SEA LEVELS

DRINKS ALL AROUND

Photo: Sunset on Lisfannon beach, buncrana.

We hear a lot in the news about rising sea levels and global warming. Well, you can guarantee that someone will benefit from it other then sun cream manufacturers.

Brewers in Greenland appear to be going with the flow of the melting icecaps by harnessing one of their homeland's fastest growing—but least celebrated—natural resources: melted Arctic ice. On July 31 a team of canny entrepreneurs unveiled Greenland Beer, ale brewed with water melted from Greenland's ice cap, at a public tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Staffed by indigenous Greenlanders and located some 390 miles (625 kilometres) south of the Arctic Circle. Greenland Brewhouse is the world's first Inuit microbrewery. And if reaction from tipplers at the tasting was any indication, the brewers may be on to something. One taster seemed to think that the beer tasted soft and smooth, and attributed this to the fresh melted ice. The water, the brewers say, is the beer's key ingredient, having been locked away for more than 2,000 years in Greenland's vast ice sheet.

“Today, with all the pollution … you cannot get cleaner water than melted ice-cap water,” Greenland Brewhouse co-founder Salik Hard. That’s very reassuring! Greenlands glaciers are melting twice as fast as they were five years ago and the melt could be irreversible by 2100. If scientists are right, the brewery will probably never have to worry about a shortage (and we’ll all be too drunk to care).

BUNCRANA DEVELOPMENT

There has been a lot of interest in the proposed development at the shorefront in Buncrana. Councillors are divided and accusations are being thrown around. I have a couple of letters here and I would be more than happy to hear your views on the matter.

SHIPS AHOY!

Ian
I am told that the Swilly is one of the deepest estuaries in the world. Deep enough to accommodate even the largest of ocean liners. I find it interesting then that with all the talk of developing the shorefront that no one has mentioned the possibility of accommodating these floating hotels. These visiting mobile worlds can potentially house up to 3000 people at a time, all I might add with money in their pockets. If the plan for the shorefront included facilities for the sea farers it is only a short walk to the shops. This way the coastline would remain the domain of us all and still be a welcoming attraction on the seaward approach to the town. The regular stream of visitors will bring far more jobs to the area and boost the economy for the long term. Like Derry, Buncrana is facing a turning point in its development. Surely the councillors and planners would prefer to be remembered for creating something beautiful and long term instead of perpetuating the ridiculous notion that towns have to accept any planning ideas from developers who want to make a quick buck and leave the residents to stare at an empty block of holiday flats and, as far as I am aware, a non existent anchor superstore. F.R. Buncrana


Dear Ian

There are coastal towns that are really suffering visually and economically because of the trend for inappropriate building schemes. I personally find it a bit sad to see thriving communities having to endure the narrow field of vision that some developers and planners have. I also find it upsetting to hear that anyone opposed to a particular development are accused of not having the towns interest at heart. My family has been in Inishowen for four hundred years and hopefully will continue for a long time to come. There are alternatives to the standard norm of sprawling developments; some might say more appropriate ones that benefit the whole community, the sea world idea wasn’t bad. Leisure facilities would be the most appropriate for our seaside town. Let’s hope that a compromise is found for the development at the shorefront, which ensures that our quality of life in the town remains intact. Thanks D.N. Buncrana

Dear Ian

I read the comments made by the Chamber of Commerce chairman last week. I particularly feel that saying, “Leave the planning to the planners” is a reflection on how some people do not take local responsibility on important issues such as this. Surely it is the people who live here who best see what solutions are needed to keep the economy of Buncrana flowing. The decision makers are presently Jansu Ltd, based in Dublin, Bannon Commercial Properties, based in Dublin and the planners also based in Dublin. Gone are the days when a town such as Buncrana has to settle for the first offer on the table with no consideration for the well being of the place. We are in a strong position where we can choose to make our own decisions locally and attract the investment that will be good for the town. F.N. Buncrana

Environmental