Category: Uncategorised

ZW Parenting – Now Available – Zero Waste Party Kit

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Love parties but hate waste? Rent our zero waste party kit for just £5. 

Party in style and return the kit. 

Zero Waste Party Kit:

  • 24 party plates
  • 24 party bowls
  • 24 party beakers
  • 24 forks
  • 24 spoons
  • 24 knives
  • 2 jugs
  • 2 cake tins
  • Large cake tupperware

Soon to be added:

  • Matching napkins, bunting and tablecloth
  • Knitted party hats

How to Book:

  1. Contact Roisin on: 07761936518
  2. Collect kit at our zero waste hub 84 Spencer Road
  3. Pay £5 fee on collection
  4. Use kit
  5. Wash kit and arrange drop off with Roisin

Derry boy’s dream of a Toy Library becomes a reality

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Six-year-old Darragh McCarthy was ‘delighted’ that his idea for a Toy Library was officially launched in the Zero Waste Hub on Friday

Darragh came up with the idea after hearing about a toy library in Monaghan. He then told his granny Carmel Mulrine, who told his mammy, Gráinne O’Neill, a member of Zero Waste North West, who put then put the wheels in motion. The Toy Library was officially launched on Friday, November 25 in the Zero Waste Hub on Spencer Road.

Speaking at the launch, Grainne said: “Darragh has a friend in Monaghan who gets new toys every week because of their toy library, so he thought ‘why isn’t there one in Derry?’. For all children with good ideas, they need a great adult to listen to them – so Darragh told his nana Carmel. She loved the idea and that it came from a child. There’s no better space for it than the Zero Waste Hub, so that’s how the Toy Library began.

“There’s a nice flow of toys, where children can bring ones in and take a different one home each time. The Toy Library is evolving so we will listen to what toys we need and we have a suggestion box for ideas too.

“Thank you, Darragh, for bringing the idea and thank you, Carmel, for listening to him.”

Darragh thought it was ‘great’ that the Toy Library was in operation and that his idea was listened to. He said: “This is about sharing. You get one toy then give it back then get another toy and give it back. I want to thank everyone in the community for this place.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane Sandra Duffy said: “I am even more excited knowing that the idea for this was Darragh’s. I am blown away in here today by everything that is going on but I am delighted to be here for the launch of the Toy Library. This is one of the best ideas I have seen here in Derry. Darragh, you should be really, really proud of yourself because this is fantastic. I can’t wait to come back.”

Caroline McGuiness Brooks said: “Traditionally, we associate libraries with books but we have both the Toy Library and the nappy library here in the Hub. To tackle the climate emergency, we have to talk about consumption. Nobody wants to deny our children toys but we need to teach our children that we can still have these things through shared ownership – by sharing, lending, borrowing, and hiring. We can do that with bikes, toys nappies, electronics, whatever it is. This is a great example of how the world needs to move forward.”

Darragh and his little sister Naia were the first to join the library, which costs £10 for the year, or £5 for children whose parents aren’t in work. The Toy Library is accepting donations of toys, especially musical instruments and dress-up clothes. Call into the Zero Waste Hub on Spencer Road to sign up, to get more information or to donate an item: contact us!

Search for Zero Waste North West on Facebook for updates.

Our House is Fairtrade

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I was reflecting during this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight on how, in this world of unfair trade, we seldom if ever think about the INVISIBLE servants we nearly all have in our homes these days. We get most stuff from the supermarket disconnected from the folk that grow and pick our bananas, our tea, our coffee, our honey our jam, our spuds and our carrots. So by pledging to buy Fairtrade for exotic stuff and direct from local producers who look after their workers for the local produce we are doing something concrete not just symbolic to tilt the scales in the direction of justice. Flagging that up is a way of spreading the word and the need for systemic change. That’s when I thought it would be good to see where the mood is to relaunch the OUR HOUSE IS FAIRTRDE campaign we launched a few years back which started well but fizzled out. Is there an interest local folks, you pledge to only buying Fairtrade branded products on at least two items going forward, e.g. for me its coffee and tea. You sign up pay £1 and we send you the window badge below. Part of building back better perhaps?

Find out more at Foyle Fairtrade Campaign Facebook Page.

The Gathering 10th-12th November 2022

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News - people rising for climate justice banner in front of waterside train station

Good Morning Everyone,

Some thoughts and feedback from our last Gathering Event held over 3 days..the biggest event to date!!!

We had a banner making workshop on the Thursday night,the “Rights of Nature Movement in Ireland” film by  EJNI on Friday Evening,followed on Saturday by a visit to the hugging tree,a guided walk with George in Prehen Woods combined with magical singing from everyone as  Valerie,Claire and Maeve led us in song.

A huge thankyou to Paula from Artitude who with Katie and Grace organized the Thursday night,to Ciara,Lynda and Caitlin who arranged the film evening bringing RON flyers and grapes with cheese and wine.?

To Gemma and George of Prehen Woods, a big thankyou. As a symbol of hope, Gemma presented us with acorns from the woods to send to Colum Sands in Kilbroney Woods, Rostrevor.

Many more of us met at the Boathouse at 1:30pm and as we marched along to the railway station we continued to sing our hearts out.

We were met there by Eamonn McCann who needs no introduction to anyone and certainly not to the Gathering as he is one of the founding organizers of this group.

Maeve O’Neill introduced the speakers, Eamon and Joe Moore who spoke on the Global Climate Emergency and the Recession/Fuel Poverty Crisis that we are all faced with..

We then  walked along the greenway and through St Columb’s Park Woods singing “Put your roots down,put your feet on the ground,you can hear the earth sing if you listen”

We were welcomed with a choice of soup or vegan curry followed by wine and cheese and lots of beautiful music,song, poetry, stories and inspirational speakers.

Thankyou to George McLaughlin, Ken McCormick, James King and Eamon O’Donnell, Paraig O’Brien and Ursula McHugh, Graínne O’Neill and Tom Craig, Anna Barclay and Kate O’Donnell.

The Gathering wouldn’t happen without many many willing volunteers,so thanks to Nuala Crilly  for arranging and paying for the delicious food and to Gemma Harkin for the scrumptious apple crumble,to Ruth McCartney for making our poster and raising awareness on social media and sorting out microphone Issues., To Grainne, George,Conall, Maeve and Ruth  for putting up posters,to Graínne and Ruth for setting up the hall and to Jim and Maeve for the Global day of Action Banner and sound system at the railway station 

Thank you to Ruth  O;Callaghan who kindly brings her USELESS Shop to every event, to Paula who organized the creche,to Donna McFeely  who had a busy time in the woods with a group of 4-12 year olds and who also acted as warden,locking up after us and to Marcella who photographed the entire  Saturday for us.

Thankyou to you all for making the Gathering inspirational and uplifting for us all.

If you would like to be involved in making the next Gathering happen and have skills you would like to share,please email theenvironmental gathering @gmail.com

Mary