Activists Make 'Vomiting' Protests In Ireland To Save Polluted Lough Neagh Lake

Climate activists from across Ireland came together last weekend to show solidarity against the unethical activities of Moy Park, a chicken factory farm. The company has previously been under investigation for the violation of several environmental laws, specifically for the pollution of Lough Neah, the largest lake on the island of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The campaign against pollution

The campaign involved a dramatic display in front of the factory gates of a Moy Park chicken factory in Co Armagh. The participants imitated vomiting green sludge to exhibit the dangers of blue-green algae to health and the environment. The protest was organized by ''an anti-capitalist climate action group'' called Sli Eile, and attended by more than 100 activists from all over the country.

BBC reported that the aim of the action was mainly to call out the ''major role of factory farming in killing Logh Neagh and accelerating climate breakdown.''

The accused company, Moy Park, is primarily a chicken factory farm that supplies branded chicken products to customers throughout the UK Ireland, and even Europe. Moy Park is owned by the world's largest animal protein firm, Brazil-based JBS.

The issue

Earlier this year, the BBC found that the company had breached trade effluent consents, in addition to violating legal limits associated with multiple potential pollutants, such as ammonia and oils, fats, and grease. This pollution has fueled the growth of ''toxic cyanobacteria'' at Lough Neah, or blue-green algae. NI Water has previously revealed that raw and untreated sewage and trade effluent spills take place 25,000 times every year.

The New York State Department of Health claims that blue-green algae, if consumed, causes diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting; skin, eye, or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties. In addition to this, pet and livestock illnesses/deaths can happen if animals consume large amounts of water containing blooms, scums, or benthic mats.

However, Moy Park told BBC Spotlight that this algal growth in Lough Neah is not linked to any one sector or firm, but is rather a complex issue.

The aim of this protest, ''Save Lough Neah'' was thus essentially a call to action for Moy Park to take accountability for and mitigate the environmental degradation of the lake, one that is potentially fatal.