People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said Harkin the Public Inquiry which started today must protect the Sperrins from “destructive profiteering”.
Said the Foyleside councillor: “We welcome the beginning of Public Inquiry into destructive mining for profit by Dalradian corporation in the Sperrin mountains.
“People Before Profit send out full solidarity to Save Our Sperrins, all the campaigns and everyone who has supported the effort to stop toxic and destructive mining from damaging the environment and communities.
“The Public Inquiry was agreed to because of the people power struggle against destruction, poisoning and pollution of the Sperrins.
“50,000 objections cannot be ignored.
“The Stormont political establishment has worked hand in glove to facilitate Dalradian, a powerful corporation only interested in making huge profits.
“This includes encouraging Dalradian to come here, greenlighting multiple planning permissions, demonising and criminalising those resisting environmental destruction.
“Stormont is fully complicit in the pollution of Lough Neagh and our waterways.
“Over and over again, it has rewarded those profiteering from environmental destruction and crimnal pollution.
“Public inquiries are never neutral. Those with deep pockets and those focused on prioritising their needs will do everything they can to get their way.
“The California wildfires are only the latest example of the repercussions of putting profits for a tiny few before environment and people.
“Warnings were ignored for years by government and developers that have led directly to the unfolding of the disaster.
“We need to keep the pressure up to put people and planet first.”
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