Horizons

OCEAN’S 2012

The Irish Wildlife Trust (iwt.ie) has joined a campaigning group, Ocean 2012 (ocean2012.org), dedicated to the reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy. The IWT specifies four issues: the use of scientific advice to determine the amount of fishing allowed in any period; ensuring Marine Protected Areas are negotiated with the fishing community so stocks can flourish; to eliminate waste or so-called “by-catch” (fish caught that has no commercial value); and the enforcement of EU legislation so plastic fishing lines are replaced by biodegradable materials. “Business as usual means soon there will be no more fish in the sea,” says Pádraic Fogarty, chairman of IWT.

LOCAL LIQUIDITY

Feasta, the foundation for the economics of sustainability, has just published a leaflet on how local currency systems, which already exist in Tuam and Kilkenny, can help communities during a credit crisis. Entitled The Liquidity Network, the leaflet explains local currencies are "an emergency measure to help local economies keep business moving and prevent further job losses". Members can use the local currency instead of the euro to exchange goods and services, and can pay using the internet, a card, mobile phone, notes and/or vouchers, until the economy returns to growth. See feasta.org.

IRISH AT COPENHAGEN

As environmentalists come to terms with the disappointing outcome of last month’s UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, one group of Irish students have been enriched by their involvement in a student conference held in Denmark in the lead-up. The group of fifth-years from the Kings Hospital in Dublin represented Ireland at the Zealand Consensus Student Conference. While there, they were shown how rapeseed oil mill produces biodiesel, which heats 60 per cent of Danish homes. The students also heard from experts including Nasa researcher, Prof Jonathan Trent, who spoke spoke about the possibilities for third-generation biofuels.

ECOWEB

irishseedsavers.ie

Check out the new website of the Irish Seedsavers Association with lots of clear information about workshops, school visits and online purchase of seeds and plants. It also has details of a new TG4 series on organic gardening, of which the first episode will be broadcast tomorrow at 7.30pm.