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Categories
Active Projects Doughnut Economy Sustainable Groups

Doughnut Economy

Who are we?

The West Cork Doughnut Economy Network (WCDEN) started in April 2020 under the first lockdown. It was set up by environmentally active people from across West Cork. Its inspiration? Doughnut economics, an alternative model designed by Kate Raworth who calls herself a “renegade economist”. While working at Oxfam, she concluded that “conventional economics” and its unrealistic idea of “eternal economic growth” did nothing to combat poverty and inequality or to help sustainability, biodiversity. And that it certainly doesn’t serve the community. The doughnut in her alternative graph, see below, has nothing to do with junk food but everything with the circular shape that represents, “the safe space for humanity”. The idea is that an economy should focus on helping people thrive. Not the other way around.

Doughnut economics is a place-based model not a one-size-fits-all recipe. Ideally, each place will end up with a local economy that produces local resources a way that respects and serves biodiversity, the local community, and human rights across the planet.

To help us get there, Raworth wrote an influential book, Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist. With her team, she also set up DEAL aka the Doughnut Economics Action Lab where groups from across the world meet, exchange information, and share ideas as well as co-create tools.

WCDEN is involved in IDEN (the Irish Doughnut Economy Network) and is a project under the Green Economy Foundation.

To find out more about doughnut economics, https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/

WCDEN launch video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEXpyoWS5CY

What do we do?

Many of West Cork Doughnut Economy Network’s founding members are active in local sustainability groups. Some of these are represented on this website. It facilitates workshops using tools that “help turn doughnut economics from a radical idea into transformative action.” See https://doughnuteconomics.org/stories/266. It took part in last year’s West Cork Feel Good Festival and will do so again in July/October 2023.

A local doughnut economics group, the Ballydonut, was established in the village of Ballydehob in 2021 where it is now working on a Community Biodiversity Action Plan.

How can you get involved?

Email westcorkdoughnuteconomynetwork@gmail.com or go to https://www.facebook.com/WestCorkDoughnut

Categories
Active Projects Skibbereen Walks Sustainable Groups

Skibbereen Walks

Skibbereen a Walking Town

The town boasts several walking groups, loop walks within the town itself and its own walking festival in September.

 

Walking Groups

Skibbereen Walking Group is a walking club catering for a wide range of member capabilities ranging from Easy Walks to demanding Hill Walks.

Walking

http://www.baltimore.ie/event/walking-in-aid-of-the-irish-heart-foundation/

 

Walking Festival

All roads lead to and from Skibbereen the last weekend in September when the Walking Festival takes place with guided walks through quiet country roads (with some off-road sections) for walkers of all abilities.

The meeting point for most walks is Skibbereen Heritage Centre with bus transport provided to and from out of town walks.  Great company, expert guides, all levels catered for and free tea and scones on all walks.

For this year’s festival dates, programme and tickets visit skibbereen.ie

 

Walking Itineraries & Maps

ABBEY LOOP WALK
Moderate Loop Walk • Distance: 4.3bm
Total Climb: 60m • Time: 1 to Ihr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, public part?, quiet roads & riverside walk.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre towards West Cork? Hotel on Ilen Street, crossing Kennedy Bridge through O’Donovan Rossa Memorial Park to Marsh Road. Through Glencurragh and Curragh Road with gradual rise to high point with panoramic view of Skibbereen and lien Estuary before descending along a quiet country road to Abbeystrowry Burial Ground, site of an old Cistercian abbey and famine burial pits. Crossing the N71 and Newbridge to riverside wall? back towards the Heritage Centre.

ROCK LOOP WALK
Easy Loop Walk • Distance: 4.5hm
Total Climb: 30m • Time: 1 to 1hr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, public roads, off road path and town streets.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre towards Bridge Street and through the old Railway Cutting to Mardyke. Onto the Baltimore Road and back towards Market Street before rising up the Gortnaclohy Road onto Chapel Lane. Passing two old burial grounds to High Street and then off road to Windmill Rock, site of the famine memorial with view over town. Continue down to North Street past the cathedral and the courthouse to the Relief Road and back to the Heritage Centre via Ilen Street.

COMPASS LOOP WALK
Moderate Loop Walk • Distance: 5.1bm
Total Climb: 50m • Time: 1hr 15min to 1hr 30min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, quiet public roads & town streets.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre onto Upper Bridge Street and continuing as far as St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Turning up the country road towards Compass Hill with panoramic views towards Baltimore and Lough Hyne before descending onto Baltimore Road and going back towards the town centre along Market Street. Passing the Town Hall and Maid of Erin Statue through Main Street to Bridge Street past the Canon Goodman Memorial and Abbeystrewry Parish Church and back to the Heritage Centre.
See Slí na Sláinte brochure

SKIBBEREEN SLI NA SLAINTE
Easy Loop Walk • Distance: 4.7hm
Total Climb: 20m
Time: 1 to 1hr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, riverside walk & town streets.
Caution: All walks are on public roads or paths. All walkers are responsible for their own safety.
Please be mindful of traffic and obey the rules of the road.

CORK COUNTY COUNCIL
Skibbereen Walks are developed by Skibbereen Tidy Towns with grant aid from Cork County Council and West Cork Development Partnership

Three interlinked loop walks around the historic market town of Skibbereen. Beginning at the Skibbereen Heritage Centre you visit the town’s historic sites, climb the surrounding hills and are rewarded with panoramic views of the town and lien River estuary

Categories
Active Projects Sustainable Groups Zero Waste

Zero Waste

Who are we?

We are a community group dedicated to minimising waste in all its forms.

What do we do?

Share information about Zero Waste initiatives.  Support businesses and individuals aiming for a Zero Waste Lifestyle. Organise training and events.

How can you get involved?

  • Join our Facebook Group
  • Share ideas and success stories
  • Support Zero Waste initiatives and businesses locally
  • Be your own Zero Waste champion

 How to contact us

Zero Waste Skibbereen Facebook Group

Zero Waste Facebook Page

email contact@sustainableskibbereen .com

 

Resources for Zero Waste Educators Training

Zero Waste Find Someone Who Activity

Zero Waste Workshop Planning form 

What I Used Yesterday

Gallery of Zero Waste projects

Gallery of consequences of waste images

Gallery of waste reducing projects

 

Great Zero Waste Blogs

Zero waste Bloggers Network

Going Zero Waste

Litterless .com

Rogue Ginger

Paulamarten tips-on-turning-the-plastic-tide

 

Groups

https://www.facebook.com/Zero-Waste-Skibbereen-197399921066026/