Stab Magazine | Irish Surfers Tell Trump To Pound Sand...Literally

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Irish Surfers Tell Trump To Pound Sand…Literally

Four-year battle for Doughmore Beach ends in loss for President of the United States.

news // Mar 20, 2020
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

This almost has to do with surfing.

Any loss for Donald Trump is a win for humanity. And while it’s hard to beat the bellicose orange hodad, a dedicated group of surfers and environmentalists in Ireland just corndogged the fucker. 

Four years ago, before he was the leader of the free world, Trump had plans to construct coastal armoring at Doughmore Beach to protect his precious 18-hole Doonbeg golf resort. And now, after much legal wrangling, this week, Irish authorities officially rejected his plans. 

“What was most rewarding was that the Appeals Board followed the scientific advice and set a precedent that will help to protect the long-term natural evolution of all of Ireland’s remaining great sand dune systems against even the most powerful development interests,” said Tony Lowes, Director of Friends of the Irish Environment.

The fight started back in 2016 when the Trump’s proposal to build nearly 3km long, 15-foot tall seawall through the fragile dune system. Locals and environmental groups, including Save The Waves, the West Coast Surf Club, the Irish Surfing Association and Surfrider Europe, said no.

They dug their heels in the sand and stood up to the development, which would have eventually led to the erosion and loss of the beach. A petition was circulated, which garnered over 100,000 signatures, and over 700 letters were written. 

Now, through this dedicated grassroots effort, and thanks to An Bord Pleanála — Ireland’s national planning appeal board — Trump doesn’t get his way.

“We want the cleanest air, we want crystal clean water, and that’s what we’re doing and what we’re working on so hard,” Trump said last summer.

But like everything that comes out of his mouth, it’s a lie. Pure conman bullshit. Dude’s environmental record is appalling. 

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are trending upwards after being in decline. There are more high air pollution days in the U.S. now than during the Obama Administration. 

“The quality of our air has gotten worse under this president after decades of improvement. Donald Trump is the worst president in U.S. history for protecting the air and our climate,” Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, has said. 

At the end of the day, a win is a win, and the Irish beach community beating back the Tangerine Tornado sends a powerful message to everybody fighting for the health and security of their own slice of paradise — he can be beaten.

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