An Spud Off Mór: South Monaghan Potato Growing & Tasting Competition

Transition Monaghan is organising a potato growing & tasting competition for growers from South Monaghan. The closing date for entry is Wednesday, 17 June and the tasting will be undertaken by a panel of blind tasters in JJ Cunningham’s Loft, Carrickmacross on Saturday, 4 July, beginning at 1pm. The potatoes must either be boiled or steamed and cannot have any added ingredients. The competition is open to schools, community groups or individuals. For further information see ‘An Spud off Mór’ on www.transitionmonaghan.org or contact Conan on 086 0641864.

Decision Time is Near for Climate Change

The clock is ticking for a climate change deal. It is being discusssed this week by President Obama and the other leaders of the G7 Group at their summit in Germany. In December, world leaders will gather in Paris to agree a legally binding text on climate action. Friends of the Earth and other NGOs are calling on the Irish Government to strengthen its Climate Bill as it is debated in the Dáil. At present the Bill does not contain any clear emissions reduction targets. Later this month, Trócaire is organising a big conference on climate justice in Maynooth, which is free to attend. Among the speakers will be former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and leading activist, Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org which has been instrumental in spear heading the growing fossil fuel divestment movement. See www.trocaire.org/climate-justice-2015.

Film on Fracking in Fermanagh

‘Fermanagh’s Future: Farming and Lakelands or Fracking and Wastelands?’ is the title of a 9 minute film on concerns in the county about ‘fracking’ (hydraulic fracturing of rock for gas or oil). The film was produced by award winning film maker Dearbhla Glynn and supported by Afri – Action From Ireland . The film can be viewed on YouTube.

Count Flowers for Bees

You can be a citizen scientist by assisting Trinity College researcher Eileen Power create a flower map of Ireland to help conserve pollinators (bees, hoverflies and butterflies). She wants to know which habitats provide the best food for pollinators and find out what type of flowers (and how many) are growing all over Ireland. All that needs to be done is for you to take some photos of flowers using certain guidelines and upload them. See www.flickr.com/groups/countflowersforbees