The European Environment Agency (EEA) is looking for scientists interested in becoming members of its Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee supports the EEA by providing independent opinions on the Agency's work programmes, recruitment of scientific staff, and scientific questions from the Management Board or Executive Director.
Environmental Pillar expresses "Grave concerns" about Fracking
The Environmental Pillar has just published its policy on shale gas, calling for cessation of all fracking activities in Ireland. "The known impacts of fracking are so serious that the Government needs to act now to put a stop to all fracking activity in Ireland" said Michael Ewing speaking on behalf of the coalition of 27 national environmental organisations.
"Due to the secrecy surrounding the polluting processes involved - the damage done to communities, water supplies, wildlife, the environment and the long-term economic development of rural Ireland may well be even greater than the dire prospect already presented by the proposed industrialisation and degradation of our environment, across at least 9 counties of Ireland" he continued.
"The Irish Government and the EU must focus their attention on increasing energy efficiency and accelerating the move to renewable energy rather than allowing the development of high risk, inefficient and polluting gas extraction processes that just add to the problem of climate change" he concluded.
Ends
The document can be accessed at
http://environmentalpillar.ie/files/2012/08/Environmental-Pillar-Policy-on-Shale-Gas1.pdf
The Environmental Pillar is a national Social Partner established by Government decision in 2009. It is an advocacy coalition of 27 national environmental NGOs.
Environmental Pillar members:
An Taisce, Bat Conservation Ireland, BirdWatch Ireland, CELT - Centre for Ecological Living and Training, Coastwatch, Coomhola Salmon Trust, Crann, ECO UNESCO, Feasta. Forest Friends, Friends of the Earth, Global Action Plan Ireland, Gluaiseacht, Grian, Hedge Laying Association of Ireland, Irish Doctors Environment Association, Irish Natural Forestry Foundation, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Irish Seal Sanctuary, Irish Seed Saver Association,
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Irish Wildlife Trust, The Organic Centre, Sonairte, Sustainable Ireland Cooperative, VOICE, Zero Waste Alliance Ireland.
After a short break it's time for another newsletter for the Cork Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust! If you have any ideas, notes, articles or photos of anything wildlife related, particularly in (but not limited to!) the Cork region, please send them on the Linda Dalton at lindadalton10@hotmail.com. No submission too small or too big!
So if you have anything in relation to branch events you attended, photographs you have taken, issues on the natural environment you would like to comment on, interesting eco-holidays abroad, notifications of upcoming wildlife or associated events in Cork etc. go ahead and get in touch. The newsletter relies on your input and your involvement.
Please contact me for further information.
,
Deadline. September 5th.
Linda
REMINDER.
It's now time for each and every one of us in West Cork to promote West Cork, shop locally, bank locally, eat West Cork produce, spread the word of the 50+ summer camps on offer, promote West Cork festivals, crafts, art, books, websites, go out of our way to tell visitors about all the wonderful amenities and activities in the region, and entice them to come back again next year. If we don't we will have shop closures, bank closures, school closures, and a general dwindling of the economy.
Please take a few minutes to read all of the summer camps on page 8 of this weeks West Cork Local on www.westcorkcampus.com Yes car driving camp for 10year olds and upwards!, beauty camps, laser combat, chair making, kayaking, crafts, become a junior forest ranger in Ballineen in the wonderful Manch Estate, with it's 25km of forest and riverside walks! It is absolutely incredible what is on offer!! Please tell everyone about it.
This is how we will kickstart our local economy. Each person is a marketing manager for West Cork.
And let's get out there ourselves and enjoy all that's on offer as much as we can.
You will begin to see more and more posters around West Cork saying 'Whats On in West Cork ... www.WestCorkCampus.com ' There is masses of information about where to eat, sleep. activities, shops, therapists, services and courses. We will be constantly building this information and making it more reader friendly. We need your help .... to add to it by sending information to walter@localcampus.com and then telling everybody you meet about the site and all that is on offer in West Cork. People really do not know what is on offer. It is up to everyone of us to spread the word. and... One for All !!
Let's lift our local economy.
www.WestCorkCampus.com is for you, your family and West Cork.
best of luck,
Walter
www.westcorkcampus.com banking on you!
The Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust is pleased to announce details of its third Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference, to be held in Ashbourne on Saturday and Sunday the 29th and 30th of September 2012.
This is an opportunity for anyone with an interest in wildlife welfare and/or conservation to learn more about treating wildlife casualties - from bats to badgers, the private lives of hedgehogs, wildlife conservation and legislation, post release monitoring, and the serious issue of wildlife crime.
It is a continuing professional development event that is registered for 7.5 – 9.5 CVE CREDITS
There are two streams provided in order to provide new topics for previous audiences and basic training for first-time delegates.
This year we’ve even more stalls, a selection of superb raffle prizes, and evening talks and walks!..
See: www.iwrt.ie /conference for details.
Just to let you know that we have published the August 2012 (35th) issue of irish environment, which includes: .
News: updated each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Commentary: Aoife O'Grady, The Future We Want? Report from Rio+20
Report: Should We Starve or Burn: The Heated Competition Between Food Production and GHG Emissions
Podcast: Interview with Tim Jackson on Prosperity Without Growth
iePEDIA: Polluter Pays Principle
YouTube: How to Feed the World in 2050: actions in a changing climate
ieBLOG: Harvest 2020 - post by John Sweeney, National University of Ireland Maynooth
Please pass along this Notice about the magazine to colleagues, friends and others interested in protecting the environment.
: an online magazine covering environmental matters on the island of Ireland www.irishenvironment.com
Robert Emmet Hernan
Blue Stacks Productions Inc.
Publisher
publisher@irishenvironment.com
Cork Environmental Forum opposes GM Potato Trail
Cork Environmental Forum is opposed to the field trials on a genetically modified (GM) potato line to be carried out by Teagasc, Oak Park, Co Carlow, consented to by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The consent for this trial is contradictory to the concerns of the public with regard to GMOs which has been made very clear both in Ireland and across Europe where there has been a distinct majority preference away from GMO produced foodstuffs and associated crops.
The environmental implications regarding the introduction of GMOs into Ireland are well documented. As an island Ireland could and should be kept isolated from potentially dangerous artificially introduced crops.
Genetically modifying food products is deliberately playing with the delicate balance of nature and once the gene is out there, you cannot reverse the effect. There are significant economic implications for Irish farmers and growers whose livelihoods could be adversely affected by the introduction of GMOs. There is also a knock on effect on the purity of other products which will have to be labeled as possibly containing GM such as honey – a bee cannot differentiate between natural plants and GM plants.
The precautionary principal which underpins many European environmental protective measures must be applied to GMOs. In summary our opposition is based upon the following principals, which support sustainable faming in Ireland:
* Food free from genetic engineering
* Farming without genetically modified seeds, crops or feed
* Farming not controlled by multinational corporations
* Diversified agriculture
* Profitable family farming, in the first and third worlds, with freedom to use traditional methods.
* We support food sovereignty which promotes the right of people to define their own food and
agriculture, produced in a manner which is safe, healthy and ecologically sustainable.
Due to our history and the famine, blight is an emotive issue, and people are drawn to a quick fix, particularly farmers who are trapped in a highly directed and regularized agri-food system which has reduced their autonomy in the way they produce food. However, there are already potato varieties that are strongly blight resistant and evidence of ecologically sound methods of reducing blight even in conditions such as this wet and humid Summer as outlined by John d'Hondt[i]
It is disappointing that the EPA by consenting to this trial goes against its own commitment of "putting the environment at the centre of our decision making" [ii] which includes the ecological system and natural biodiversity upon which the reputation of good food production in Ireland has been built. The introduction of engineered and unchartered processes to our food production system can undo this reputation and irreparably damage our "green" image in a sector which is hugely important to the economy, with agriculture responsible for an annual output of €24billion.
Whilst Teagasc are at pains to point out that this is a publically funded trial with no association to the biotech industry. Long term as has been evidenced to date it will be the vested interests who will control and benefit financially from interfering with food production in this manner, not the poor and hungry of the world, who are being disrespected and used in the productivity argument, or the Irish farmers. "The challenge for primary food production worldwide is not just how to increase productivity, but how to do so in ways that ensure more sustainable use of ecological services and natural resources while delivering balanced nutrition to all peoples of the world."[iii]
Cork Environmental Forum urges the EPA and Teagasc to reconsider the logic of this retrograde step and to not proceed with this intended trial.
[i] Extract from article by John D'hondt, Biologist-farmer in West Cork Gossip:
We have been growing potatoes in West Cork for 25 years without ever spraying anything. Not even copper sulfate. We have not seen blight for the last 22 years. Our system costs nothing and Teagasc seems to be investigating it at the moment to patent it (to get a patent the specific micro-organisms have to be identified and I did not want to spend the next ten years of my life doing that). My idea was that amongst the tens of thousands of different species of micro-organism in healthy soil there should be at least one that competes or eats the watermold Phytophtra infestans. So we mixed potato plant residues, even blighted stuff, with compost or fresh manure straight after harvest and let it do its thing in situ. Eventually we even stepped back from rotation and we have now been growing spuds on the same ground for 18-19 years without a sign of blight or any other disease.Last year, even without a summer, we had our best crop ever. We do not need GM potatoes at all! For reducing rat populations we use diet coke.
[ii] Ireland's Environment An Assessment 2012, Environmental Protection Agency
Emissions of most air pollutants have fallen over the last two decades in Europe. But many Member States have exceeded internationally-agreed pollutant limits set to protect human health and the environment, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Road transport, households, power plants, agricultural activities and certain industry sectors continue to emit significant amounts of air pollution.
Sunday 5th August: Childrens event led by Lorna O'Mahoney. Childrens event on what to find on seashores. Meet at Roberts Cove at 12 noon. This event is part of Fish month. Please contact Corkbranch@gmail.com to reserve a place. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring waterproof, warm clothing. Duration 1 ½ hours. FREE.
IF ANYONE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP OUT WE NEED AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS. Please contact Katriona.
FUTURE EVENTS: Heritage Week
18th Aug. Otter Walk. Meet at 4pm in the Vision Centre, South Main St, Cork City
18th Aug. Native garden planting. Fitzgerald Park. Jo Goodyear.
19th Aug. Urban trees. Beaumont Quarry. Led by Jo Goodyear.
25th Aug. Bat walk. The Lough. Led by Conor Kelleher. Meet at 8:30 pm at the Lough.
Re events please contact: katriona.wallace@gmail.com or corkbranch@gmail.com
Also check this out.
IWT Gets a mention in the Dail. Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLKC6MwqRU
Apologies as there were problems posting notices last week, the glitch has been rectified.
From: Bernie Connolly [mailto:bernadette@cef.ie]
Sent: 26 July 2012 10:01
To: ptreacycef.notices@blogger.com
Subject: GM Potato Trials to be carried out in Carlow
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today given consent to Teagasc, Oak Park, Co Carlow, to carry out field trials on a genetically modified (GM) potato line with improved resistance to late potato blight. The consent is subject to eight conditions. These Conditions address the following matters:
Ø The scope of the consent
Ø The duration, location and area of the field trials
Ø The management of the field trials
Ø The duty upon the notifier to inform the Agency of new information
Ø Requirements in relation to reporting to the Agency
Ø The detection method for the identification of the GM potatoes
Ø Sampling the trial site, and charges for carrying out site inspections, auditing and monitoring.
The approval for field trials follows a detailed examination and assessment by the EPA of a notification from Teagasc. In assessing the application the EPA has carried out extensive consultations with all appropriate state agencies and government departments including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) as well as the National Advisory Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). A total of 83 representations were received from interested parties and these were fully assessed as part of the licensing process.
The field trials will be carried out at one location at Oak Park, Co Carlow. The duration of the consent is for four years, from 2012 to 2016 (inclusive), with post-trial monitoring continuing until 2020. Planting will not exceed two hectares in area.
Under the EPA consent, the trials will be subject to strict conditions with regular monitoring and reporting to the EPA. The trial sites will also be checked for compliance with the licence conditions on a regular basis by the EPA.
Teagasc will also be required to submit bimonthly reports to the EPA during the growing season as well as an end of year report. Information about the trials including the results of monitoring will be available to the public at EPA Headquarters in Wexford and on the EPA website (www.epa.ie).
A three-month period during which a judicial review can be sought has now commenced.
All related documentation is available for download at http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/licensing/gmo/fieldtrial/
Notes to Editors
What are GMO's?
GMOs are defined as organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, plant and animal cells, plants and animals) that are capable of replication or of transferring genetic material in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. GMO technology is often called 'modern biotechnology' or 'gene technology', 'recombinant DNA technology' or 'genetic engineering'. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.
Why is late potato blight a focus for study?
Late blight is a very common disease in potatoes grown in Ireland. Many plant pathologists consider it to be the most dangerous potato plant disease in the world because of how rapidly it can spread when conditions are warm and moist, causing devastating losses.
In recent years, more aggressive potato blight strains have emerged, in particular the sexual form of the fungus which can produce oospores (a type of spore), which can overwinter in the soil and which has the potential to infect potatoes at an early stage (plant emergence). On foot of this, control measures have resulted in potato growers being forced to substantially increase the amount of chemicals to control the disease.
According to data published by scientists at Teagasc, Oak Park, annual losses due to this fungus in Ireland have been estimated at €15m per annum and the management of this potato disease requires as many as 15 fungicide applications throughout the growing season in order to control crop losses caused by the fungus and to control this plant pathogen.
When was the licence application received by EPA?
A notification seeking consent for the performance of GM potato field trials was received by the EPA on the 27th January 2012 from Teagasc, Oak Park, Co Carlow.
Who did EPA consult as part of its licence assessment process?
The EPA's extensive consultation process included: the EPA Advisory Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as consideration of the comments and concerns expressed in the 83 representations received from interested parties.
In what way has the GM potato line been modified?
The GM potato line has been transformed with an R or resistance gene along with its native promoter and terminator intact, using GMO technology. The R gene confers the GM potato line with resistance to the late blight fungus (Phytophthora infestans).
The GM potato line is cisgenic; the R gene was taken from a wild potato species (Solanum venturii) originating in South America and was reinserted into the genome of a potato variety commonly cultivated in the EU (Solanum tuberosum cultivar Desiree) i.e. that is to say the R gene was reinserted back into the same species or a phylogenetically closely related species.
Cisgenesis is one of the techniques of genetic engineering that is currently being considered for exclusion from the scope of the GMO legislation by the European Commission.
Why is a field trial important?
The deliberate release of GMOs into the environment for field trial purposes in Ireland and in other EU Member States are mainly carried out for the purposes of study, research, demonstration and development of novel varieties. The behaviour of the GMO in an open environment and its interactions with other organisms and the environment are important aspects to be studied at the field trial stage. In fact, the EU Directive on the deliberate release of GMOs foresees that the field trial stage is a necessary step in the development of new products derived from, or containing GMOs.
Are field trials with GM potatoes taking place elsewhere?
The field trial will be performed as part of an EU publicly funded 7th Framework research programme called AMIGA (Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of GM plants on Agro-ecosystems). The AMIGA consortium consists of 22 partners representing 15 EU Member States.
The purpose of the field trial is to:
· Quantify the impact of GM potato cultivation on bacterial, fungal, nematode and earthworm diversity in the soil, compared to a conventional potato system;
· Identify integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and components which could be positively or negatively affected by the adoption of GM late blight resistant potato;
· Employ the project's resources as a tool for education and demonstration in order to proactively engage and discuss the issues that most concern stakeholders and the public at large in regards to the cultivation of GM crops in Ireland.
The same GM potato line, as will be used during the Teagasc field trial, was released in 3 locations in the Netherlands in 2011. During these trials no unforeseen effects as compared to conventional potato varieties were observed according to the Dutch Competent Authority.
GM potatoes with improved resistance to late blight (similar GMO) are currently being trialled in Belgium (since March 2011) and in the UK (since May 2010). These trials will continue until October 2012.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently considering an application from BASF for a GM potato, resistant to late blight disease for authorisation under Regulation 1829/2003 for GM food and feed. This application is for the import, processing and cultivation of a Phytophthora (late blight) resistant potato within the EU and could have relevance for Irish agriculture.
What happens next if the trials are positive?
Teagasc have stated that they are not in the business of developing GM crops for commercialisation. However, if the results of the experimental release are positive, biotech companies may decide to place the GMO potato on the market, i.e. make it available to farmers for cultivation purposes. It is important to point out that the placing on the market of a GMO cannot proceed without the prior approval under the provisions of Part C of Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment or under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on food and feed. If approval is granted under the comitology procedure at EU level, then the GMO may then be placed on the market in the EU for purposes of cultivation, importation, or transformation into different products for food and feed use.
We are very excited and honoured to welcome the Chair of Friends of the Earth International, Nnimmo Bassey as our guest to Ireland this August. While here he will speak at events in Leitrim, Mayo and Dublin. Nnimmo is an award winning environmental activist and is best known for his organisation's work to prevent and reverse the negative impacts of Shell's activities in Nigeria. Indefatigably, Bassey has stood up against the practices of Shell and other multinationals in his country, often taking great personal risks to protect his environment and community from destruction. He is a truly inspirational activist and we are extremely honoured by his visit.
Nnimmo is here to meet and speak with communities opposing extractive industries in Ireland and share his insights from resisting Shell in Nigeria. Nnimmo will speak at three events during his trip.
On Friday the 17th of August we will be in Manorhamilton,Co. Leitrim at 8pm. You can register for this event here. There are proposals to extract shale gas in the area using the dangerous and controversial method of hydraulic fracturing or fracking. Local community groups are opposing these plans.
On Sunday the 19th of August we are jointly organising an event with Afri, in Glenamoy, Co Mayo starting at 2pm. You can register for this event here. This event is entitled "Ar Scáth a Chéile: Sustaining Hope and Humanity". The local campaign has been resisting Shell in Erris for over a decade. In the face of Shell's repression the resistance has sustained powerful hope and humanity. This event will be abou t sharing and celebrating hope.
On Monday the 20th of August Nnimmo will speak in the Project Arts Centre in Dublin at 7pm. Please register for this event, spaces are limited Nnimmo will be joined on the panel by activists from Mayo and Leitrim. The evening will be chaired by our Director Oisín Coghlan and the activists on the panel will share their experiences and reflections of protecting their communities from destruction by multinational energy corporations.
We look forward to seeing you at one of these inspiring events.
Your Friends of the Earth Team,
Molly, Oisín and JoAnne.
Still some great events on over the weekend.
10.00-17.00 Countryside Cycle to Crosshaven // Festival HQ, Grand Parade
A tour South-West to the picturesque harbour village of Crosshaven
13.00-14.00 An Abhainn sa Chathair // Festival HQ, Grand Parade
A tour as Gaelige of the banks of our own lovely Lee. Your guide is Pádraig Ó Duinnín, host of TG4’s Muintir na Mara and founder of the Meitheal Mara maritime organisation.
18.00 Grand Bike Parade // Grand Parade
Whether you cycle for function, fun or fitness this city centre parade is for you. Listen out for music on the move! Wear a costume, ring your bell or customise your bike for the occasion, and enjoy a cruise around Cork’s streets in good company.
13.00 Vintage Velo Run - Festival HQ, Grand Parade
Drag your high nellies out of the turf shed and dust off your tweeds for this jolly good vintage parade around the city. Relive the golden age and chivalry of ‘The Beautiful Machine’. Even if you don’t have skirts, tweeds or nellies come along anyway to join the craic of this rollicking ride!
18.30 Party and BBQ - The Quarter Deck, The Flying Enterprise, Sullivans Quay
Time to take our feet off the pedals. Festival go-ers and participants in the will gather at this iconic pub for food and fun – bicycles welcome! Entry to the party is free, food and drink is on sale.
12.00-18.00 Bike Fair // Festival HQ, Grand Parade
Market stalls with luscious bikes and cycling accessories || Trike Trials || Bicycle Olympics || Family cycling || Cargo Bike show || Interactive science demo ‘The Beautiful Machine’ || Safety training workshops || Temporary tattoos || Live music || bike-powered refreshments || Bike Portraits
Cork Cycling Festival is entirely free to the public, welcoming all ages and walks of life with a special focus on family-friendly events. The festival is run by a voluntary team who just love bikes as a great way to get about and want to inspire more people to cycle
Topics to be addressed at The 2nd National Smart Cities Summit include:
Who Should Attend? The audience at The 2nd National Smart Cities Summit will include:
http://www.eventznet.com/evx/acs/iquest/smartcities12/
http://www.corkcoco.ie/co/web//Cork%2520County%2520Council/Departments/Corporate%2520Affairs/Media%2520Releases?did=124118439
Gavin Daly
Mobile: +353 (0)87 6634907
skype: contactgavindaly
BOOK LAUNCH
Peak Oil Personalities
‘Creatures of Serendipity’ launch their interactive Book app for iPad ‘Nearly There’ at Grove House, Schull, West Cork this Wednesday at 4pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWSWcjkDY90
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qytlY58LP9g&list=UUn11HFz5JJErcSIGMuBUqFw&index=1&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EovaVn3J8is
With its exquisite drawings, catchy tune, exciting, and innovative narration, ‘Nearly There’ takes you on an unforgettable journey. This is a story for the child in all of us, in traditional print form with CD and as an amazing interactive book app for iPad. ‘Nearly There’ will be launched at 4pm on Wednesday 11th July at Grove House, Schull. The two main characters, Budley and Bishop (horses) will be there along with the authors, (Johanna Connor and Gabrielle Byrne), Brian Lalor, (Editor of The Encyclopedia of Ireland) and Special guests Colin Vearncombe, Maurice Seezer and Fergus O’Farrell will narrate the story to music.
Edited by Colin Campbell
At Whyte Books, the bookshop in Schull,
7:30 pm
Friday the 13th of July
Come and celebrate the release of a new book by one of the world's most prominent heroes of the Peak Oil movement, mentor to many and a man we of West Cork should be proud to call a local. Colin Campbell is a retired oil engineer with over 40 years in the oil industry and a wealth of experience on the international lecture circuit. He is the founder of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, and features in several acclaimed documentaries on the subject. His new book, a collection of biographical essays by some of the most famous exponents of Peak Oil, serves as both a clarion call to sustainability and a broad and balanced analysis of the evolving crisis. Also present at the launch will be Chris Sanders who is an expert on the geopolitics of energy due to his insider knowledge of investment banking, and Jeremy Gilbert; petrochemical engineer. They too, are proponents of the Peak Oil movement, lecture internationally, and feature in Colin's Peak Oil Personalities.
Media contact: Nicki ffrench Davis 087 3900267
Media email: nickiffrench@gmail.com
Cork's biggest 100% free festival coming soon!
The fifth Cork Cycling Festival which runs from 21-29th July is gearing up for another nine days full of reasons to get out on a bike. This year's festival promises to be more visible than ever, with lots of day-time events, including themed city cycles and countryside tours, a shop-front art trail, a Bike Fair and three parades. Every event in the festival is free to attend – just bring your wheels!
Themed cycles around the city include: An Abhainn sa Chaithair, a tour as Gaelige guided by Pádraig Ó Duinnín of TG4's Muintir na Mara; a tour of Cork's street signage led by author Tom Spalding; Histories and Memories of the Lee Valley by historian and city councillor Kieran McCarthy; and a mystery tour of Hidden Cork by architect Adam D'Arcy. There will also be a Community Gardens cycle to visit a number of gardens and sample the produce and a cycle to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind centre.
If you're up for a challenge and want to explore some of Cork's beautiful countryside, check out some of our touring cycles. Expect castles, harbours, riversides and hidden waterfalls. While some cycling experience and moderate fitness is required our patient stewards will make sure everyone has a pleasant experience and we can take our time.. Enjoy the rich landscape with five cycles in total visiting Dungourney, Barryscourt Castle & Cobh, Mullinhassig, Blarney, and Crosshaven.
There is an emphasis on family cycling solutions this year, with Astrid Fitzpatrick of Dutch Cargo Bikes travelling to Cork to showcase the kind of practical solutions that are a way of life in Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Families are welcome at all events and are the stars of the Kid luv Bikes exhibition in Cork City Library. This year also sees the first Bike Shorts competition for young film-makers, whose work will also be showcased at Cork City Library. Both these competitions are run in collaboration with Cork City Council's SMILES project.
Three bicycle parades will enliven the city with everyone invited to come and take part. The first will be the Cycle of Lights, it's an evening parade and an opportunity to decorate your bike for night-time that will take in Blackrock Castle Observatory for some stargazing. The Grand Bicycle Parade is an 'anything goes' evening parade through the city centre with music and costumes. The Vintage Velo Run invites Cork to drag your high nellies out of the turf shed and dust off your tweeds for a jolly good vintage parade around the city. Even if you don't have skirts, tweeds or nellies come along anyway to join the craic of this rollicking ride, with music from DJ Gary Baus!
2012 sees the annual festival art exhibition move onto the streets for the first time ever. Gallery on the Go is Cork's first ever shop front cycle art exhibition with a number of artists installing bike-themed art in shop fronts around the city. The exhibition aims to ensure a festival presence throughout the city while anyone who wants to view the whole exhibition can do so easily from the comfort of two wheels. Viewers can cast their vote for their favourite artists and the winning artist will win a €300 voucher for Kilgrews Cycle Shop.
The final event in this year's festival is a Bike Fair which will take place on the Grand Parade on Sunday 29th July. The final festival day will include plenty of attractions, including market stalls with luscious bikes and cycling accessories; Trike Trials for smallies and Bicycle Olympics for young and old; Family cycling solutions demo and advice; Cargo Bike show, Interactive science demo 'The Beautiful Machine'; Safety training workshops; and Live music and bike-powered refreshments. Photographer extraordinaire Marcin Lewandowski will be making complimentary Bike Portraits of visitors and their bikes at a pop-up photography studio.
To keep hungry cyclists fuelled festival-goers can avail of a special discount on packed picnic lunches from Natural Foods bakery on Paul Street and Blackrock and available options will be published on the festival website and can be ordered by phone.
This year's Cork World Naked Bike Ride has been planned to coincide with the festival once again, on Saturday 28th July. It will include a brave world record attempt for the most body painted people ever, the current record was set in New York in 2007 at 264 people.
See www.corkcyclingfestival.com for more
[ENDS]
LISTINGS INFORMATION BELOW!
But first…
Ppsssst! Did you know?
· The average person will lose 13lbs in their first year of cycling to work!
· Scientists at Stanford University have found that cycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce the signs of ageing.
· Studies have proved bikes are 50% faster than cars during rush hour!
· Researchers from Illinois University found that a five percent improvement in cardio-respiratory fitness from cycling led to an improvement of up to 15 percent in mental tests. That's because cycling helps build new brain cells in the hippocampus – the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30.
· 20 bikes can be parked in the same space as 1 car!
· 30 minutes daily cycling saves hundreds of euro on medical costs annually!
· Cycling just 20 miles a week reduces your risk of heart disease to less than half that of those who take no exercise, it says.
· The happiest cities worldwide all have a high number of cyclists according to John Helliwell, a renowned happiness expert and economist at University of British Columbia.
LISTINGS INFO
ReDiscover your city...
· Guide Dogs Cycle: Mon 23 July,17:30-20:30, Start @ GrandParade
· Histories & Memories of the Lee Valley: Tues 24 July,13:00-14:30, Start @ Grand Parade
· Community Gardens Cycle: Tues 24 July,18:00, Start @ GrandParade
· Hidden Cork Wed 25 July,13:00-14:00, Start @ GrandParade
Evening City tour: Cork's Signage Wed 25,18:00, Start @ GrandParade
· An Oige Cycles Thurs 26 July,19:00, Start @ Cork Opera House
An Abhainn Sa Chathair Fri 27 July,13:00-14:00,Grand Parade
Special Events
· Festival Opening: Sat 21 July, 13:00, Grand Parade
· Bike maintenance workshop: Sat 21 July, 14:00-16:00, Grand Parade
· Cycle of Lights: Sat 21 July, 20:00-Late, Start @ Grand Parade
· Gallery on the go! Guided tour Sun 22 July, 13:00-15:00, Grand Parade
· Grand Bike Parade: Fri 27 July,18:00, Start @ Grand Parade
· Vintage Velo Run: Sat 28 July,13:00, Start @ Grand Parade
· Cork World Naked Bike Ride: Sat 28 July, 15:00-17:00, Grand Parade
· Bike Party and BBQ: Sat 28 July, 18:30, The Flying Enterprise , Sullivans Quay
· Bike Fair: Sun 29 July, 12:00-18:00, Grand Parade
Touring Cycles
Barryscourt & Cobh touring cycle: Mon 23 July, 10:00-17:00, Grand Parade
East cork longer touring cycle: Tues 24 July, 10:00-19:00, Grand Parade
Mullinhassig touring cycle: Wed 25 July, 10:00-17:00, Grand Parade
Blarney Short touring cycle: Thurs 26 July, 13:00-17:00, Grand Parade
Crosshaven countryside cycle: Fri 27 July, 10:00-17:00, Grand Parade
Dear friend,
It's with delight that we invite you to a couple of exciting crowd-funded events taking place in Cork (in the Camden Palace Arts Centre at 6.30pm on Monday, the 23rd of July) and Dublin (outdoors in Dartmouth Square at 6pm on Wednesday, the 25th).
Charles Eisenstein (author of the inspiring works The Ascent of Humanity and, most recently, Sacred Economics) is coming to Ireland for two speaking dates and will be accompanied by Ireland's own Mark Boyle (author of The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living), who famously lived without money for over two years. Mark is also the founder of The Freeconomy Community, which consists of over 25,000 people worldwide sharing skills and tools on a money-less basis.
Specifically, these events will focus on debates around truly radical economic alternatives which, in a time of crisis such as that which Ireland is currently undergoing, suddenly enter the realm of possibility.
Charles, who is on the faculty of Goddard College, will be coming to Ireland after giving a course at Schumacher College in Totnes entitled "Ecology, Scarcity and the Gift Economy". His most recent book, Sacred Economics, traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation and competition, destroying community and the environment simultaneously. Today, he posits, these trends have reached their extreme - but in the wake of collapse, we may find great opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being.
This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEZkQv25uEs) serves as a good introduction to Charles' thinking.
We hope to see you there, and please pass this on to anyone who you feel may be interested!
Facebook events for Cork and Dublin:
https://www.facebook.com/events/260813654018944/ - Cork
https://www.facebook.com/events/293950454034208/ - Dublin
I need your help to find the projects and initiatives that might inspire us to do things in a more collaborative and sustainable way. As part of the process of this years Convergence, we are collecting these ideas through our new website http://convergence.cultivate.ie/ and are about to launch an online gallery to illuminate them. Please let me know of any projects or community initiatives near you. Or you can submit a 'Breakthrough Idea for the Future We Want to the online gallery at http://convergence.cultivate.ie/submit-your-idea/
With your help we want to design and build an interactive exhibition of these inspirational projects and initiatives and take it on tour to communities and public places around Ireland. With no funding available, and I've tried everywhere, we are asking the community to help support us through crowd funding. Have a look at our Fund It campaign and please consider supporting this project in some way. There are some great rewards available if thats something you need. http://www.fundit.ie/project/convergence-2012---an-exhibition
We are also asking people to consider hosting conversations in your community about "The Future We Want". To make this easy Cultivate have prepared a little video and PDF with some suggestions on how to do this. http://convergence.cultivate.ie/host-it-yourself/
Finally a couple of events are coming up that I want to let you know about.
First a weekend that Chris Chapman, Eimear McNally and I are hosting in Cloughjordan, which we are offering almost free of charge, called the Nourishment Lab.
http://www.facebook.com/events/308510195908722/
And later this month Charles Eisenstein, author of Sacred Economics and the Ascent of Humanity will give free talks in Cork and in beautiful Dartmouth Square, Dublin. He will be joined by Mark the "moneyless man" Boyle and other Irish friends interested in economics and sustainability. http://www.facebook.com/events/293950454034208/
I hope to see you at one of these events, hear about the projects you think are breaking through or working with you to host a conversation and bring the exhibition to your locality.
Thanks
Davie
Davie Philip
Convergence Director
Community Resilience Programme
Cultivate Living & Learning
An Cosán Cúil, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.
63 Mount Street, Dublin 2
E-mail: davie@cultivate.ie
Skype: sustdavie
Twitter: @comresie
Office: 0505 56061
Mobile: +353 (0) 87 6340697
Web: www.cultivate.ie