Bees and Alien Species triumph at ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2008 - Tuesday, 13th May
Young people from all over Ireland were awarded at the Young Environmentalist Awards 2008 ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, 13th May in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin 2. There were 40 short-listed projects competing the awards in fifteen categories including Junior (12 – 14 years old) and Senior (15-18 years old). The overall Junior Young Environmentalist Awards 2008 went to young people from St. Catherine’s College, Co. Armagh with their project called ‘Bee Garden and Bee Beautiful’. The overall Senior Young Environmentalist Awards 2008 went to the young people from St Mary's Secondary School, Mallow, Co. Cork with their project ‘Alien plants - should we be concerned?’.
“We’ve had such an outstanding range of projects this year focusing on diverse environmental issues including climate change, biodiversity loss, water and waste issues. We are thrilled with the young people’s creativity and dedication to their projects and happy to be celebrating their achievements at the Young Environmentalist Awards ceremony.” Comments Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO.
Seventeen groups of young environmentalists from all around Ireland and Northern Ireland were awarded in various categories. Some of the highlights were the Senior Energy winners from Ballybay Youth Centre, Co. Monaghan with their project on electricity pylons, the Senior Waste winners from Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry with their ‘Chews to stick it’ project which focused on gum litter. This year’s two special prizes were COMHAR SDC prize for Sustainable Development, presented to Moate Community School for their commitment to providing a long-term environmental solution to a social and economic issue and the Special Department of Transport Award presented to Ardscoil Rís, Co. Limerick with their project ‘Reducing Car Emissions’.
Aidan Power (RTE2 TTV and The Café) was the master of ceremony, with a keynote address from Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan. Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Seán Haughey, TD presented the overall winner prizes and maSamba’s Youth Group shook the Round Room with their samba tunes closing the event.
This year, the YEA had over 140 registered projects from which 40 were short-listed and displayed at an open showcase prior to the awards ceremony. All the short-listed projects will be exhibited in ENFO, 17 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2, from 14th to 17th of May.
ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards Programme has been running since 1999 and has attracted the participation of over 10,000 young people and reached countless others with awareness raising campaigns in over 750 schools and communities in Ireland.
For complete list of winners, visit: http://www.ecounesco.ie/news.aspx
ENDS
Glenda Gilson goes Electric for Greener Ireland! April 15th 2008
Glenda Gilson models the latest Summer Organic range from New Look while launching the new Mega City Electric Car which is available from Green Machines Terenure. Both will be featured for the first time to the public at The National Greener Ireland Expo on 19th& 20th April, Main Hall, RDS.
From fashions shows to electric cars and workshops for kids, the National Greener Ireland Expo will have something for everybody and promises to be a celebration of our dedication in securing a better future. Included in the weekend’s attractions is a very impressive line-up of guest speakers, such as Don Conroy, Ian Mc Keever (7 summit climber), Claudio Baffioni who is traveling from Rome to speak about the City of Rome's approach to Green House Gas Reduction and many more. Tickets for the event are now on sale @ www.greenerireland.ie or can be purchased on the day and kids under 12 go FREE.
The idea behind the event is to educate and showcase how we can help the environment and improve on our lifestyle. This Expo will give visitors an opportunity to come face-to-face with the people behind the products and information that are available to them. Take the first step by simply attending the show and we will make a donation to Friends of the Earth in your honor. Oisin Coghlan Friends of the Earth Director said, "The NGI show is an exciting opportunity for people to explore what a greener future looks like and how to get there”.
Exhibitors range from large organisations to Information bodies and SME’s such as Honda Ireland, Kingspan Century, Repak, RVR Energy, Eco Baby and the Environmental Protection Agency to name but a few. There will also be an organic market area including stall holders from Organic Trust, IOFGA and Irish Farmers Market. To view the full list of exhibitors and schedule of events for the weekend, log onto greenerireland.ie.
Event Management Company TallHouse Ltd are the organisers behind the National Greener Ireland Expo. Emma Kennedy founded TallHouse Ltd in Jan 2006 and after a string of successful management projects she has now broken into the national market with The National Greener Ireland Expo. Emma Kennedy TallHouse MD said, “Whilst trying to implement greener practices in work and at home I saw an opportunity for our business as an event management company to play our part and are delighted to be managing the first National Greener Ireland Expo”.
END
Minister Launches National Greener Ireland Expo - Dec 3rd 2007
The Eco Elf presented John Gormley Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with an exhibition pack as he officially announced the first ever public National Greener Ireland exhibition for April 2008 in the main hall, RDS Dublin.
John Gormley Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government launched the National Greener Ireland exhibition today Monday 3rd December at 4pm along side the event Director Emma Kennedy at The Customs House Dublin. The NGI takes place on April 19th & 20th 2008 in the RDS Dublin and is the first ever public awareness exhibition of its kind.
The event will be open to the general public and interested parties seeking information on environmental services available to them and alternative ways in off setting their Carbon footprint. The idea behind the event is to show that even small changes can make a difference and that it’s not an impossible feat to implement them.
In a society that is ever becoming ‘Green’ conscious it is important for people and organisations to understand the benefits of change, energy efficiency, recycling, off setting your individual carbon footprint and making lifestyle changes. The information required needs to become readily available to everyone and the National Greener Ireland Exhibition will do just that.
The exhibition will showcase
- Energy – The Obvious One! What’s left and the alternatives
- Tomorrows World – What the future holds - innovation, technology, building, lifestyle etc
- Food – Our wellbeing and what changes we need to make to ensure our food is rich, safe and sustainable into the future
- Services – Local and National agencies and information providers on recycling and reusing our waste and how we cope into the future.
- Independent Groups – Frontline groups who are active in the promotion of all things green.
And lots more fun and innovative ways that will ensure our interest in the environment is a priority in our lives going forward.