Nov 11-12 Workshop & Seminar Aarhus Convention, Dublin

national | environment | event notice Saturday November 05, 2005 00:57 by Eoin Dubsky - Coastwatch Ireland 086 8111 684 (Karin Dubsky)

Environment democracy seminar - 15 free tickets!

Okay, first off, I want to say that there are 15 free tickets specially available for interested Indymedia folk (you reading this!) to this excellent workshop and seminar. Contact Coastwatch by email to make a booking or pick up one of those free tickets now -- coastwatch[at]eircom.net

When: 11th and 12th November 2005

Where: European Commission & Parliament Conference Room, Molesworth street Dublin (Entrance opposite Government Stationary Office.)

Ireland is one of the few European countries which has not yet ratified the Aarhus Convention. It’s about Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice. Basically it’s democracy in all things environmental!

Ireland hasn’t transposed recent EU environmental directives on this yet. Our seminar on Friday, November 11, should help to highlight this fact. It’s an opportunity to pressure the government to implement the EU legislation, and to do it right.

It’s not all about pressuring the government though. It’s also about empowering non-experts to, for example, test their local water. You can learn how to use a water quality test kit in St. Stephen’s Green on the day – and get a kit from us at cost price.

It’s long overdue that we get people into the same room to work on this together: scientists, environmentalists, activists, and politicians – local, national and European – plus stakeholders in the coastal zone like fishermen and coastal land owners.


Full details of the workshop and seminar:
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OUR DPP and OUR ENVIRONMENT

Direct Public Participation in Environmental Protection and Management

Capacity Building Workshop and Seminar

Organized by Coastwatch Ireland and the European Environmental Bureau
With co-sponsorship by the Europe Commission and the French Government

11th and 12th November 2005

European Commission & Parliament Conference Room, Molesworth street Dublin (Entrance opposite Government Stationary Office.)

Context:
Almost everyone could make a significant positive difference to wise use and protection of resources and help remove obstacles to good management, like outdated laws and poor law enforcement. But how often is this potential realized?

This seminar is to provide information and some training to help the many different parties in our society produce better environmental protection and management results.

Aims:
- Provide clear information on the UN Aarhus Convention, EU institutions, EU policy, budgets and law which effect or may be applied to protect or help manage our environment.
- Present case studies involving Nature law, the water framework directive and planning to show why and how citizen can participate - from the largest elected body in Europe – the EP, or largest environmental umbrella group like the EEB, right down to small resident groups and individuals.
- Explore good and bad practice in environmental management,
- Facilitate action using the expertise of seminar participants, to improve practice and protect the environment

Participants: The seminar seeks to bring together:
• Environmental NGOs, citizens and citizen representatives such as those standing for the new WFD Advisory Councils.
• Elected representatives – MEPs, TDs and councillors
• Those in government, local authorities and other official bodies who have a role in environmental management
• Stakeholders in the coastal zone including land owners and fishermen
• Scientists, students and lawyers working on biodiversity, the WFD and environmental information/public participation.

For more information contact:
Karin Dubsky 086 8111 684 or Linda O’Dwyer 086 818 0982
Tel: +353 (0)55 25843 Fax: +353 (0)55 25046
Email:coastwatch@eircom.net Web: www.coastwatch.org




Programme


For updates see Coastwatch website www.coastwatch.org or mail Coastwatch@eircom.net

Friday 11th November

9.30am Registration and chance to browse through EC exhibition

9.50 am Official Welcome

10.00am Session I International Frame
Chair – Frank Corcoran Vice chair EEB (European Environment Bureau)

• The Aarhus Convention Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. From UN Convention to local implications. Jeremy Wates, secretary to the Aarhus Convention, UN Commission for Europe
• Public Participation through EU institutions, plans, policies, budgets law. Regina Schneider EEB

11.00am Coffee

11.30am Session II: Workshops to solve issues of public participation
(parallel you chose A or B ) each with input papers

A –Nature and Nature law enforcement
Facilitator:
Issue A1: Natura 2000 site boundary changes Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch
Issue A2: Shellfish culture, Nature protection and public participation
Anja Murray, An Taisce & IWT

B – 1. Planning for sustainable development, people, progress, and profit?
Facilitator: Michael Ewing, The Access Initiative (TAI)
Issue B1. Dealing with Development pressure, the Prague experience. Tereza Kaplanova, Estate agent, Prague, Czech Republic
Issue B2. Progress can come in the form of village footpaths and lighting?
David O’ Callaghan Ballymoney Residents Association. (tbc)
Issue B3: Coastal land use plans case study: Poolbeg peninsula in Dublin
Ciaran Cuffe TD, Env and Justice Spokesperson Green Party


1.0 – 2 pm Light lunch,
Walk up to Stephen’s Green weather permitting. With 1.30 pm Demo of water quality test kits – so you can check your tap water, or your local stream …



2.00 pm Session III: The WFD and Public Participation
Chair: Dr Ken Irvine, Centre for the Environment, TCD.
• An EU overview, Beatrix Kelly, inland and marine officer, Heritage Council.
• The Irish situation, Enda Thompson, Programme Manager, Shannon River Basin and Chair of the Irish WFD Public Participation working group
• The special case of access to maps and GIS systems.

2.40 Discussion: Public participation and public rights of access to Nature and WFD linked data. Panellists include speakers above as well as Sinead O Brien SWAN and Stephan Curran, marketing manager, The Ordnance Survey

3.15 Coffee

3.30 pm – Session IV: Public Participation, Access to environmental information and justice in Ireland – the way forward
Chair: Noel Cassidy, Comhar the National Sustainable Development Partnership
3.30 pm Overview – Law to be transposed, implemented and enforced tbc
3.50 Licensing work in the marine environment. Representative of the Department of the Marine tbc
4.10 Panel Discussion including above speakers and Gillian Mills, Inshore Ireland

4.45 pm Close

Drinks Reception sponsored by Archers Organic Cider
Facilitators, reporters and volunteers get together to produce workgroup outcomes and plan highlight feedback for dinner.

7.30 pm Dinner in Café des Amis, 1 Kildare Street (incl. music and fun workgroup presentations)



Saturday 12th November

9.00 am Fieldtrip: By bus and foot to illustrate the good and bad in citizen participation Dublin City then Fingal area. Including a harbour, a landfill site and a Natura 2000 site. – final program will be available on Nov 5th Anyone with pet subject to be covered please let Coastwatch know by Nov 5th
11.00am – 1.00pm Some NGO delegates in EENGO capacity building workshop with government (Enfo) Others continue.
Afternoon all meet for final leg of the fieldtrip in Malahide Castle. (return via Dublin airport for those leaving) Finish 4.00 pm.

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Registration Form
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OUR DPP and OUR ENVIRONMENT
Capacity Building Workshop and Seminar
Organized by Coastwatch Ireland and the European Environmental Bureau

11th and 12th November 2005

Please complete and return this registration form with payment, where relevant to ensure reservation. Make cheques payable to Coastwatch,
Post to Karin Dubsky, Civil Eng., Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2

Number Attending @Fee Event/Item
€40 Registration fee
€10 Concessions Registration fee
€20 Dinner Friday night
€10 Fieldtrip Saturday

* A limited number of places are fully sponsored. That is one place per environmental NGO, if register by Nov 5s 2005.

Name:___________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________

Body You are Representing: ________________________________

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Phone: ______________________________

E-Mail: ______________________________

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