Don't let the Government bypass the Dáil on fracked gas
Issued in the blog on October 02, 2019 at 07:17:00.
I really need you to email your TD today.
The Government is trying to lock Ireland into importing fracked gas for decades - WITHOUT ANY DÁIL DEBATE.
They plan to send officials to Brussels on Friday to approve special treatment for plans to build gas import terminals on the west coast, against the advice of EU experts, and before the Dáil gets the chance to discuss it.
I'll tell my TD that's not good enough
Yesterday Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voted against making time to debate a special motion on the issue this week.
October: Gas Webinar Series with the Gastivists Collective
Issued in the blog on September 26, 2019 at 10:54:00.
Gas is a fossil fuel. The narrative around gas being a 'bridge fuel' is simply dangerous and needs to be debunked once and for all. Learn all about the issue, taking action and showing solidarity this October with this exciting webinar programme with the Gastivists Collective!
2nd October 12-1pm CEST / Why gas is bad
> how gas impacts our climate
> how gas is extracted, transported and how it impacts communities around the world
> the tricks of the gas industry
For who? People that are new to gas and want to understand what is all the fuss about it
The Future is Rural Festival - October 4th & 5th
Issued in the blog on September 25, 2019 at 21:34:00.
Celebrating sustainable food, farming and community energy
Come along to 'The Future is Rural', a sustainable rural futures fair on October 4 and 5, in Ballina, County Mayo.
Delivered by Foodture, the Irish Environmental Network and Friends of the Earth, this event includes film screenings, talks, stalls, demonstrations and children's workshops, all focussed on building sustainable rural futures through food, farming and community energy.
In Our Hands: Seeding Change
6 - 9pm, Friday, October 4, 2019
The first part of this event is a screening in the museum's AV Theatre of the award-winning and thought-provoking documentary In Our Hands: Seeding Change. This will be followed by a lively panel discussion with foodies, farmers, activists and experts.
Decision to end oil exploration by Taoiseach is welcome: 'an important signal to investors'
Issued in news on September 23, 2019 at 18:58:00.
Taoiseach's announcement on oil exploration at UN Summit a welcome step
But no room for new gas either says Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth has welcomed the announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the UN Climate Action Summit that Ireland will end the exploration for oil in Irish waters [1].
Commenting, Friends of the Earth Director, Oisín Coghlan said:
"The Taoiseach has sent an important signal to investors that Ireland accepts the majority of fossil fuels have to stay in the ground if we are to contain climate change.
What the Taoiseach should tell the UN Climate Action Summit today
Issued in news on September 23, 2019 at 01:42:00.
"Six simple steps for Leo, one giant leap for Irish climate leadership"
Friends of the Earth has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to make six significant new pledges when he addresses the UN Climate Action Summit later today (Monday) in New York. The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, had a clear message for world leaders before the summit: "Don’t come with a speech. Come with a plan." Unfortunatey, the Government's new Climate Action Plan does not yet amount to Ireland's fair share to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement, according to Friends of the Earth's Director, Oisín Coghlan.
Mr Coghlan commented:
"The last time the Taoiseach addressed an international political assembly on climate change he admitted Ireland was a laggard. His Government has taken some steps to change that, but they don't go far enough, or fast enough. Today, Leo can take a giant leap towards climate leadership if he announces the following six simple steps:
SunRise for Climate September 21st
Issued in news on September 20, 2019 at 11:10:00.
Join our next sunrise gathering on Saturday September 21st - the day after the Global Climate Strike. Let's take some time together to unwind, recoup and reflect after all the organising and mobilising in the lead up to the strike.
RSVP HERE AT THIS LINK
In July we hosted just one gathering in Dublin, but we realise that's not possible for everyone - and we want to share this moment with all of you. So we are inviting communities to get together all across Ireland to get up at sunrise and gather somewhere beautiful in nature in your area.
Strike!!
Issued in the blog on September 20, 2019 at 10:54:00.
Today, September 20th, the Friends of the Earth office is closed. We are joining the Global Climate Strike to
demand climate action.
Find your local strike at the link below and
join us on the streets.
Everyone is invited. Everyone is needed.
https://www.stopclimatechaos.i
"I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if
our house is on fire. Because it is" - Greta Thunberg
It's time to support the peat workers. Dáil to debate 'Just Transition' Bill. Government must sit down with Trade Unions now.
Issued in the blog on September 18, 2019 at 09:07:00.
We all know working in fossil fuels is not a job for the future. Extracting and burning peat and coal is not compatible with a planet that is safe for us to live on. This means the industry has to wind down. Fast.
In Ireland many of these jobs are in peat and coal, and the wind down is happening already. But the people and communities whose livelihoods depend on fossil fuel jobs in Bord na Móna and ESB, which are state-owned companies, are being let down badly.
Support the peat workers
Issued in campaign actions.
Tell your TD the Government needs to sit down now with the workers, Bord Na Mona, the ESB and the communities to draw up a plan to secure the future of the communities impacted by the wind down of jobs in burning peat and coal.
Can you help the School Strikers be seen and heard? Literally.
Issued in the blog on September 17, 2019 at 11:19:00.
One of Greta Thunberg's great lines is "When we start to act, hope is everywhere". For me, watching 11,000 young people throng Molesworth Street last March it was slightly different. Seeing such action all around, I started to hope.
The global School Strikes For Climate movement that Greta sparked [1] has given me hope that together we can build a movement powerful enough, fast enough, to tip the balance towards serious climate action.
It is of course totally unjust that today's teenagers have to give up part of their childhoods to clear up the mess adults caused, in order to rescue us and save their own future.
So when the young Strikers ask for help, I really want to say yes.
