Horizons Sylvia ThompsonLong-standing environmental activists and recent converts to the Green agenda will gather in Woodbrook House, Killanne, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford for the Irish Green Gathering from August 17th-19th. The event, which is hosted by Giles and Alexandra Fitzherbert of Woodbrook House, is billed as a low-budget, family-friendly, not-for-profit festival run on renewable energy only.
The highlight is the extensive music programme but there will also be workshops and stands. The Feasta Energy and Climate Change group is hosting a talk on Saturday evening, August 18th between economist Richard Douthwaite and Green Party Deputy Leader and TD, Mary White, about carbon taxation and tradable emission allocations. See www.feasta.org and www.irishgreengathering.com or call 053-9255671 for further information.
Walking by the waterways "Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes" is the Native American proverb that journalist and travel writer John Mulligan uses as a preface to his book, Following in the Footsteps of the Four Famous Flannerys (published by the Connaught Telegraph, €9.95). The book is an account of Mulligan's walk across Ireland following the Royal Canal Way from Dublin to the River Shannon and then through Strokestown in north Roscommon to Clooncunny in Co Sligo, and from there on to Newport in Co Mayo. As well as a guide for walkers, it is also a reflection on the journey made in 1862 by four Flannery brothers from the west of Ireland as they made their way to Dublin en route to New Zealand. See www.fourflannerys.com for more details.
Whale of a time
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is holding 13 simultaneous land-based whale watch events on Sunday, August 5th at 2pm. Designated National Whale Watch Day, it will celebrate the designation of Irish waters as a whale and dolphin sanctuary.
Whale watches in counties Cork, Kerry, Clare, Sligo, Donegal, Antrim, Down, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford will give members of the public an opportunity to get out on the headlands and learn the field skills required to observe these marine mammals.
See www.iwdg.ie for full details of locations or contact Padraig Whooley on 023-38761.
Iconic organics
The use of the EU organic logo will soon be mandatory on all organic foods produced within member states. This follows political agreement among agriculture ministers last month on a new regulation of organic production and labelling. The EU logo can be accompanied by national or private logos and the place where the products were farmed has to be indicated on the packaging. Foods will only be able to carry the logo if at least 95 per cent of the ingredients are organic. Non-organic foods will be entitled to indicate organic ingredients on the ingredient list only. The use of genetically modified organisms will remain prohibited with 0.9 per cent the limit for the accidental presence of authorized GMOs.
EcoWeb
www.eogconservation.org
Founded in 2006, the Switzerland-based EOG Association for Conservation is an initiative from the European outdoor industry which funds projects that protect threatened wild areas for their habitat and recreational values.