1. @whittledaway and @think_or_swim are very possibly the two commentators on environmental affairs in Ireland for whom I have the greatest respect.

I have a question for them. It is not meant in any way as attacking or adversarial, but rather as a part of the conversation...

2. @whittledaway posted this excellent piece on his blog yesterday, which hits many nails right on the head https://iwt.ie/the-left-is-right/

3. For example: 'Is it possible to believe that the parties of the centre-right will ever take climate and biodiversity issues seriously? The answer to this must surely be: no. The story of economic liberalism, which parties like FF/FG were weaned off, has no place for nature.'

4. And: 'Modern capitalism has a total disregard for non-human life or natural systems which have sustained our civilisation for millennia, merely acknowledging its destruction as an ‘externality’'.

5. Similarly, @think_or_swim lauded as 'the best opening paragraph in an ⁦ @IrishTimes article this year' one which directly tied together the covid pandemic, climate breakdown, and 'reckless capitalist practices', all of which I'd strongly agree with: https://twitter.com/think_or_swim/status/1309838901725614080

6. @whittledaway again: 'A poll published last week said 50% of 18-34 year olds support Sinn Féin. A mere 4% backed the Greens. Why has the greatest youth movement of our generation not been attracted to the one political party that has been championing their cause for 40 years?'

7. Could the real answer to that question be that young people feel utterly betrayed by a 'Green' party that put FF+FG, the two biggest neoliberal parties (ie those who espouse the very ideology causing planetary collapse), back into power, after they voted to get them out?

8. So my question to @whittledaway and @think_or_swim
is this: If neoliberal capitalism lies at the heart of ongoing climate breakdown and ecological collapse, why do they continue to support the main supposedly environmental party in keeping the two big neolib parties in power?

9. I'll finish by repeating what I said at the outset: I have only the greatest of respect for both @whittledaway and @think_or_swim, but think they're getting it very wrong on supporting the Greens being in this coalition.
I'd be interested to hear their thoughts... thanks.

10. Last point: as environmentalists, we're never going to all agree on everything. Dialogue and debate is essential to finding the best ways forward, and this thread is meant in that spirit!