Irish America

Environmental

Ireland Bans Microbeads

By Maggie Holland, Assistant Editor
August / September 2019

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With a bill soon to be introduced by the Dáil, Ireland is set to be the first country in the European Union to ban the use of plastic microbeads in household cleaners and toiletries. Microbeads are tiny bits of plastic, less than a millimeter in diameter, that are put into some personal care products such as soaps, facial cleansers, and toothpastes, to add texture and aid in … [Read more...] about Ireland Bans Microbeads

Are We Doing Enough?

By Sharon Ní Chonchúir, Contributor
August / September 2019

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Ireland’s Role in Global Climate Change. ℘℘℘ Welcome to the Emerald Isle. A country so verdant that Johnny Cash sang of the 40 shades of green that could be found in its rolling hills and valleys. But how green is Ireland, really? What is the country doing to protect its environment? What role is it playing in preventing global climate change? The Irish government has certainly … [Read more...] about Are We Doing Enough?

What’s on Tap?

By Gregory Chestler, Editorial Assistant
August / September 2019

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Belfast Takes on Plastic. ℘℘℘ Professor Chris Elliot and Dr. Cuong Cao are co-leading a project at Queen’s University Belfast to raise awareness about potentially harmful materials found in tap water, bottled water, and other goods that humans ingest regularly. The story has been told before – plastic waste is bad for the environment – however, what’s different about the work … [Read more...] about What’s on Tap?

The Cry of the Curlew

By Mary Gallagher, Assistant Editor
March / April 2019

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Irish Plant and Animal Life Endangered ℘℘℘ One third of the species of Irish plant and animal wildlife are in danger of extinction, according to the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT). On the endangered list are a large proportion of marine life, insects, and plants, including the alpine saxifrage (a perennial plant), the angel shark, birds such as the curlew and the twite, and a … [Read more...] about The Cry of the Curlew

Earth Day, and the Irish American Who Started It

By Irish America Staff

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On April 22, 1970, millions of people participated in events across the country in the first celebration of Earth Day. According to a New York Times article about the event, more than 2,000 colleges participated, 10,000 K-12 schools, and a couple thousand towns. The wire services tallied the total participation at 20 million across the U.S. Today, Earth Day is the most widely … [Read more...] about Earth Day, and the Irish American Who Started It