Jun 29, 2012

Daubenton's Bat Waterway Survey - 16th July Millstreet Country Park

For your information.

Please also note that places are filling up so please reserve your place on the Millstreet Park event asap.

Gill

F.Y.I

I am told this is not suitable for children.  The main aim is to train people to get out and survey Daubenton Bats over the summer months.


All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey Training Courses

Please come along to whichever training event suits you. For new volunteers, waterway sites will be allocated on the night of the training. For any queries please contact Tina at info@batconservationireland.org 086 4049468.

All training courses are organised by Bat Conservation Ireland in association with local biodiversity officers, wildlife groups, heritage officers, NPWS and county bat groups. Training courses involve a 2-hour indoor session followed by 1-hour demonstration at a local waterway.

 County Cork

Monday 16th July 2012 @8.00 pm, Millstreet Country Park, Millstreet, Co. Cork. http://www.millstreetcountrypark.com/ for directions.

Like us on Facebook to keep up-to-date on events or register your interest in participating by clicking the following link http://www.batconservationireland.org/php/monitoring_daub.php.

Press Release 29th June 2012

Bat Conservation Ireland

www.batconservationireland.org

info@batconservationireland.org

It is the 7th year of the All Ireland Duabenton’s Bat Waterway Survey and we are seeking volunteers across the island. Are you interested in surveying your local waterway for Daubenton’s bat on 2 nights during the month of August? If so, join us for free training at number of different centres during the month of July (for dates and details of training venues please see http://www.batconservationireland.org/php/events.php). This training will involve an indoor lecture followed by a practical session using bat detectors on a local river.

This survey is part a monitoring scheme recording the activity of the Daubenton’s bat. These yearly surveys allow us to determine whether the population of this bat species is increasing or decreasing. The more volunteer teams we have the more accurate our information is. Currently there are four teams in County Kilkenny but there is plenty room for more. In 2011, 229 waterways were surveyed across the island. Your help is needed to increase coverage for the island.

The Daubenton’s bat is known as the water bat because of its preference to roost and feed close to water such as rivers and lakes. It is easy to identify because of all of our 9 resident species of bat, it is the only species that will be seen continuously skimming the water surface as it is feeding on insects. Surveyors will be in teams of 2 people. Bat Conservation Ireland will provide the use of a bat detector for the survey.  No prior experience is needed.

The All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey is funded by the NPWS, Department of Arts, Heritage and Local Government and NIEA, Northern Ireland.

If you would like more information or would like to register, please click onto the following internet web link:

http://www.batconservationireland.org/php/monitoring_daub.php

PLEASE SEND TO PEOPLE YOU THINK THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN THESE COURSES.

Bat Conservation Ireland Ltd.

Registered Charity No. 13016

Company Registration No. 494343

 

Ulex House, Drumheel,

Lisduff, Virginia, Co. Cavan

 

www.batconservationireland.org

info@batconservationireland.org

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 28, 2012

Smarter Travel new National Journey Planner launched today!

The National Transport Authority’s new National Journey Planner has gone live on TransportforIreland.ie today (June 27, 2012).  The service helps people plan personal journeys, door-to-door, anywhere in Ireland, using public transport and / or walking.  There is also an App available for Android now, with the iPhone App coming very soon.

 

Click through to the site and you will see that the National Journey Planner is unlike anything seen in Ireland before:

  • It’s national – covering all 26 counties, plus stops from RoI services in Northern Ireland
  • It’s multi-operator, with bus, rail, tram, taxis and ferries included – private operators as well as the CIE companies. 
  • It has a huge scope, with 9,600 bus stops across Ireland included, 750 different routes, 152 train stations, and route and timetable information from 120 different transport providers. 
  • It gives fully mapped-out route information, printable timetables and details of overall journey timesall in one place
  • Advanced Settings” feature allow you to set your own preferred walking time and speed, your willingness to make interchanges between services, or any preference for one travel mode over others

 

Coming next on the site will be

  • Real Time Passenger Information inputs
  • Rural Transport programme / demand responsive services
  • Fares information for your journey
  • Cycle planner

 

I would urge you to try the Journey Planner out, and to share this link with your constituents and organisations. Tell us what you think of the site. What do you like about how it works? What could be better? Have we missed anything locally – a short-cut or a blocked walkway? 

 

We’ve set up a special feedback channel on TransportforIreland.ie, and we’re actively encouraging as much feedback from members of the public as we can; our special technical team is in place to use this feedback to fine-tune and improve the site further. 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

___________________

Gerry Murphy

Chief Executive

National Transport Authority

 

 

 

PASCAL calls for skills development for green jobs

 

Governments and employers must act to help people develop skills for green jobs

Written by Mike Osborne on 23 Jun 2012 12:41 pm

The greening of the European economy, as outlined in the EU 2020 strategy, will have profound effects on the labour market. Yet not enough is being done to make sure people are acquiring the right skills.

Cedefop’s new report Green skills and environmental awareness in vocational education and training shows that difficulties of employers to influence the development of new, green qualifications in VET and the uncertainty surrounding regulations and policies are slowing down developments towards a greener economy. Learning providers report difficulties in understanding the skill needs of employers and employees.

read more

 

 

 

No Fracking Ireland Present Greg Palast

No Fracking Ireland Present Greg Palast

Vultures' Picnic: In Pursuit of Petroleum Pigs, Power Pirates and High-Finance Predators.

 

"Doggedly independent, undaunted by power. Palast's stories bite, they're so relevant they threaten to alter history"
-Chicago Tribune


Enniskillen
Russell and Donnelly Cafe, Monday July 2nd - 1pm

Carrick-on-Shannon
Bush Hotel, Monday July 2nd - 8pm

Dublin
Connolly Books, Temple Bar, Tuesday July 3rd - 1pm

Dublin
The Ireland Institute, 27 Pearse St. D2, Tuesday July 3rd - 7.30pm

*Admission Free

 

Palast is recipient of the George Orwell Courage in Journalism Prize for his BBC television documentary, Bush Family Fortunes.

With his most recent publication Vulture's Picnic - the New York Times bestselling author of Armed Madhouse offers a globetrotting, Sam Spade-style investigation that blows the lid off the oil industry, the banking industry, and the governmental agencies that aren't regulating either.

This is the story of the corporate vultures that feed on the weak and ruin our planet in the process-a story that spans the globe and decades.

For Vultures' Picnic Palast built a team that reads like a casting call for a Hollywood thriller - a Swiss multilingual investigator, a punk journalist, and a gonzo cameraman-to reveal how environmental disasters like the Gulf oil spill, the Exxon Valdez, and lesser-known tragedies such as Tatitlek and Torrey Canyon are caused by corporate corruption, failed legislation, and, most interestingly, veiled connections between the financial industry and energy titans.

He is bringing his insights into the global hydrofracking rush to Ireland at the request of local anti-fracking campaigners. He, as a long term resident of New York, has had a front row seat in a conflict raging there between multinational oil and gas companies and a mass campaign who do not want the Marcellus Shale to be fracked.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/gregpalast

A Chapter from 'Vulture's Picnic' http://www.gregpalast.com/vulturespicnic/documents/Vultures_Picnic_Chapter1_Goldfinger.pdfWebsite: http://www.gregpalast.com/

 

Greg will be available for interviews/radio appearances in the run-up to this event.

For further information please contact : 071 9667360 / 087 3623360 / 087 7409102

Press image of Greg at this link : http://www.gregpalast.com/vulturespicnic/images/greg_phone_highres.jpg

Full biog of Greg at this link : http://www.gregpalast.com/wp-content/uploads/About-Greg-Palast.pdf

 

 





 

 

 

Jun 27, 2012

Irish Wildlife Trust Event at Millstreet on 7th July 2012

June update

Next Cork Branch IWT event. Millstreet Country Park.

Date:  07/07/12.

Venue: Millstreet Country Park.

Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm. 

 

Activity for the day.

Safari Bus tour 1 hour

Audio Visual Presentation 15mins

Phenology Garden viewing (during safari tour) 10 mins. 

 Cost: 5 euro per person. 

 Meet at Visitor Centre at 10:30am

 Facilitator: Lorna O'Mahony

 

PLEASE RESERVE A PLACE BY CONTACTING CORKBRANCH@GMAIL.COM BY 5TH JULY.

 

Please also don’t forget to submit any sightings of ladybirds on www.biology.ie

 

 

 

National Bat Count

Dear surveyor,

Just in case you know of a bat roost locally, this week is National Bat Count. It is the third year that this have been running.

The count is going from 24th to 30th June 2012.

 

The National Bat Count Week is a chance for you to count a bat roost known to you and to log the number of bats counted on to our website. There is no need to know the species, but the more information you have, the greater the value of the data.

 

http://www.batconservationireland.org/

to log on your count.

 

Best of luck.

Thanks

Tina

 

 

Bat Conservation Ireland Ltd.

Registered Charity No. 13016

Company Registration No. 494343

 

Ulex House, Drumheel,

Lisduff, Virginia, Co. Cavan

 

www.batconservationireland.org

info@batconservationireland.org

00353 (0) 86 4049468

 

 

 

 

Jun 22, 2012

Cork County Council Adopt a Road Scheme

Cork County Council Adopt a Road Scheme

Adopt A Road Scheme

Cork County Council has introduced an ‘Adopt a Road’ Scheme, which involves a participating Group from the Business or Voluntary/Community Sector adopting a designated stretch of road, for the purpose of removing litter from the roadside verges.

The Scheme will generally apply to road lengths of 1km or more and to both sides of the carriageway.

Litter Maintenance Programme
The participating Business or Group agrees a Litter Maintenance Programme with the Council. This would involve arranging for a number of staff or people to collect litter from the roadside verges along the designated stretch of road at an agreed number of times per year, for example four times per year, every 3 months.

Signage
Once an application is approved, Cork County Council will arrange for the provision and erection of agreed Signs at the beginning of the adopted stretch of road verge, highlighting Cork County Council’s name and logo and the name and / or logo of the adopting Business or Community Group.

Benefits of Scheme
The Scheme benefits all parties involved by helping to reduce litter and its associated problems, while advertising and highlighting the efforts of the participating Business or Group.

Contact Details
Any Groups interested in participating in the Scheme should first contact their local Area Engineer’s office, to discuss their proposals. Click here for Contact Details

Application Forms / Advice & Guidance Leaflet

 

 

 

 

News from Rio+20 & Local Sustainability Case Studies

Please check out the link to the latest ICLEI Newsletter with updates from Rio+ 20 - http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/413987/b5483fe5bc/1626003033/69a2272b88/

I’m also attaching a link to the Local Sustainability 2012 Case Studies, having recently visited there, I’m not at all surprised to see that Nantes, France is in there as a European Green City model - https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/LS2012_CASE_STUDIES_www.pdf

 

Regards,

 

Bernie Connolly

Cork Environmental Forum


 

Jun 21, 2012

Planet Re:Think Video from the EEA

This film is well worth checking out.

Regards,

      Bernie

 

Planet RE:think
http://vimeo.com/44248559

About this video
"First cut of Planet RE:Think. The film tells the story of unsustainable resource use, showing the truly global nature of the problem, from environmentally devastating mining in Canada to recycling of electronic waste in India which damages the health of workers. The feature-length film also includes positive examples of ‘green economy’ policies and business models, from Ecuador to South Africa. The film was premiered at the UN Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro on 17 June, 2012."

 

 

Jun 19, 2012

Science Picnic at the Lifetime Lab this Saturday 23rd June

Lifetime Lab will host its first ever science picnic on Saturday June 23rd and admission is free, free, free.

Throughout the day visitors may become environmental detectives investigating interactive exhibits, follow the engineering trail around the old Victorian waterworks, participate in hands on science experiments at the learning zone, join in science magic shows, solve MathsWorks puzzles and build during the KNEX construction challenge.

Discover the garden of giant molecules and interact with Sir John Benson the 19th century Cork City Architect and Engineer At the creation station you can enjoy face painting, science painting, make and do and lots lots lots more activities are planned before you unwind in our playground & relax in our garden.

 

Participants on the day include

·         Lifetime Lab Science & Maths Team

·         Lismore Science Experience

·         Mad About  Science

·         Science Camps Ltd.

·         Professor Baloney and Dr Woo from the Wacky School of Science  

·         The Animal Road Show

·         Red Sandstone Varied Productions (RSVP)

·         Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre

·         Cork Industry Electronics Association

·         Cork Circus

Limited picnic style food will be available or you can bring your own and indoor and outdoor activities are planned so whatever the weather there is something for all to enjoy.

 

For further information, contact Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500

lifetimelab@corkcity.ie  or visit www.lifetimelab.ie

Science Picnic @ Lifetime Lab is run as part of Curious City Cork, a series of city-wide events in Cork in association with Dublin City of Science to inspire creativity, spark innovation and seek answers to Life’s Great Questions.

Mervyn Horgan

Lifetime Lab

Old Waterworks

Lee Road

Cork

021 4941500

http://www.facebook.com/lifetimelab

Twitter @lifetimelabcork

 

 

 

Jun 18, 2012

Convergence "Collaborating for the Future We Want" Wednesday 20th June

 

Dear all,

I know some of you will not be joining us and many of you are already booked in to attend on Wednesday. 

 

The updated details are below, please share with your colleagues as there are still spaces left. The values approach is creating a lot of interest and with Tom Crompton coming over to join us it is going to be great.

 

See some of you in City Hall.

 

Thanks,

Davie 

 

 

 


20th June, Dublin City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Organised by Cultivate as part of the Festival of Transition, which is taking place across Europe coinciding with the first day of Rio +20, the UN Conference marking the 20th Anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. 

Booking advised convergence@cultivate.ie
 
10.30 - 12.30 Green Travel Incubator * A free event as part of Bike Week
An innovative process highlighting a number of green travel projects and providing support for projects and businesses is the sustainable transport sector. This event will generate rapid peer-to-peer input to help take breakthrough ideas to the next level.
 
14.00 -17.00 Conversations for the Future We Want * €15 
This afternoon session will showcase breakthrough ideas and bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore our understanding of cultural values and consider how we can best collaborate to achieve the future we want.

 

Breakthrough Ideas for the Future We Want Short 

Short presentations on ideas that represent cutting-edge innovation, collaboration and sustainability

Claiming our Future - 'Building value-based coalitions across sectors'

Community Garden Network - 'Connecting local community based growing initiatives''
Better Building Challenge - 'broadening perspectives on what we mean by performance'
Cloughjordan Ecovillage - 'the building block of sustainability is value-based community'
Intergenerational Year - "promoting  active engagement, understanding and exchange between the generations"
Trailblazers - 'Illuminating the way breakthroughs happen'

Conversation Provocation by Tom Crompton, co-author of 'Common Cause: The Case for Working with our Cultural Values'. Tom will give a short presentation on the importance of cultural values in driving change, and at the ways those values are shaped. This understanding reveals a major connection between a vast array of major issues – sustainability, racism, human rights, community welfare, climate change, youth and older people exclusion and biodiversity loss.

 

Intergenerational Conversations for the Future We Want Using an interactive, positive and engaging format this session will bring representatives from government, local authorities, business, civil society, NGOs and communities as well as older and younger people together to examine values more closely and to explore opportunities to bring about lasting, systemic change.

 

http://convergence.cultivate.ie
Bookings convergence@cultivate.ie 

 

 

Jun 15, 2012

Ladybird Workshop at Fota this Sunday

There are a few places left on the ladybird workshop at Fota Wildlife Park this Sunday.

This event is free and open to everyone. Come and find out what ladybirds you have in your garden

and how you can help us in finding out what ladybirds we have in Cork City and County.

There are few records on ladybirds and we need to know what we have as there was a sighting

last year of the Harlequin ladybird which is non native and predates upon the other ladybird species.

 

Further information is below. Please email corkbranch@gmail.com asap. if you are interested.

Gill

 

LADYBIRD WORKSHOP

Led by Dr Stephen McCormack  Beetle expert

Paul Whelan  www.biology.ie

Venue: Fota Wildlife Park, Education Centre, Cobh.

Directions. Go to the main entrance and a) either ask for the education centre, go through the gates, keep to your left or b) When facing the main entrance, walk to the left of the gates and there should be a door open by a wire fence. That is the education centre. The wildlife park itself is signposted from the Cork to Rosslare Road about 10 mins from Cork City.

Please note there is no access to Fota Wildlife Park on the day.

 Agenda for the day

 10.30 Registration

 11.00 Introduction to the workshop

 11.10 Introduction to ladybirds

          What do they look like?

          Where can they be found?

          How do they live/their lifecycles

          Threats and predators

           Survey equipment

 12.00 How to record the survey?

 12.30 lunch. Tea/Coffee. Sandwiches are provided

 13.30  Walk around the areas outside the park to find ladybirds

 Bring warm, waterproof clothing and footwear for walking.

Any problems on the day please contact Gill at 0872282040.

 

 

 

View Bicycle Art at Sundays Well Boys NS on Monday

 

Monday 18th June

Sundays Well Boys National School on Blarney Road will be holding a launch of their Cycle Parking which they received as part of the SMILES Project in conjunction with Cork City Council. As part of the project, students undertook cycle training and have been encouraging sustainable means of travelling to school, holding regular WOW (Walk on Wednesdays) and COW (Cycle Once a Week) Days. The school will open its doors to the public from 11am to 2pm on Monday to display their art work, explain what they did to promote cycling in the school, and will also show off their bicycle part wind chimes, which they made from old abandoned bikes.

 

Starting: 11am   Finish: 2pm

 

See here for pics of work in progress! https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/SW%20BNS%20Bike%20Part%20Art.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 14, 2012

Bike Week Events

Please find following a list of all the Bik Week events. Do come along and enjoy the chance to get on your bike, meet friends old and new, enjoy the refreshments, entertainment and goody bags (especially at the Family Fun Cycles) and perhaps pick up a colourful accessory for your bike!

 

Bike Week Events City & County: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Bike%20Week%20Events%202012.pdf

 

West Cork Cycling Club events: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/WEST%20CORK%20CYCLING%20CLUB%20EVENTS%20DURING%20BIKE%20WEEK.pdf

 

Stewards still needed for Family Fun Cycles 17th & 24th June – please help if you can.

 

 

 

Environmental Awareness - Summer Course for Teachers & NGOs

Please see details of a course being run from 2nd -6th July 2012 on Environmental Awareness Education and Green Schools Active Environmental Education - https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Environmental%20Awareness%20summer%20workshops%20Teachers%20%20NGOs%20July%202012.pdf

 

This is a free course so if you are interested please get in touch.  

Jun 12, 2012

Free - Food Waste Prevention/Master Composter training programme in Mallow.

There will be a new and exciting Food Waste Prevention/Master Composter training programme run in Mallow.

 

The new programme will have food waste prevention as its main emphasis, and participants can also expect full training in all aspects of home composting.

 

The course will consist of 3 Thursday evenings: 21st and 28th of June and 5th of July from 7pm to 9.30pm, as well as Saturday 7th July from approximately 10am to 3pm.

 

The training is free, and all course materials will be provided for participants to keep, but participants will be expected in return to volunteer up to 30 hours of their own time in "spreading the word", passing on the environmental and financial benefits of food waste prevention and home composting in their own communities.

 

Similar programmes have been run, with great success and participant enjoyment, in several locations throughout the country.

 

Further information on the course will be made available at

 

http://www.stopfoodwaste.ie/index.php?id=34&nid=176

 

If you would like to take part in this programme or to find out more, please register your interest by emailing mastercomposterireland@gmail.com or telephone Donal O' Leary on 087 7409304.

 

 

 

 

 

Ratification of the Aarhus Convention etc. - finally!

See following for details of the The Aarhus Convention, the PRTR Protocol and the GMO amendment to the Convention will all be ratified following the Dail vote on Thursday 14th June

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Aarhus%20Convention%20Ratification.pdf

 

 

Help collaborate for a more Sustainable Future

See following from Davie Philip, Cultivate. Please do check out the website and submit any projects you are currently involved with or ideas for the future.  

 

If you are involved in an initiative that helps us transition towards a more sustainable future could you go to the new Convergence web site http://convergence.cultivate.ie and submit the form to submit your initiative to the breakthrough idea gallery we are building. If you know of one please send them the link.

 

The details of the big event on the 20th are here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/20th%20June%20-%20Collaborating%20for%20the%20future%20we%20want.pdf , please share with your networks and hopefully we see you there.

 

Thanks,

Davie 

 

 

 

 

Jun 8, 2012

On-site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal: Best Practice and Risk Management

In relation to the following seminar please note CEF members have been kindly offered the same rate as Engineers Ireland members.

 

Engineers Ireland has organised a CPD seminar on On-site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal: Best Practice and Risk Management which will take place on Tuesday 19th June 2012.

 

The seminar aims to establish guidelines for best practice in the treatment and disposal of onsite wastewater, identify the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders, clarify any misunderstandings and provide a forum for knowledge sharing.

 

Confirmed speakers on the day include:

 

• Leo Sweeney, Senior Inspector, Environmental Protection Agency
• Eamonn Smyth, Technical Adviser, Building Standards Section, Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
• John O’Rourke, Senior Engineer, Environment Department, Roscommon County Council
• Martin Fitzgerald, Barrister
• Bryan Wallace Chartered Engineer, MTW Partnership
• Waldemar Debowski, Engineer, Biocycle Ltd
• Seán O’Connor, Environmental Consultant, Enviropro Ltd.
• Fergal Callaghan, Environmental Consultant, AWN Consulting

 

Brochure details at https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/CPD_seminar_Onsite_Wastewater_19062012.pdf for the seminar or you can go to: On-site Wastewater Seminar 2012

 

CPD Training Department

Engineers Ireland

22 Clyde Road

Ballsbridge

Dublin 4

 

T: +353 (0)1 665 1348

F: +353 (0)1 665 1370

 

 

Bike Week opportunities & events

Last chance to volunteer for Operation Transportation. Why not sign up to the challenge of cycling and recording your experiences for one week?

Date:       Each day of Bike Week (16th to 24th June)  
Volunteers who don't usually cycle commit to undertaking cycle training, hopping on a bike for at least 10 minutes each day and reporting their experiences.
  
Cycle Training for Operation Transportation participants
Date: Saturday 16th June
Location: Fitzgerald's Park, Cork City
More details on this event will be posted as soon as they become available. Contact Sarah at 021 4924769 if interested.

See www.bikeweek.ie  for all events throughout the week in the city and the county.

 

Appeal for stewards for the Family Fun Cycles on Sunday 17th & 24th – if you are free and would like to help please get in touch by emailing bernadette@cef.ie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Environmental Planning and Sustainability

Please see following information on The Professional Certificate in Strategic Environmental Planning and Sustainability which is taking place from the 2nd - 5th of July in London under The International Centre for Parliamentary Studies.  

The certificate is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, the leading body that awards internationally recognised management and leadership qualifications.

The certificated programme has been specially designed by our expert staff for those involved in environment and sustainability planning and management. The course will provide participants with an insight into integrated and broad environment and sustainability planning and the management of environmentally accelerated emergencies.

This programme will challenge participants to envision environmental and sustainable planning against the backdrop of a number of key issues, and will examine the opportunities for growth and investment. Using the most relevant case studies, participants will examine a range of environmental strategies to deal with the effects of ecological sustainability, climate change and environmental security and will look at the implications of natural disaster management on strategic plans.

For further information, please visit our website.

If you wish to attend please register online in order to secure your delegate place(s). 

Kind regards,

Alun Lloyd Morris
International Centre for Parliamentary Studies
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3137 8641
Fax: +44 (0) 845 606 1539

 

 

 

Jun 7, 2012

Government launches "Our Sustainable Future"

The Government has launched Our Sustainable Future, a Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland. The green economy and sustainable development agendas are a key element of Ireland’s economic recovery strategy and the Framework sets out the range of environmental, economic and social measures required to move these agendas forward from vision to reality. The Framework will be Ireland’s main contribution to the Rio +20 conference on sustainable development which takes place in Rio de Janeiro later this month.

 

See further details at https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Sustainable%20Development%20Framework.pdf and summary of OSF https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Summary%20OSF%20Final.pdf

 

 

Jun 5, 2012

Convergence Events - incl. Cloughjordan tomorrow June 6th

 

Convergence 2012 Events

 

Cloughjordan June 6th

 

11.00 - 13.30   Conversations for the Future We Want 

Values and Reframing Sustainability * St Kieran's Hall, Cloughjordan * €15

The values that motivate people represent a strong driving force behind many of our attitudes and behaviours. Examining these values more closely reveals some deep connections between seemingly different issues and a wealth of opportunities to bring about lasting, systemic change. This facilitated forum will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to reframe sustainability, explore our understanding of cultural values and consider how we can best collaborate. 

 

15.00  Gathering for the visit of President Michael D Higgins

Ecovillage Entrance, Main Street, Cloughjordan

President Michael D Higgins will visit Cloughjordan to see the Ecovillage, and open Convergence 2012, everyone is welcome to attend.

 

16.30  Sustainability Tour of Cloughjordan Ecovillage

Ecovillage Entrance, Main Street * Donation of €5 to Ecovillage

This guided tour of the Ecovillage will explain the history of the project, explore the aspects of sustainability demonstrated and give an overview of the process of building resilient communities.

 

20.00 - 21.30   Screening of In Transition 2.0

"A story of resilience and hope in extraordinary times"

Django's Hostel, Ecovillage * €5

This new documentary offers an inspirational immersion into the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It shares tales of communities printing their own money, localising their economies, growing food everywhere and setting up community power stations.

 

Dublin June 20th

 

Collaborating For The Future We Want

Green Travel * Resilient Communities * Wellbeing * Sustainability

 

City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2

 

Part of Dublin City Council's Bike Week as well as the Festival of Transition, which is taking place across Europe coinciding with the first day of Rio +20, the UN Conference marking the 20th Anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Booking is essential convergence@cultivate.ie

 

10.30 - 12.30 Green Travel Incubator

An innovative process providing support for projects and businesses is the sustainable transport sector. This event will generate rapid peer-to-peer input to help take breakthrough ideas to the next level.

 

14.00 -17.00 Conversations for the Future We Want * €15 

This afternoon session will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders together to explore our understanding of cultural values and consider how we can best collaborate to achieve the future we want.

 

Breakthrough Ideas for the Future We Want

Featuring short presentations on projects, technologies, and business ideas that represent cutting-edge innovation, collaboration and sustainability in the transport, building, food, and community sectors.

 

Conversation Provocation by Tom Crompton, co-author of 'Common Cause: The Case for Working with our Cultural Values'.

Tom will give a short presentation on the importance of cultural values in driving change, and at the ways those values are shaped. This understanding reveals a major connection between a vast array of major issues – sustainability, racism, human rights, community welfare, climate change, youth and older people exclusion and biodiversity loss.

 

Intergenerational Conversations for the Future We Want

Using an interactive, positive and engaging format this session will bring representatives from government, local authorities, business, civil society, NGOs and communities as well as older and younger people together to examine values more closely and to explore opportunities to bring about lasting, systemic change.

 

Cloughjordan June 30th

 

Green Business Showcase
GAA Complex, Cloughjordan

Part of Cloughjordan Festival's 'Totally Tipperary' day and the Tipperary Green Business Network's Showcase

 

Featuring stalls from businesses from across the county of Tipperary, talks from experts, networking sessions and a Green Business Incubator' which will help businesses save money and protect the environment. 

 

11.00 Opening

11.30 Breakthrough Ideas for the Future We Want

13.00 Opportunities for Greening our Businesses

14.00 Green Business Incubator

An innovative process providing support for businesses wanting to green their product or service

16.00 Demystifying the Green Economy with Duncan Stewart

Broadcaster Duncan Stewart explains why the green economy makes sense.

16.30 The Green Business Ecovillage Tour * Donation of €5 to Ecovillage

Join ecovillage members and Duncan Stewart on a dynamic tour of the ecovillage site highlighting the green business elements of the world-renowned eco project.

 

 

 

 

CEF - Free Childrens Workshops Saturday 9th June 2012

Free Children's Art Workshop
to celebrate

World Environment Day
 

Lifetime Lab, Saturday 9th June 2012
BOOKING ESSENTIAL

 

 

To highlight and celebrate World Environment Day Cork Environmental Forum is hosting 2 art workshops to create artistic pieces celebrating our environment.

 

The workshops, facilitated by Jessica Mason, will take on Saturday 9th June at the Lifetime Lab in the Morning from 10am – 12.30pm and Afternoon from 1.30pm – 4pm. 

 


This is a free workshop for children aged 7 and up. 

Places are limited so please register your children by replying to
bernadette@cef.ie as soon as possible. Please specify whether you wish to attend the morning or afternoon session and the age of the child(ren) attending.    


Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis and once we have received your application we will confirm by email if a place is available.

 

 

IWT - Beaumont Quarry, Ladybird Workshop & Newsletter

IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST CORK BRANCH - UPDATES JUNE

9TH June.  Beaumont Quarry – Information afternoon

Open afternoon to see what our proposals are for Beaumont Quarry. Come and find out about the Beaumont Quarry site and how it could be managed as a recreation/wildlife area. It is hard to imagine that such an oasis exists in the city but it does and here is your opportunity to find see one.

This event will be led by Jo Goodyear and Kyrle Allan. Kyrle has been undertaking research as part of a degree course at UCC and will be explaining his findings on why the quarry is important for pollinating insects.

Meet at the Spa Shop in Beaumont Drive at 3pm. The event is free

17th June.  Ladybirds

We are offering a ladybird identification workshop. Come and find out what species of ladybird you may see in your local area. This is an important project as little is known about ladybirds and the Cork Branch are working with www.biology.ie to ensure that this knowledge is increased. Ladybirds are also under threat to an alien species, the Harlequin and therefore it is of great importance that we know what we have before we lose it. The event will be led by Stephen McCormack and Paul Whelan.

The event is free. Meet at 10.30 Fota Wildlife Park, Education Centre. Please reserve a place. Please also contact us if you have no transport and require a lift.

Ladybird Identification workshop. Free. Venue Fota Wildlife Park, Education Centre.  

Newsletter

Our newsletter will be available in September so we are now looking for any articles or any interesting photos. Please send any ideas or information to the editor at corkbranch@gmail.com