Horizons

An oil well in the skyWind energy could supply over one million homes in Ireland with electricity, delegates were told at Energy from Fresh Air, a wind energy conference in Sligo last weekend.

While the recent landslides in Galway and Mayo raised fears of how developing wind farms may cause other problems, planners and developers alike focused their minds on the huge potential of wind energy in this country. "Ireland has one of Europe's best wind regimes," says Paul Dykes, from the Renewable Energy Information Office. A survey carried out before the Galway and Mayo incidents found that four out of five people were in favour of more wind farms and two in three were willing to have one built in their locality. A wind atlas, which digitally outlines Ireland's wind speeds at turbine heights, was also launched at the conference. There are currently 29 operational wind farms in Ireland, supplying over 110,000 homes and businesses (170 MW) with electricity. The government's target is to generate an additional 500 MW of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2005. Further conference details on tel: 023-42193.

Meeting remarkable trees

Tree enthusiasts will enjoy a lecture on the beauty of trees by ecologist Anne Behan in the National Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre on Sunday, November 30th at 2.30 p.m. Admission free. The event is organised by Forest Friends Ireland/Cáirde na Coille. Also in the National Botanic Gardens on Thursday, December 4th at 3.15 p.m., gardening expert Finola Reid will give a talk entitled Survival and Revival in Ireland's Historic Gardens and Demesnes. The gardens are open between 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Sundays throughout winter. Admission free. Tel: 01-8570909.

A week for trees

National Tree Week will be celebrated in Northern Ireland next week. Events include a Woodlands Christmas Fair in the Portrush Countryside Centre, Co Antrim on Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. Admission free. See also www.doeni.gov.uk.

The ethical green fringe

On the fringes of the green movement is a growing interest in the philosophical questions about how humans interconnect with nature. On November 30th, retired psychiatrist Dr Ivor Browne and other speakers will address how we can respond to the ecological crises we now face through better self-awareness and a more compassionate world view. The symposium, obliquely titled, Emergence - Connecting Creativity, Consciousness and Ecology, takes place in Cultivate, Sustainable Living Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin from 1.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission €25. Tel: 01-6746415.

Apple Tree Sale

The open day and apple tree sale at the Irish Seedsavers Association, Capparoe, Scariff, Co Clare, takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, and not today as stated in Horizons last Saturday. Tel: 061-921866 for details.