Archive of Jan to June 2007 Events

The POWERDOWN Community Course
Every Tuesday for six weeks starting 16 Jan 2007| 7.30-9.30pm | €72

Using the energy and climate crisis as an opportunity and catalyst for change this popular course gives participants an understanding of the future context of energy use, helps develop energy literacy and explores the possible responses we can make at a personal, community and global level. Davie Philip, the Learning and Communications Manager at the Cultivate Centre, facilitates using a mix of readings, video clips and small group work.

The first Powerdown course held last year was very popular. Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment. The class will also be held in South Africa. Supported by Ireland Aid.

The Art of Living Part 1 Course
Jan 24-28 (Wed to Fri evenings; Sat & Sun daytime)
Cost: €250 / €175 concessions (by arrangement)

Gain health and vitality through the breath.

An Introduction to Waste Management
Wednesday 21 Feb | 7 - 8.30pm | Classroom | Volunteers & Members Only | €Free

Mike Kavanagh will engage participants in matters such as Waste Reduction and ReUse through community education and community development. This talk is for volunteers and members of Cultivate only and free of charge. Feel free to join as a member for €4/month or more and come along!

The No Work Garden with Bob Flowerdew
Friday Feb 23 | 7.30 – 9.00pm | €25 | Weekend special (Friday & Saturday) €65

Lecture based on one of Bob's latest books, "The No Work Garden" (read review), concentrating on how to spend less time working in the garden and more time enjoying it!! Mr. Flowerdew is Britain’s foremost authority on organic gardening methods.

Hard Core Organic Gardening with Bob Flowerdew
Saturday Feb 24 2007| 11am – 3pm | €50 | Weekend special (Friday & Saturday) €65 | Concessions and group rates available

An afternoon Q&A forum during which Bob will address such issues as:
- the health benefits of eating organic home grown food;
- companion planting to increase yields and reduce pests;
- planting by UFOs! (magnetism, lunar cycles, etc.);
- questions from the audience: Allow a leading expert to give you precious advice in relation to your individual queries, questions and wonderings.

Biodiversity and Climate Change with Ehsan Masood
Tuesday March 6th | 3 - 5pm | €Free but booking recommended | Full details

This dynamic event will launch the climate programme of the Cultivate Centre. Introduction by Mathew Jebb, presention by Ehsan Masood and chaired by NewsTalk 106's Karen Coleman.

Introducing the Dwell-Vent system, a revolutionary approach to the ventilation of houses and flats, with substantial benefits:
Energy savings - The 'supply-air' window used in the Dwell-Vent system leads to energy savings amounting to 10 to 20 percent of household fuel bills;
Comfort - The air entering rooms is pre-warmed in winter to avoid draughts and make rooms feel comfortable;
Health - The provision of reliable and generous levels of ventilation avoids problems of mould growth and other allergens detrimental to health;
Passive operation - The system functions without the input of electricity or any moving parts resulting in low running and maintenance costs;
Sustainable - As well as reducing household energy bills, Dwell-Vent windows are manufactured from sustainable timber, lowering the embodied energy of the system;
Economic - Based on estimates at the now completed Mater Orchard project in Ireland, Dwell-Vent, in conjunction with other low-energy technologies, adds only 5 percent to the cost of a project, whilst delivering a 50 percent reduction in energy demand.

ÉASCA - The Solar Showcase
Tuesday March 13th | 2 - 4.30pm | €25 pre-booked at 01 674 5773 / €30 at the door | Special discount for Cultivate & ÉASCA Members: €15 pre-booked / €18 at the door

Workshop with Jeremy Leggett, CEO of solarcentury, the UK's largest independent solar electric solutions company, one of the UK's fastest growing tech companies, and winner of the FT-Treasury Inner City 100 Greenest Company award. Discover Solarcentury's range of innovative solar products, particularly the "CompleteSolarRoof", using solar electric and solar thermal tiles disguised as conventional roof tiles, generating electricity and hot water respectively. The CompleteSolarRoof offers significant savings on energy bills to the end-users.

Connecting Climate Change and Peak Oil
A lecture and discussion with Jeremy Leggett
Tuesday March 13th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The first of a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Jeremy Leggett has been described by Time Magazine as 'one of the key players in putting the climate issue on the world agenda.'

Rethinking Action on Climate Change
An Event for Young People (16-25)
Wednesday March 14th | 10am - 3pm | €Free

This day of films and new media, discussions, and interactive sessions, will equip you to take the issues of climate change back into your communities and colleges. Featuring a presentation by energy expert Jeremy Leggett. Brought to you by the British Council, Cultivate, AFRI, Irish Aid and Trocaire. Email nicola @cultivate.ie for application

The Science of Climate Change
A lecture with Brendan McWilliams and Patrick Finnigan
Tuesday March 20th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The second in a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Brendan McWilliams is a meteorologist, and for the past 18 years has written the daily Weather Eye column in The Irish Times.

The Economics of Climate Change
A lecture with Richard Douthwaite
Tuesday March 27th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The third in a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Richard Douthwaite is a contemporary economist and co-founder of the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (Feasta), the Irish economic think tank.

The Status of Wave Power in Ireland
Wednesday 28 March | 7:00pm - 8.30pm | Classroom | Volunteers & Members Only | €Free

In this second, more in-depth presentatoin on the topic, Poul Masden will talk on the present conditions in Ireland, how far Irish wave power projects have come and compare them with "what we are up against" in foreign countries. A group discussion will follow.

This talk is for volunteers and members of Cultivate only and free of charge. Feel free to join as a member for €4/month or more and come along!

The Ethics of Climate Change
A lecture with Fr. Sean McDonagh
Tuesday April 3rd | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The fourth in a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Fr. Seán McDonagh is a Columban priest who has long been an activist in the field of ecological and environmental matters.

Green Building Course
Thursdays | April 5th to May 10th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €150

A 6-week course taught by Patrick Waterfield, author of The Energy Efficient Home, that covers the basics of building and retrofitting, financing and insuring an energy efficient, ecological home.

Development and Climate Change
A lecture with Niamh Garvey and Oisin Coughlan
Tuesday April 10th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The fifth in a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Niamh Garvey is Policy and Advocacy Officer with Christian Aid and Oisin Coghlan is Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland.  

Biodiversity and Climate Change
A lecture with Dr. Matthew Jebb
Tuesday April 17th | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15.00

The last in a six-week lecture series on 'Understanding and Taking Action on Climate Change.' Dr. Matthew Jebb helps us understand how these seeminly distinct environmental issues have much in common. Dr. Jebb is a Taxonomist and curator of the Herbarium at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Convergence - The Sustainable Living Festival
Powering Down Our Communities
Tuesday 17th to Sunday the 22nd April 2007

The Twelfth Convergence Sustainable Living Festival focuses on the issues of Climate Change and Peak Oil as catalysts of sustainable development. What can we and our communities do to respond to these challenges? Over the years Convergence has provided an important platform for the sharing of best practice, networking and the furthering of sustainable development in Ireland. The atmosphere and intensity of the festival has always been a melting pot for ideas and very apt for the theme of sustainable living.

Environmental Actions
Facilitated by GAP Environmental Action Team
Every Wednesday from May 2nd to June 6th | 7- 8.30 pm | €10 per session or €50 for all 6 sessions

Take practical actions to help make a difference to the environment in your own life, home and or workplace. This course offers a series of practical tips, gifts and experiences to help inspire, educate and inform you in how to do your bit to help the planet.

Gardening for Families / Gardening for Adults
In our rooftop courtyard garden space at our Centre
Saturdays from May 12th to June 16th (excluding June 2nd - bank holiday weekend) | 10-11am for families | 3-4pm for adults | €5 per child (one adult free) | Adults pay €5 each for afternoon class

Enjoy the summer weather outdoors in the city, learning in fun ways about gardening, food production, and environmental issues. We will supply most of the materials (although may ask that you bring along a jam jar or two every once in a while!).

The Art of Living Part 1 Course
Free Intro Talk and Meditation: Wednesday 16th May | 8 - 9pm | €Free
Course: Thursday 17th to Monday 21st of May (Th | Fr | M evenings & Sat | Sun daytime)
Whitefriar Centre Th/Fr Cultivate Main Hall Sa/Su/Mo | Cost: €250 / €175 concessions (by arrangement) |

Do you want to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and lead a more wholesome, fulfilling life? You will learn powerful breathing exercises, Yoga, knowledge and more on this very special course.

Climate and Biodiversity Symposium
"Energising Us All To Take Action"
Tuesday May 22nd | 9.30am - 4.30pm | €10 (for lunch) | Booking essential

The IPCC has warned that rising greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures will lead to an increase in weather catastrophes such as hotter summers, warmer winters, droughts, melting of glaciers, rising of sea levels, stronger and more frequent hurricanes, and flooding. This timely event will explore what affects this will have on biodiversity and what we can do both globally and locally and as individuals and nations.

Supported By: WEB, Notice Nature and Trocaire

The New Spirituality with Gordon Lynch
Thursday May 31st | 7.30 - 9.30pm | €15

Much attention has recently been given to religious fundamentalism and the ‘religious right’. But less attention has been given to their opposite...

Rethinking the City: Tools for the New Century
Friday June 15th | 9 - 5.30pm | €175*| Early bookings by May 31st: €150

The future is here. By responding intelligently to climate change and energy security we are improving quality of life in our cities and towns. This day of training highlights priorities for change, demonstrates innovations and introduces practical tools for building sustainable cities and towns. Innovations you’ll learn about include The Natural Step, The Merton Rule, The Fingal Directive, Imagineering - Futures Thinking Toolkit and The Mobility Management Toolkit.

The One-Moment Master: Stillness for People on the Go
A Lecture/Demonstration with Author Martin Boroson
Thursday June 28th | 7 - 9pm | €15

In busy, modern Ireland, how do we find time to re-source ourselves?