Cork attraction wins best interactive event

Press Release: Immediate

Date: 23^rd Feb 2011

 

 

Cork Attraction wins Best Interactive Event Award

 

Water Open Day organised by Lifetime Lab has been selected as Best Interactive Event by The Heritage Council. The accolade was presented to Lifetime Lab at a ceremony at Heritage Council headquarters recently.   

 

The Open Day explored the positive impact of water as a heritage resource and highlighted its role across areas such as recreation, culture, engineering, employment, health and tourism. The event was free to the public with close to 1000 visitors participating. Over thirty volunteers offered activities including birds of prey displays, giant bubble making, launching water rockets and creating a giant wall hanging. Indoor activities included investigating how hydropower and geo thermal operate, exploring the science of water and examining water treatment before and after we use it.

 

Lifetime Lab was selected from 700 organisations and individuals accounting from over 1300 events nationwide. Manager of Lifetime Lab Mervyn Horgan commented "The event would simply not take place without the dedication and commitment our volunteers and we are delighted to recognise their achievements, the fact that we were selected from so many other organisations and events is a fantastic achievement"

 

Speaking at the presentation, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council said, "The judging committee identified Lifetime Lab as a clear winner for the award, the scale of the event and numbers in attendance are a credit to the organisers" He added "These awards are an opportunity for event organisers to be recognised for the tremendous work they do in organising and running events which increase our educational and heritage value"

 

Lifetime Lab is located at the old Cork City Waterworks on Lee Road. The site hosts a Visitor Centre with interactive environmental exhibits, a steam centre with preserved boilers and huge steam engines that were used to pump water to supply the City of Cork. Lifetime Lab also has a coffee dock, a picnic area and a children's playground and is fully wheelchair accessible. It is open Monday- Friday 9am-5pm.

 

For further information, please contact the Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500 or view the website www.lifetimelab.ie

 

Ends.

 

Notes to editor

 

• Lifetime Lab Water Open Day is an annual event organised by Lifetime Lab
• Entry is free to the public
• Close to 1,000 members of the public attended in 2010
• Lifetime Lab was selected from 700 organisations and 1300 national events
• Photo caption  - Pictured at the presentation of Best Interactive Event to Lifetime Lab are Conor Newman Chair of The Heritage Council, Mary Walsh Environment Cork City Council, Mervyn Horgan Manager Lifetime Lab, Una Leader Education Officer Lifetime Lab and Isabell Smyth Head of Communications and Education Heritage Council

 

Contact Details

Name: Mervyn Horgan

Address: Lifetime Lab, Lee Road, Cork

Telephone: 021-4941500

Fax: 021-4941519

Email: lifetimelab@corkcity.ie

 

 

 

 

Ireland to be fined E26 million and daily fines of E33000

PRESS RELEASE 17th February, 2011 Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership   PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   17th February, 2011   Ireland to be fined €26 million and daily fines of €33,000   The Environmental Pillar calls on the Government: to take seriously its role as protector of the natural resources that are fundamental to all life, including human; to fully implement the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive, and the EIA Directive; and in so doing to avoid the Irish taxpayer having to face huge fines.   Because the Irish Government never put in place the necessary procedures regarding assessing the environmental impact of projects, we as tax payers are now collectively facing a fine of €26 million followed by daily fines of €33,000 until our Government learns to obey the rules which it helped to write.  Should the European Court of Justice go ahead and fine Ireland it will be because our Government showed contempt to the Court by not complying with a ruling of the same Court made in 2008 regarding the poor implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The 2008 ruling found that the Irish thresholds for conducting an impact assessment for certain types of projects were too high. This has led to the loss of valuable wetlands and the destruction of archaeological remains, according to the Commission.   Speaking on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, Joanne Pender of the Irish Wildlife Trust noted that "This is not the only case against Ireland that is likely to result in serious fines.  Ireland is in the dock for almost 25% of all the environmental cases at the "contempt of court stage" in the European Court of Justice.   Ireland also ranks at the bottom of many league tables that assess our environmental performance, especially for nature protection. This is a terrible indictment of the Government's record in protecting the environment, and a warning to the next Government to implement the European Directives that it signed up to."   Whatever the complexion of the new Government it will need to dramatically improve on the past record of the State in transposing European Directives as the Commission starts to use its new powers to seek fines against recalcitrant Member States such as Ireland   ENDS   Notes to editors:   This press release was developed through the processes of the Environmental Pillar but doesn't necessarily reflect the opinion of all its members.   Environmental Pillar members:An Taisce. Bat Conservation Ireland,BirdWatch Ireland. CELT - Centre for Ecological Living and Training. Coast Watch. Coomhola Salmon Trust. Crann. ECO UNESCO. Feasta.  Forest Friends. Friends of the Earth. Gluaiseacht. Grian. Hedge Laying Association of Ireland. Irish Doctors Environment Association. Irish Natural Forestry Foundation. Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Irish Seal Sanctuary. Irish Seed Saver Association. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Irish Wildlife Trust. Just Forests. The Organic Centre. Sonairte. Sustainable Ireland Cooperative. VOICE. Zero Waste Alliance Ireland.   Source for 2008 Ruling: ENDSEurope   http://www.endseurope.com/17154?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY   Source for European Court of Justice data:  Link:    http://www.irishenvironment.com/irishenvironment/articles/Entries/2010/6/1_Andrew_L.R._Jackson,_The_Emerald_Isle_Irelands_environmental_compliance_record_in_cross-EU_terms.html   EU Commission Press release: Brussels, 16 February 2011 Environment: Commission seeks fines against Ireland for not adopting legislation to protect countryside heritage Link:   http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/168&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en     CONTACT: For further details, information, or to arrange interviews, please contact: Michael Ewing. Co-ordinator, Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership -  Phone: 071 9667373. Mobile: 086 867 2153. Email: michael@ien.ie Danny Walsh. Communications Officer, Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership - Phone: 01 8780116. Mobile: 086 8127139. Email: danny@ien.ie   The Environmental Pillar of Social Partneship MACRO Building, 1 Green Street, Dublin 7, Ireland Tel: 01 8780116 Web: www.environmentalpillar.ie Email: office@environmentalpillar.ie

IWT calls on Fine Gael to reverse its policy on turf-cutting

Press Release

16th Feb, 2010

IWT calls on Fine Gael to reverse its policy on turf-cutting

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust is calling on the Fine Gael party to reverse its policy of allowing turf-cutting on some of Ireland's most valuable nature reserves (Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas). According to its manifesto Fine Gael says it "will allow an exemption for domestic turf cutting on the 75 National Heritage Area sites, which are designated under Irish Law". This amounts to an assault on our wildlife and fails to recognise the value of our bogs for purifying water, storing carbon and alleviating floods.

 

Ireland's raised and blanket bogs are unique habitats at an international level and after years of abuse only 18% of these areas remain of any conservation value[1]. It is these last few refuges that Fine Gael are proposing to 'sell off' for short-term political gain.

 

The chairman of the IWT, Pádraic Fogarty said "at a time when Ireland's 'green' image is vital to creating jobs and returning to prosperity Fine Gael want to take us back to the bad old days of environmental abuse that benefits the few".

 

The IWT is calling on any new government to commit to our legal and moral obligations to protect our biodiversity and to acknowledge its value in a dynamic and prosperous Ireland.

ENDS

Contact:

For further information please contact Joanne Pender IWT Development Officer Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

 

Editors Notes:

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey and Newt Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Cork, Louth, Monaghan and Tipperary.

 

---

[1] Foss P., O'Connell C.A., Crushell P. H. 2001. Bogs and Fens of Ireland Conservation Plan 2005. Irish Peatland Conservation Council.

Joanne Pender

Development Officer

Irish Wildlife Trust

Sigmund Business Centre

93A Lagan Road

Dublin Industrial Estate

Glasnevin

Dublin 11

Ph: 01 860 2839

Fax: 01 830 8914

E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

Web: www.iwt.ie

IWT calls for an end to over-fishing and no cull of seals in Kerry

Press Release

14th Feb, 2011.

IWT calls for an end to over-fishing and no cull of seals in Kerry

 

The IWT is calling on the government to introduce measures to protect the marine environment and to resist calls from fishermen to cull seals off Kerry. Irish waters are and now over-fished and the marine ecosystem has been severely damaged due to trawling and other commercial fishing practices. This long-term damage is the cause of dwindling fish stocks and culling seals, a European protected species, should not be used as a scapegoat for fishermen's problems.

 

Pádraic Fogarty, IWT chairman said, "Fishermen must start working with nature if there is to be a continuing supply of fish for future generations". For instance:

 

·      Cod is listed as 'endangered with extinction' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

·      The Marine Institute estimates that the Haddock fishery off the west of Ireland discards 66% of the total catch, which in 2011 will result in nearly 6,000 tonnes of unwanted fish and other marine life being dumped.

·      Landings of Whiting from the Celtic sea and west of Ireland have decreased steadily since the 1990's from a high of about 22,000 tonnes in 1995 to only 5,000 tonnes in 2009.

·      Landings of Pollack across Europe have declined steadily since the 1980's but despite this there is no information about the state of this fish in waters off the west of Ireland. The Marine Institute has recommended that total catches should be reduced in light of this lack of information.

 

These facts point to an on-going decline in the quality of our marine environment which some scientists have suggested will leave us without commercially exploitable stocks of fish by 2050.

 

The IWT, along with 12 other Irish conservation organisations that are part of the OCEAN2012 coalition, has been working since 2009 for a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy that puts the environment first. Pádraic Fogarty said "without fish there will be no fishing. If we want fish on our plate 30 years from now we must start protecting our oceans. Shooting seals will do nothing to restore the long-term health of the marine environment in Kerry or anywhere else in Ireland".

ENDS

 

Contact:

For further information please contact Joanne Pender IWT Development Officer Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

 

Editors Notes:

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey and Newt Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Cork, Louth, Monaghan and Tipperary.

 

 

Lifetime Lab Scientist Display February 11th

Press Release: IN ADVANCE OF EVENT

Date: 10^th Feb 2011

 

Winning Cork Young Scientist Projects on Display

 

"How do you take your tea", "Political awareness in teenagers" or "The effect of a tidal surge in Cork Harbour " are among some of the prize winning projects by Cork entrants to the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition that are on display at Lifetime Lab during February

 

The display of over 50 projects from 23 schools will be launched by Lord Mayor Cllr. Michael O' Connell on Friday 11th February at 12.00 midday with participating students on hand to speak about their projects. The students will also get the opportunity to attend an exciting Chemistry Magic Show staged by Dr. Declan Kennedy of UCC.

 

"We are delighted to recognise the hard work of students and their teachers, who have represented Cork with great success, while also providing an opportunity to view a selection of the projects in a local setting. For aspiring young scientists who have not had the opportunity to visit the exhibition in Dublin, the display at Lifetime Lab is an ideal opportunity to view a high standard of local entries that qualified for the national final" said Mervyn Horgan, manager of Lifetime Lab

 

Over three weeks from the 14^thFebruary to 4^th March 2011 the students' project posters will be on display in the Lifetime Lab Visitor Centre. Members of the public and schools will be able to view the students work, as well as digital video clips of the students talking about their projects.

 

Lifetime Lab is located at the old Cork City Waterworks on Lee Road. The site now hosts a Visitor Centre with interactive environmental exhibits, a steam centre with preserved boilers and huge steam engines that were used to pump water to supply the City of Cork. Lifetime Lab also has a coffee dock, a picnic area and a children's playground and is fully wheelchair accessible. It is open Monday- Friday 9am-5pm.

 

For further information, please contact the Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500 or view the website www.lifetimelab.ie

 

Ends,

 

Notes to editor

 

·         Lord Mayor Michael O Connell will launch the display at 12.00 noon on Friday February 11^th

·         In all 86 student projects from 27 schools in Cork City and County qualified to participate in 2011 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition at RDS in Dublin.

·         27 of the Cork projects won Awards and 16 projects were Highly Commended

·         The winners of the Best Group were Thomas Cronin, Dylan Coss and Jeremy Sarisch-Rooney from Coláiste Muire – Crosshaven. Their project was entitled 'DIY wind power – portable community generators for the Third World'.

·         A Cork school has won the BT Young Scientist of the Year 3 times in the last 6 years. Those winners were

o   2010: Richard O'Shea, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney; ''A Biomass Cooking stove for Developing Countries'

o   2009: John D O'Callaghan and Liam McCarthy, Kinsale Community School; "The Development of a Convenient Test Method for Somatic Cell Count and its Importance in Milk Production".

o   2006: Aisling Judge, Kinsale Community School; "The development and evaluation of a biological food spoilage indicator"

·         Guests will be entertained by a Chemistry Magic Show immediately after the launch

 

Contact Details

Name: Mervyn Horgan

Address: Lifetime Lab, Lee Road, Cork

Telephone: 021-4941500

Fax: 021-4941519

Email: lifetimelab@corkcity.ie

 

 

Mervyn Horgan

Lifetime Lab

Old Waterworks

Lee Road

Cork

021 4941500

 

Recalled 'Back Lane Parliament' highlights absence of equality and environmental proposals in election

NEWS RELEASE from Claiming Our Future

Embargoed until 1pm on Wednesday 9th February

Campaigners recall 'Back Lane Parliament' to highlight absence of equality and environmental proposals in election campaign

Over 20 local meetings to quiz candidates on jobs, equality and political reform

Members of the Claiming Our Future movement today (Wednesday) staged a re-enactment of the 1792 'Back Lane Parliament' in Tailors' Hall, Dublin to demonstrate that the absence of equality and environmental proposals in the election debate was effectively disenfranchising large parts of civil society.

The movement announced that its local groups would be holding at least 20 public meetings across the country to quiz election candidates on their policies for creating an equal and environmentally sustainable Ireland with real opportunities for people to participate in the political decisions that shape their lives.

Claiming our Future activists from around the country read out the group's  six priority policy demands, which were established by 1,000 participants at Ireland's first 'citizen's parliament' last autumn. They said many Irish people today felt the same sense of disenfranchisement that prompted Wolfe Tone to convene the 18th century Back Lane Parliament to petition for voting rights for Catholics. This is because the election is taking place after the Budget and IMF- European Commission agreement and because the policy platforms put forward by the political parties have so far failed to substantively address equality and environmental sustainability issues.

The event also saw the publication of a summary of Claiming Our Future policy priorities, based on equality and environmental sustainability, which it is sending to all party leaders. The priorities include:

·       A sustainable alternative to the boom-and-bust economy

·       A more equal society

·       Political reform

·       Decent and sustainable jobs

·       Radical reform of the banking system and

·       Public service reform.

Niall Crowley of Claiming Our Future said the election had so far yielded no substantive proposal for a more equal Ireland from any political party. "We have seen many proposals on political reform but none to address the lack of diversity and gender equality among our public representatives. The same goes for public sector reform. A myriad of proposals but not one to enhance the ability of our public services to eliminate disadvantage or address the diverse needs of the people who use them," he said.

Charles Stanley-Smith of An Taisce said: "The voices of those who seek environmental sustainability are not being heard. Economic growth continues to be the accepted wisdom with no proposals from the political parties about unsustainable resource use, capping emissions or improving public transport. The disenfranchisement of this voice diminishes our chances of emerging from crisis."

Siobhan O'Donoghue of the Community Platform announced that local Claiming Our Future groups would be holding at least 20 public meetings over the next two weeks at which election candidates would be invited to outline their values and policies. "Can they offer universal access to care and health care? Will they ensure equality in access to education? Could they reform politics so that people can participate in the decisions that impact on them? Can they advance equality so that everyone has an adequate income and nobody earns more than a set maximum income?" she asked.

Claiming Our Future is made up of individuals and organisations that believe the economic crisis is an opportunity to reassert the progressive social values of equality, sustainability, inclusion and human dignity. Initially developed by Is Feidir Linn, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, environmental groups, the TASC think tank and Social Justice Ireland, it now involves a much wider range of organisations including community groups, youth groups, environmental groups, trade unions, rural networks, social justice groups and organisations representing older people, global justice, migrant workers, students, cultural initiatives, women, people with disabilities and social media.

ENDS

Further information

Bernard Harbor – 087-230-1262

Niall Shanahan – 087-264-8092