Hi Friends

Tour News

We wanted to let you know that the forth coming gigs will be the last we play in the UK and Ireland for a while. We are moving to Chicago Illinois in January 2010. The plan is to stay there for at least 12 months just being there and soaking up the city its music and its culture and seeking out the road ahead.

The good news is we are busy filling up lots of dates for late November and December, however the Belfast Empire show will be the last Belfast show for the foreseeable future.
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The Government’s new energy plan must prepare Northern Ireland for a renewable energy revolution – that is the view of the RSPB as it responds to the Strategic Energy Framework published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).

The environmental organisation has offered strong support for the development of renewable energy in the Government’s proposed strategy, recognising the devastating impact climate change will have on Northern Ireland’s wildlife and the need for ‘rapid and deep cuts’ in greenhouse gas emissions.
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A ‘real boost’ for farming in balance with the environment for Northern Ireland

Michael Calvert of Barnwell Farms in Greyabbey, Co Down, is the UK winner for the Nature of Farming Award. The prize, sponsored by the RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and the BBC’s Countryfile magazine, is the most prestigious award for farming in harmony with the environment.

“I was really surprised and very pleased to win,” said Michael, who has been part of the Countryside Management Scheme now since 2002. “I would really like to thank everyone who voted for me – all 1,700 of them! It is quite amazing.”
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Caleb Rowden is a husband, worship pastor, and musician. He has travelled the United States over the past 10 years sharing his testimony with people and how an amazing personal encounter with a loving God and Saviour changed his life forever. He admits he still messes up and makes big mistakes, but God’s grace and love are bigger than any of his faults and he wants you know the same is also true for you.

‘Until Everyone is Free’ will be released on July 28th, 2009 through blue i recordings in partnership with Executive Music Group/Universal/EMI CMG. The record will be available in stores as well as for download at all major digital outlets. "How Marvellous" is the biggest added track to many US stations this month.

Fill in you name and e-mail and enjoy these two free downloads.

Al

Thanks you all for your patience, while our engineers worked on the transmission problem.

102.4 Shine FM is now back on air and once again broadcasting to the Banbridge District. The fault was caused by an equipment malfunction.

Once again, sorry for any inconvenience suffered by our listeners.

The Shine FM Team

The loss of transmittion is due to technical fault, which or engineers are working on at present and hope to have the station back on air shortly.

We apologies for any inconvenience caused to our listeners.

RSPB’s first ever summer time survey highlights garden’s importance for biodiversity

It’s official - gardens across Northern Ireland are filled with all sorts of creepy-crawly, wiggly-wormy, sniffly-snuffly things. We can all do more to help wildlife thrive, even in small urban gardens.

Back in June the RSPB sent out the call “If it hops, flies, perches, crawls or flutters in your garden, we want to know!” and launched the first ever Make Your Nature Count survey, the summer follow-up to their highly successful Big Garden Birdwatch.

The survey widened the remit, inviting the public to record all the wildlife seen there. Not just birds, but frogs, hedgehogs, squirrels, badgers and foxes too.
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Thousands of rabbits in laboratories will be spared distressing and painful procedures where chemical substances, including for household products and cosmetics, are applied to their eyes to test for severe eye irritancy. This is because international acceptance of non-animal alternative test methods has at last been achieved after more than thirty years.

The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, the UK’s leading charity that funds the development of techniques to replace animal experiments, has welcomed the news. The charity funded key research work in the 1980s that has now resulted in one of the replacement methods approved.
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The RSPB tells government to put people and the environment at the heart of Planning Reform consultation

Take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs: that is the RSPB message to the government as it submits its response to the Planning Reform consultation.

“Northern Ireland is full of wonderful and unique wildlife sites, as well as a culture and society that are part and parcel of that environment,” said Claire Ferry, the RSPB’s Conservation Officer. “We need to start valuing our natural heritage and recognising the role it plays in maintaining our economic, environmental, health, social and cultural well-being before it is too late,” she added.

“For instance, our wetlands are important in mitigating increased flood risk while being incredibly beautiful places to visit. Places like Fermanagh, Rathlin Island and Strangford Lough rely on their pristine nature to attract tourism and the leisure industry. Planning and development need to support and enhance what is there – not destroy it.”
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