GM Nation: The future of genetically modified foods was hotly debated throughout Britain and Northern Ireland over the past 10 days.
Organised by the independent GM Debate Steering Board, regional conferences offered the public opportunities to discuss their concerns about GM foods. Feedback from six regional conferences, held in Belfast, Birmingham, Swansea, Glasgow, Taunton and Harrowgate, will be put together to form a national report on GM issues in September. It remains to be seen whether the whole exercise is a ploy to soften potential protesters at future GM crop trials, or even to placate consumers so that they accept imported foodstuffs from the US. American citizens, it seems, have no problems about unlabelled GM content of foods such as corn, soy, canola (rapeseed oil) and tomatoes. See also www.gmnation.org.uk
Tree hugging tales
Did you know that in ancient Ireland, a squirrel could travel from Cork to Killarney without touching the ground? Or that a sprig of mountain ash tied to the tails of livestock kept the fairies from harming them? Or that a staff of blackthorn is believed to drive away evil spirits? Irish Trees - Myths, Legends and Folklore (Collins Press,€20), a new book by Niall MacCoitir, is filled with such vignettes. MacCoitir, who works with Fingal County Council, also includes detailed information about the folklore of individual native trees and about the Ogham tree calendar, the 13 month Celtic calendar whose months are named after the tree most closely associated with it. Illustrations are by Grania Langrishe.
The state of your garden
Garden-owners are becoming less inclined to open their gardens to the public, mainly due to nervousness about potential thefts and a lack of belief that their garden is worthy for exhibition. To encourage more gardeners to open their gardens to the public for local charities, the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland is hosting a summer workshop on July 18th in the beautifully restored Belvedere House and Gardens outside Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Cost €10. Tel: 01-4951777 or email info@rhsi.ie. See also www.rhsi.ie
Herbalicious
A reminder that the Irish Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim is holding its third annual Herb Open Day tomorrow. Herbalist Judith Hoad and others will speak about the medicinal value of various herbs and talk about their personal favourites. Also, tours of the centre's herb gardens. Admission €5. Tel: 072-54338 or see www.theorganiccentre.ie
South Africa's new bag
Superquinn's fabric green bag has found its way to South Africa. When the government there introduced a tax on plastic bags last month, supermarket chain, Pick 'n Pay, began selling Superquinn-style green bags. "Rather than designing and prototyping their own bag, a number of supermarkets have expressed interest in using our concept," says marketing director, Eamonn Quinn. More than two million green bags have been sold in Superquinn stores since March 2002, reducing the number of plastic bags by 96 per cent.