Inquiry on Maximising the Potential of the Creative Industries

An interesting report, Inquiry on Maximising the Potential of the Creative Industries has been published by the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, in Northern Ireland.

"...The key focus being maximising the potential and benefits of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the economic benefits.. At the core of this Inquiry the Committee asked two key questions: “Why are the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland not fulfilling their potential? What can be done to facilitate the development of and capitalisation on this potential?"..."

This report is significant. Although specific to Northern Ireland, it is a good indication of the growing level of recognition from Governments,of the creative industries, and the value it has in our society.

The full report can be read here http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Committees/Culture-Arts-and-Leisure/Reports/Inquiry-on-Maximising-the-Potential-of-the-Creative-Industries/

An Information Evening on Hemp, Adare, Co. Limerick

An Information Evening on the history of Hemp and a new Hemp Vision for the 21st Century will take place on Saturday August 21st, in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare at 8pm.

Rebekah Shaman of Hemp Global Solutions, will talk about a new Community vision for Hemp including the growing of the crop, the processing of the Hemp plant, the products that can be made from it and the amazing nutritional value of Hemp seed. Rebekah will also outline a Co-Franchising Model for the development of a community based sustainable Hemp industry.

At the information event in Adare, Rebekah will share her knowledge and understanding of what she believes is a much mis-represented plant and show how it really is Nature’s gift that holds the solution to some of the energy and resource challenges facing our society. Today uses of Hemp include hemp building materials (hemp-fibre boards, hemp-crete - a hemp/lime mix for plaster), insulation, animal bedding, hemp seed is the most nutritious whole food known - all the essential amino-acids and the essential fatty acids,, omega 3, 6 & 9 oils in the ideal balance for healthy nutrition, body-care/skincare products, a wide variety of textiles along with Hemp bio-fuel (Hempoline) and bio-mass products (Hemp produces four times more bio-mass than forestry per hectare).

Hemp cultivation is not new to Ireland or Limerick, with Rathkeale being a major source of hemp for Irish sail cloth in the early 1700’s. However, in 1750 U.K. export regulations undermined Ireland’s thriving sail-cloth export industry and between 1815 and 1825 the five remaining mills closed.

This information was taken from National Rural Network, a great hub of information and a networking forum for those working in farming and agricultural. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook. 

The Campagn for Wool, UK

 
I found this information on a great website called Woolipedia:

Prince Charles is behind a new Campaign for Wool, called The Wool Project. It "...aims to bring the fashion, carpet and textile industries together to increase demand for wool and raise its worth to upland farmers...."

"In January this year Prince Charles launched a new campaign to help promote British Wool. His 'Campaign For Wool' will be hosting an exciting series of events, exhibitions and product launches to celebrate the diversity of wool in fashion, furnishings and the home. All this will be taking place during National Knitting Week

It will be interesting to see if this has any follow-on affect here in Ireland. It is going to be a huge campaign, and will cover all aspects of the textile industry. Also, they have a National Knitting Week?...

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Another titbit of juicy woolly news from across the waters.

Did you know 2 Irish Wool Merchants are causing havoc for The British Wool Marketing Board? The BWMB has a monopoly on the buying and selling of fleece in the UK. Each farmer trading in wool, by law, has to send their product to the Board.Not getting into the politics of it, as with all monopolies, have a downside.(One of which, is their decision not to endorse the use of animal welfare standards in the promotion of British Wool as it didn’t think it was fair to those farmers who do not meet the criteria.)

But two Irish Wool Merchants, Aiden Walsh of Texacloth, and Vincent Pearce of Sheep Wool Insulation, are exploiting a loophole in European Union regulations that allows farmers to bypass the board and sell their wool to companies outside the UK for export....


Read more about it on the Herald Scotland