HORIZONS

Potato Day in a potato year "IT IS vital for food security in Ireland and worldwide that more people become involved in growing their own food." So says Trevor Sargent, Minister of State with special responsibility for food and horticulture.

Sargent, who has been encouraging primary school children to grow potatoes, will attend the 10th annual Potato Day at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim on Sunday, March 16th. In this, the international year of the potato, the annual celebration will include displays of up to 100 potato varieties, guided tours of the gardens, and information on planting different potato varieties. The Grass Roof Cafe will serve potato dishes. Activities run from 11am to 5pm. Admission €5. More details on 071-9854338, www.organiccentre.ie

And then there were two

There are only two public lectures left in the popular series on climate change, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency. The speaker at next Tuesday's talk is Michael Zammit Cutajar, Malta's Ambassador for Climate Change and a negotiator of the new multilateral accord on climate change to continue beyond the Kyoto Protocol.

Zammit Cutajar will give a first-hand account of the challenge of meeting global agreement. The venue is the Round Room, the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin. The final talk in the series, on April 8th at 6.30pm, will be on Ireland's response to climate change challenges and opportunities. The speaker will be Minister for the Environment, John Gormley. Venue has yet to be confirmed. Admission free but booking essential on 01-2898533 or email: info@claraclark.ie. See also www.epa.ie/news/events.

Is music endangered?

An estimated 200 different species of trees are used to make musical instruments. Ebonies, rosewood and mahoganies have been valued for centuries for their resonance and beauty. But now, according to Irish non-governmental organisation Just Forests, at least 70 of these species are in serious decline and are threatened with extinction in the wild.

"Timber species decline is not just a third world issue," says Tom Roche of Just Forests. "The fear that the majestic Sitka Spruce of Alaska - the main species for numerous musical instrument soundboards - could be gone in six years has prompted Gibson guitars, Martin guitars and Baldwin pianos to join forces with Greenpeace to act."

To draw attention to these issues, Just Forests is organising a Sound of Wood concert tour for 2008-2009. "We want musical artists to reflect this present-day tragedy in their music and inspire Irish music-lovers into action to address this problem of global importance," says Roche. More information on 046-9737545, www.thesoundofwood.com.

Sustainable recreation

Wet, Windy and Wonderful - Future Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation in Ireland is the theme of an all-Ireland conference on Wednesday and Thursday at the Lough Erne Golf Resort, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. Organised by the Heritage Council and the Countryside Access and Activities Network in Northern Ireland, the conference will look at various forms of recreation (hill-walking, boating, surfing, and so on) and the potential impacts of climate change on these activities. Booking information on 048-90303930, e-mail sylvia@countrysiderecreation.com.

www.environmentaldemocracy.ie

This website, devised by the Centre for Sustainability at the Institute of Technology in Sligo, has recommendations for changes in the law to promote environmental justice. Comments are welcome.