HORIZONS: Ireland's largest anti-litter initiative, the National Spring Clean, is urging people across the country to join in the efforts to clean up their towns and villages next month.
Organised by An Taisce, the month-long initiative relies on volunteers, and free clean-up kits will be issued in advance to those registered. The Football Association of Ireland is supporting this year’s campaign by organising clean-ups in communities across the country. Last year, over 500,000 people got involved in the National Spring Clean. Tel. 01-4002220 or see nationalspringclean.org
Nature studies
Throughout Ireland, habitats and wildlife are under threat from pollution, human interference and invasive species. As part of its efforts to mark International Year of Biodiversity, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council has developed a new course to help people measure, monitor and manage Irish habitats. The course will teach skills such as map-reading, indicator species identification and survey techniques. It will be held on April 12th and 13th in the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Co Kildare. Cost €95. Booking on 045-860133 or e-mail bogs@ipcc.ie.
Eco-churches
Environmental issues are seeping into the consciousness of religious communities. The multidenominational group Eco-congregation Ireland has contacted churches throughout the country suggesting how environmental themes can be incorporated into Lent reflections. One such event is a talk at 2.30pm on Wednesday by David Atkinson, a retired bishop and author of Renewing the Face of the Earth– a theological and pastoral response to climate change (Canterbury Press). The venue is the Irish School of Ecumenics, Milltown Institute, Sandford Road, Dublin 6. Admission free but booking advised on ecocongregationireland.org.
ECOWEB
iucnredlist.org/europe
Check out this site for the latest Red List of Threatened Species, compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It shows that habitat loss and climate change are having a serious impact on Europe's butterflies, beetles and dragonflies.
