Convergence – Galway Sustainable Living Festival Oct. 20th- 28th 2016

THURSDAY 20th OCTOBER – 19.30 – 21.30

Venue – Portershed, Eyre Square, Galway
POST CARBON GALWAY LAUNCH

-ACCELERATING THE TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE REGION

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Convergence 2016 opens with the launch of the new Post Carbon Galway initiative, a recently established cross-sectoral project set up to accelerate local pathways to a low carbon Galway. We aim to work collaboratively to promote sustainable living, climate action, environmental protection and sustainable development in Galway City and County.

Galway’s recent success in achieving the 2020 European Capital of Culture, as well as the prestigious European Green Leaf award for Sustainable City in 2017, and the European Region of Gastronomy in 2018, highlight the many new opportunities to work in partnership across all sectors of the City and County, in setting a new vision for a more equitable, healthy and sustainable future for the region.

The Post Carbon Galway collaboration acknowledges that transitioning to a more sustainably developed and community resilient culture and economy needs an all-inclusive partnership approach.This project proposes the creation of a new sustainable era for Galway in which we reduce our carbon footprint and introduce new ways to educate and inspire our communities about how we can collectively respond to Climate Change and re-imagine a more equitable and sustainable world.

This evening event and the seminar the following day aims to explore synergies between Galway’s European designations and initiatives such as the WHO Healthy Cities, Galway’s Tourism and Cultural strategies, the new LECP and Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) plan and the activities of the Public Participation Network.

Evening Agenda
19.30 – Introduction and Welcome Opening by Ann Irwin, Post Carbon Galway and Davie Philip, Cultivate
19.35 – Intro to Post Carbon Galway – Martina Finn and Niall O Brolcháin
19.45 – Short presentations introducing different initiatives for a Sustainable Galway
10 presentation 3 minutes each
20.15 – Surfacing synergies and connections
20.30 – Keynote from John Gibbons
20.50 – Final reflection from Dara Malloy, Aran Islands Coop
21.00 – music by Donal Mc Connon of My Fellow Sponges
21.30 – Close

Everyone Welcome

http://connachttribune.ie/tag/post-carbon-galway/

For more information and booking contact;
PCG Project Coordinator Martina Finn – 087 2201972
E-mail – postcarbongalway@gmail.com and for more information visit www.postcarbongalway.ie / www.collaborativewaysforward.com / ww.cultivate.ie
Location: http://www.portershed.com/

 

to register please visit

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/post-carbon-galway-launch-tickets-28514924908?utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

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FRIDAY, 21st OCTOBER – 10.00 – 17.00

Venue: Siobhan McKenna Lecture Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, NUI Galway


GALWAY – MAKING THE TRANSITION TO A HEALTHY, LOW CARBON, SUSTAINABLE CITY

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This years main Convergence session in Galway provides an opportunity for policy makers, state agencies, civil society organisations, researchers, community practitioners and Galway citizens, to come together to maximise the potential for Galway to be a world city at the forefront of the cultural transformation towards sustainability and wellbeing.

The event will maximise synergy between plans for the 2020 European Capital of Culture, the EU Green Leaf Award, the EU Region of Gastronomy, the WHO Healthy Cities initiative and the many other local community led and citizen engaged initiatives across the city and county. It aims to provide a forum for networking among the key local, national and international stakeholders, dissemination of latest research and an opportunity to showcase and discuss latest actions and policy developments.

Galway has a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of world cities, in leading not only in the fields of arts and culture but in the green transition to a low carbon future. This conference will provide a forum to showcase and discuss latest actions from Galway, in leading the way to becoming Ireland’s first Sustainable City.

Mini Conference Schedule

10.00 – Opening
10.10 – Setting the context – John Gibbons

GROUNDS FOR SUCCESS
10.30 – Presentation 1 – Sharon Carroll – Galway City Council Green Leaf
10.45 – Presentation 2 – Patricia Philibin – G2020 tbc
11.00 – Presentation 3 – Alan Farrell – Galway County Council EU Region of Gastronomy
11.15 – Discussion – Maximising the potential for Galway
11.30 – Break

FROM THE FIELD
12.00 – Presentation 4 – Mary Ryan – Teagasc
12.15 – Presentation 5 – Fergal Smith – Food Sovereignty Ireland
12.30 – Presentation 6 – JP Pendergast – Claremorris & Western District Energy Coop
12.45 – Presentation 7 – Niall O Brolochain – Smart Cities, Insight NUI Galway
13.00 – Lunch

COMMUNITY ACTIONS
14.00 – Vincent Carragher – ‘How do we create Sustainable Communities?’

LEARNING UNLEARNING – The Way Forward
14.30 – Dr James Glynn – MaREI, Environmental Research Institute, UCC.
14.45 – Michelle O’ Dowd – CUSP Ryan Institute NUIGalway
15.00 – Sean Taylor – Limerick College Art and Design
15.15 – Ann Irwin – Galway City Community Network / Post Carbon Galway

15.30 – Break
15.45 – Discussion – “HOW MIGHT WE MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A GREEN, HEALTHY, SMART, SUSTAINABLE, CREATIVE GALWAY?”
16.30 – Next steps
16.50 – Closing remarks
17.00 – Close

This event is being cohosted by Cultivate, Third Space and Collaborative Ways Forward and is supported by the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which is funded by Galway City Council and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

to register please visit

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/galway-making-the-transition-to-a-healthy-low-carbon-creative-sustainable-city-convergence-tickets-28601821819?aff=erellivmlt

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Mon. Oct. 24th -Fri. Oct. 28th

Venue- Galway 2020 Community Hub, Unit 15 The Cornstore, Galway.


‘ECOHUB’ – GALWAY’S SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTRE

– A NEXUS OF ECOIDEAS, CONVIVIALITY AND COMMUNITY

Galway’s Convergence Festival ECOHUB aims to work collaboratively, with those committed to bringing about change, creating solutions to community and environmental challenges, through a week long series of events, films, workshops, exhibitions and thematic talks.

This year’s week long pop-up ECOHUB, offers to host artists, activists, environmentalists, makers, musicians, foodies, healers and hackers, visitors and community members, as a forum for the cutting edge nexus of green ideas and conviviality, ecological health and wellbeing, showcasing local campaigns, offering great local food and introducing radical solutions for a future that works.

A sample from the workshops and talks programmed as part of the weeklong ECOHub events include…
Brendan Speedie’ Smith  and other local campaigners, including Caroline Stanley, and Dan Clabby from Save the Meadows campaign will hold a discussion on the campaign GREENING Galway Mon 24th eve 730pm

Dara Molloy will talk on Deep Ecology Wednesday 6.30pm Oct 26th in Croi Na Gaillimhe
GCCN will host their Transport Linkage group meeting on Mon eve 24th Oct at 6.30pm
Sharon Carroll from Galway City Council will attend through out the week providing information on the EU Green Leaf Award with information and exhibition available all week
Vincent Carragher’s workshop on How to move towards Sustainability and devising a Community Process takes place on 27th Thursday 12-2pm, There will be an evening on Sustainabiltiy Stories from local activists and environmental organisations on the Wed Oct 26th in the Loft, followed by a talk with Moneyless Man, Mark Boyle, and a Sing for the Planet event on Friday Oct 21st at 4.30pm… Sean Taylor Artist and lecturer from. MASPACE limerick will host a talk on Arts Ecology and Sustainability Practices, on Mon 24th from  2-4pm with local artists; Catalyst Collective Jacinta Fay and Bridget Kelly from Galway Travellers Movement hosts a talk on environmental justice titled ‘Where’s the Justice?’ From 4-5.30pm
Colm from the NUIG student DIVEST From Fossil Fuel campaign, Brenda from Be Beo offers Mindful movements and Qi Gong on Wednesday 11-12 and Bernadette Divilly contemplative dance practices on Thursday Oct 27th 2-3pm, Becky from Coastal Clean Ups, Fergal from FOOD Sovereignty Ireland campaign, highlighting the recent Food Sovernigty proclamation, Eimhin Short from the Birr Growery and Carol and Kerry from the Down to Earth group on Forest Schools will present on their work on Tuesday Oct 25th 4-5pm ,   Niall OFlynn will offer a talk and workshop on Tai Chi on Wed Oct 26th at 3-4pm and lots more..

Updated daily schedule available here.. https://www.facebook.com/events/321195481593326/?notif_t=plan_user_associated&notif_id=1477407771708888

Recognising that cities and towns need to continue to create space and new forums to learn from and inspire one another, to promote a vibrant and thriving culture, Galway’s Sustainable Living Festival makes the case for an Eco Centre for Galway. This project aims to further the development of the identified collective vision for a local sustainability research, education and demonstration project for Galway, incorporating community arts, sustainability education, exploring progressive transport solutions, community energy and new technology demonstration projects, recycling and zero waste projects, food sovereignty and local community supported agriculture, self sufficiency projects, community resilience, health and wellbeing.

Galway’s Sustainable Living Festival will champion existing community responses, actions and collaborations, whilst continuing to forge new partnerships and the sharing of tools and practices. It will be an opportunity to educate and inspire citizens and visitors about green energy, sustainable healthy living, collective and cooperative action.

This will be an exciting opportunity to bring together the key players and stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally involved in making carbon neutrality a reality and to showcase the many existing and potential groundbreaking initiatives from across the Region, that are learning how to live more sustainably and enjoy life without compromising future generations.

Building on Galway’s potential to lead the way in transitioning to a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future, by becoming Ireland’s first Carbon neutral city, during this years Convergence Festival, we aim to kick-off the conversations that lead into Galway’s designation years as the first Irish City to host the European Green Leaf Sustainable City Award in 2017 and European Region of Gastronomy in 2018.

 

Festival partners include; Galway 2020, Galway City Community Network, The Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Transition Galway, Post Carbon Galway, Cultivate, Galway Healthy Cities, Galway City Partnership, An Taisce, Green Sod Landtrust, Third Space Galway, 

For more information contact:

Festival Coordinator Martina Finn on 087 2201972

or email thirdspacegalway@gmail.com -collaborativewaysforward@gmail.com or

visit www.collaborativewaysforward.com / www.postcarbongalway.ie / www.cultivate.ie / www.transitiongalway.wordpress.ie