Alternative road lobbyist hails climate camp

LOBBYISTS protesting a proposed new multi-million pound dual carriageway between Londonderry and Aughnacloy have hailed a recent "Climate Camp" held at Victoria Bridge to highlight local opposition to the road.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Sep 2010, 11:19 BST

Dozens of young environmental activists joined local people on a field farmed by the Smyth family to the south of Victoria Bridge near Strabane for the protest camp.

The event was a collaboration between the road lobby group the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A) and the environmentalist organisation "Climate Camp."

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AA5A had sought help "publicising and assisting to resist the overkill, proposed A5 dual carriageway that - it is intended- will extend for 86 kilometres, from Aughnacloy in the south of Tyrone, to just outside Newbuildings, in north county Londonderry."

Said Malcolm Lake, press officer for AA5A: "The way these young people organised themselves was very impressive. As well as the setting-up of the tented encampment, a group of them cooked (vegetarian food) for everyone.

"'Climate Camp' even organised seminars, including contributions from journalist, Eamonn McCann, one on environmental politics, from the Northern Ireland Organiser of Friends of the Earth and a personal experience of life in Gaza; so it was a learning experience for all, in every way!"

Mr Lake hailed the event as a great success saying the AA5A campaign had achieved a very high profile as a result.