Cork Greenmap

The Free Range Graphics people have teamed up with 350.org to broadcast the following message: What’s it going to take to stop climate chaos? Well, global warming guru Bill McKibben has a simple answer: 350. That’s the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that scientists now believe is safe. And it’s the number we have to achieve.

McKibben and our friends at 350.org set out to spread this simple concept, a goal that we can all aim for. And they turned to Free Range to make it into a killer music video that anyone, regardless of the language they speak, can understand. Check it out at http://www.350.org/en/animation

Singer / Songwriters John Spillane and Mick Flannery are to perform live at Cork City’s  newest music venue the Pavillion Bar in Patrick Street on August 6th as a fundraiser for the Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign.

Contrary to reports in a weekend supplement in the Irish Examiner, the long running campaign to restore public access to the Old Head of Kinsale is alive and well and looking forward to its long-awaited court challenge on the issue of public access which we hope will come up this Autumn.
The gig will start at 9pm on August 6th.

Check out the upcoming Cork Cycling Arts Festival, a celebration of the bicycle culture in Cork - free entertainment for all ages including movie nights, street events, workshops and much more - info and programme on

http://www.cork-cycling-arts-festival.org/

I’m sure most of you already know (and love!) Freecycle Cork

http://www.freecycle.org/group/IE/Ireland/City%20of%20Cork

- for the free giving of stuff that you don’t need and taking of stuff that you do - they have just extended operations and have a west Cork group..

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westcorkfreecycle/

Other similar services (with Cork specifics) include:

Jumbletown, www.jumbletown.ie

Gumtree, http://cork.gumtree.ie/ -this one also includes stuff for sale and rent

and Wastematchers:, http://www.wastematchers.com/ the city councils

Go wild

Check out the new Free Range Studios animated series for kids on saving the world from global warming and pollution: http://www.greengorilla.com/

Captain Planet for the new generation!

Also well worth checking out for are Free Ranges other brilliant cause-based web-movies, including ‘The Meatrix’, ‘Grocery Store-Wars’ and ‘The Story of Stuff’.

http://www.freerangestudios.com/

“For Biodiversity Week and as part of the Cork City Heritage Plan - Lough Bat Box scheme, the Cork County Bat Group (CCBG) are holding a public bat walk at the Lough on Thursday 22nd May. They will be meeting just after sunset at 9.45pm outside the Hawthorn bar. All members of the public are welcome, no previous experience required. Members of the CCBG will be on hand with bat detectors to help identify any bats seen.”

After 4 years in Cork, and in Cork Greenmap, our beloved frenchies have finally returned to France (about 2 years later than planned I think,.. Cork does that to people!). So we’d like to wish them all the best, and say thanks a million for their friendship and for all their ideas, time, work, & craic. It has been a pleasure!

Bon voyages Seb & Sophie,

See you in Britanny

Following last weeks vote European Commissioners overturned the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) “safe to eat” verdict for three new GM crops — two varieties of GM maize and one variety of GM potato. This means the agro-chemical companies can’t commercialize these crops in Europe for now. BASF’s GM potato was only one European Union vote away from being released commercially. But the Commission has sent it to the back of the authorization queue. (from Greenpeace news)

Read more in the EU observer: http://euobserver.com/9/26098

Good Food on the Public Plate

International Workshop

Friday 9th May | 9am | Dublin Food Cooperative | 12 Newmarket, Dublin 8

An international workshop examining ways of raising food quality standards in hospitals, schools, care-homes by making public food catering, healthier and more ecologically sustainable.

Organised by AlimenTerra, the European association of organic farming organisations and sustainable food systems.

Please contact Clive Peckham for further information and bookings at cpeckham@alimenterra.org or Pauric Cannon at Dublin Food Co-op Tel 01 4544258. Organic and Fairtrade refreshments available.

To get there: see map at www.dublinfood.coop

Programme 9am Introduction by Clive Peckham, Director of AlimenTerra.

9.15am Keynote address by Mr Trevor Sargent TD, Minister for Food and Horticulture, Ireland.

10am Workshop (see contributors below): Quality ecologically sustainable food supply systems

3pm Talk by Clive Peckham, Director of AlimentTerra and co-author of Good Food on the Public Plate.

Low Carbon Futures - Challenge Europe

We are looking for the brightest, boldest and best minds in Europe. Have you got what it takes?

Climate change is real. Something needs to be done to make a difference and accelerate change to a Low Carbon Future. The time to stop talking and start acting is NOW. The British Council and its local partners are looking for bright young people from the island of Ireland who can make this happen.

WHO — Are you aged between 18 and 35? Can you commit approximately 12 hours of your time each month over the next year?

WHAT – If selected, you will be offered the chance to explore solutions to climate challenges with other bold and bright people across the island of Ireland and Europe. You will participate in local and international visits and study tours, develop long-lasting networks, interact with leaders, public figures and specialists from different sectors of society, share best practice across Europe and promote unique ideas that will accelerate change to a Low Carbon society…

Although participation is voluntary, we will provide you with opportunities to learn from the best and to develop your knowledge, expertise and influence.

HOW — You can find more information and an application form at www.britishcouncil.org/ireland or www.britishcouncil.org/nireland Send your completed application to Challengeeurope@britishcouncil.org by Monday 26 May 2008.

For more details, please contact Liz McBain, British Council tel: +44 28 9024 8220 email: liz.mcbain@britishcouncil.org