Vipassana/Mindfulness Meditation Retreat, Kilkenny

October 16/17 2010, 10.30-5pm at the Heritage Council Headquarters (Bishops Palace), Church Lane, Kilkenny. Cost: by Donation.

Vipassana means ‘clear seeing’. Through observing our experience, from moment to moment, in the here and now, without immediately reacting to it or getting absorbed into it, we learn to develop mindfulness and awareness.

In this changing world of ours where we are challenged by materialism and economic problems, it is of the utmost importance that we learn to get in touch again with that which is beyond gain and loss, beyond hope and fear. Through practising vipassana meditation we learn to relate to the suffering of ourselves and other beings in a more skilful way, not getting overwhelmed by it, nor becoming indifferent to it. We can develop equanimity and compassion in the midst of worldly chaos as much as in peaceful circumstances.

For full details of the retreat click here: retreat_kilkenny1

Tuesday 28th  September, Butler House, Patrick  St., Kilkenny

Future Proof Kilkenny continues its series of talks and workshops on environmental issues with a lecture from Vinay Gupta called “Through the looking Glass”.

Vinay is co-author of “Winning the Oil Endgame” and speaks widely on the subject of peak oil and crisis management and is noted for his work in Haiti in providing emergency shelters.

Vinay will draw on his experience in dealing with natural disasters overseas to examine how societies in the developed world can prepare for and deal with the consequences of energy decline, climate change and economic contraction.

This evening will be of particular interest to those who attended the Stoneleigh lecture during the summer.  Whereas Stoneleigh outlined the difficult circumstances into which we may be facing over the coming years Vinay attempts to go further into how individuals, communities and governments can prepare for such outcomes.

Further information on Vinay Gupta can be found here and here.

The lecture will take place at 8pm on 28th September in Butler House.

Tuesday 21st September, 8pm, The Hole in The Wall, High St., Kilkenny

Our first meeting of the autumn will take place in the historic “Hole in The Wall” building – soon to be venue for this year’s Green Screen. To kick off this season FPK members and friends will give a snapshot of the different community projects that they are involved in.
These include the award winning 400 Fruit Tree project, the Green Screen film club, the Good Shepherd community garden, Savour Kilkenny food festival, Social Farming in Callan, the Kilkenny Economic Forum, Community Supported Agriculture in Raheen and other initiatives. These are all very exciting and ambitious projects that need to be nurtured along with our support.
To find out more information, become a member of the steering group or simply enjoy a glass of wine you are welcome to join us next Tuesday.

The Hole in the Wall is directly opposite Goods on high street, down the lane beside the Enable Ireland Shop.

Interest has been expressed by a number of groups in recent months in community composting. Bernadette Moloney, Kilkenny Environment Officer has organized a workshop with leading composting expert, Craig Benton to run a workshop on Community Composting for interested groups.
21st of September 2010.
7.30pm in Hotel Kilkenny

Community composting is a unit central to the local area where small amounts green waste can be collected and allowed to decay in a controlled environment. This community composting talk will not cover central community composting for houses i.e food waste.

Agenda:

1. Brief presentation on biology of composting

2. Presentation of systems for handling garden and landscape materials: mulching, holding systems, leaf mould, turning systems and grass cycling

3. Discussion of the issues surrounding the development of a community composting scheme: what, how, where, who, etc….

Tea/Coffee Break followed by a

4. Small Group Exercise: creating a community composting plan

5. Discussion of each plan and getting feedback from the group

6. Discussion of next steps….
After the seminar, groups who are still interested in starting a community composting unit will be asked to submit further details of their plan to the Environmental Awareness Officer (EAO) in October. All submissions received will be assessed by the EAO and Mr Benton against a competition criteria and one submission will be awarded funding for a Kilkenny Community Composting Pilot Project. Funding will cover the construction cost of the unit and training for community members who will operate and the composting unit.

The funding opportunity to create a community composting unit is limited to Tidy Town Groups and Development Associations however if other interested groups/persons wish to attend the seminar, all are welcome to attend once they book a place with before the 17th of September.

Booking Contact:
Bernadette Moloney
Kilkenny Environmental Awareness Officer

Telephone 056-7794487 / Bernadette.Moloney@kilkennycoco.ie

Wednesday 4th August, 7:30pm, Butler House, Kilkenny

We are delighted to welcome Nicole Foss to Kilkenny for a public lecture on the Financial Crisis and Peak Oil. Nicole writes under the pen name of “Stoneleigh” at The Automatic Earth about the inter-relationship of energy and finance with a focus on how individuals and communities can prepare for what she describes as the coming second great depression. 

Stoneleigh is on a lecture tour of Europe which included a slot at the recent Transition Network conference. By all accounts her presentation added a huge sense of purpose and urgency to the work of transition town groups and has been the subject of many recent posts. She is also delivering the annual Feasta Lecture in Dublin on the 3rd.

This lecture is highly recommended to anyone who is concerned about the impacts of peak oil and the unsustainability of our industrial growth society. Below the fold is a short summary. Continue Reading »