Latest news with #JointResearchCentre
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Model Thalia Heffernan backs campaign to protect Ireland's landscapes
Model Thalia Heffernan shows off her rescued pooches Leonard and Charlie in a new campaign to protect the outdoors. 'Love This Place' is a new campaign by Leave No Trace Ireland, which is calling on the public to come together to protect Ireland's rich natural landscapes. With more people than ever seeking connection with nature - through hiking, swimming, dog-walking and exploring - this year's 'Love This Place' campaign reinforces the simple message: "If you love this place, leave no trace." Maura Kiely, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland, said: "Our message is clear. We all have a part to play in preserving the places and wildlife we love. "This campaign invites everyone enjoying the outdoors this summer, from seasoned hikers to dog owners, to take simple, mindful steps to protect our natural landscapes." A survey by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre revealed that Ireland's great outdoors has seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years, with over 98 per cent of residents valuing time spent in nature. However, increased footfall has also brought challenges: trail erosion, littering, dog fouling, wildlife disturbance, and an increase in wildfires, 96 per cent of which are linked to human activity. The campaign aims to roll out a digital storytelling campaign featuring voices, including farmers and dog walkers, host on-the-ground events and clean-up days coordinated with local authorities and environmental groups and create education initiatives and social media toolkits for influencers, schools and tourism partners. Ms Kiely added: "Our land is not just scenic - it's living. It feeds us, shelters biodiversity, and connects our communities. "Respecting it is not about restriction, but about care and responsibility. We're so grateful to the public and our partners for supporting 'Love This Place' - we ask everyone to take action and join the movement because protecting the places we love means we can continue to enjoy them in the future." Speaking about the launch Dara Calleary TD Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht said: "Ireland's natural heritage is one of our greatest assets - environmentally, culturally, and economically. "The 'Love This Place' campaign reminds us that with this privilege comes responsibility. "By embracing the principles of Leave No Trace, we protect our landscapes and support efforts to tackle our declining biodiversity. "Even small actions matter, helping us to work in greater harmony and building the resilience of nature across the country. I am proud to support this campaign and encourage everyone to play their part." To learn more or get involved, visit:
Agriland
25-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Loneliness in rural life ‘under-examined' in artworks
Depictions of rural life in art often focus on the romantic, leaving the subject of loneliness under-examined, according to artist, Ronan Dillon. The west coast-based artist, who was born in Dublin, conceived and directed 'Where do we all belong?', a socially engaged visual art project addressing loneliness in Co. Sligo. In 2023, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre found that Ireland has the highest levels of loneliness in Europe, with over 20% of respondents reporting feeling lonely most or all of the time compared to a 13 % average across the EU. 'Where do we all belong?' engages with communities in rural Sligo to create a visual art project that educates, entertains, and inspires meaningful connections and promotes social inclusion. Ronan said: 'We are currently in the research stage of the project where we are engaging with communities in rural Sligo. 'Mobile vehicles are often used to provide services in rural areas, for example mobile shops, veg vans, library vans, and medical services.' Bearing this provision of mobile services in mind, from May 19 -23, Ronan and his team travelled the county in a research van to consult with communities in rural Sligo collecting anonymous surveys, thoughts and anecdotes about people's experiences with loneliness. The surveys are a short form of the University of California, Los Angelos (UCLA) loneliness scale, one of the most commonly used and trusted methods of measuring the condition. Ronan said they also visited Ballymote mart for the art project. 'We got a huge engagement at the mart, and most farmers were delighted to share their experiences and thoughts about loneliness,' he said. 'One man said that he is 67-years-old and nobody had ever asked him has he ever been lonely before. 'We also chatted to the two ladies that run the mart canteen and they estimated that about 30% of the farmers live alone and that the mart is their main social calendar of the week. 'Everybody we meet seems quick to acknowledge that loneliness is a serious issue that needs to be addressed more and more, even if they themselves said they are not lonely.' This research will inform a visual art project that will culminate in an exhibition at Noel Feeney's Abhainn studio in Enniscrone later this year. Sligo native, Peter Martin, will create a documentary video accompanying the art project that will screen at the exhibition opening. For those interested in participating in the survey, it can be accessed on the 'Where do we all belong?' website. The initiative is supported by the West Sligo Family Resource Centre.
