Horizons

Earth Day unites faith leaders:Thousands of faith leaders around the world are using tomorrow's celebration of Earth Day to present global climate change as a moral issue.

Priests from the Jewish, Christian and other interfaith communities have pledged support for Earth Day online (www.earthday.org) with prayers, sermons and events posted. In the US, a panel of religious leaders will discuss the moral issues of global climate change on Earth Day TV. Rabbi Warren Stone, the Jewish NGO representative who attended the UN climate talks in Kyoto, Japan 10 years ago, says: "In a world where matters of faith seem so often and so tragically to divide us, there is no issue that aligns us more deeply than our shared dependence upon and sacred responsibility to this tiny planet . . . I fervently believe that climate change has become the most profound religious issue of our times."

Other actions for Earth Day include a pledge to switch to more energy-efficient bulbs and lightsand plans to make events carbon-neutral with the slogan: "Reduce what you can and offset what you can't." See http://action.earthday.net

In Dublin tomorrow from 2pm-5pm, American physicist, Dr Lawrence Edwards, will speak about The Universe Story and lead a walking meditation, the Cosmic Walk, to celebrate Earth Day, starting from Cultivate, West Essex Street, Temple Bar. Tel: 01-6745773.

Monitoring EU's legal duties

Enforcing environmental legislation in EU member states and ensuring they are accountable under these laws will undoubtedly be hot topics at the fifth annual conference on Law and the Environment at University College Cork on Thursday next. Other subjects to be discussed include European regulations regarding chemicals and Irish responses to climate change. The conference runs from 8.30am to 6pm and is open to environmental professionals. Tel: 021-4903220 or e-mail a.mullins@ucc.ie for more details.

Plant a tree to promote peace

Tree-planting in Sri Lanka, working on a fair trade ship in Finland or building a school in Kenya are just a few examples of the short-term opportunities on offer this year to volunteers through Voluntary Service International (VSI). The non-profit organisation promotes peace and intercultural understanding through work camps in 70 countries. This year's VSI International Volunteer Projects book is now on sale in newsagents and bookshops. See www.vsi.ie or tel: 01-8551011.

Art for ecology's sake

Rockfield House, Rathaspic, Rathowen, Co Westmeath is the venue for an eco-art symposium on Friday and Saturday next from 10.30am to 6pm. The event aims to create an awareness about the value of ecological art. "A reconnection is necessary for new art forms to evolve which remind humanity of the responsibility it bears to the planet," says Imelda Daly of Rockfield House. Visiting eco-artists will exhibit work made from eco-friendly materials. Admission €20. Tel: 043-76024 or e-mail imeldadaly@eircom.net for more details.

EcoWeb

[  www.earthday.net  ]

The website of the Earth Day Network, the organisation founded by the organisers of the first Earth Day in 1970. Check out the extensive range of Earth Day events around the world and year-round campaigns for environmental citizenship.