Horizons

The Irish Women's Environmental Network has been working away for 10 years, encouraging us all to manage our homes in an environmentally friendly way. In that time, it has introduced many householders to phosphate-free detergents, re-usable nappies and energy-saving tips for the home. Today, it has an information stand at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. If you are there to do your weekly shop, call by the stand first and you may find yourself inspired to choose products with less packaging and free from dangerous chemicals. IWEN members are available to give talks on sustainable living to community and women's groups on request. IWEN is also participating in the countrywide environmental shopping campaign. Tel: 01-8732660 or contact IWEN at Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

The State forestry company, Coillte, failed to secure an international eco-label for its forests last month, according to a report in the current issue of Releafing Ireland magazine. "An eco-label assures consumers that the timber they buy comes from well-managed forests and not from intensively-managed forests or indiscriminate logging operations," writes Coilin MacLochlainn in the Crann publication. An English certification company, SGS Qualifor, listed 19 faults with the way Coillte manages our public forests. These included failure to consult adequately with the public and respond to grievances, failure to protect features of biodiversity value, inadequate management plans for its forestry, and failure to meet targets for planting native species.

The All-Ireland Nest Record Study has just been established with sponsorship from the Heritage Council. Co-ordinated by Gavin Fennessy, a PhD student at the Zoology and Animal Ecology Department, University College Cork, the study will monitor the nesting habits and environmental pressures facing Irish bird species, with the aim of forming conservation strategies. Interested birdwatchers are invited to record their observations of birds' nests in their locality and send them to www.nestireland.com (where there is a nest-data form) or to Gavin Fennessy at the Zoology and Animal Ecology Department, Lee Maltings, Prospect Row, University College Cork, Cork. Participants can obtain tips on where and when to look for nests and advice on proper nest monitoring. For instance, it is of utmost importance that nests aren't damaged or revealed to predators. E-mail gfennessy@nestireland.com if you have any queries before you begin.

The Irish Women's Environmental Network has been working away for 10 years encouraging us all to manage our homes in an environmentally friendly way. In that time, it has introduced many householders to phosphate-free detergents, re-usable nappies and energy-saving tips for the home. Today, it has an information stand at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. If you are there to do your weekly shop, call by the stand first and you may find yourself inspired to choose products with less packaging and free from dangerous chemicals. IWEN members are available to give talks on sustainable living to community and women's groups on request. IWEN is also participating in the countrywide environmental shopping campaign. Tel: 01-8732660 or contact IWEN at Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

Polar bears are under threat from Bush

The drive to stop President George W. Bush drilling for oil in Alaska's arctic National Wildlife Refuge continues. Nearly 500 scientists - including ecologists and wildlife and conservation experts - have sent a letter to Bush to say that drilling for oil would threaten the caribou, polar bears and snow geese which live and mate in the region. Bush has endorsed exploring and drilling in the 19.6-million-acre refuge to help to reduce the country's dependence on foreign suppliers. The group of scientists urged the US president to explore other areas, such as Alaska's north slope, where impact to the environment would be less severe. (For more details: www.envirolink.org)

An Taisce has postponed its National Spring Clean, which was due to begin tomorrow, because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Ireland's biggest anti-litter campaign will be rescheduled for later in the year. Tel: 01-4544794 for more details.