Gore presents the 'Truth'Melting glaciers, lakes drying up, the hottest summers on record, an increase in flooding, hurricanes and typhoons.
What more proof do we need before we realise that we have to take action to prevent further destruction from global warming? If you need evidence, go see An Inconvenient Truth, the documentary film on climate change made by American politician Al Gore, which opened in Irish cinemas yesterday.
In it he explains clearly how the build-up of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere around the earth impacts on our weather systems, species decline and even the transmission of human disease. Gore encourages everyone to move on from denial and despair and take determined action - personally by conserving energy in your daily lives (drive less, recycle more, use energy efficiently in your home), politically (vote for politicians who will take measures to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy technologies), economically (pay a voluntary carbon tax when you take a flight, buy a hybrid car, plant trees, etc). Need to be convinced? Go see An Inconvenient Truth and check out www.climatecrisis.net
Get out of your car
European car-free day next Friday may seem like a joke in Ireland - which has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world and car usage much greater than most of our European neighbours. With more and more people driving longer distances to work, public transport is often not a realistic option. Local authorities can still raise awareness levels and Dublin City Council (DCC) is doing just that during European Mobility Week, which begins today. The Road Safety Unit is encouraging children to walk to school this week and during European Walk to School Month in October (if you're a motorist, please note). Personnel from DCC will also visit schools to talk about safe cycling and offer bicycle training and free bicycle racks to schools who need them. Local heritage walks will go ahead in some areas.
Environmental FAQ
Are there health risks associated with living close to a mobile phone mast? Is it dangerous to eat fish which swim in polluted waters? Are there long-term consequences of working full time on computer terminals? Just a sample of everyday concerns which rarely seem to be addressed by researchers. Why?
Well a new research project on people's access to environmental information will aim to look at the reasons why and what can be done about that. The project, which will be launched on Thursday, will be carried out at the Centre for Sustainability at the Institute of Technology in Sligo in conjunction with the department of law at University College Cork and Comhar, the National Sustainability Partnership.
Questions to be addressed include: how much real access do people have to environmental information; how much influence do people have on decisions that will impact on their health and the environment; and how easy is it for people to seek legal redress if their rights to information on environmental issues are denied? For more details, contact Michael Ewing on 071-9667373 or e-mail michael.ewing@o2.ie
EcoWeb
www.clevercommuting.ie
A Dublin Transportation Office site offering commuters cycling and walking route suggestions for their daily commute. So leave the car at home during European Mobility Week which starts today and walk, cycle or take public transport.
