John Sodeau

@theclareherald Finally it looks like Ennis is taking its air pollution problem seriously! Kudos @ClareCoCo

Ennis air quality investigated by TownAir Project Team clareherald.com/news/energy-en…

📚 Everyone knows Oliver Twist, but what became of Charley Bates? Field Lane follows him from London’s alleys to the Mississippi, seeking justice, redemption, and revenge in a 19th-century world of intrigue and history. Can one truly escape their past? #HistoricalFiction

Don’t try this at home. Just read the report and admire. bbc.com/news/articles/…

Multi-billion-euro bus improvements for Cork on hold pending legislation independent.ie/regionals/cork… Pathetic is too weak to describe this fiasco. Did nobody in Cork Council realise this a year or two ago? Then a seamless start might have been possible. @oliver_moran @corkcitycouncil

“Please be aware that this wood stove emits air pollution into and around your home which can harm your health.” theguardian.com/environment/20…

(Ennis of course is there. It’s coal burning profile needs no introduction to annual readers of this column)

Let the annual winter sport of guessing whether smoky coal is being burnt or not, begin.

@Corkcoco @irishexaminer

“Municipal district officer Paraic Lynch said both pollution monitoring stations in Cobh continuously record sulphur dioxide levels.” Not true. One does not even record small particulate levels. irishexaminer.com/news/munster/a…

thisismoney.co.uk/money/electric… Ms Reeves told Parliament today: 'All cars contribute to wear and tear on our roads, so it is only right that our motoring taxes cover EVs via a modest per mile levy”. So tax should be by vehicle weight! How is distance levy to be calculated by a driver.

Remember when the UK and Irish governments started the “dash for diesel”? As they were cleaner because of lower CO2 emissions. Then found those engines released more toxic NOx. Now the dash for EVs is being undermined by an unenforceable distance tax dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3…

@laoiseman Yes. All cars should be taxed in part by weight. Especially SUVs but also EVs because of battery weight. And it’s not just the tyres that produce killer toxic particles. It’s the road damage related to vehicle weight. And for ICE the mechanical engine wear.

@JohnSodeau Codswallap . I have an ev and tyre-wear is considerably less than any ICE I’ve had. Most EV’s are heavier than their ICE equivalents. Just screw the man regardless

Inevitable and warranted. Heavier the vehicle the more tyre wear and road dust. So more harmful small toxic particles in the air. Including microplastics and heavy metals. “Weight-based tax for cars and SUVs considered to offset cost of switching to EV’s” jrnl.ie/6773432

@Corkcoco knew about the air monitoring problems in Carrigaline last March from the excellent local TD. But sat on it. No action. Were they “Busy doing nothing” as Bing sang?

At least they didn’t follow @corkcitycouncil and install some Robos.

irishexaminer.com/news/munster/a…. Alive January to August 2023. RIP. @irishexaminer Populated with old equipment from Day 1. No traffic or solid fuel burning monitors for Carrigaline ever. No reply to complaints. Don’t hold your breath with @Corkcoco unless you need to @McGrathSeamus

Last year around 8M people were killed because of burning fossil fuels. None were killed from nuclear energy generation. And no climate change problems either caused by nuclear. It’s time for TDs to discuss this issue. link.goloudplayer.com/s/pG7mFzCdSk3G