simply too small even by example. Over population, big business profit is our destiny, enjoy the ride
@Chewey Bacca:
It is not beyond ireland to be responsible and do it’s part in the global fight against climate breakdown.
The I’m only one person what difference will I make attitude is well past its sell by date.
@Chewey Bacca: no, their is lots he and we can do. Unfortunately many lack the will to do so.
This will make absolutely no difference even if you do get to meet a minister.go home and bake me a cake it would do more good.
@Seriously stunned:
It’s already made a difference by making the news…
If she can inspire you to make a nasty comment then it’s very likely she will have inspired others to do good.
And extinction rebellion will be responsible if a 73 year old woman has any medical difficulties because of this nonsense???
@Sequoia: what??
@Sequoia: she’s a grown adult who is responsible for her own decisions.
Slow news day.
A four day hunger strike is called a detox in some health circles.
Her family will use this as ammo to put her into a home and sell her house.
G’Luck, ya need it love.
@Madra: sure she said she will have a light breakfast if needed it was on the radio earlier. Therefore that’s not a hunger strike.
@Madra: She should emulate our man in Cairo – didn’t he strike for nearly 4 years?
I’d strongly advise her to stay away from this comments section for a start…
Ridiculous, will someone get her a Big Mac
@Dan2078: she’s wearing one -a big PLASTIC one !
@Eric Davies: boom boom, response of the day. That made me chuckle, thanks
@Dan2078: Really? How does it invalidate her protest?
An activist off and on… Is today an on-day or an off-day?
@John Considine: comedian on day for you?
Fair play to her, really hope she gets the interview.
Got bored at home. Fancied a walk. “I know I’ll do one of those protests thingys…..now what will I protest”?
Why is she calling of a ‘Hunger Strike’? It is only for four days so it is a ‘Fast’ !
Ridiculous the amount of people who support this false ‘human caused’ climate change rubbish, that silly child Greta is one thing, but, this lady at her age should know better. The climate has always changed & it always will, in spite of the alarmists say.
@Mary Murray:
Science, not everyones cup of tea it seems.
@Mary Murray: It’s so easy to reject what you cannot comprehend. Denying a scientific fact which all the evidence supports is not a very credible position. Are you saying that you are so much more qualified than the scientific community that you can overrule the scientific consensus? If so link to your publications and accreditations. Or maybe you have some credible reasons for doing so. Religion maybe? , A belief in the literal truth of the Bible and that the Earth is 6000 years old. God’s promise to Noah. Or perhaps you like to indulge in pseudo scientific and pseudo historical nonsense conspiracy like flat eartherism, moon landing denial and Holocaust denial. You see the only silly one here is you. There is no evidence for your position but the evidence backs Greta and this lady.
@SteoG: not all scientists agree on climate change just depends on which ones you choose to believe
I think her grandchildren would far appreciate if she didn’t put her health at risk for this “cause”.
If she falls ill, our beloved ‘journalists’ will immediately search for (and find) the individual who’ll say “Leo Varadkar could have stopped this tragedy… what kind of government allows this to happen… “. Then they will run that muck as a headline.
Brave woman, this type of protest is only going to increase
Well done Patricia fair play.
Another useful idiot.
Well meaning, but hunger strikes don’t work unless you were in the Ra
I admire this woman’s get up and go. However, if she really believes that our Noble Minister Bruton will do anything on the foot of her protest she is seriously deluded. Bruto may well meet her (complete with media) and promise her the sun moon and stars but she will be skin and bone before Bruton will step up to the mark. Maybe someone should remind this admirable lady that there are 4 by elections imminent and a general election not far behind and Fine Gael will put their self interest first , saving the planet will have to wait.
fair play fcuk the begrudgers
If she decides to take a walk in the evening to Grafton Street she will see people for whom hunger is no choice. She should put down her banner, do something useful and volunteer at soup kitchens because she seems to have a lot of time on her hands.
Foolish woman.
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