Blog Archive
Winter Solstice Sunrise Sea Swim
Posted on November 29, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Don't you just love a challenge!
Join our next Sunrise Sea Swim on the Winter Solstice, connect with nature and our growing community.
This event is free, register at the link to connect with other sunrise sea swimmers!
Permanent link | Categories: sunrise swim • summer solstice • climate movement • sea swimming • wellbeing •
Just Transition
Posted on November 14, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
In the last six months we have stepped up our collaboration with the trade union movement on the issue of Just Transition.
Just Transition is is the principle that there needs to be plan to support the workers and communities affected by the transition away from very polluting industry.
The most high profile example in Ireland is the peat-fired power stations in the midlands. We have campaigned against the peat stations since they were opened in 2005. For years we did so without any reference to what the process should look like for the workers who would lose their jobs. That was a mistake on our part.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • Just Transition
Our schools are finally going solar!
Posted on November 12, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Upperchurch National School in Tipperary is the first Friends of the Earth Solar School. Panels were installed over the Halloween mid term break, and the school is now generating its own electricity right from its roof!!
We have four more to go in Dublin, Limerick, Mayo and the Aran Islands. We think every school should be a solar school by 2025, and we are lobbying hard at Government to support this.
And they are listening! Minister Murphy has committed to changing the planning regulations, so schools dont have to apply for planning permission which they do at the moment for even one solar panel AND the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland have disclosed they will be offering grants for solar panels for schools from next year.
Permanent link | Categories: energy • solarschools • solar schools • community power •
We have to fight every fight.
Posted on November 11, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
The Climate Emergency exposes our politician’s true motivations. It’s easy for the Irish Government to say stoping climate change is a priority. But when actions have the opposite effect, those words are lies.
The Irish Government recently supported a proposal to build a Liquified Natural Gas import terminal in Shannon. It’s for fracked gas.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy
Building Resilience, for Sustaining Action
Posted on November 10, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Watching and being a part of the rise in climate action across the world has been exciting and empowering to say the least. More and more people are joining the movement, and we need to ensure we're forming a strong community of activism that can last!
Burnout can happen to any of us, and it's something the Friends of the Earth team are acuetly aware of. Because we work so closely with activist groups (and many of us are in actists groups), in supporting skills and capacity building and helping amplify grassroots actions and campaigns, we feel it's important to not only promote community wellbeing within the movement but also provide opportunities for activists to gain skills in this area.
Permanent link | Categories: activism • climatechange
Power Up! Movement Building Skills
Posted on November 07, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Power Up! is a series of workshops to help upskill and support the growing activist community in Ireland. Meaghan, head of Education and Activism, has identified where activists need the most support and has seeked out those with the relevant skills to deliver these trainings.
Permanent link | Categories: activism • climatechange • climate movement • power up •
Friends of the Earth Facilitators and Trainers Network!
Posted on November 01, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Do you want to inspire, empower and egage people nationwide to join the climate justice movement?
Join our new Facilitators and Trainers Network!
Friends of the Earth have connections around the country, ample experience in campaigning, education & organising, and the resources to support people like you in developing the skills needed to train other activists around the country.
We want to use what we have to enable youto do the impactful work of facilitating others to increases their understanding of the interconnectedness of the issues we collectively face, and upskill in the capacities needed to fight these injustices.
Friends of the Earth will support you with:
- Training in facilitating and organising skills
- Access to workshop delivery opportunities
- Promotion of your self-organised events
- Connection to a peer support network
- Quarterly campaign-specific training
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Plastic Bottle Rally - Let's Demand DRS!
Posted on October 31, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Join us for a Plastic Bottle Rally 1pm November 6th!
Back in January 2018, we 'Ditched Our Plastic at the Dáil' in support of Zero Waste activist Dianne Forsythe's Uplift petition calling on government to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for the recycling collection of plastic bottles in Ireland.
It took Minister for the Environment, Richard Bruton, a whole year to respond, and the best he could do was commission a study to see how DRS could operate in Ireland. (Despite existing evidence proving that it works).
Permanent link | Categories: waste • sick of plastic • deposit return scheme •
Briefing for Budget 2019
Posted on October 28, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
In advance of Budget Day on October 8th, we prepared a briefing on key discussion points related to proposals to increase the carbon tax in Budget 2020.
In response to the Government’s announcement to allocate the revenue raised from the tax increase to climate action measures, this Coalition called on the Government to enshrine ring fencing of the tax intake into legislation.
Stop Climate Chaos also called on the Government to follow up on the recommendation made earlier this year from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action that it carry out a review on the impacts of energy poverty as a result of the tax hike, and implement the appropriate supports that will minimise the burden on those most affected.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • stop climate chaos
Good Food, Good Farming
Posted on October 25, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Through October Friends of the Earth were celebrating the Good Food Good Farming Days of Action as part of our Growing Together project by championing the change makers who are shaping a fairer food system here in Ireland.
Good Food Good Farming is a European civil society alliance that calls on decision makers to support for peasant farmers, environment- and climate-friendly agriculture which is tied into local economies across global food chains.
Permanent link | Categories: biodiversity • foodandfarming • growing together •
