Final festive farmers: For last-minute Christmas shopping, check out the last Glendalough farmers' market before the big day.
Crafts, organic fruit, vegetables and home-baking are available today at the Brockagh Resource Centre, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the new year, the market will continue on the second Sunday of every month.
Environment the first casualty
Bombing industrial targets can have serious effects on the environment, according to the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, which calls on countries to consider the health and environmental issues raised by such attacks, particularly in light of the current situation with Iraq. In Precision Bombing, Widespread Harm, the US-based pressure group studied NATO attacks on Yugoslovia in 1999, including the bombing of a chemical plant which resulted in the release of toxic chemicals and mercury and the destruction of a car factory when chemicals linked to cancers were leaked. Civilians living near the targets may have been exposed to greater health risks from contamination in air, water and food products, says the report. More details: www.ieer.org
Guiding campaigners
It can be difficult to know how to begin a campaign on an environmental issue, yet there is plenty of expertise around the country. One veteran campaigner and student of environmental protection would like to hear from activists on problems they have encountered (such as getting access to information/public bodies and finding a sympathetic expert) with the aim of compiling a booklet to help aspiring campaigners. E-mail: m.ewing@dol.ie or write to Michael Ewing, Knockvicar, Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Irish seal deaths tail off
The epidemic affecting wild seals could be coming to an end as the number of dead seals found around Irish coasts fell from 113 in October to 45 in November. In Scandinavia, the epizootic (an epidemic in a population of wild animals) is over, but in the UK 300 dead seals were found last month, bringing the total dead in UK waters to 3,285 since the epidemic began. If you find a dead or sick seal, do not touch it - phone the Irish Seal Sanctuary at 01-8354370 or consult the website: www.wildireland.ie/irishsealsanctuary
Extra recycling centres opened
During the festive season, Irish households generate more than 100 kilos of waste: including 20 million wine bottles, 57 million aluminium cans, 23 million plastic drinks bottles and 1,000 tonnes of wrapping paper. Repak has set up an extra 18 Christmas recycling centres around the country (December 16th to January 5th). For details, see www.repak.ie or your local newspaper.
Boglands up for sale
Two mint-condition signed copies of a collectors' item, Prof David Bellamy's out-of-print book, Bellamy's Ireland, The Wild Boglands, are for sale at an auction to be held by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Burns Bog Conservation Society. There is a reserve of €100 on each book. To bid, tel: 01-8722384 or e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie before January 17th.