Book of Leaves

For the first episode after the break, I want to introduce you to a secondary school teacher, Patrick Kirwan (thank you Codie for the recommendation!). His story is such an inspirational one that I hope you'll be as encouraged as I am by him and share this with as many students and teachers as possible! You can follow Patrick on Twitter @GrowGardeners or the Irish Schools Sustainability Network at @IrishSchSusty.

We covered:

[05:05] When Patrick was inspired to get active.

[10:30] The earliest climate action he incorporated into his work.

[28:05] The role the education system plays in tackling climate change.

[41:50] Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN) & Climate & Nature Summit.

[48:50] The recent IPCC report reactions.

[51:40] Random questions!

Also mentioned:

Kevin O’Sullivan - Irish Times Environmental Editor

Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST)

Climate & Nature Summit participants: WWF, Voice, Ecounesco, Concern, Green Schools, Clover Hogan, SEAI

Eoin Dalton - Irish Rainforests

Rachel O’Connor - Principal

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I came to know Caitríona through Extinction Rebellion. She has been showing up to protests since she was a child, and organising them since she was in her teens! She is an activist who advocated anti war, animal rights, Repealing the 8th, and of course the environment. She is now a member of Connecting Cabra & The Dóthain Collective, as well as being a recent graduate of the DCU Masters in Climate Change programme. You can follow her on Twitter @KennyCaitriona.

We covered:

[04:30] What inspired Caitriona to be the change she wanted to see.

[06:50] Connecting Cabra – what’s involved & how it started.

[13:40] Advice for anyone wanting to start a community group.

[14:35] DCU Masters in Climate Change

[21:00] How the climate movement can’t be discriminatory to marginalised groups such as disabled & working class communities.

[30:50] Framing climate action in a positive light.

[35:15] Tips for saving money that are also more eco friendly!

[40:10] Her favourite protest memories.

[43:00] Random questions

Also mentioned:

Energy Master Plan

Bloomin' Crumlin

Ringsend Sustainable Energy Community

Ecolution

Environmental Justice in Ireland report

Commuinity Supported Agriculture (CSA)

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Evelyn Suttle joins me for episode 70 to chat veganism, civil resistance, food security in Ireland, and Eco Feminism. With ties to so many groups that are striving to make the world a better place, Evelyn is a wonderful source of inspiration, whether you're a seasoned activist, or new to the movement. You can find all resources mentioned in below, but make sure to stay up to date with @Veghuns.

[05:20] A little bit about Evelyn.

[15:10] How Veghuns came about.

[19:20] How activism manifests for Evelyn, & her favourite part of it.

[25:05] Eco Farm Ireland.

[32:50] Animal Rebellion Ireland.

[35:35] Why we need civil disobedience.

[40:20] Tips for people who have yet to dip their toe into civil resistance or activism.

[45:40] Evelyn’s writing on Feminist Animal Studies Application (Votes Fur Women)

Also mentioned:

Vegmums

Zac’s episode

Animal Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion

Sli Eile

Galway Feminist Collective

NARA

Vegfest

Corey Lee Wren’s Animals In Irish Society Book or Podcast

Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici

Kildare Wildlife Rescue

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Zac is an activist with a number of climate action groups. Most recently, he and another activist, Orla Murphy, were arrested and imprisoned for a protest at Iveagh House in Dublin. As Orla was still in prison at the time of this recording, I interviewed Zac to hear his story and the place of civil disobedience in the climate justice movement. Orla has since been released on the 22nd of April after spending over a month there. You can still write to Orla at [email protected] and hopefully I'll have her on the podcast in future.

If you're interested in getting involved with Extinction Rebellion Ireland, there's a new members meeting happening tomorrow (4th of May 2021, 7pm GMT) that you're welcome to come along to. Hosted by yours truly! Keep an eye out for upcoming events for XRI here, or on your local groups website. And if you son't have a local direct action group, you can set one up!

More on www.bookofleavespodcast.com (don't forget to rate, review, subscribe & share!) x

We covered:

• [07:00] Getting to know Zac.
• [11:40] When Zac began getting more active in climate action.
• [14:05] When Zac went vegan.
• [15:20] What is Civil Disobediance?
• [20:30] Is destruction of property violent or non violent?
• [24:00] The first time Zac got arrested / Kepak protest.
• [29:00] Why do people put themselves in a position where they know thwy'll likely be arressted
• [34:20] The action on the 19th of March where Zac and Orla were arrested.
• [40:10] Zac's experience in prison.
• [42:00] Orla's words from prison.
• [49:30] Reactions to the protest.
• [56:30] How many people do we need partaking in civil disobedience to get the job done?
• [01:06:30] Random Questions!

Recommended literature:

• Erica Chenoweth & Maria J. Stephan Stefan - Why Civil Resistance Works.
• Civil Resistance and Power Politics by Adam Roberts & Timothy Garton Ash.
• Gene Sharp (Author, here's a link to his books).

References

1-3 billion people are expected to be forced from homes within the next 50 years. [1]

200+ indigenous land protectors are murdered every year trying to protect their land and water. [2]

We're headed for +4°C of global heating (some publications this year are suggesting +5° and +6°C [3][4]) — +4°C is "incompatible with an organised global community" and likely to be "beyond adaptation". [5]

Island nations call for "1.5 to stay alive" and in 2009 at G77 Lumumba Di-Aping said that the new climate draft trying to limit warming to +2°C was "certain death for Africa". [6][7]

When the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 (non-binding, remember), countries said they'd try to limit warming to +2°C. However, even if every country met their climate agreements that they set for themselves (NDCs), we're headed for more than +3°C. [8] Despite this, countries aren't even hitting their climate targets! [9]

We've currently warmed the planet somewhere between +1.1°C and +1.3°C. [10] We're currently at an extremely crucial point, as we're in the danger zone at which irreversible climate tipping points could be triggered: some may lie between +1°C and +2°C [11]. Obviously because the risk is so great we have to follow the precautionary principle, meaning that we must absolutely everything we can to halt emissions immediately. Even if we halted greenhouse gas emissions today, heating will continue for decades or even centuries. [4]

[1] [https://www.pnas.org/content/117/21/11350](...

Rachel Dempsey has been clued into the environmental crisis since way before it was ‘cool’. She has a fascinating wealth of knowledge she has picked up and shared all across the world and I’m honoured to have been given her time for this interview. She was also the original creator of the Zero Waste Ireland Facebook group that has been mentioned on the podcast so many times before thanks to its helpfulness! Be sure to check out her website and give a follow on Instagram @full_circle_change or Facebook.

• [04:30] What it means to be a good ancestor.
• [06:35] The Zero Waste Ireland Facebook group
• [08:00] The work Rachel does
• [11:00] How singing helps with healing.
• [15:05] What climate anxiety looks like.
• [17:00] How our health system is set up to deal with climate anxiety in people.
• [23:30] Tips on becoming resilient.
• [28:00] How change happens? Positive stories.
• [32:00] Watching for climate anxiety warning signs
• [35:20] What workshops & services Rachel provides now
• [38:20] A song from Rachel

Mentioned:

• The Good Ancestor Podcast
• Timi’s interview / Sorcha's interview
• Zero Waste Ireland Facebook Group
• Capacitar https://capacitar.org/
• Climate cafès
• Britt Wray: Ted Talk / Generation Dread book
• Laura Hartley for workshops on burnout
• Songs for the Great Turning
• Active Hope book by Joanna Macy
• A Field Guide To Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray

As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend x

• Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.