SYLVIA THOMPSONtalks about our heritage
KEEPING IT LOCAL
How to develop a local food culture is the theme of a seminar at An Gáirdín ecological centre, Portumna, Co Galway, on Monday.
“Buying local was never as important as it is in these straitened times . . . the pressures are huge at the moment but it is also a time of opportunity,” says Gerry Galvin, chef and writer who will chair the seminar. Organic vegetable grower, Padraig Fahy and cheese-maker and farmer, Marion Roeleveld will speak about their experience in business. Tel: 090-9741689
Meanwhile, organic farmers, growers and processors can avail of one-on-one clinics with experts on finance and marketing at a conference in the County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co Offaly on March 3rd. www.nots.ie
OUR CHOKING CITIES
We passed the point at which more than half of the world’s population live in cities around 2000 – seven to eight years earlier than expected. Now a new global map measures urbanisation from a new perspective of travel time to major cities.
The map, which was developed by the World Bank and the European Commission, shows how half of the world's population lives less than one hour from a major city. It also shows that 95 per cent of the world's population is concentrated on just 10 per cent of the world's land. The map serves as a stark reminder that the price of greater connectivity is that there is little wilderness left. http://gem.jrc.ec.europa.eu
YOUR SAY IN THE FUTURE
What are the biggest issues that will face Dublin City in the next decade? This is the question that citizens of Dublin are asked to ponder at public information workshops on the city’s next development plan from 2011-2017. Themes such as transport, economic and community development, sustainability and housing are among the topics to be discussed. Forthcoming workshops will be held in Ballybough Community Centre (Feb 17th), Pearse St Library (Feb 19th), the Evergreen Hall, Terenure (Feb 24th), Ballyfermot Community Centre (Feb 26th), the RDS, Ballsbridge (Mar 3rd) and Clareville Daycare Centre, Glasnevin (Mar 5th).
More details at www.dublincity.ie
Ecoweb
www.architecturefoundation.ie
The newly-launched website of the Irish Architecture Foundation features news, discussion forums, podcasts of talks and a countrywide events diary. Billed as the IAF’s “virtual interface” with the public, it also contains education section and blogs from architects and artists.