voiceireland.org » General News

Have Your Say on Waste Policy!

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:00:41 +0000

The Department of the Environment released its new Draft Statement on Waste Policy on July 15^th 2010. VOICE urges you to make use of the public consultation period ending on October 1^st, to have your say on how Ireland can better manage its waste. The policy statement is to provide the framework for Ireland to meet, or ideally exceed, EU targets for waste management. The policy also aims to underpin the contribution of the waste management sector to our economic recovery.

You can find the Draft Policy and the form for making a submission, by the deadline of October 1^st, on the Department of Environment’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Waste/News/MainBody,23402,en.htm

Come to Buswells and get a free TD with your cup of tea

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:49:23 +0000

Climate change hasn’t gone away and this year the Irish Government will make crucial decisions about how it will tackle climate change, now and into the future. Our Government has committed to a passing a Climate Change Bill by the end of 2010, including binding targets for reducing our carbon emissions.

As the Government negotiates the text of this forthcoming legislation, we must send them a clear message that we expect the bill to be strong, with real enforceable targets that ensure Ireland plays its part in delivering climate justice and a fair and safe future for all.

As part of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, VOICE, is organising an event which will allow you to meet your TDs. This will be giving you the opportunity to tell them directly that you expect them to support a strong Irish climate law.

When: Wednesday 2 June ,11am to 7pm,
Where: Buswells Hotel, 26 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
How: Visit www.stopclimatechaos.ie/takeaction, select your constituency and invite your TD to come and meet you.

VOICE will be there on the day to support you. We’ll also send you an information pack and give you a call before the event to answer any questions you might have. Sign-up today and meet your TDs – this is your chance to tell them directly, that you expect strong action on climate change. We must not allow the failure in Copenhagen to become an excuse for not taking action on climate change at home.

We look forward to seeing you on 2nd of June! Use the Stop Climate Chaos website to arrange to meet your TD. Its time to act!

Check out the Convergence festival this weekend!

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:36:42 +0000

The 15th Convergence Festival started yesterday May 26th and runs until Tuesday the 1st of June. It is run by The Village Project in Cloughjordan, Cultivate, Transition Ireland and many more and it features talks, conferences, workshops and world café discussions on how urban and rural communities can adapt and thrive in these uncertain times. This festival brings together people from a wide variety of sectors to strategise on how we develop the resilience of our communities. The events explore new ideas for going ‘green’, demonstrating local food growing projects, and best practices in reducing our fossil energy use and carbon emissions. There will also be opportunities to learn from the global South and from innovative Irish and international initiatives. Discussions will be hosted on energy smart communities, smart grids, smart transport systems, energy efficiency, carbon reduction and community energy supply. The festival will also explore how sustainable regeneration, energy descent, the green economy, low carbon cities, and transition towns can all contribute to the development of local resilience and community based livelihoods and jobs.

For more see Cultivate’s website and for the full schedule for the festival click here.

Happy Earth Day!

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:43:15 +0000

Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day which is, quite obviously, a day of celebration for ..the Earth! The Earth Day Network was founded 40 years ago on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. ‘Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and activism campaigns.’

Earth Day Network has a global reach with more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world. This year, VOICE calls on you to mark Earth Day this Thursday with a special token of “Earth Appreciation“. This could be as easy as getting together with friends and discussing ways you could make your daily activities lighter in carbon emissions and waste; cooking a vegetarian dinner for the family trying to stick to seasonal, local and organic produce or perhaps making a much valued donation to an environmental NGO like VOICE who relies on the goodwill of donations to carry out our work in environmental policy and education. We really hope you take time to consider the Earth this Earth Day and hope that our poem below offers some inspiration!

Enough environmental destruction has occurred to awaken us from the slumber of indifference.

We have moved from indifference to concern.

We continue to move towards another paradigm that restores a measure of sanity and proportion to the art of living.

We begin to shed what is unnecessary and lighten our footsteps on the planet.

Our preoccupation with wealth, power, status and luxury softens and we start to enjoy an unencumbered life.

We begin to achieve the delicate balance between the pleasure we get from things and the pleasure we get from the freedom from things.

We are learning to look closely, be patient, slow down and respect the earth.

(By VOICE campaigner Gay Brabazon, Inspired by “A Culture of Simplicity” by Leonard Koren in Resurgence Magazine )

Climate Change Conference hosted by Wexford County Council

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:58:04 +0000

Next Wednesday the 21st of April there will be an interesting conference from 9-4pm on climate change at the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Guest speakers include John Sweeney from NUI Maynooth , Dr. Conor Murphy from NUI Maynooth, Frank Convery from Comhar and NUID- UCD and Mary Kelly from the EPA. Environmental organisations , businesses and interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. More information, contact details and booking form are in the PDF attached here: Climate Change Conference 21st AprilBrochure

Book asap as places are limited

Earth Hour this Saturday March 27th 8.30pm

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:55:11 +0000

Be sure to pledge your support for Earth Hour by switching off your lights between 8.30 and 9.30pm on Saturday 27th March. In 2009 hundreds of millions of people around the world showed their support by turning off their lights for this one hour. Earth Hour 2010 will continue to be a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future.

For more information see:

www.earthhour.org

www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/?id=26

Winter Newsletter and 10:10

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:45:46 +0000

Happy New Year from all of us here at VOICE! Be sure to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and to download our latest newsletter below.

http://www.1010.ie/

Download Newsletter PDF

Looking to give something different this Christmas?

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:01:03 +0000

Why not give your friend or relation a VOICE subscription this Christmas?

If you are looking to give your friend, sister, brother, aunt, parent or neighbour something different and want to do your bit for the planet this Christmas why not give them a VOICE subscription of only €40 for individuals or €20 for students/unwaged and O.A.Ps?

Download PDF for full details