The Irish have a very similar history to Natives in North America. The Irish were slaughtered in English military campaigns. Their churches were burned. The Irish were left to starve after all the food was shipped to England, leaving only rotting potatoes for the Irish to eat. The English passed laws to make speaking Irish illegal. Only recently is Irish being taught in schools again. The English tried to destroy a culture and a people and failed. With such a strong similarity between both cultures unity is needed to assist one another in our struggles.As well as foster trust and communication between Indigenous and Irish peoples, is a means of building a bridge and solidarity between Indigenous and Irish peoples to support each other in our causes and struggles. We are in favor of Indigenous and Irish peoples rights, social justice and freedom for both our nations. Tara Hill and the Sacred Landscape of Skryne Valley, Ireland Tara Hill, dating from the Neolithic period, was a henge monument, such as Stonehenge and Woodhenge, used for ritual and/or astronomical observations. Recent excavations on the hill have uncovered post holes suggesting the hill was surrounded by a wooden palisade. The site is featured in numerous stories as the abode of the most powerful Celtic god, Lub and goddess, Medb and the seat of the high-kings of Ireland. It is part of a vast sacred landscape associated with other well-known Neolithic monuments including Loughcrew, Four Knocks, Uisneach, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Boyne Valley: Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. It is estimated that there are 140 - 1,000 uninvestigated related sites in Skyne Valley. Tara Hill continues to be used ceremonially in present times. The Threat: The Irish government has embarked on a massive highway building plan, the largest in Europe. These roadways are threatening many ancient sites, including Tara Hill and Skryne Valley. The M3 Motorway Scheme, as part of the larger development plan, proposes a 4-lane freeway through the Tara-Skryne Valley with an interchange just north of the Hill of Tara. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2006. How you can help: Please write polite letters to the following officials asking them to stop the M3 Motorway Project because of the sacred, historic, and archaeological landscape features present at Tara Hill and the Skyrne Valley. Irish National Commission for UNESCO Dept. of Education & Science, Int'l Section Marlborough Street Dublin 1, IRELAND Dept. of Transport Transport House Kildare Street Dublin 2, IRELAND Minister Mary Hanafin T.D. Dept. of Education & Science Marlborough Street Dublin 1, IRELAND Clerk of the Joint Committee on Transport Leinster House Kildare Street Dublin 2 IRELAND