Join a Regional TD Calling Party!
Issued in the blog on May 27, 2020 at 16:25:00.
The next week is crucial for the climate.
Three parties are currently negotiating what's called a 'Programme for Government', and we need to do whatever we can to make sure this is as strong as possible. For people, and for the planet.
Can you join a Regional TD Call-a-Thon before June 5th, World Environment Day?
We think the following is a solid strategy for making an impact!
- We know that when constituents speak to their TDs, TDs listen.
- We also know that a stumbling block in talks is the notion that the desire for strong faster and fairer climate action doesn't come from all age groups and localities around the country.
- What's more, we know that the TDs currently negotiating care about their image in the media.
'Hulk' praises political leadership against fracked gas, LNG
Issued in news on May 27, 2020 at 12:45:00.
'Hulk' praises Irish Government Negotiators for wisdom and foresight on fracked gas infrastructure
Mark Ruffalo appearance on Irish TV grateful for Irish solidarity
Actor Mark Ruffalo appeared on the Virgin Media Tonight Show last night and praised Irish politicians for their support resisting liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Ireland, following a statement from Fíanna Fáil and Fine Gael that it does not make sense to build new large scale fossil fuel infrastructure, such as liquefied natural gas terminals. [1]
Let's talk about 'Weather', with Jenny Offill and Sinéad Gleeson
Issued in the blog on May 25, 2020 at 18:33:00.
While debating whether or not to host a book club this year, we came across this article in the Irish Times and well, the decision was made instantly.
Join us in conversation with Jenny Offill, author of New York Times best seller, 'Weather'. We are honoured to also have Irish writer, Sinéad Gleeson, on board as interviewer.
Click here to register for this webinar!
This event will be hosted over zoom, at 8pm on Friday June 5th to mark World Environment Day 2020.
Jenny Offill's latest book 'Weather' resonated with many of us on the Friends of the Earth team. It's not often you pick up a book and think, oh I know that story. And you hear so many others around you say that too!
Poll finds large majority supports greater Government action on climate change
Issued in news on May 21, 2020 at 07:23:00.
"Stunning" numbers should give confidence to parties negotiating Programme for Government
As the government formation talks focus today on climate policy, Friends of the Earth has published the results of an opinion poll showing overwhelming public support for greater government action to reduce polluting emissions. The headline findings include 9 out of 10 people saying that the government should be guided by science and expert advice on climate action as they have been on Covid-19. And 71% saying the next government will be failing the people of Ireland if they do not act now to combat climate change.
Foodie Workshops for ECO-Week
Issued in the blog on May 14, 2020 at 18:11:00.
Next week we will be running an exciting series of food and nature related workshops for young people (under 30's) as part of ECO-UNESCO's 'Eco-Week'.
We have an fantastic line up of speakers, facilitators and activists who will explore different aspects of food & nature and how we engage with it.
Online Training: Movement Strategy and Movement Structure
Issued in the blog on May 14, 2020 at 13:25:00.
We're so excited to be able to host the Ayni Institute to facilitate a two-part training to activists in Ireland. During this course the Ayni Institute will be teaching how to understand the deeper strategic needs within movements and issue areas.
The Ayni Institute is a small training institute that coaches, incubates, and supports social movements and community organisations. They also develop research and content on movements and movement dynamics. The Institute was founded by Carlos Saavedra, a community organiser with the DREAM movement in the US, and Paul Engler, author of This is an Uprising. They work closely with Momentum US and the Sunrise Movement among others.
Webinar: Women Resisting Climate Change in the Global South
Issued in the blog on May 12, 2020 at 11:08:00.
Join this webinar co-organised by the Galway Feminist Collective and Friends of the Earth Ireland to discuss these issues, on Wednesday May 20th at 7pm Irish time/1pm CST/2pm EST/8pm CET.
As the world grapples with the challenges posed by climate change, there is increasing awareness in the Global North that communities from the Global South will be most impacted by the effects of climate change. We increasingly recognise that those same communities are often on the front line of resistance to extractive projects that threaten the environment and exacerbate the impact of climate change, particularly: mining, mass hydroelectric infrastructure and biofuels. Women across these communities often put their safety, freedom, livelihoods and lives on the line to protect the environment and Mother Earth.
The Story of Plastic, is the Big Story the plastic industry doesn’t want you to see. It’s a must watch!
Issued in news on May 11, 2020 at 10:47:00.
Sick of Plastic Campaign
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate release: Monday May 11th
Environmentalists come together to bridge the gap between plastic and fossil fuels, unveiling plastic industry secrets, through a free two-day online streaming and webinar.
Environmental campaigning groups have been hosting online screenings across the world to bring the full story of plastic to mainstream audiences since the film premiered on the Discovery Channel on Earth Day this year.
On May 12th and 13th the Sick of Plastic Campaign will be streaming the film for free online for the Irish public. And on May 14th the campaign will host a webinar to discuss the film and explore the links between plastic and fossil fuels within both the Global and Irish contexts.
Webinar May 14: What the frack has gas got to do with plastic!?
Issued in the blog on May 08, 2020 at 18:52:00.
What has that plastic bottle polluting your local river got to do with gas?!
Well, a lot as it turns out.
Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, a greenhouse gas which, when released, has over 100 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Gas is used as an energy source the world over.
What is less well known is that gas is also used as a material to make plastics. Ethane is a hydrocarbon also present in gas and a primary raw material for petrochemical (or plastics) manufacturing. Global fossil fuel extraction companies are heavily involved in the production of plastics. They use the ethane accessed via fracking to produce plastics that exist for hundreds of years in the environment.
7 things you should know about the 7% emissions reduction rate everyone is talking about
Issued in the blog on April 30, 2020 at 08:52:00.
Join this webinar this evening to find out more. The panel includes Prof John Sweenet, Dr Cara Augustenborg and Sadhbh O'Neill. Meantime, here's my 7 things to know about 7%.
1. It’s grounded in science and backed by the UN
Every year the United Nations Environment Programme publishes an “emissions gap” report, which analyses the gap between how much countries are planning to cut emissions and what is required to keep global heating to 1.5C, the goal of the Paris Agreement.
Last November the main headline from the UNEP Emissions Gap report was that we need to “cut global emissions by 7.6 percent every year for the next decade to meet 1.5°C Paris target”.
