Blog Archive
Some news from the Growing Together agri-activist group - a guest blog by Conor Haugh
Posted on July 30, 2020 by Deirdre Duff
New social media presence - follow us today
With summer in full swing, there are a lot of things to be excited about. And we, in the Growing Together agri-activist group, have even more for you. We're excited to say that we're launching our own social media presence. You can now find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And, as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also offering you the chance to contribute to our latest project and win prizes for doing so!
Permanent link | Categories: activism • foodandfarming
Transformative Political Education: Read and Watch Lists
Posted on July 03, 2020 by Meaghan Carmody
A commitment to a continuing process of critical thinking is a necessary tool in every change-maker’s repository.
The more students work at storing the deposits entrusted to them, the less they develop the critical consciousness which would result from their intervention in the world as transformers of that world. The more completely they accept the passive role imposed on them, the more they tend simply to adapt to the world as it is and to the fragmented view of reality deposited in them.
- Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
By expanding our critical awareness of the world around us, by interrogating the root causes of systemic injustices, and by challenging ourselves to unlearn what has been inculcated within us, we transform ourselves and the world we live in.
Permanent link | Categories: activism
Social Movement Ecology
Posted on July 03, 2020 by Meaghan Carmody
In a recent workshop we ran for STAND’s Ideas Collective programme, participants were asked what came to mind when they heard the word ecosystem.
Harmony. Diversity. Many parts to make a whole. Working together. Collaboration.
This set the stage for a rich discussion on ‘Social Movement Ecology’, informed by a recent two-part online training for activists in Ireland led by the folks at the Ayni Institute.
Ayni (Quechua, also spelled Ayniy or Aini) can refer to either the concept of reciprocity or mutualism among people of the Andean mountain communities or the practice of this concept.
Permanent link | Categories: activism
PfG Your questions answered
Posted on July 01, 2020 by Friends of the Earth
In advance of our webinar on the Programme for Government (June 23rd), we asked our supporters to submit questions about the proposed Programme that we could put to our panellists. We received over 300 questions, which were grouped into topics that then formed the basis of our webinar discussion. Unfortunately, we didn’t get time during the webinar to address every question or topic, but here is a flavour of what issues did come up, and what was particularly important for our supporters to have more information on.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Sick of Plastic Supermarket Postcard Campaign
Posted on June 30, 2020 by Claudia Tormey
Sick of Plastic had to cancel this year's Shop and Drop - but the action to demand change from supermarkets keeps going!
Shoppers, anti-plastic activists and local Sick of Plastic groups are planning to send their signed Sick of Plastic Postcards to Supermarkets with a personal note asking their local supermarket to make changes and eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging from its produce.
The action is kicking off this week for Plastic Free July!
You can get started by signing a digital postcard here on the action page.
Physical postcards are available at hubs across the country so you can sign and send in your own postcard, find your nearest hub here on this map.
Permanent link | Categories: waste
Colonialism, Capitalism & Patriarchy – some words from the Galway Feminist Collective
Posted on June 22, 2020 by Guest Blogger
As an intersectional feminist group we think it is important to organise around environmental issues. We recognise that the same system of domination that harms us also harms the planet and that the struggles against sexism, racism and climate change are connected.
We see that the root of a lot of different crises can be found in the systems of capitalism, colonialism and patriarchy.
Permanent link | Categories:
Coming up for Growing Together
Posted on June 18, 2020 by Triona Reid
The Growing Together Activists are busy planning their next actions - watch this space for the following events, publications and activities!
July - Growing Together will be hosting a weekly social media take over showcasing the inspiring work of regenerative farmers, urban growers and other food activists around the country! If you are a farmer, grower or activist and you would like to be featured get in touch with Triona by emailing info@foe.ie.
August - Some of our Growing Together activists have been researching food sovereignty in the Irish context over the past few months. We will be releasing their much anticipated ‘Booklet on Food Sovereignty in Ireland’ in August with an online webinar. The booklet will be available for distribution online and in print.
Permanent link | Categories: activism • foodandfarming
Catching up on Growing Together
Posted on June 17, 2020 by Triona Reid
COVID-19 has brought our global food system into sharp focus. There is a thirst for knowledge and an eagerness to source local, sustainable food that is produced in harmony with nature and provides a living wage to farmers.
The Growing Together activist group, which is supported by Friends of the Earth, have been busy creating opportunities for people to learn more about food sovereignty in Ireland and how we can promote and engage with it. Here’s a quick round up of what the team have been up to over the past few months. Sign up here if you'd like to get involved!
Permanent link | Categories: activism • foodandfarming
Catching up on Sick of Plastic
Posted on June 17, 2020 by Claudia Tormey
Through the Break Free From Plastic global network, of which we are members of, we screened the newly released film ‘The Story of Plastic’ in May with our Sick of Plastic partner VOICE Ireland. To build on the conversation and bring the issue closer to home, we hosted awebinar to discuss the plastic free movement in Ireland.
Permanent link | Categories: waste
Catching up on Movement Building
Posted on June 17, 2020 by Meaghan Carmody
We haven’t let social/physical distancing stop us from delivering our movement building trainings and events which aim to bring people together for sharing and building skills and knowledge to increase our collective impact and power in creating change.
Mobilise.Resist.Transform course, now in its third year, included sessions on intersectionality, extractivism and climate finance, communications, solidarity and moving forward. It was a pleasure to explore these issues with this year’s enthusiastic group of 25 people - we can’t wait to see what they do next.
For our final session in the System Change for a Just Transition seminar series we teamed up with the Galway Feminist Collective to present a webinar called ‘Women Resisting Climate Change in the Global South’.
Permanent link | Categories: activism
