By Ruth Coppinger TD
The announcement today by Manna that it intends to suspend its fast food drone operations is a victory for community campaigns over big tech. This announcement shows that new technologies that are worsening people’s lives for corporate profits don’t have to be accepted as inevitable. People power has won out over a multi-million dollar corporation and the effective privatisation of the skies.
Disturbing and invasive technology
Commercial drone deliveries of coffee and takeaways have caused huge noise problems in residential areas, as well as loss of privacy, wildlife concerns and job losses. Residents were forced last year to get organised in campaigns – such as Drone Action D15 and campaigns in Cork – to challenge this company, which had no consultation with communities before unleashing its highly invasive technology and which operated out of many unauthorised bases. It seems the normal planning rules didn’t apply to Manna, which was allowed free rein for over a year in Dublin 15, its first pilot area.
TDs, the local authorities, the Irish Aviation Authority all shrugged their shoulders. Residents who didn’t want noisy drones hovering over their home or garden were portrayed as luddites. The message of tech inevitability was sent out. Enterprise Ireland gave Manna grants, and the media wrote puff pieces about this ‘plucky start-up’.
Meanwhile, residents had to put up with a real erosion of their quality of life so a coffee or burger could be delivered aerially, rather than by delivery riders on electric bikes.
Community action
It was only when residents came together and organised campaigns that things began to change. In Dublin, a meeting I held in Dublin 15 last summer led to residents establishing their own campaign group, Drone Action D15. A newsletter produced and distributed over the summer got massive reaction, leading to hundreds of residents requesting Manna ‘no fly zones’ over their homes. The residents in DAD15 did incredibly diligent work: informing the community, challenging planning permissions and retentions, meeting Fingal Council, replying to positive press Manna got, organising protests, and a packed meeting of 250 in the local area.
Residents in Dundrum and Cork also began to challenge Manna starting up in their areas. It was this that began to change the mood music among TDs and councillors.
Solidarity councillors Helen Redwood, John Burtchaell and Brian Mc Carthy all played an active and vital role.
People power works
Ordinary people should take heart from this that nothing is inevitable, that activism can challenge big business.
We will watch and see that Manna and similar companies don’t continue unnecessary drone deliveries. Drones have massive positive potential for society – but commercial fast food delivery in residential areas is not one of them, and we now need legislation stating this.
