Death of a fuel-free motor:A murder-mystery style film that examines why hundreds of efficient, fuel-free cars disappeared from American roads in the late 1990s is being screened next Tuesday (July 17th) by Cork Environmental Forum in the Ambassador Hotel, Cork at 6.45pm.
Featuring Mel Gibson and Tom Hanks, Who Killed the Electric Car? chronicles how General Motors developed and released the EV-1, a fleet of silent, aerodynamic electric vehicles to meet California's 1990 zero-emissions mandate. They enjoyed a brief ride from 1996 until 2003, when they were taken off the market and destroyed. The film looks at the role of General Motors, the US government, the oil industry, and consumers in the demise of the cars.
The screening will be followed by Cork Environmental Forum's 2007 agm and a presentation of an initiative by Cork City Council to develop a car-sharing scheme. For more details call 021-4340348 or e-mail admin@cef.ie.
Low-carbon living
For 10 years, carpenter Mukti Mitchell has pioneered a low-carbon lifestyle, with annual carbon dioxide emissions of just five tonnes, about half what most of us emit.
At Easter this year he set sail from Devon in his hand-built, zero-carbon boat named Chance, on a six-month tour of 40 British ports. He's been up the Irish Sea, toured Scotland and is now heading south towards London, spreading the message that low-carbon living is fun and easy.
"A lot of the best things in life are low-carbon by nature - exercise and socialising are good examples - and the really good bit is that low-carbon activities save money and make you feel good," writes Mitchell on his website.
Along the way he's been hosting talks and displaying low-carbon products from insulation to bicycles, public transport, local food and low-energy holidays.
The website includes a diary of his voyage and a handy 33-page downloadable guidebook for living a low-carbon life. See www.lowcarbonlifestyle.org.
Wildlife on camera
Congratulations to Jimmy Edmonds from Mulgannon, Co Wexford, for his photograph of a little egret taken at the Wild Fowl Reserve in Co Wexford, which won him first prize and €5,000 in the Notice Nature TV3 Wildlife Photographic Competition. Well done also to Donal Mullins from Fethard, Co Tipperary and Veronica Healy from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, who came second and third. The photographers were presented with their prizes by John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government last week.
The three winning pictures can be viewed at www.noticenature.ie
Get a grasp of gardening
Summer gardening courses for families and for adults continue today at Cultivate's rooftop courtyard garden at its sustainable living centre in Temple Bar, Dublin. Running on most Saturdays until the end of September, the course is suitable for complete beginners. See www.cultivate.ie or call 01-6745773 for bookings.
EcoWeb
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Nine cyclists have been killed on Irish roads this year, according to the Dublin Cycling Campaign, which aims to make the capital's streets safer to cycle around. Its website details how you can help and has links to cycling campaigns nationwide.