Dalai Lama Interview
On this page you can access reports and conference papers written by or commissioned by Nuala or in the case of the WISE Paris report, by the European Parliament .
- Government dragging feet on cluster bomb ban
Irish Times – 4th March 2008
CLUSTER BOMBS are fearful weapons, but millions of them have been used in warfare, and they remain a danger for many years, with devastating effect on the lives of civilians and non-combatants.
Ireland should take a lead and ban the use of cluster bombs, writes Nuala Ahern
Full Article
- Recycling can be a total waste unless properly policed
Irish Times – 31st October 2007
Are people being misled about what happens to the waste collected with enthusiasm and effort? Is the waste being recycled as is promised? At present approx 83 per cent of the waste in Ireland collected for recycling or recovery is exported abroad, this includes almost all cardboard, paper and plastic collected at our recycling facilities around the country. The movement of such large volumes of waste needs to be properly policed and controlled to prevent against illegal waste activity.
Full Article
- Making communities count: A guide for making sustainable communities
Brochure by Nuala Ahern, researched by Dan Boyle
What we measure tends to be what we value most. Conversely things we don’t measure can all too easily be ignored or marginalised. The indicators we choose are the tools that measure and inform us as to what is going on. This information is an important part of the decision making process. Knowledge is power; and information needs to be carefully guarded. Those who invest in such indicators wish to control how information is made available.
Full Article
- Examination of BNFL Reports and Accounts
Mike Sadnicki - 12 March 2002 - sponsored by Nuala Ahern
Version 2 incorporates results from the full BNFL Report and Accounts 2001, which were published in the week beginning 13 August 2001, too late for consideration for Version 1. Version 2 also discusses recent evidence by BNFL and British Energy to the Cabinet Office’s Performance and Innovation Unit, and the announcement on 28 November 2001 by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of the proposal to set up a Liabilities Management Authority. Read Report
- Report on toxic effects from reprocessing at Sellafield and Cap de la Hague
Wise-Paris STOA Report - Commissioned by the European Parliament Directory General for Research Scientific and Technological Option Assessment (STOA) Programme
The report presents evidence and data on:- radioactive discharges from the Sellafield and La Hague sites;
- resulting nuclide concentrations in environmental media including foodstuffs;
- radiation doses from nuclide discharges to critical groups near the sites;
- adverse health effects near the two sites; and
- resulting collective doses from nuclide discharges.
The report also examines a number of current issues in radiobiology concerning health effects from exposure to ionising radiation, in particular genetic and in utero effects. Read Report
- Gender Based Violence and Human Rights for Women in the 21st Century
Women's Peace Forum Gwangju, Korea - June 2007
Since the 1995 UN Beijing conference on women the emerging consensus that women’s rights are human rights has resounded around the global community. As a member of the European Parliament at that time I remember this idea having an electrifying effect on MEP’s who were solidly behind this UN consensus. Full Article
- Family and Religion, Culture and Identity
Conference on Intercultural values, Malta - 2006
The EU seeks to provide equality and free movement throughout the Union to its citizens, while respecting the culture and values and traditions of each of the member states and indeed of groups and communities within the member states. This is of course difficult since there is no consensus on what these values are, in fact sharp disagreement as to values of a religious moral or ethical nature. Full Article
- Integrated Health-Care in Europe
The Dyffryn Conwy Natural Health Conference in Llandudno, Wales - 25th May, 2004
There are many areas of ill-health in which the approaches of complementary and alternative medicine can be useful. These therapies appear to be appreciated for their more person-centred, gentle, less invasive, less drug dependent interventions. CAM practitioners also place great emphasis on exploring with patients why they have become ill as a basis for initiating life-style changes that will underpin the benefits of their therapeutic interventions. Full Article
- Festivals and Cultural Events - Opportunities in the Enlarged EU
The Irish Film Centre, Temple Bar - 25th March, 2004
There are many interesting debates being held in the culture committee from the discussion on intellectual property rights to improving the European Capitals of Culture programme. Some of these debates will have a direct impact on how events and festivals will be funded in Europe.
Full Article
- GM Foods - No Thanks
The Royal Irish Academy in Dublin - 24th March, 2004
When talking about ethical decisions linked to food, it is crucial to enable the individual to take a decision, based on a personal risk-benefit analysis or on other individual preferences. We should not tolerate situations where the individual can not take this decision anymore because they are is not informed about the choice they are taking or that the alternative (GM free product) is missing after a widespread contamination. Full Article
- Global challenges in the 21st Century
Queen's University Belfast - April 2003
It is a globalised world - but a world whose institutions are unequal to the task. Economic institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation have a massive role in defining economic life, but they are not democratic organisations and they are not accountable to the governments of nations. Businesses, banks and corporations operate on a global scale.
Full Article
- The European Union’s Support for Renewable Energy
Feasta Conference on ‘Ireland’s Transition to Renewable Energy’ - November 2002
The European Union doesn’t have a single energy policy, but rather a series of communications, white and green papers and directives that when patched together form a –less than coherent – series of policy measures in the energy field.
Full Article
