A chara, – Diarmaid Ferriter hits the nail on the head in "Turf-burning row exposes myopic localism" (Opinion & Analysis, April 29th). Nobody in Dublin or in rural Ireland wants to see anyone uncomfortably cold in their homes. While not the greatest fan of the Greens, the casting by some politicians of Eamon Ryan's initiative to ban the use of this low energy-efficient, lung-clogging fuel as an urban versus rural spat is disingenuous, deceitful and shamelessly populist. It also calls to mind the words of a Bord na Móna spokesperson on national radio a couple of years ago lauding the turf "harvest" they had that summer – as if it was going to grow back the following year! – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’TOOLE,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – We have learned four lessons from Ireland’s turf war. Nimbyism (not in my back yard) is a stronger ideology than environmentalism. Myopic localism trumps global warming. “This is the way we have always done things” is the final word on turf. “Keep it in the ground” applies to all fossil fuels, except turf. Air pollution is fogging our minds, and clouding our future. – Yours, etc,
Dr VITTORIO BUFACCHI,
Department of Philosophy,
University College Cork.
Sir, – For people like me without central heating (no, we’re not all down the country), could you, or perhaps Conor Pope, clear up the confusion about open fires?
What fuels will we still be allowed to burn next winter? Smokeless coal? Briquettes? Logs? Firelogs? – Yours, etc,
GRAINNE FARREN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – The present “turf wars” have a depressing familiarity. While most in Ireland want those less prosperous countries in the tropics to stop deforestation because of its harmful climate change and biodiversity impacts, it seems an insular hypocrisy pervades when it comes to our own peatlands. The message is clear. We are a wealthy nation and will not change to help the planet. You are poor and need to give up more. Sometimes I wonder what they thought as they cut down the last tree on Easter Island? – Is mise,
R Ó BRIAIN,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – It is sexist to constantly refer to grannies when discussing the proposal to ban the commercial sale of turf.
Women vote in rural Ireland. Take note. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET LEE,
Newport,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – Following his success during the talks on the programme for government, I am sure that if the previous minister for housing, Eoghan Murphy, were still in place he would be involved in attempting to solve the issues surrounding rural Ireland’s favourite fuel. Murf and Turf. – Yours, etc,
EAMON FARRELL,
Dublin 4.