Blog Archive
Stand Up and Act for Plastic Free July!
Posted on July 08, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

It’s Plastic Free July! And we have two actions for you to help Ireland #BreakFreeFromPlastic!
Can you believe loose produce is actually more expensive than the same product wrapped in plastic? Supermarkets need to create incentives for people to do the right thing, not punish those who want to help the environment!
Permanent link | Categories: waste • sick of plastic • shop and drop • break free from plastic
Want to know more about 'Active Hope'?
Posted on July 04, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

Active Hope is one of the books featured in our new Book Club!
We have three opportunities coming up for you to learn about active hope and how it can help sustain our actions in the climate movement.
Online Q&A with author Chris Johnstone - Wednesday July 10th at 7:30pm
First up, we are hosting an online Q&A with Chris Johnstone, co-author of the book 'Active Hope'.
Just like our previous book club webinars, you can join from the comfort of your living room, kitchen table or back garden! You can tune in from your landline, mobile phone or your computer, simply register at this link to join.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • active hope • resilience • activism • climate movement •
The Art of Facilitation, by Climate Activist Floss Adams
Posted on July 04, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

As part of a programme funded by The Wheel, Friends of the Earth have been given the opportunity to organise skill building workshops to support people who want to get more involved in the climate movement.
Together with Cultivate we hosted a facilitation training at the Fumbally Stables in Dublin, one of the participants, Floss Adams, shares her experience from the workshop below.
“Social Permaculture in a Regenerative Culture”
THE ART OF FACILITATION
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • climate connects • climate activism • climate movement
Summer Solstice Sea Swim Photos
Posted on July 01, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

It felt surreal, it was magic!
Looking back at our very first climate movement sea swim, it seems as though it could have been a dream. We really didn't know what to expect, so we were blown away at the huge turn out. Some people said there could have been 200 people at it! Thankfully, it was a beautiful morning, the sky was clear and the sea was calm. We're already talking about the next one, so stay tuned for updates soon!
Here's a few photos, taken from Young Friends of the Earth member, Reamonn McLoughlin who was kind enough to join and capture some of the morning's event. Check out Reamonn's Photography page on Facebook here at this link.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • water • sunrise swim • summer solstice • climate movement • sea swimming • wellbeing •
Youth Activists Address MEPs on Climate
Posted on June 19, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
In the lead up to the MEP elections, Youth Activists came together to voice their demands on climate and how they want to see Irish European representatives act on climate.
Young Friends of the Earth member, Martina, captured some of the event in this video below.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • european elections • climate elections • student activists • climate action • MEP 2019
Sunrise Sea Swim For Climate
Posted on June 17, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

We are organising our very first climate movement sea swim, and we would love you to join us!
Those of us who care about environmental issues tend to spend a lot of time indoors planning, organising, emailing, going to meetings, talks and so on. Sometimes we forget to stop, and enjoy the beauty of nature - the very thing we are working to protect. And, spending time in nature has been proven to have positive effects on our mental and physical wellbeing.
Join us to welcome the sun, from the sea, on the longest, brightest day of the year - Summer Solstice!
When? 5:00am on Friday June 21st
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • nature • sea swimming • climate movement •
From School Strikes to Wicklow's Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, local communities are driving change.
Posted on June 14, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

Wicklow’s declaration of a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency was instrumental in pushing the government to make the declaration on a national scale. Keith Scanlon, is one of ten parents and grandparents in Greystones and Delgany, Co. Wicklow, that came together to campaign for Wicklow’s declaration.
For this community, it all began as part of the Global School Strike for Climate on March 15th, in which millions of school students took to the streets all across the world alongside their parents and teachers. An estimated 11,000 people marched and demonstrated in Dublin, while 100’s came together in their local communities across the country.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • biodiversity • school strike for climate • fridays for future • biodiversity emergency • climate emergency •
If you do one thing to support the climate strikers today ...
Posted on May 24, 2019 by Oisín Coghlan

Vote.
If you do one thing to support the school climate strikers today, vote. Almost all of the school climate strikers are too young to vote. But it's their future that is at stake. So if you have a vote today, please use your power. Elections are won by those that show up. Show up for the future. Vote for the candidates that you think will prioritize the future of the kids on the streets today.
Then please do show your support for the strikers online:
And if you can join them on the streets please do.
Here are the latest details of the strikes around the country:
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Listen to this Friends of the Earth Europe podcast with strikers:
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy
Let's make Friday a Friday for the Future
Posted on May 22, 2019 by Oisín Coghlan

Our politicians have declared a climate and biodiversity emergency. Now we have to get them to act like it.
This Friday we have the levers of power.
1) You can support the second global school strike.
2) You can #voteclimate and #votenature in the European Parliament elections.
One out, all out
On March 15th, over 1.6 million people across the world took part in the first global school strike for climate in over 120 countries, with at least 15,000 in Ireland, and the next Global Climate Strike is this Friday 24th May.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • biodiversity
Decentralised Organising by David McMullin
Posted on May 02, 2019 by Claudia Tormey

Friends of the Earth supported this training in decentralised organising in mid April. David Mc Mullin, member of Young Friends of the Earth, Not Here Not Anywhere and also member of the Friends of the Earth board has written this article to tell us all about it.
"What, you might ask, is decentralised organising? Some groups might say they operate with less hierarchy and more collaboration, or that they are aiming to cooperate and avoid the kinds of toxic power structures seen in so many organisations. At the end of the day we see various terms referring to similar things - many groups, including voluntary organisations, NGOs and business, want to organise themselves without bosses while maximising inclusion, participation, mutual care, trust and productivity.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • activism • training •