Isle of Eire is Going Even More Green

Eire, the Emerald Isle, is going green in every way possible. Ireland is already known for the sheer majesty of its mossy cliffs, a sea of velvety green hills and a booming economy that makes it the second largest money producing nation in Europe. Ireland is a mix of warrior poets replete with castles and ancient lore that with the luck of the Irish turned into a modern sophisticate leveraging its technology ability into a legend known as the Celtic Tiger. Like all industrialized nations, economic independence ushered in an exorbitant use of fossil fuels and natural resources that Ireland is reversing by adopting Green environmental policies. Ireland committed to spending 200 million euros on energy research (304 million USD) in an effort to demonstrate alignment with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's promises of leading a Green Revolution if re-elected to his post.

Mr Ahern outlined how Government policies will try to create jobs by developing new green technologies and end Ireland's high reliance on imported fuels. He said: 'We are uniquely placed to secure our economic future by marking ourselves out as a centre of the global green energy boom. This is the decision we have taken as a Government.'

'We want to take a direct, interactive approach to inform future Government actions so that Ireland becomes a leading low carbon economy.

'Our incentive to tackle the climate change challenge is all the greater because the actions we need to take will also protect our economy from future oil and gas supply stocks.

The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin hosted a major Energy Conference, The Energy Forum 2008 where government officials come together to discuss climate change, sustainable energy and review agreements to use alternative sources like wind and solar power. Each person in Ireland on average uses an eye popping 10 pints of fuel per day. Ireland is nowhere near the top three pigs of pollution - India, China and the USA belch out greenhouse gas emissions faster than Krispy Kreme churns out glazed donuts. Unlike the current American debacle of destabilization on so many fronts, Prime Minister Ahern is being tapped as a top candidate to become president of the European Union based on his leadership style.

The conference heralded an innovative business venture by Wavebobs that claims it will generate enough energy from the waves of Ireland's abundant seas to provide power and energy to hundreds of family homes. Portugal since 2007 along with Scotland, another island, are also using wave energy technology. Certain conditions must be present for the entire process to work efficiently, leading to Ireland choosing a location off its west coast. (Photo Portugal)

The Wavebob is the first Irish device and one of only a handful worldwide to have successfully harnessed the energy of the ocean waves. At full scale, each Wavebob will be capable of producing in excess of a megawatt; enough electricity for over 700 homes. Andrew Parish, CEO of Wavebob Ltd, intends that a full-scale Wavebob will be in operation by 2010 and that their first wave farm will be up and running soon after.

According to Mr Parish the announcement is “significant for Wavebob and provides further recognition of Ireland being an international centre of excellence in the development of ocean energy technology.”

The Green economy has the ability to create jobs worldwide with those with enough gumption to lead on such a critical issue. It will be well into 2009 before America even feels the need to try. Ireland is providing critical leadership and being responsible on the need to seek alternatives. While those Irish euros will not arrive all at once, but in a 5 year phase with emphasis on science, biotechnology, and information technology spotlighting their good green global efforts is key to making it untenable for those wasting billions on larger military infrastructure and initiatives, Military might maintenance in industrialized nations consumes massive amounts of fossil fuels.



Green is Ireland's color. The cover of Showcasing Globalisation: The Political Economy of the Irish Republic makes full use of it in a book from Nicola Jo-Ann Smith.