School children to discuss EU and Global citizenship with MEP at Lifetime Lab

Press release

Immediate

 

Cork School Children to discuss European citizenship at Lifetime Lab

 

What is a global citizen, why is it important and should we stay with Europe? These are some of the questions that children from all over Cork city and county will put to Phil Prendergast MEP during an informal questions and answers as part of the An Taisce Global Citizen programme at Lifetime Lab on Monday 28^th November.

 

The programme is currently being developed to aid school children to gain a better insight to the workings of Europe and becoming a global citizen, as part of the programme schools are encouraged to learn about different nationalities in their school, look into purchasing habits, organising fund raising and to live more environmentally.

 

Being a European Citizen means we obey common laws and have common rights within the EU. Unlike in Roman times, being a citizen is not a status symbol anymore, as European Citizens we aspire to equal rights for all and we can all participate in the decision making process through our, democratically elected, Governments and MEP's. We are encouraged to be Active Citizens. The term Global Citizenship is not as easily defined as European Citizenship, there are no clear rules and regulations and, globally, we do not have democratically elected representatives to speak for us. Global Citizenship is more a moral understanding of our responsibilities and our rights in a global context. Being a true Global citizen indicates that we understand that all people have equal rights while at the same time valuing diversity. In addition, it means that we value the Earth as very precious, and as a resource upon which we all depend and should

 

For further information, contact Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500 lifetimelab@corkcity.ie  or visit www.lifetimelab.ie

 

 

Notes to editor

·         Phil Prendergast will be addressing pupils at Lifetime Lab on Monday 28^th November between 9.30 and 10.30 am

·         Phil Prendergast is MEP for Munster and sits on many European committees including The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

·         The global citizen programme is part of the An Taisce Green Flag programme

·         Over 2300 Irish schools now fly a green flag

 

 

Contact Details

Name: Mervyn Horgan

Address: Lifetime Lab, Old Waterworks, Lee Road, Cork

Telephone: 021-4941500

Fax: 021-4941519

Email: lifetimelab@corkcity.ie

 

 

 

 

Cork’s SMILE Resource Exchange Announces Expansion into Kerry, Clare & Limerick

 

Cork's SMILE Resource Exchange Announces Expansion

into Kerry, Clare & Limerick

 

Minster for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, T.D. and Cork North West T.D., Aine Collins were "all smiles" as they joined representatives from SMILE Resource Exchange to announce the initiative's expansion from Cork into Limerick, Clare and Kerry. 

 

SMILE (Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges) Resource Exchange is an initiative developed and piloted in Cork, to help create mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses.  Established in 2010, SMILE Resource Exchange encourages the idea that "one person's waste is another's resource" and works with businesses and organisations to foster partnerships that allow them to exchange re-usable resources, and in doing so, save money, reduce waste going to landfill and to develop new business opportunities.

 

SMILE Resource Exchange is project managed by Macroom E, and is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and Cork County and City Enterprise Boards; Cork County and City Councils; and now Limerick/Clare/Kerry Regional Waste Management Office; Limerick County and City Enterprise Boards; Kerry County Enterprise Board; and Clare County Enterprise Board.

 

Commenting at the announcement of the expansion of SMILE Resource Exchange, Cork North West T.D., Aine Collins said "I'm delighted to be here to celebrate the expansion of this project. Since its inception, SMILE Resource Exchange has identified over 1,000 potential matches between businesses, as well as identifying thousands of euros of cost savings for businesses in Cork.  The expansion into Limerick, Clare and Kerry will drive this even further in the coming months and I'm delighted to lend my support to the project which is both environmentally and economically synergetic."  

 

Sean O'Sullivan, CEO, South Cork Enterprise Board, which has supported SMILE Resource Exchange since the beginning, has seen the benefits to businesses in the region: "Cork was the flagship region for SMILE Resource Exchange and was such a massive success that we're now looking forward to progressing even further with the initiative which is based on the principle of building relationships through networking.  In Cork, potential exchanges were identified through networking events, an online exchange facility and a support team to assist; and this principle will now be applied in Kerry, Limerick and Clare.  This initiative has received huge support, financial and otherwise, from the EPA, which is down to their foresight in recognising the project vision of SMILE Resource Exchange; and the progress made wouldn't have been possible without them."  

 

 Speaking about the initiative and upcoming events, project manager, Michelle Green said: "SMILE Resource Exchange is a free initiative that proactively supports businesses, and joins enterprise and environment together in a unique and innovative way; and we look forward to hosting a number events and welcoming new members in our new regions this October and November."

 

A series of free events take place this autumn in Limerick, Clare and Kerry; and at these exchange events, as well as through the website, businesses can identify resources they would like to exchange such as reusable items, by-products and surplus products.  All resources offered are either free of charge or below market value.  SMILE will host events, on October 26^th in The Brehon, Killarney; and a joint Limerick/ Clare event on November 23^rd in The Radisson Blu Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick; and registration is essential as places are limited.

 

Further information on SMILE Resource Exchange and to register for upcoming events visit www.smileexchange.ie or call (026) 20520.

 

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