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A recently received e-mail from The European Union Environment Commissioner (Ms Margot Wallstrom) has given rise to some thoughts relating to "elected representatives" - and to some associated subjects which might usefully be discussed in the run-up to the May 2002 General Election in The Republic of Ireland ??? :

"listening to people (versus ignoring them)",   " helping people (versus hindering them)",   "personal responsibility (versus collective irresponsibility)",   healthy attitudes and approaches towards solving problems (versus unhealthy ones)",   "EXCESSIVE self-interest (at both personal and group level) ", 
" Honesty / Openness / Willingness (to try) ",  ....

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A copy of the e-mail below can also be seen on the Internet at www page location:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/General_Election_May_2002_.htm

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----- Original Message -----

Dear Ms Wallstrom,

I think it was very good of you to personally confirm that you are aware of the local heritage and environmental problems I have reported to you.

It seems very healthy to me that you appear no have no difficulty in openly taking responsibility for the information in question: some of which is extremely serious (I believe). 

An electronic copy of the text of your letter of February 8th 2002 has now been placed on one of my Internet pages. It can be seen at the following www address:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/EU_Environment_Commissioner/Margot_Wallstrom_.htm

I hope it was okay for me to do this. If not, please let me know.

I noticed yesterday (for the first time) that you now have a web site of your own. I think it is very nice (and very useful), and I have added a link to it from the above mentioned www page.

I PARTICULARLY like the way you have made your contact information available on your web site.  As can be seen from several of my Internet pages, and for reasons best known to themselves, it appears (to me) that politicians here in the Republic of Ireland have truly enormous difficulties LISTENING (in an effective way) to some of the things that ordinary citizens try to point out to them. This general problem seems to be greatly compounded by the fact that senior State lawyers appear to have a similar problem.  In circumstances such as these, and at a time when "HEADS IN THE SAND" policies seem to prevail, I wish you and your work colleagues to know that I get much comfort from the fact that it is now easy for myself (and others) to contact people in the kind of very senior, and very responsible, European Union job-position which you hold: as (and when) the need arises.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that local resident Mr. Brendan Kelly informed me yesterday that he has now received Post Office confirmation of delivery for his petition of February 1st 2002 to The European Parliament (sent by registered letter): in connection with the super dump which Celtic Waste plan to construct in Kilconnell (which is very close to where we both live). A copy of the text of his petition can now be seen at the following www page address:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/petition1/feb-1-2002.htm

Sincerely,

Mr. William Finnerty.

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"St Albans"
New Inn
Ballinasloe
County Galway
Republic of Ireland.

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E-MAIL:   wfinnerty@eircom.net
WEB SITE:   http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/
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