George-Dubya bashing was the gleeful sport of the evening at the launch of the Convergence Festival, which takes place from today until next Sunday, in and around Temple Bar, as part of the EarthWeek international global festival. The tree-huggers and greens in the Project bar for the launch are magnanimous towards the new US president. Climate campaigner for Earthwatch, Jim Woolridge, originally from Liverpool, cheerfully explains that it was because of the US's actions regarding the Kyoto Treaty that these important issues are at the top of the international agenda. There's a silver lining to every crowd - it seems.
Convergence Week co-ordinator, Davie Philips, highlights a number of events worth going to over the next week. Along with conferences, lectures and seminars, which aim to raise awareness of sustainability, there are music events - Seize The Day and Kila are headlining Thursday evening's Convergence Club at the Temple Bar Music Centre. Helen Dillon is gardening and ENFO is hosting the International Design Awards Competition, with the focus on recyclable materials. Mary Tully, from ENFO, points to the paper-wedding dress and Aeron office chair as among the most popular objects on display.
Architect and presenter of The State Were In, RTE's new environmental series, Duncan Stew- art, an ardent support of green issues, is here to launch the festival. Annette Nugent and Tammy Dillon, from Temple Bar Properties, are here, along with Gavin Harte, one-time Across the Track presenter and eco-village co-ordinator.