Bay area forecast: Dublin Bay has been described as a tremendous asset on which the city has turned its back. Not for much longer, it seems, because the Dublin Regional Authority (DRA) is planning to create a master plan for Dublin Bay, following a complete environmental audit of the bay from north to south.
The DRA will also establish a Dublin Bay Association to co-ordinate the development of recreational amenities and address threats such as climate change.
The big question is who will decide what gets prioritised, and there are many interested parties keen to have their voices heard. Campaign groups including the Combined Residents Against Incineration from Sandymount and Ringsend, the Save Greystones Harbour campaign and the Clontarf Residents' Association are meeting today in the Kingston Hotel, Dún Laoghaire. The day-long conference is hosted by the Save Our Seafront (SOS) group.
Next Saturday a conference, organised by Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe, will look at the environmental issues facing Dublin Bay. It takes place in the Kingston Hotel, Dún Laoghaire and speakers include Karin Dubsky from Coastwatch Ireland, Niall Hatch from Birdwatch Ireland and Michael Collins speaking about the proposed Sandycove to Sutton Cycleway. The event will conclude with a debate on the future of Dublin Bay. For details, tel: 01-2846060 or see www.dublinbayfutures.org.
Where do we get our energy?
Ireland is the seventh most oil-dependent country in the world and the third most oil-dependent country in the EU. Yet Ireland and Scotland have some of the world's largest renewable energy sources. A seminar, The Global Energy Picture, will address these issues on Wednesday in the Mansion House, Dublin. The event, chaired by economist and broadcaster David McWilliams, will include contributions from energy resources expert Dr Colin Campbell and Dr Herman Scheer, president of the European Association for Renewable Energies. To book, see www.energyfutures.ie.
Festival of fossil fuels
Convergence, the sustainable living festival, also takes depleting fossil fuels as its theme. The 11th festival, entitled Rethink Energy - Slow Down, Go Further, will be held in Cultivate, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin from April 19-23. Events include conferences on green building and energy-efficient building design, a civic forum on nuclear power and a discussion on new approaches to tourism in Ireland. See www.sustainable.ie/convergence for full details or tel: 01-6745773.
Winged workshop
Tomorrow, adults and children can learn how to identify garden birds at the Garden Bird Expo in the Glenview Hotel, Glen o the Downs, Co Wicklow. Experts such as Eric Dempsey, Éanna Ní Lamhna and Don Conroy will host workshops, and there will also be guided nature walks and children's art and crafts. The event, which runs from 9am-1pm, is part of the 38th All Ireland Conference on Bird Conservation which continues today and tomorrow. Admission €10 per person/€15 per family. See www.birdwatchireland.ie
