Irish Environmental Network

CELT courses at Imecofarm in 2012

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:05:03 +0000

CELT courses at Imecofarm, Island McGrath, Clarecastle, Co.Clare 2012 :

Dry-stone Walling (and introduction to use of lime mortar) June 9,10

Natural Building – Cob, Cordwood, Wattle and Daub June 30, July 1

Natural Building – Simple Shelter (for clay oven to be built following day) July 28

Build Your Own Clay Oven July 29

Blacksmithing Aug 18,19

Irish Herbs and Their Uses 8 Sept

Wood Carving – Choice of Projects 15 / 16 Sept

Bowl and Spoon Carving and using a pole lathe 22 / 23 Sept

Coppersmithing 13 / 14 Oct

For more info and bookings see : http://www.celtnet.org/page1.php and www.imecofarm.com

CELT (Centre for Environmental Living & Training)
Registered Charity Number CHY14519
Gleann Glas, Tuamgraney, Co Clare
061-640765 i...@celtnet.org www.celtnet.org

Best Things in Life are Free!

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:51:07 +0000

LifestyleGreen 2012 hosted by (NIEA), Nothern Ireland Environment Agency at Crawfordsburn Country Park on Sunday 3 and Monday 4 June, 11-5 is free in more ways than one!

Aside of being free to visit with free parking there is also a free make and take craft for every child, based on a recycled theme of bees and butterflies from Blue Frog crafts; a free sapling for every visitor from Forest Service; a free recycled card pot for planting seeds from NIEA and two free to enter competitions; two rose oil-based natural health aromatherapy hampers and the chance for one person to win a solar product from Power NI.

Added to all of this, a number of exhibitors will be on hand to provide demonstrations from their stands. James Hunter from Clandeboye will be delighting visitors with survival skills around the park. Indeed, if you fancy a stroll with James during the event he will show you first hand how to get by in the wild!

David Orr from David Orr Metal Craft will demonstrate how he mends and breathes new life into old gates and all manner of metal objects from old garden benches to more contemporary pieces.

Crawfordsburn-based, Pinewood Pottery will bring a potters’ wheel to the event and show just how they create the beautiful pottery on sale. While Melting Pot Candles will show how to make candles over the two days.

Several informal but timed talks will also take place; permaculture expert, Philip Allen will reveal how to heal the economy and how growth is indirectly linked

with growing plants. Greenpeace’s John Wright will talk about the phenomenon of the recently sited ghost bicycle and Down To Earth will give an update on the Province’s first proposed woodland burial service.

A selection of exhibitors from the renewable energy sector, natural health, green trade, conservation and a few vintage stalls should make it a great day out for all.

With two great beaches and a visitor-friendly site LifestyleGreen should be on your list of must visits this Jubilee Bank Holiday!

More information at lifestylegreen.com

Marine Biodiversity Seminar to take place on World Biodiversity Day

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:56:01 +0000

Marine Biodiversity Seminar: Protecting marine life for future generations & Launch of the Marine Institute’s Ground fish Survey Atlas

World Biodiversity Day: Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Jointly organised by the Marine Institute and the Marine Group of the Environmental Pillar and kindly hosted by the EC representation in Ireland in the European Union House, 18 Dawson St, Dublin 2

Programme

9.00-9.30 Registration

9.30-9.40 Welcome address: Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland

9.40-10.00 Launch of the Marine Institute’s New Survey Atlas of Biodiversity Indicators (speaker tbc)

10.00-11.15 Session 1

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and discard measures

Professor David Reid, Ecosystem Approach Principal Investigator, Marine Institute, Galway

Fisheries in NATURA sites with focus on Dundalk Bay

Dr Oliver Tully, Fisheries Science Services, Marine Institute, Galway

EC guidelines on aquaculture in protected sites (speaker tbc)

11.15-11.45 Coffee break

11.45-13.00 Session 2: Designation, conservation objectives and management of Marine Protected Areas

Gill Weyman, Irish Wildlife Trust: Title tbc

Definition of Marine Areas of Conservation and designation of Marine SAC’s

David Lyons, National Parks & Wildlife Services

Marine Protected Areas in Northern Ireland

Dr Jade Berman of the Ulster Wildlife Trust

Further information please contact the organizing committee:

Dr Paul Connolly, Marine Institute (Pcon...@marine.ie)

Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch (kdub...@tcd.ie)

Padraic Fogarty, Irish Wildlife Trust (padr...@openfield.ie)

Dr Annetta Zintl, Coastwatch (Anne...@gmail.com)

To register please complete the attached form and forward to:

Justin Byrne, Administrator, Irish Environmental Network by 15 May.

Email: Jus...@ien.ie (Tel: 01 878 0116).

Environment Groups to hold joint event with the Marine Institute on protecting the marine environment

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:07:25 +0000

To coincide with Biodiversity Day on May 22nd, the Irish Wildlife Trust, Coastwatch, the Irish Seal Sanctuary, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and An Taisce will be co-hosting a seminar in Dublin on protecting the marine environment. We will have talks from the IWT on Marine Protected Areas, from the National Parks and Wildlife Service on progress made so far in designating protected sites, and from the Ulster Wildlife Trust on how marine biodiversity is being protected in the UK.

The Marine Institute will also be there to launch their ‘Atlas of Biodiversity Indicators’ and we will hear talks from them on discarding, fishing in protected areas, and guidelines for aquaculture in Special Areas of Conservation.

IWT chairman, Pádraic Fogarty, says “there has been much talk about how our oceans can provide jobs and economic opportunities but for this to be real and lasting, we must first protect the ecosystems and wildlife that sustains this resource”.

This half day event is a must for anyone interested in the marine environment and promises to be lively and informative. To attend you must register, which is free, by visiting www.iwt.ie and completing the form.

REINVENTING OUR DEMOCRACY – A NATIONAL DISCUSSION

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:03:05 +0000

COF IDEAS – REINVENTING OUR DEMOCRACY – A NATIONAL DISCUSSION

CROKE PARK, 26^TH MAY, REGISTRATION: 10 AM

Individuals and organizations from the full breadth of civil society will explore new ideas on democracy and share their thinking with each other on how to reinvent our democracy. Register now and join the discussion in Croke Park.

This debate is urgent as economic crisis deepens the fault lines in our already flawed democracy.

Distrust in our local democracy is evident in the refusal to pay the household charge. The power of our national government is subservient to international financial institutions and markets. A democratic deficit is apparent in the negotiation and content of the new European fiscal compact treaty.

Funding cuts to community groups have diminished democracy by limiting their capacity to articulate the interests of those living in poverty and inequality. The limited agenda proposed for the Constitutional Convention exposes the lack of energy in our democracy.

We need a ‘high energy’ democracy if we are to emerge from crisis and flourish as a society. We need a democracy that can raise the temperature of politics, develop alternative social and economic models, and embrace both representative and participative forms of democracy.

JOIN THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION IN DUBLIN ON MAY 26^TH 2012

Turning the urban challenge into an opportunity

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:44:23 +0000

Copenhagen, 2 July 2011. Up to 150 mm of rainfall in two hours – a city record since measurements began in the mid-1800s. Homes destroyed. Citizens and emergency services struggled to cope. This is one example of how excessive extreme weather events can affect a European capital – events that are expected more often under climate change.

A forthcoming report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights this stark reality facing Europe’s cities and urban areas regarding the need to prepare for climate change.

The report, Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe, acknowledges that climate change is taking place and that mitigation efforts will limit but not prevent it. It states that there will be severe consequences for cities if adaptation efforts are not forthcoming. As cities are the backbone of Europe’s economy, urban climate change impacts will affect Europe as a whole. It provides examples of innovative adaptation practices and where they are taking place. In highlighting such activity the report hopes that other urban administrations can take guidance in view of their own adaptive activity, supported by national governments and the EU.

Providing advice on successful delivery of adaptation solutions to groups as varied as governments, the private sector and research bodies, the report stresses the need to follow a systematic adaptation planning process at and interlinked between all levels – local, regional, national and European – and to take into account a number of key principles.

Increased impacts from climate change across Europe

Events in recent years make for sobering reading. The European heatwave during the summer of 2003 was estimated to have caused up to 70 000 excess deaths during a four month period in Central and Western Europe. 2002 proved to be a record year for major flood events in six EU countries – Austria, Czech Republic, France Germany, Hungary and Romania. The total number of deaths was 78 with material damage rising to more than USD 21 billion.

Meanwhile, the total area, within the EU, affected by water scarcity and droughts has doubled from 6 to 13 % during the last 30 years with related economic impacts being estimated at EUR 100 billion.

Expected increases in severe heatwaves, flooding and water scarcity can all affect cities. The report analyses the potential impacts of expected increases in such climatic events and assesses how the European urban environment could potentially be affected

Copenhagen city’s cloudburst plan

Copenhagen’s reaction to the extreme rainfall event of July 2011 is highlighted within the report. This event really forced the city to sit up and take notice. The emergency services were within minutes of having to evacuate the city’s two biggest hospitals because of flooding and power cuts. Insurance damages alone were estimated at EUR 650-700 million.

The city’s immediate reaction and subsequent planning can now be viewed as a European good practice model. Preparation focused on a so-called ‘cloudburst plan’ containing the following four steps:

a new rescue plan from the emergency services;
improving communication with citizens, businesses and public institutions;
optimising the city’s existing sewage system;
using a system of small canals to divert excess water either to streams, the harbour or other areas for subsequent storage.

Reflections on these measures, and other advice, were also provided in the city’s long term climate adaptation plan, released in October 2011.

Working with nature – rather than battling against it

The new report highlights the need to raise awareness about urban vulnerability to climate change as well as the opportunities that exist. Reflecting on efforts to improve cities’ interaction with nature rather than via additional construction is displayed in the use of green infrastructure. One example illustrating this comes from the United Kingdom, where the city of Manchester has increased green spaces in order to reduce average surface temperatures.

This concept of ‘green infrastructure’ has been defined by the European Commission as ‘a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of benefits and services.’ (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm)

At the EEA, we have profiled urban issues over recent years – highlighting the potential of clever, far sighted urban design to an audience that ranges from school children to the international press and the EU Environment Commissioner.

In 2010 our living façade project ‘Europe in bloom’ drew a map of Europe, illustrating the relative diversity of flowering plant species across the continent. This project brought together the UN Biodiversity Year and to highlight the potential of urban areas in terms of providing green spaces and urban gardens. For most urban dwellers, the perception of ‘greenery’ in or nearby their cities is an integral part of what constitutes quality of life.

Such areas can improve air quality and noise conditions and despite being highly artificial can, by intelligent design, offer additional habitats for pollinators and birds, help to maintain ecosystems services and thus limit the ecological footprint of cities and provide climate mitigation and adaptation opportunities.

The façade attracted pollinators and butterflies not seen in the city before and was the basis for a surge in interest in the interconnectedness between urban and green issues amongst the international press, locals and visitors, architects and town planners. The project was widely covered in the international press including the Guardian in the United Kingdom, which listed the project third in its top 10 global events celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity.

Making Copenhagen buzz

It even aroused the interest of bee enthusiasts and resulted in an additional project with ByBi is a prize-winning and ground-breaking social enterprise that is bringing millions of bees to the city. From May 2011 the EEA made the heart of Copenhagen buzz with life, when 120 000 bees moved into their new home in an apiary on the roof of the Agency.

In addition to its environmental value, the project provides new opportunities for disadvantaged people who can be trained to look after the bees around Copenhagen. Bybi also aims to educate residents and businesses about the opportunities to contribute to a greener, more colourful and sweeter city. Our Bybi project also received widespread public and press attention including an article in Danish sustainability magazine Samvirke a year after the project’s birth.

Climate change adaptation could provide the impetus for urban renewal and rethinking

Climate change and the need for cities to adapt to it may provide a model for city planning of the future. Adaptation-based urban initiatives need to be innovative and provide multi-level benefits in order to allow for their subsequent implementation.

In general, climate adaptation should not be considered as just a reactive or defensive response strategy but rather as a proactive implementation of a long-term economic and sustainable development strategy.

The floating houses of the new island neighbourhood IJburg in Amsterdam for instance are a response to the demand of houses near or in water. This reflects growing awareness of the need to build away from areas at risk from flooding and is certainly one solution to address sea level rise. This example demonstrates the great potential of climate change adaptation to act as a stimulus for innovation.

Other examples illustrating good practice within European cities are available. In Rotterdam there are plans for so-called water squares – low-lying public spaces which can be used for temporary water storage during heavy precipitation or flooding events. Meanwhile, in Vienna the sewage system itself provides storage. The loading of the sewer system is monitored continuously and interventions are possible through centrally controlled sluices and pump stations to optimise the full storage capacity of the 2300 km long system and prevent outflows during high precipitation events.

Planning for the future

Cities need to adapt, but a supportive national and European framework is crucial in this regard. Europe’s future depends on strong and resilient cities working towards a joint approach to cope with climate change.

The examples outlined above can indeed be taken as sources of information and good practice. Yet, as the forthcoming EEA report acknowledges, anticipative planning has to take place in order for people and infrastructure within our urban areas to be sufficiently prepared to address the risks of a changing climate.

Starting action now ensures preparedness to climate change and lower costs for adaptation. Massive investments in infrastructure are required in cities anyway – climate change adds the need for robust and flexible solutions.

Additional information

Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe, a new EEA report will be officially launched at the Resilient Cities congress in Bonn, Germany on 14 May 2012. The congress will focus on the themes of urban risk, resilience and financing. The EEA report will be available for download here:

The European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT) (a joint activity between the European Commission and EEA) is a web-based platform to support policy-makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in the development of climate change adaptation measures and policies. The platform can also support cities in their adaptation actions. (http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/major-new-website-to-assist)

Other EEA urban reports:

Key urban messages:

In Europe, where the overwhelming majority of people live in urban areas, tackling the interlinked challenges between biodiversity and its network of towns and cities is crucial to help halting biodiversity loss.
Urban areas can be an opportunity or a threat for biodiversity. Seizing the opportunity demands that we mix high quality urban green areas with dense and compact built up zones.
Quality of life in cities depends on the existence of sufficient attractive urban green areas for people and wildlife to thrive. But equally important for urban life are the ecosystem services delivered by biodiversity in green areas outside city boundaries.
Although biodiversity and ecosystem services are global common goods, local and regional authorities have the legal power to designate conservation areas and to integrate biodiversity concerns into their urban and spatial planning. Public commitment is apparent in the numerous participatory Local Agenda 21 processes aimed at building sustainable communities that identify biodiversity as a precondition for resilient cities.
Besides protecting areas, it is essential to integrate biodiversity into spatial planning at regional and local levels, including cities. Developing the European Green Infrastructure concept presents an opportunity to do this.

Changing Face of Fairview documented by environmental activist

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:39:53 +0000

“THE CHANGING FACE OF FAIRVIEW”, a five part documentary series produced by Forest Friends and Nearfm volunteer John Haughton explores the history, heritage, the environment and local organisations and amenities that make up the area of Fairview and Marino.

The series includes interviews with Rev Fr. Antony a Franciscan Friar and ecologist who is parish priest of Fairview, comes from Kerela in India and speaks of the greening of Kerela and how the Kerela Green Plan could be applied to Fairview, (Programme 3).

Carol Jordan tells the story of a village in India where the residents died for their trees, (Programme 4).

There are interviews with members of Forest Friends about the importance of trees, the environment and community awareness, (Programme 3).

A highlight of the series is local guitarist, Pat Farrell’s rendition of John Mayall’s ‘Nature’s Disappearing’ (Programme 4.)

Programme 1 http://nearpodcast.org/pcast/?p=5679

Programme 2 http://nearpodcast.org/pcast/?p=5758

Programme 3 http://nearpodcast.org/pcast/?p=5975
Programme 4 http://nearpodcast.org/pcast/?p=6406

Programme 5 http://nearpodcast.org/pcast/?p=6410

An Taisce notes the An Bord Pleanála decision on the Trading Hub outside of Athlone

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:33:28 +0000

An Taisce notes the An Bord Pleanala decision to grant permission to the Athlone Trading Hub.

This is the first stage of a proposal of staggering size and scale that the promoters claim will be the greatest commercial and trade centre in Europe.

An Taisce believes that the vague nature of the planning conditions attached to development and the lack of global consideration of sustainability by An Bord Pleanála is a serious concern.

Transport

While the planning appeals board has asked for coach services from Dublin Airport and Athlone town centre to be provided, the Board, in a serious omission, has not stated the minimum frequency. This is left to be resolved between Westmeath County Council and the developer. The clear risk is that the bus timetable will be unattractive and ultimately the service will become tokenistic. In its appeal, An Taisce stressed the need for frequent public transport to the site.

Completion Bond

Equally problematic is the fact that the planning Inspector and the Board ruled that the viability of this speculative scheme was not a matter for consideration. An Taisce believes that this is a serious misjudgement. The amount of the bond to be submitted to the local council is left unstated. This is the money that may be needed to complete or convert the buildings in the event this speculative development fails. As Ireland knows from bitter experience, this poses a real risk – but it’s a risk that is still not being considered by our planning appeals board.

Stability of energy and climate systems

Both the planning inspector and the Board disagreed with An Taisce and declined to consider the negative energy and climate impacts of the proposed development.

Just last week the International Energy Agency told Governments that “the world’s energy system is being pushed to breaking point”, and the agency robustly criticised governments for allowing “our addiction to fossil fuels to grow stronger each year”.

Oil prices today continue to remain at near record levels – with a major impact on our society and economy. The ‘Era of Cheap Oil is Over’. Yet, in raising levels of resource consumption and energy use, this proposal makes a very bad situation worse and An Taisce believes that An Bord Pleanála must weigh the International Energy Agency’s concerns as a key consideration in planning and development.

A low carbon future

An Taisce strongly believes that Ireland’s long-term future is low-carbon and far more local. An Taisce will continue to work towards that future and invites those who share this perspective to join and support it.

PhD studentship available

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:37:25 +0000

Development of a satellite driven grass growth index to inform national monthly grassland production maps for Ireland

Following the award of a Teagasc Walsh/EPA PhD fellowship, the Geography Department is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified applicant for a doctoral studentship for three years commencing on or near 1^st October 2012. The studentship comprises an annual stipend of €21,000, from which university fees (approximately €6,000 per year for EU students) will have to be paid. See attached pdf for more information on the intended research.

The student will be registered with the UCC Geography Department but will spend 2 years in Dublin with the Spatial Analysis Unit, Teagasc and 1 year in UCC interacting with Teagasc Moorepark.

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 Honours undergraduate degree in a numerate discipline or equivalent, and an MSc. Experience in remote sensing, grassland science, agriculture, or computational techniques and programming would be an advantage.

For further information or informal discussion about the position please contact the supervisors Dr Fiona Cawkwell (e-mail: f.ca...@ucc.ie, telephone: +353 (0)21 490 2707) and Stuart Green (e-mail: stua...@teagasc.ie, telephone +353 (0)1 805 9955).

Applicants should send a copy of their CV, with the names and addresses of 3 referees, plus a statement outlining their academic interests and their reasons for wishing to undertake this research project to Fiona Cawkwell (f.ca...@ucc.ie).

Closing date for applications is 9am Monday 21^st May.

Minister Coveney’s facts about fish farming practices are disputed

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:13:15 +0000

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 – Minister Simon Coveney’s letter to the Irish Examiner (Mar 28) in response to your thoughtful editorial about fish farming does not represent the situation as he outlined it to the Senate.

The minister wrote to you that Ireland has a ‘rigorous systems in place in consultation with the European Commission and we ensure that our best practice systems are rigorously enforced.’ In fact, he told the Oireachtas last July that there are more than 520 licences outstanding, and that no licences have been issued in the last two years.

The minister admitted during the course of the Senate debate that ‘many existing aquaculture operators are essentially operating outside of licence.’

‘Operating outside licence’ is an illegal activity and flatly contradicts the minister’s statement ‘that our best practice systems are rigorously enforced.’

These sites without a valid licence give the lie to his further assertion to you that ‘an implication that fish farms are not properly regulated is not in accordance with the facts.’ The facts are that the Minister this week provided Cork North TD Michael MacNamara, in a written parliamentary reply, a list of 19 such farms which are operating ‘outside licence’.

These farms continue — as you pointed out — to have a ‘devastating impact on migratory fish stocks and water quality.’ They contribute to pollution of our bays and infect wild salmon with sea lice which exceed the permitted ‘trigger level’ at some locations and in some seasons in 100% of the tests.

In fact, one firm recently admitted that they treat fish before the ‘trigger level’, a practice that will increase pollution and resistance to chemo-theraputants while giving the appearance of having addressed the sea lice problem.

The delays that are being blamed on the European Court judgment against Ireland for failure to properly assess fish farms conceal the fact that, if properly assessed, open net fish farms in the bays along the west coast of Ireland could and should not be permitted.

Tony Lowes
Friends of the Irish Environment
Kilcatherine
Eyeries
Co Cork