Doomsday predictions are nothing new. From Mayan profits to cult leaders to Keanu Reeves, plenty of people have predicted humanity’s end, but most visions of the apocalypse tend to fall flat. Now a relatively prominent scientist says the end is nigh—as in maybe just 100 years away. The award-winning Australian scientist Frank Fenner, who helped eradicate small pox in 1980, is professor emeritus at Australian National University. He claims the human race’s “unbridled consumption” and population expansion makes our existence unsustainable. Link to this post!

Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, “man would have only four years of life left”. The number of wild honey bees in Ireland and indeed worldwide has dropped dramatically in the last few years.  Putting Alberts profesy aside, the implications of the decline is alarming.  Most of the world’s crops depend on pollination by bees. However, there is one encouraging development – despite there being fewer wild bees, more people are keeping beehives near their homes in Ireland, and many more want to learn about the activity. Link to this post!

A controversial scheme to fill in 50 acres of Dublin Bay for a port expansion was rejected by planners today over environmental concerns. An Bord Pleanala refused Dublin Port Company’s application on grounds the firm had not adequately established what long-term effect the scheme would have on the loss of wetland habitat or on bird species. Part of the planned site fell within a proposed special protection area. Link to this post!

Are you, or anyone you know planning a walk up the isle in the near future? If so a trip to the aptly names Frock Around The Clock, Vintage Bridal Fair should be well worth the effort. The fair takes place this Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast from 12 Noon to 5pm.

A Japanese lingerie maker has created a bra that grows rice. The bizarre underwear features pots instead of cups, and a plastic water hose with seedlings acting as a belt. It even comes with a pair of detachable farming gloves. Triumph Japan has a reputation for making “gimmick” undies that convey political messages. Link to this post!

The world’s oceans are warming up and the rise is both significant and real, according to one of the most comprehensive studies into marine temperature data gathered over the past two decades. Measuring the temperature of the oceans has not been easy, but the scientists behind the latest study believe there is now incontrovertible evidence to show that the top few hundred metres of the sea are warming – and that this temperature rise is consistent with man-made climate change. Link to this post!

The 15th Convergence Sustainable Living Festival takes place later this month. The week long Convergence Festival features talks, conferences, workshops and world café discussions on how urban and rural communities can adapt and thrive in these uncertain times. Taking place mostly in the Greenhouse but other events are being held in the Lighthouse Cinema, Wood quay Venue and the Cloughjordan Ecovillage from the 26th of May to the 1st of June. Link to this post!

Years ago we all lived in hand me downs from older siblings, cousins, neighbour etc. I loved when our posh cousins dropped a box bursting with the coolest threads ever. Disappointingly, in this consumer driven, image concious society, the old tradition of hand me downs no longer seem to be something that is very acceptable.
Perhaps the old tradition is about to be revived in our newer greener, budget focused society.

HAve you been thinking of investing in a windmill, or perhaps even a more elaborate water mill. Well perhaps the decision has just got easier. The governments new Carbon Windfall Levy could enable you to recoup your costs by selling your surplus electricity.

Between the economic meltdown and the push for green buildings, saving energy, water and money in your home is more popular than ever. Fortunately, greening your home doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. We caught up with Eric Corey Freed, principal of Organic Architect, and author of the new book, Green$ense for the Home. Here’s his list of nine simple things anyone—renters and homeowners alike—can do in their homes today. 1. Change your light bulbs already! How many environmentalists does it take to change a light bulb? There are several answers to this joke (none of them that… Read More »

If you find youreself in the Kildare region this month, a visit to Castlefarm is a must.  Castlefarm is nationally renowned as one of the top food destinations in the country.  As well as being awarded Bridgestone plaques for the past four years Castlefarm is a Teagasc organic demonstration farm.  Castlefarm sells its own farmhouse cheese, organic beef and pork, organic vegetables, organic eggs and seasonal chutneys and jams as well as other locally produced and Irish food.  Castlefarm not only produces good food but it also educates people about good food offering group tours of the farm as well… Read More »

Get them to grow them! A successful new school gardening programme may hold the key to one of modern life’s great dilemma for parents: how to get children to eat vegetables. A programme to encourage schoolchildren to grow their own fruit and vegetables can change the dietary habits of the next generation. Speaking at the the recent Agri-Aware’s Incredible Edible’s growing challenge in the RDS, Minister Trevor Sargent said early learning on food would last a lifetime. Minister Sargent said: “Most of today’s schoolchildren have not had the opportunity to experience growing food at home or on an allotment. Previous… Read More »

I’m not sure if it was the sudden and dramatic change in the weather, but this week our house is full of sniffles, sneezing and aches and pains.  This includes my two and a half year old daughter Myah who seems to wait to go to a supermarket (or somewhere similarly public) to announce ‘Mummy, look I’ve a snotty nose’.   I’m finding it all very stressful, as unlike other multi tasking parents I know, I am not the well organised mother I should be and have found myself on several occasions routing around my pockets and sleeves to find not… Read More »

The Government is to provide a €5,000 grant to incentivise the public to purchase electric cars. Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said the grant would make electric vehicles comparable in price to conventional cars, but they would run at 20% of the cost. The Government wants Ireland to become an effective test site for electric cars, with a goal of 10% of all vehicles running on electricity by 2020. Advertisement Last year, the Government signed a strategic deal with Nissan Renault, and today Renault is showcasing its new electric vehicle, the Fluence. The ESB has already committed to installing 1,500 charging… Read More »

Step into Spring with the Junior Readers Club and Bird Watching Workshop at Dublin Zoo.
Birdwatchers and bookworms will be flocking to Dublin Zoo this April for two extra special events to celebrate springtime in the zoo.

Eamon Ryan, spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources summarises some of the positve work being done by the Government on the energy front in Ireland.

We all love Easter eggs…. sadly one of the most over-packaged products on the market.  A huge cardboard box……. plastic moulding to hold the egg in place, a shiny foil wrapping – all to hold one little hollow egg, weighing maybe 110g! Let’s keep the bunnies smiling and buy some seriously delicious chocolate eggs with the least packaging – choose ones that are only wrapped in foil, or give an Easter gift instead. How about traditional hand-painted Easter eggs and papier mache eggs using the plastic packaging from an egg as a mould?  This could then be decorated and filled… Read More »

When I was young, I remember whenever we needed to buy a new washing machine ore TV, or some such big appliance, we would search from shop to shop and even town to town in order to get the best product at the best price. In that same process, we would obviously burn up lots of fuel and crank out all sorts of nasty stuff from the car exhaust as we went.  This was normal, because access to information on these products was not as readily available as it is today. Link to this post!

You might think that the last thing you need is an excuse for turning off the lights at 8.30pm on Saturday evening. The bottle of chilled white you’ve been avoiding all week is half finished and nestling nicely in the fridge door. But here’s the kind of Saturday night offer you can’t refuse. On the 27 March at 8.30pm at local time all around the world, people will be switching off their lights to show their support for positive action on climate change. It’s WWF’s Earth Hour, and all you need to do to join in is sit calmly in… Read More »

The Irish Wind Energy Association has said Ireland is at serious risk of missing key EU renewable energy targets due to a frustrating lack of Government coordination. Ireland has already reached its 2010 target – 15% of electricity comes from renewable energy. Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has committed himself to reforming the complicated entry system. Advertisement However, the IWEA has clearly reached the end of its tether, arguing that the Government’s inability to tackle red tape is presenting critical difficulties that will cost the country dearly in the future. Link to this post!