Explainer: How Ireland faces uphill battle to defend farm grants and protect corporate tax revenues after EU budget changes
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
From Midleton to Tokyo: Selling Irish whiskey to the Japanese
Eoin Ó Catháin, director of the Irish Whiskey Association: 'Japan is one of the most interesting and exciting whiskey markets in the world, and I am heartened to see the hard work of Irish whiskey producers pay off.'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
More than 30 years on, genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda reminds us we said 'never again' many times before
I recently travelled with Trócaire to Rwanda to meet communities working to adapt and mitigate against the increasing effects of climate change. While speaking to Béatha Usabyimana about the leading role she played in a terracing project, we surveyed the land and the remarkable progress the project has made. In the distance, I noticed a single patch of uncultivated land where a lone tree stood. Rwanda is a small country and quite densely populated — almost every metre of land is cultivated, so I thought this untouched patch of land looked unusual. Béatha said: 'That was my auntie's home once. I was 14 years old when all of my family was killed here. In Rwanda, sometimes you will see small patches of land with a single tree growing. It is to remember those we lost during the genocide." Many will have heard of the Rwandan genocide. Colleagues in Trócaire's Irish office still recall stories of working in Rwanda at the time and the sheer horror they witnessed. By 1994, Rwanda's population exceeded seven million, primarily divided into Hutu (85%), Tutsi (14%), and Twa (1%). Historically, the Tutsis held a higher social status, but social mobility allowed for movement between the groups. Over the course of 100 days in 1994, between 800,000 and one million people were massacred in Rwanda in the genocide against the Tutsi. Picture: AP /Ricardo Mazalan Colonial rule by Belgium and Germany intensified ethnic divisions through rigid classifications, causing tensions. On April 6, 1994, the assassination of the Rwandan and Burundian presidents when the plane they were travelling in was shot down, triggering a horrific genocide. Over the course of 100 days in 1994, between 800,000 and one million people were massacred in Rwanda in the genocide against the Tutsi. Two-thirds of the Tutsi population were murdered before the perpetrators were overpowered and forced into exile. This period is recognised by the UN as the Genocide against the Tutsi. Béatha explained that during that time, she and her three siblings were taken in by a neighbour and hidden in her home. Béatha's mother, and the remaining members of her family were all killed. A mother of two, Béatha is a passionate agronomist with a degree in rural development. In her village in the Karongi district of south-western Rwanda, Béatha has brought her experience to bear on the land as part of the 'Climate Justice Communities' programme. The programme is a combination of support from the Scottish Government, implemented by Trócaire and local partner organisation, Duterimbere, aimed at working alongside communities in Rwanda to respond and adapt to the increasing and devastating effects of climate change. Béatha is very satisfied with the progress the group has made, in particular the leading role women have taken to reshape the land, but she is also mindful to emphasise the impact of the genocide. She does not want that period of her life to be glossed over. Looking out over the verdant land where this happened, it was hard to believe such a ferocious act took place there such a short time ago. It was a reminder of the banality of these acts. How they can take place anywhere, and how most often they only stop when they are stopped. The now notoriously limited mandate of international forces in Rwanda led to declarations of "never again" in the wake of the genocide, and contributed to the generation of 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P), as a global norm at the turn of the millennium. Tim Sheehan, Trócaire: 'Perhaps one of the most chilling parallels with what happened in Rwanda is the clarity of intent. A key component of any genocide is the 'othering' of the target group and fostering public sympathy towards their eradication.' Picture: Fred Hirwa R2P, as it became known, seeks to ensure all states uphold their rights to prevent genocide and that the international community never fails to act in the face of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. As Béatha took the time to make sure we understood the significance of the tree, to ensure what happened was not forgotten, I couldn't help but think of Gaza and the genocide taking place at that moment, thousands of miles away. In Gaza, every red line of international law has been crossed. The world in which this genocide is taking place is very different to 1994, but the lessons from Rwanda are more relevant than ever. Perhaps one of the most chilling parallels with what happened in Rwanda is the clarity of intent. A key component of any genocide is the 'othering' of the target group and fostering public sympathy towards their eradication. During the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the notorious 'Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines', or 'RTLM', broadcast hate-filled propaganda against Tutsis and encouraged the Hutu population to take part in the genocide. At the time, it was a terrifying example of how basic technology could be utilised to mobilise the masses to foster acceptance of violence and mobilise people to perpetrate it. While the tenor of radio broadcasts in Rwanda in 1994 went largely hidden from the outside world, the rise of the internet since then has brought about a complete paradigm shift. Since October 7, 2023, the scale and severity of anti-Palestinian rhetoric on social media and across many media outlets in Israel have been clear for us to see. Over the last 21 months, numerous politicians have called for the complete annihilation of Gaza and have intentionally blurred the line between Hamas militants and the civilian population in order to justify a military campaign against them. Propaganda is just one way in which genocide is perpetuated, but the parallels with what happened in Rwanda are particularly clear in this respect. If we are to respect the principles of 'never again' and the memory of those who died in other genocides, we have to ensure we use these parallels as an initiation for action. While the world marks the anniversaries of Srebrenica and Rwanda this month, we continue to watch the genocide in Gaza unfolding in real time. If the Rwandan 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda has taught us anything, it is that the best moment to act is right now. Anything less will haunt us forever. Tim Sheehan is communications and content officer with Trócaire Read More Thirty years on, Srebrenica still lives under the shadow of genocide
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: CAP remains key to the entire rural economy
While we have long ceased to be an agrarian economy, food and agriculture remain vital cogs in the Irish economic machine. So when farmers voice concerns about changes to funding from Europe, we should listen. Farming might not be sexy to an urban population, but that population would find itself greatly impoverished without the things farmers produce. And the industry has such a seasonally and weather-dependent income, with wild fluctuations for the same produce or livestock over the course of time, that any disruption to more guaranteed lines of money become grave situations very quickly. This week, we heard from the Irish Farmers' Association that there is 'a big battle ahead' over EU farm supports, as well as fears that reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — a European set piece — from 2027 will only undermine food production in this country. It is true that there is only ever so much money to go around, and that other countries have different priorities. It is also true that with European countries pivoting more toward defence spending, the money available for workhorses such as farming could be reduced to allow for investment elsewhere. The EU itself has previously announced an €800bn fund for defence, as well as earmarking sums for investment in AI so the bloc doesn't fall behind the likes of the US and, increasingly, China. Yet, we should be conscious of IFA president Francie Gorman's assessment that 'the CAP provides an annual injection of nearly €2bn into our rural economy to support food production … the CAP has been the cornerstone of the multi-billion export sector that underpins thousands of jobs in regions far from the urban centres'. We are known globally for our food and drink exports. They support many thousands of jobs nationwide, and Irish food can be found worldwide. But, as it is, regular readers of our farming supplement will know that many farms are already dependent on off-farm income, or are struggling to find successors. It would be devastating not just for rural Ireland, but for the economy as a whole, if the farming sector faced any significant decline. Housing targets Every day there seems to be a tighter squeeze on the housing market, from the median house price rising by a mind-numbing €35,000 in a year to parents needing to give substantial help to children buying their first homes to, now, finding that there were just 32 rental houses eligible for the housing assistance payment — and none at all in Cork City. Cork, you'll remember, has been targeted for enormous growth under the Government's development plans. But every day the goals and targets seem to not be getting closer, but to be running off into the distance. We are nowhere near completing the number of houses annually that experts believe the country needs and, quite apart from the cost of raw materials, the Irish Examiner has reported in recent weeks on how Ireland will need tens of thousands of extra workers just to meet building demand. Apartments may not be to everybody's liking, but they remain an efficient way of creating housing density in a relatively small area — the problem being that the higher the building, the more excruciating the cost. What more can be done at government level to address this? The housing crisis will, regrettably, only get worse before it gets better — and we have too many homeless families in this country as it is. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Body positive For a species that is naturally so varied in adaptability, taste, and any other category you can think of, we are on the whole utterly useless at properly supporting that diversity. We could pick any example, but in this instance let's focus on body image. Most of us do, after all, try to encourage our children (and grandchildren) to be their own person, to be comfortable in their own skin, to be who they are. So it is, as always, disheartening when you see online pile-ons criticising how anybody looks. The most pertinent this week being the actress Jennifer Love-Hewitt appearing at a film premiere not as she was in her 20s but — shock! horror! — like the woman in her mid-40s that she is. Body shaming is by no means an exclusively male endeavour, or even an exclusively adult one, but letting it go unchallenged seems like a disservice to, well, everyone. And we should note that this is the case when it comes to Love-Hewitt, with many people pushing back against the negative comments and praising her for her more natural look. While there is something to be commended in rejecting Hollywood stereotypes of what a woman — or indeed man — should look like, ultimately the positive portrayal and inclusion of different body shapes is far more important. The simple act of confidently existing should be enough, but even a cursory glance online will show that the act of existence can be seen by too many people as almost a personal affront. The battle to meet expectations for looks on screen has also seen some male stars going to absurd lengths. Chris Hemsworth has a special routine to drain fluid from his arms to make them look more muscular on camera, while Hugh Jackman typically doesn't drink for two days before shirtless scenes as Wolverine. None of this is healthy or relatable, yet some actors and actresses feel they have no choice because of whatever role they play or persona they have created. The objectification of the body, while it has sadly always been with us, seems to feel more weaponised in an era where influencers and grifters dribble detritus onto the phones of teens and adults alike 24/7. Certainly, there is an air of entitlement to judge, even if doing so shows the judges to be deficient in a great many qualities from empathy to discernment. The lesson, surely, is that for all our positive reinforcements, we as a species have a long way to go before we can truly be said to embrace our differences. Read More Irish Examiner view: International aid has a long way to go yet
