We have seen the posters for the upcoming referendum all over the place, a majority of them urging on Yes vote, and a small handful promoting No vote. Set to take place on 12 June 2008, Ireland is the only country that is holding such referendum (the other European states are based on parliamentary decision) that may or may not lead to the ratification of this treaty.

Yet, when asked, not many people really know what this treaty is about. I have yet to see any leaflets aimed to educate the voters about the treaty and allows them to make informed decision prior to going to poll. We have a voice, but we need to know for what purpose are we exercising our rights! To date, some 47% still doesn’t know what to vote and I’m certain a majority of them are confused voters.

The following sources are good starting points for those seeking information:

• Treaty of Lisbon : At a glance by EUROPA
• Treaty of Lisbon : Q&A by EUROPA
• 10 easy-to-read fact sheets by Fondation Robert Schuman (PDF file)
• Q&A of The Treaty of Lisbon by BBC News

I hope you find these links useful.

Few months back, I posted (Dynamic Wind) of my first experience of so much wind in Dublin/Ireland :D (in my opinion its windy all the time) and its role in giving an alternative source of energy for Ireland and about how new architectural buildings (in Dubai, Chicago) will be exploiting the powers of wind. And with the advancements in the sustainable sources of energy, its one of the best sources of energy for Ireland.

Today, CNet News.com has an interesting article on Ireland: Where Wind Power is King. Excerpts:

Studies show that onshore and offshore wind turbines located in the republic could deliver approximately 5,000 megawatts of power over both parts of the island, he added.

The government will likely surpass its goal of having 1,200 megawatts of wind by 2010. (Ireland’s ultimate goal is to get 33 percent to 42 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, a fairly high figure for an industrialized nation.)

The island is one of the first landfalls for winds crossing the Atlantic, so wind hits harder and more constantly than most places in continental Europe. The capacity factory for onshore wind turbines–the measure of how much of the time the turbine is actually cranking out power..

SEI, is the Irish Energy Centre set up by the government in 2002 as Ireland’s national energy agency, and are doing lots of interesting sustainable energy related projects and research n development in the field too.

Great work for the country, for any future possible energy crisis, which we (as world) are sure to face.

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PS: You already heard from Matt in previous posts, n I would officially like to welcome Matt as a new author to Metblog Dublin. Welcome n Have fun Matt.