Please join us at the Mary Robinson Climate Conference 2024, 5-7 June, for an interactive workshop "Envisioning our Shared Future Together". This is an opportunity to participate in one of our enriching, thought provoking sessions not normally available to the public. The cost is almost free as participation is included in the cost of tickets to the whole conference.
The Conference also offers the opportunity to explore the timescape of existence, Feast Upon The Earth, which will be displayed in the main exhibition room and will be referenced in the workshop.
A Shared Response to a Shared Responsibility
Climate change, and the immense challenges that it presents, impacts everyone. As such, climate change is multifaceted, requiring a collective response reflecting our shared responsibility to address the challenges ahead. This includes an acknowledgement of diverse voices and lived realities to engage meaningful intergenerational dialogue that co-produces positive pathways for impact. The Mary Robinson Climate Conference is an inclusive multidisciplinary forum bringing together voices from all sectors of academia and society to share climate experiences and discuss pathways for a sustainable future.
The 2nd Mary Robinson Climate Conference takes place in Ballina, birthplace of the former President, on 5-7 June 2024.
On Saturday 27 April 2024 Friends of the Earth Irelan celebrated 50 years with an education day at Richmond Barracks, Dublin D08 YY05
The timescape Feast Upon The Earth was on display for the day so it was a great chance to immerse yourself in the big picture story of existence and reflect on our world and our future.
Friends of The Earth reports on the day here.
A CPD course exploring and connecting to our natural environment
You will enjoy a varied, experiential course that explores our connections with nature.
Participants will expand their own relationship with nature and practice techniques
to help their students reconnect with the natural environment.
"Very good course with enjoyable, engaging content." Mary
Face to face, 20 hours, 1 – 5 July 2024
Nature, Thinking and Wellness
with curricular links to Science and Geography
held in the beautiful walled gardens and ancient woodland at
Ballin Temple, Ardattin, Co. Carlow
€99
BOOK HERE
CPD course, DoE approved for EPV days, ESD course category
You will enjoy a varied, experiential course that explores our connections with nature. Participants will expand their own relationship with nature and practice techniques to help their students reconnect with the natural environment.
The course is focused on Education for Sustainable Development and Well-being with application to the curricula of Science, Geography and History.
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Enhance eco-literacy to recognise and express links between curriculum strands and real world.
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Deepen teachers’ awareness of the scale, complexity and dynamic of diverse interrelated natural systems of which we are all a part. Reconnect with nature to awaken senses. Plan for a greater level of outdoor education on a weekly basis.
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Lower stress and nurture calm engagement among your pupils. Individual learning is enhanced through mindful tools to help teachers observe their own internal responses. This can become an individual practice that affects the school environment. Children can learn and benefit from mindfulness, which promotes self-awareness and wellness in children and is helpful in countering disruptive influences of social media from outside school.
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Discuss challenges like social media and dealing with bureaucracy.
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Explore ways of creating further high-quality learning opportunities with students through SESE curricular links wellness awareness.
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At the end of this course you will have the confidence, skills and resources to nurture natural talents that focus on the skills in the SESE curriculum and engages a multi-modal approach to learning about the environment.
Testimonials
We really enjoy the CPD courses and so do our participants. This is what they have said in the past:
A wonderful week’s course – I thoroughly enjoyed! Would highly recommend.
Thank you to Tom and Pam for a wonderful CPD course.
Excellent course. All teachers should do it compulsory at the end of each year. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course. I began a shell of myself, ended back to myself. Thank you.
Great atmosphere, really enjoyed the week with Tom and Pam. Will be back!
Very good course with enjoyable, engaging content.
Thank you for a beautiful week
Really enjoyed the week. It was relaxing, informative and great fun! Tom and Pam are passionate about what they do and this makes all the difference. Keep up the wonderful work.
BOOK HERE
We are grateful to have been given an opportunity to gather with Brigidine sisters on 1 February to talk about changing perspectives and the future.
Approximately 30 Brigindine elders will visit Teach Bhride (Brigid's House) in Tullow to celebrate Brigid's feast day. After lunch we will reflect on the the world today and changes that must happen or might happen in the coming decades. In the room will be a collective experience of two and a half thousand years! It is sure to be fascinating.
If you would like to join, please contact us or Teach Bhride.
Envisioning a Future with Brigid
2.30pm, Thursday, 1 February 2024
Teach Bhride,
Chapel Lane, Tullow, Carlow, R93 W447
Proposed agenda:
Introduction and outline of various current systems and mindsets to share a common view of our situation.
Interdependent life systems
Life cycle dynamics
Emergence of consciousness
Holonic pattern of life
Alternatives
Discussion of future paths and how they might transpire.
Conclusions
Further reading:
Brigit: From Goddess to Saint via the Patriarchy
Happy St Brigid’s Bank Holiday
Commissioned by IMMA for the 2023 Earth Rising Festival, Feast upon the Earth is an experiential installation of Earth's history focussing on humans and our impact on the planet.
Feast upon the Earth is anchored in a large timescape on 8 panels of 1.2m by 2.4 m, exploring existence and our current relationship with Earth. Panels from the original timescape can be viewed here.
The original installation included interactive components such as farm and garden produce, quizzes, an audio/visual corner, a mindful eating exercise and a Wall of Thoughts and Feelings, which encourage audience participation.
Since the eco-festival and responding to popular demand, a book illustrating the timescape panels has been produced. The panels are shown in reduced size of 40cm by 75cm (in three thirds) offering a table top medium to enjoy and share. The book is A3 size (30cm x 41cm) with full colour plates. A fascinating addition to any library and an inspiring gift.
The timescape is normally installed in Teach Bhride Holistic Education Centre, Tullow, Carlow, R93 W447. Entry is free, but please telephone first (059 9152465).
It has also been exhibited elsewhere including Friends of the Earth 50th anniversary Education Day at Richmond Barracks, Dublin
Other installations are planned and if you would like a copy for your public or private venue, please get in tiouch. Thanks.
Please enjoy media from the IMMA installation linked below. (Please note some files are large and will take time to load.)
Gallery of the timescape panels. Full size timescape panels can be ordered here for your corporation, institute, school or library.
Photos of the Wall of Thoughts and Feelings.
Click here for mindfdul eating audio.
Click here for Soil Quiz (via Survey Monkey)
Click here for radio interview with KCLR's wonderful Ethna Quirke who spoke with us for their Ours to Protect series.
In November, producer Ethna Quirke spoke to Tom Butler about his work retreat from the corporate world, a return to nature and his work with the Carlow County Environmental Network and their upcoming “Feast upon the Earth” event. The programme was released in two broadcasts: Part 1 and Part 2. The complete conversation is here.
Ours to Protect is a radio and audio project spearheaded by Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) to broadcast over 1200 new and unique programmes devoted to climate change and climate action. It is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee and is a partnership between KCLR and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland check out ourstoprotect.ie for more details.
Click here for radio interview with KCLR's wonderful Trishauna Archer. Friday 15 September 2023 Enjoy!