Recycling the message: The third annual National Recycling Week begins on Monday. The campaign, which is co-ordinated by Repak, the recovery and recycling agency, drives home the "start recycling, keep recycling" message with various initiatives highlighted by local authorities throughout the week.
Ireland's recycling rates are still way below the European average, but Repak's target is for 50 per cent recovery by 2005 (to increase to 70 per cent recovery by 2009). Check www.repak.ie for a county-by-county list of "bring banks" or tel: 1850- 909999 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, for details of recycling initiatives in your area. Also, schoolchildren should watch out for local performances of The Piperella Show, an interactive theatre show with an environmental message. Meanwhile, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council will run composting workshops in libraries in Dublin and Limerick during National Recycling Week. Further courses are planned for counties Westmeath, Tipperary, Clare, Cork, Mayo, Kildare and Meath. For details, tel: 01-8722397.
Eco boost for the young
Eco Unesco, Ireland's only environmental conservation organisation specifically for young people, has just launched a new CD- Rom called Protect Your Local Environment. It covers topics such as water, air, waste, litter, energy, sustainable development and biodiversity. The CD-Rom will be available in libraries and schools throughout the country or directly from Eco Unesco. Eco Unesco has more than 4,000 members aged between 14 and 25 in a nationwide network of clubs. Contact the organisation at 26 Clare Street, Dublin 2 or tel: 01-6625491.
Neighbourwood watch
Féile 2003, this year's festival of trees organised by the broadleaf charity, Crann, will be launched tomorrow at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim. The launch coincides with the Organic Centre's fourth Organic Fair (open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on the final day of the North-West Environmental Festival. There will be a guided walk of the newly planned Neighbourwood area in the afternoon. Other events in Féile 2003 include a guided walk round the Avondale Estate, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow on October 19th; a walk in Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast on October 26th, and a talk on the seeds and fruits of the Irish hedgerows at ENFO, 12 Andrew Street, Dublin 2, on November 1st. Closing date for the photographic and poetry competitions is October 17th. See www.crann.ie for full details.
Apple Day today
A last-minute reminder that the Organic Centre's Apple Day, in association with the Irish Seed Savers Association (tel: 061-921866) is on from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Tel: 071-9854338.
Be a deep eco-thinker
Interested in thinking and talking about environmental ethics, deep ecology and eco-socialism? If so, consider the 10-week philosophy and nature course that begins on Monday, October 6th at 7.30 p.m. in Cultivate, Temple Bar, Dublin. Cost: 120 for the 10-week course. Tel: 01-6746396.
