National Tree Week
Highlighting the importance of trees in our everyday lives is the aim of this year's National Tree Week which begins tomorrow. With over 300 events - forest walks, tree-planting ceremonies, workshops, talks, competitions and tree plantations - throughout the country, there will be many opportunities to get involved. Local authorities will also distribute 15,000 trees to community groups.
Ireland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with only 10 per cent of afforested land, compared to a European average of 36 per cent. Event guides for National Tree Week are available from Coillte offices or O2 outlets. See also www.treecouncil.ie or tel 01-2849211. Meanwhile, an exhibition of some of the entries for the National Tree Week poster competition (open to students in third-level art colleges) continues in ENFO, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin, until March 24th. Enfo is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm. Admission free.
Planting in Eritrea
Refugee Trust International (RTI) is seeking sponsorship from schools and individuals for the planting of Moringa trees in Eritrea during National Tree Week. Also known as the miracle tree, the Moringa has been widely hailed as the world's most useful tree. It is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and pest-resistant. The leaves, flowers, seeds and seed pods can all be eaten. The seeds are also used to purify dirty water and they contain a vegetable oil used in cooking, soap and creams. The bark can also be used in cooking, food preservation and rope-making. See www.refugeetrust.org or tel 01-8820108 for more details.
The Fairtrade habit
Make Fairtrade your habit is the theme of Fairtrade Fortnight which runs between March 6th and 19th this year. The idea is that with an ever-increasing range of fair-trade products on sale here now (from coffee, tea and chocolate to juices, honey, bananas, nuts, oils, rice, beer, wine and cotton products), it's easier than ever to include products with the Fairtrade Mark in your everyday shopping.
Anyone keen to publicize Fairtrade Fortnight in workplaces, community groups or shopping centres can get further information by contacting FMI at info@fairtrade.ie and tel 01-4753515. See also www.fairtrade.ie.
Teacher's parachute jump
A part-time teacher and organic gardener is taking a parachute jump tomorrow to raise funds to restore the organic garden next to the newly built Coláiste Bríd secondary school for girls in Clondalkin, Dublin. Pat Harrington, who teaches music and environmental studies at Coláiste Bríd, developed the organic garden more than 15 years ago in the school grounds. Over the years, she has grown vegetables and fruit, giving students opportunities to plant, nurture and bring home organically grown vegetables.
Now, she tells Horizons, there are no funds available to maintain the organic garden. "I'll be 69 the day I jump, so I want to make sure that the children have the benefit of the garden long after I'm gone," she said. Tel 087-6650307 or e-mail john@sustainable.ie.
www.diykyoto
A new website created by three art college graduates with the aim to empower people to save energy. The site includes information for companies and a gadget which shows how much power your house is consuming .