Melting in Montreal

Horizons: A melting ice sculpture of the Earth was what the Green Party chose to symbolise the speed at which climate change has become a reality in our world.

The melting globe was also used to launch the Civic Forum on Climate Change, which will begin on Monday, December 5th in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin. Speakers from politics, academia, state bodies and business will include Mary Kelly from the Environmental Protection Agency, Eddie O'Connor from Airtricity, Gerry McGaughey from Century Homes, John Henry from the Dublin Transportation Office and Henk van der Kamp from DI T. The forum, which will be chaired by broadcaster Olivia O'Leary, will have a live link to the United Nations climate change conference in Montreal, Canada. The negotiations there are the first step in deciding the global response to climate change after the eventual expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.

Admission free. See www.climatechangeireland.org.

Wild stocking fillers for kids

Two new wildlife books for children hit the market in time for Christmas. The first, Ireland's Mammals by Juanita Browne (Browne Books, €25) was launched last week in the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street, Dublin. Speaking at the launch, Peter Carvill from the National Parks and Wildlife Service said: "This book fills a unique niche in Irish wildlife publishing because it offers not only the facts on Irish wildlife but also through the photographs, illustrates the beauty and wonder of wildlife and the need to cherish, preserve and protect this wildlife." A freelance editor and graphic designer with a degree in zoology, Juanita Brown edits Heritage Outlook, the magazine of the Heritage Council. Contact 086-3442140 or e-mail info@irishwildlife.ie. The second book, A Hare at Fota Wildlife Park (Fota Wildlife Park, €7), is about Rini, the hare who lives in the Co Cork park. The illustrated book for three- to 10-year-olds tells of her meetings with Fota residents such as Darragh the Giraffe, Ollie the Ostrich and Boris the Bison. All profits from book sales go to the conservation projects for the rare riverine rabbit in the Karroo of South Africa. Contact 021-4812678.

Don't get fleeced at Christmas Handmade fleeces, wild woolly jumpers, wood turned bowls, wooden hobby horses, rainbow candles and organic and homemade produce are among the many items on sale at the first Green Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 4th at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim. The centre has teamed up with Crann, the broadleaf charity, to provide an alternative to the shopping centres' Christmas sprees. Local musicians will perform throughout the day and children can make Christmas cards. Christmas trees grown without artificial fertilisers will also be on sale. Contact 071-9854338, e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net for details.

Awards deadline approaches

Calling all young environmentalists. The deadline for registering your project for the Young Environmentalist Awards 2006 is Friday, December 16th. Check out the online manual at www.ecounesco.ie or contact Rachel Kavanagh on 01-6625491.

EcoWeb

www.birdtrack.net
This site offers all birdwatchers opportunities to monitor movements of all birds in Ireland and Britain. You can also submit sightings and become part of this international scheme.