Personalise your news feed by choosing your favourite topics of interest
Get Started
No Thanks
Create your own newsfeed
Choose 3 or more topics that you want to see.
Irish News
Politics
International
Opinion
Living
Family
Technology
Business
GAA
Soccer
Rugby
MMA
Watercooler
Going Out
Screens
Quizzes
Change Generation
Create my newsfeed
Advertisement
This site uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising.
By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies described in our Cookies Policy.
You may change your settings at any time but this may impact on the functionality of the site.
To learn more see our Cookies Policy.
People in the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta have suffered thousands of oil spills – which have ruined livelihoods, public health and the environment. Why are they not being listened to? Because oil companies control information about the spills.
THE SOUTHBOUND LANES of the M8 motorway have been closed due to an oil spillage on the road.
The closure affects the whole area between Junction 3 near Abbeyleix, Co Laois and Junction 8 near Cashel, Co Tipperary. It’s expected the road will be closed for a number of hours.
Diversions are in place and motorists have been advised to use alternative routes.
The Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 saw millions of gallons of crude oil spill into Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Indian authorities say the ship is toxic.
The company reports that it has raised its quarterly dividend by 14 per cent, even after making payments to compensate for the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The wreck had been described as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster even before the rear section of the ship, lashed by pounding seas, broke away overnight.
Salvage crews were forced to stop their work for about a week because of severe weather and have a long way to go to clear all 1,400 tons of remaining fuel from the stricken vessel.
The captain of the cargo ship that spilled oil off the New Zealand coast has been charged over the incident – which has been described as the country’s biggest maritime environmental disaster.
People have been advised to stay away from the water after the oil spill spreads to a beach in New Zealand. Oil-covered wildlife have been rescued in the area.
In this evening’s Fix: Turkey ignores Gaddafi, the Cloyne report may finally see the light, the Leaving Cert takes a bashing, and why grocery-shopping is best done in high heels…
MOTORISTS IN DUBLIN CITY CENTRE are advised to drive with extreme caution following a massive oil spill stretching from Christchurch to the North Quays and Dame Street. With the roads already slick from a day of misty weather, AA Roadwatch has asked all motorists – including those leaving the Croke Park area – to be as vigilant as possible.
1. BP’s CEO said he wanted his life back – after 11 people died on the rig
BP’s CEO Tony Hayward apologised for the “disruption” the oil spill had caused to the lives of people living along the Gulf coast. Then he explained that he wanted the whole thing over because, he said, “I’d like my life back.”
2. And then he went on holidays
Tony Hayward enjoyed some nice oil-free waters when taking part in a yacht race off the coast of southern England last month. A BP spokesperson said he was taking a break from overseeing BP’s efforts to stem the leak, before the leak was actually stemmed.
3. It got creative with photos of its clean-up efforts
BP released edited photos which seemed to show the hectic efforts being made in BP HQ to plug the leak. Turns out three of the screens in the crisis command centre were not actually running any video feeds at the time.
4. It turned the alarms off just before the accident
The alarm system on the Deepwater Horizon was partially shut down on the day the rig exploded, according to an electronics technician who worked on the rig. Speaking to an investigative panel in the US, the technician said that the company didn’t want a false alarm waking people up at night.
5. It got caught up in the Lockerbie bombing.
BP has been trying to dissociate itself from any suggestions that it influenced Scotland’s decision to release the Lockerbie bomber. The company admitted to lobbying the UK government over a Libya prisoner transfer deal, but said it did not specifically push for al-Megrahi’s release.
A MAJOR OIL spill in Dalian City, northeast China, now covers over 170 square miles. Authorities have sent 40 oil skimming vessels and 23 tonnes of oil-eating bacteria to the area.
Two pipelines exploded at an oil storage depot in Dalian harbour last Friday, and a huge fire burned there throughout the weekend.
The local government said 1,000 local fishing boats were ordered to assist the clean-up operation. AFP reports that many of those mobilised to help are working without protective gear and some people were seen using their bare hands to clean up the oil.
One fireman drowned on Tuesday after being struck by a strong wave as he attempted to clean a boat pump.
Greenpace says the spill holds “serious consequences for the coastal ecosystem” of the area, and said that there is no such things as a complete clean-up.
In January, a broken pipeline in the northwest of the country released 150,000 litres of diesel oil into the Yellow River, a major water source for millions of people.
Dalian is one of China’s main oil-producing and distributing centres. China recently overtook the US as the world’s number one energy user. Provisional data from the International Energy Agency shows that China’s energy demand doubled over the last ten years.
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said that every child should be taught the words of the Irish national anthem – Amhrán na bhFiann – in primary school.
He made the comments after taking part in St Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago, telling TheJournal.ie that it would be a good idea.
“So, I think that would be good,” he said. “I don’t think I would go down the American route, you know the pledge of allegiance at the start of the day, I’m not sure that would really fit in with the Irish culture. But the words of the national anthem – I think that is something every kid should learn in primary school.”
So, what do you think? Should every child be taught the words of Amhrán na bhFiann in primary school?
Cloudy with a brief shower or two
Max: 10 °C
Min: 6 °C
Variable clouds with a passing shower
Max: 13 °C
Min: 8 °C
Cloudy with a shower in places
Max: 15 °C
Min: 8 °C
