A Chara, - As a Green Party/ Comhaontas Glas TD, I was very interested to read the views of Dr. William Reville on a perceived "reaction against science" from "committed environmentalists" (September 2nd).
I agree with his conclusion that science is the greatest potential ally of the Green Movement. After all, the Ecology Party is what the Green Party was first called. Ecology is the most challenging of all scientific disciplines. The interconnectedness of all life still eludes human understanding, in the main. Managing - this complex system of life, which is what "economics" is supposed to do, is a blindfolded exercise unless ecology informs the decisions about the Earth we humans are managing.
To me, therefore, the Green movement is informed by science and should more accurately be called the ecological movement, to highlight the fact that it is not just environmental, but relates to every aspect of life. However Greens are focused not just on the here and now, but need to consider our children's future too. This is where science becomes inadequate and political decisions need to be taken in a precautionary way, to protect the quality of life for generations not yet born.
Having said all that, had political decisions been informed by science in the past, the Earth would not be in the mess in which it is at present. - Le gach dea
Dail Eireann,
Baile Atha Cliath 2.