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Archive for News – Page 2

Alicia O' Sullivan on climate change

Alicia O’Sullivan talks about climate action

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· October 17, 2019 

Bev and Rob from Sustainable Skibbereen interview climate activist, campaigner and Skibbereen resident Alicia O’Sullivan.  The interview explores Alicia’s many roles as Ambassador, climate change activist and rights campaigner.  Praised by Senator John Kerry as a teenage activist alongside Greta Thunburg, Alicia talks about local and global issues, and the future.

From Our Ocean Wealth: “At an early age Alicia began volunteering and campaigning for change on many different issues. She joined Cork County Comhairle Na nÓg (i.e. youth council) in 2016 and has been part of a group successful in working on the reform of sexual education in Ireland.

In 2017 she began working with YMCA Ireland and with this organisation she began developing her digital media skills for advocacy and creativity.

In 2018 she won a mentorship with the ESB as ‘TechSpacer of the Year’ for her outstanding participation in digital creativity projects by using digital tools to achieve social change.

In 2019 she was titled Lions Club Youth Ambassador for Ireland and began developing ‘GenerationZ’ which is a project aimed at helping parents understand their children and to succour communication on a variety of issues like mental health and LGBT+ matters.

Alicia is one of millions of Climate Strikers around the world and is passionate about youth voice and engagement. She hopes to pursue law and politics after school”.

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Plastics Awareness Events in Skibbereen 12/9 & 21/9

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· September 3, 2019 

We are delighted to announce we have two events on Plastics Awareness coming up this month (September). These are the brainchildren of Kilcoe artist Sonia Caldwell. The first is designed to get people chatting over a cup of tea..what’s not to like? The second is a Plastics Awareness Day with lots to look at and talks to make you think and a chance to discuss the feasibility and options for reducing plastic use.

So to the first event:

As part of the Taste of West Cork Festival on Thursday 12th from 4pm to 6pm in the Riverside Cafe. This is entitled ‘Dear Granny what did we ever do without plastic’. It costs €5 for tea and scones and although it is based on the idea of a letter, it invites older people to come and talk with younger ones about times before plastic became mainstream.

“We would like to know all about grocery shopping in the good old days – before everything was wrapped in plastic! Look back at a time gone by, where reusing and repurposing was a way of life. We would like to hear the wonderful stories of the shops back then, the goods that were for sale (and how they were packaged) and the shop keepers who were wonderful characters in the social fabric of village and town life and look at new ways to marry the old ways with modern technology and enterprise to bring about a new plastic free future. In the spirit of the Folklore Commission of the 1930‘s we are inviting people to send a letter or note from an elderly relative or recording an anecdote or memory about how shopping for food was done in the old days, how we used to shop for food and what has changed in the type of food now purchased. Or if you are that elderly relative then send it yourself(!). Letters can be posted to Kilcoe Studios, Kilcoe, Skibbereen, Co Cork or e-mailed to zerowasteskibb@gmail.com before the 10th September”, but we would be more delighted if you could come with a younger or older person and join the chat!

Any letters and stories from the ‘Dear Granny’ session will then be exhibited during the Plastics Awareness Day:

Then  on Saturday 21st September an event is booked in Abbeystrewry Hall Skibbereen (10am to 4pm) to help us learn a bit more about the most topical material at the moment for all the wrong reasons- Plastic.
A day of information, talks and discussion is planned, for which there is NO CHARGE: We are delighted that the Rev. John Ardis from Abbeystrewry Union of (Cof I) churches is so keen for us to use the Hall for this event.
Stalls: from schools (Rath NS, St Patrick’s NS, Skibbereen Community School and hopefully others) and local artists (Sonia Caldwell Paula Marten (‘feelgood positive changes’), Martha Cashman), Skibbereen Tidy Towns, Eco Congregations. We will have Fionn Ferrera’s award winning Science Project to look at, (although he can’t come himself), Maggie from the market’s refill station and others…..young climate activist Saoi O’ Connor may be dropping in too.
Talks and Discussions: on the problems and solutions of plastics in the home and garden with local business people ( Olive from Twigg, Alison Roberts who is well into reducing plastic use, Rory Jackson on his work with the transition year students clearing beaches, Deelish and other nursery people… I’m trying to get a CCC representative down to talk about recycling and to clarify what goes in which bin. If I can get enough help to do teas we will do that too!

We hope everyone who comes will find that cutting the use especially of the problematic single use plastics is possible with some thought and a little extra effort, with no adverse effect on quality of life! One small action taken by a lot of people morphs into a significant improvement to the health of the those living in third world countries trying to deal with the West’s so called recycling, our oceans and all that live there, fish stocks and the world and our own local environment.

So it’s a busy and exciting day and we’d like as many people as possible to come and join us.

If you would like to get involved with either event it is not too late, please get on touch with Sekeeta 0871516372 or zerowasteskibbereen@gmail.com. ‘Involved’ means anything from putting up a poster for us, showcasing what you do in your shop or business to try and reduce waste with a focus on ( single use) plastics, having a stand at the event, joining in the discussions, attending the events  and bringing your friends or helping the night before setting up or on the day, so there are plenty of options!

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Bicycle Buffet Friday 13th Sept

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· August 30, 2019 

The Sustainable Skibbereen Bicycle Buffet will provide cyclists with a wonderful journey around Skibbereen while enjoying four sumptious courses of beautfully prepared local ingredients.  One of the few events in the festival that leaves you fitter as well as well fed!

How it works:  On arrival, enjoy a ‘mocktail’ made from incredible local edibles. Then mount your bicycle* and ride to two mystery locations where pop up food vendors will supply delicious food using the finest local ingredients and incredible edible produce. Then take a leisurely cycle back to a mystery destination no 3 for an incredibly edible dessert!

Buy your tickets below.

Meet at Chapel Quay, North St. Skibbereen (by the civil defense building/library) 5.00pm Friday 13th Sept.

Parking is available opposite the cathedral

Part of the Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2019!

Only €25

*Some bicycles available for loan. Email us to book.

Fill out my online form.

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Sara of COOPCAFER visits Fair Trade Skibb

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· July 23, 2019 

Earlier on this year we had Sara Montoya, a coffee producer from COOPCAFER, Colombia visit us, check out her interview 👉

Don’t forget that your morning coffee has the power to impact the livelihood of coffee producers for the better

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Insomnia Fair trade Coffee

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· July 23, 2019 

Have you tried @_InsomniaCoffee ‘s new Voyager coffee made from 100% Fairtrade coffee beans from Ascarive & Fedecocagua cooperatives in Brazil & Guatemala yet? 🇧🇷🇬🇹☕

We have and we highly recommend 😋

ASCARIVE’s mission is to produce high quality coffee, allowing small producers to improve their income, recognizing the product’s quality, producing with ethical principles, and preserving the environment, while guaranteeing sustainability at long term.

FEDECOGAGUA is a certified Fairtrade producer based in Guatemala. Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional trade and is based on a partnership between producers and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade. This allows them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their everyday shopping.

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fight climate change together

Together we can fight climate change

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· July 23, 2019 

“My whole life has been wrapped in plastic”

Out of a number of powerful statements made by 16 year old environmental activitist, Saoi O’Connor, at a climate change workshop hosted by St. Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan yesterday, this one really stuck. She said that she can’t relate when her granny talks about a time, not so long ago, when she could buy food and other household items without bringing home a bin-full of plastic.

Environmental scientist, Dr. Cara Augustenborg, used images and statistics to demonstrate the devastating impact of climate change, resulting from human activity.
Three 6th year students from Belvedere College in
Dublin also spoke powerfully about their fears and hopes for the future.

It was impossible not to feel frightened and disturbed at times during these talks, but the overwhelming feeling afterwards was that this is a FIGHT and we’re all in it to win it.

The audience was a room full of about 60 people, the vast majority of whom were retirement age. Watching the interaction between youths, fighting for their future, and elderly people ready to fight to ensure the future for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one could only feel inspired.

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O’ Donnell’s Furniture Wildlflower Meadow

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· June 12, 2019 

O’ Donnell’s furniture have  a wonderful wildflower meadow in front of their premises on the Baltimore road.  This local family run business is participating in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan by conserving certain areas of their grounds in order to save the Bees. Out of the 98 Bee Species in Ireland, one third are being threatened with extinction due the decline in pollinator numbers. This needs to change. Aodh O’ Donnell managing director explained that since they have left the meadow grow an Irish purple orchid has been found growing on the meadow along with many other species including many ox-eye daisies. Tim Cooke, employee at the firm is leading the pollinator project and it has been a real success.

 

It’s great to see local companies signing up to the pollinator plan and as you can see their grounds are enhanced and improved by doing less. There’s less grass to cut, more biodiversity, more bees and ultimately it’s a win win for nature and whoever has to cut the grass at O’ Donnell’s. Well done O’ Donnell furniture and we hope others will follow your lead! Sustainable Skibbereen urge you to leave areas of grass uncut to encourage wildflowers and help our pollinators.  And don’t miss the picture of the amazing orchid below!

 



 

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Seed Bomb Workshop

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· May 20, 2019 

@ St Patricks National School, Skibbereen. Wed 22nd May 2019 7pm

 

 

From From Gardenista.com
“Seed bombs are the main weapon guerrilla gardeners can use to spread flowers in bare spots, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators. Gardening without permission is another way of describing these activities: not strictly legal but filed away by the authorities under the category of “What’s not to like.” Alex Mitchell in her book The Rurbanite shows us how to make seed bombs, using guerrilla tactics to spread cheer.

“Seed bombs are best, and the most fun, when thrown into neglected roundabouts, central reservations, flower beds, and planters,” says Mitchell.

Many guerrilla gardeners arm themselves with trowels and work nocturnally. But with seed bombs it is possible to make a difference without that considerable commitment; lob a bomb from a bicycle, a car window, or when passing on foot.

Seed bombing is best done in spring and autumn, says Alex Mitchell. Or, time your attack to coincide with heavy rainfall.

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An open discussion about Skibbereen and its future

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· May 16, 2019 

The Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to an open discussion about our town at the

Eldon Hotel

Thursday 16th May

7.30 pm

Candidates invited

All West Cork candidates standing for the County Council elections next week have been invited to participate.

Come along and meet the candidates for the local elections and discuss their VISION for the Future of Skibbereen.
This will be an opportunity to think about what you want for the future and to start a discussion with those who would be our elected councillors.

Speakers and Topics

Invited speakers will introduce various aspects of Skibbereen and its future.  Tourism, jobs, the environment and the public realm.

Candidates will be asked to respond and answer questions from the floor.

Please come, all are welcome.

This is a chance to discuss our town and its future with our prospective County Council representatives.

SECAD training

This meeting will be a forerunner of the planned training in Skibbereen by SECAD

“Would you like the chance participate in the process of planning for your local community? Join SECAD for the free My Town, My Plan training programme, funded through the LEADER programme and aimed at community group members and individuals who are interested in planning for their own town and surrounding areas.  It will run from Autumn 2019 in your town and will allow neighboring community members to discuss the future of their own area.  Groups can choose four of the topics listed below

Theme A: Enterprise and Asset Management:

Developing Community / Social Enterprise

Owning and managing community assets

Incubating and supporting the development of local business and trade

Future opportunities for retail and developing a retail strategy

Communities and Renewable Energy Production

Theme B: Social: Community & Volunteer Supports:

Designing an Age Friendly Town

Developing A Healthy Town Programme

Community financing for development of community services

Social inclusion in our town

Integration of new communities

Mental Health

Theme C: Environment:

Climate Change – How we can make a difference at a community / town level

Eco-Aware Town Design

Creating our Town Biodiversity Development Plan

The first meeting in May 2019 will be critical as it will allow SECAD & trainers from Cork Institute of Technology’s (CIT’s) Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence to shape your specific training programme to be delivered from September 2019.

We need as many people from different backgrounds, interests, ages and cultures to participate.  Please take this opportunity to become part of this important process aimed at sustaining your community’s vibrancy and resilience”

THE SECAD  MEETING WILL BE AT THE WEST CORK HOTEL SKIBBEREEN MONDAY 27TH MAY 7.00 PM

APPLY TO SECAD TO ATTEND.

TRAINING EVENTS PAGE SECAD

 

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Deer Video

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· April 18, 2019 

Beautiful baby deer by the road in Killarney National Park.

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