A short Irish story about greenwashing and double standards in seven pictures

This story / page is available in: German

It’s not just the deer that roar in Killarney National Park on the first weekend in May. Lots of big boys and a few women chase through the park and the neighbouring landscapes in pimped-up rally cars. Even the Healy Pass and the Beara Peninsula are not spared. The Rally of The Lakes takes its toll. This year, 220 teams with 220 racing cars are taking part. The noise of the engines and squealing tyres can be heard for miles, the stench of exhaust fumes wafts over the national park. Motor boys just wanna have a bit fun. Foxes, deer, badgers, otters and martens should just cover their ears. A short Irish story about loss, disorientation, greenwashing and double standards in seven pictures. Pictures 2, 4 and 6 are taken from a National Park brochure published by the Irish government, the others were taken yesterday on a hiking tour.

“In 1969, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended that all governments agree to reserve the term ‘National Park’ to areas sharing the following characteristics:

Where one or several ecosystems are not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation; where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites and habitats are of special scientific, educational and recreational interest or which contain a natural landscape of great beauty;

Where the highest competent authority of the country has taken steps to prevent or eliminate as soon as possible exploitation or occupation in the whole area and to enforce effectively the respect of ecological, geomorphological or aesthetic features which have led to its establishment;

Where visitors are allowed to enter, under special conditions, for inspirational, educational, cultural and recreational purposes.

It is the policy of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, endorsed by successive governments, to abide by the criteria and standards for National Parks as set by the IUCN.”

(From the website for the seven Irish National Parks*)