Rebel wheels lead the way: The Rebel Pedal Parade in Cork city next Saturday is probably the most inspired Irish response to the annual European Mobility Week, which runs from tomorrow until Saturday.
Members of the public are invited to join in the bike parade, which starts at Emmet Place at 11.30am. An afternoon festival in Emmet Place will feature cycling information, antique bicycle displays and advice on spreading the "streets for people" message of European Mobility Week. A public conference on Cork City Council's plans to introduce a car-sharing scheme is on Monday.
For details of the parade, telephone 021-4340348 or go to www.corkcity.ie or www.cef.ie.
. . . with Dubs in train
Meanwhile, in Dublin, efforts to wean people off their cars for European Car Free Day next Saturday sound somewhat less impressive. Dublin City Council is encouraging people to travel by public transport to hear opera in Parnell Square, to see skateboarders and BMX bikes in Merrion Square and to look at vintage cars in Herbert Park. All three areas will be closed to traffic.
Suggest a sustainable strategy
Eco-Unesco will hold public meetings in the next few weeks to discuss the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, for which the youth environment organisation has been appointed a consultant. The aim of the meetings is to record initiatives in sustainable development education and see what else should be included in a national strategy. The meetings will be held in the Mercer Hotel, Dublin, on September 20th at 5.30pm; the Shamrock Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath, on September 24th at 10am; the Blackrock Education Centre, Kill Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, on September 25th at 10am; and the Lifetime Lab, Lee Road, Cork city, on September 28th at 10am.
Advance registration is essential on 01-6625491 or director@ecounesco.ie.
Peak speak
The probable impact of depleting oil resources on developing countries will be discussed at a public talk on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin.
The talk, Peak Oil: the End of Economic Growth?, will be given by Prof Charles Hall, of New York State University. Hall, a systems ecologist, says there is a race between technological progress on energy substitution and depletion of oil resources, and argues that such a race should be immune to financial market instability. The talk is sponsored by the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (Aspo), the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (Feasta) and the Freshwater Ecology Group at Trinity College. Admission €20.
Apple Day advance notice
The Irish Seed Saver Association (Issa) will hold its annual Apple Day in its orchards at Capparoe, Scariff, Co Clare, on September 30th. It's a chance to celebrate the harvest by tasting and juicing native Irish apples. Visitors can bring along their own apples (and bottles) for juicing, walk in the gardens, and hear about the slow food movement. Admission €10.
For details, telephone 061-921866 or e-mail hilary@irishseedsavers.ie.
EcoWeb
www.mobilityweek-europe.org
Find out about some of the more energetic responses to "streets for people", theme of this year's European Mobility Week.
