Book of Leaves

Darragh Wynne is a climate activist and host of the Climate Alarm Clock podcast, which you would have heard me chat about before. It’s a wonderful climate news podcast, based in Ireland and definitely worth checking out. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with them on ‘X’ @theclimatealarm or Instagram @climatealarmclock.I had a lovely time hearing Darragh’s story and talking through how we can improve climate communications. Below is a list of everything covered![06:15] Interview begins[14:00] Tips for people who feel alone in the climate movement[18:00] The COVID Alarm Clock podcast[19:55] How the media have improved and what they can do better[26:25] Darragh’s tips on managing his mental health while reporting on climate news[29:45] How to communicate the need for climate action outside of the climate bubble[33:40] Ripple effects experienced in his activism[41:45] Darragh’s favourite thing about the future (National Tour Ceara is doing: click here! )HometreeClimate Alarm Clock                                                     Carbon Neutral Lent Podcast15th September Climate Psychology Conference26th September Climate Café3rd November in NUIG the role of universitiesAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Light pollution can often be overlooked as harmful to the environment as it’s taught to result in aesthetic consequences. Thankfully there are people like Georgia from Friends of Mayo Dark Skies working hard to not only educate people, but implement changes at local and national levels to ‘light right’. Keep up to date with their work on Twitter @MayoDarkSkies Facebook or Instagram @MayoDarkSkies or find all you need to know on www.darksky.ie or www.mayodarkskypark.ie. Annual festival information is available on www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie[04:10] Georgia introduces herself and her path into the Dark Sky movement[07:55] What’s the problem with light pollution?[09:50] Statistics of street lighting in Ireland & lives they affect[11:55] Why moths etc are attracted to lights[13:15] The colour of lights matters[16:20] Light pollution culprits & countries that are improving light regulation[21:25] How Newport in Mayo improved their lighting[26:10] What can community members do in the garden and at home to improve lightingGalloway Dark Sky Park in ScotlandEssex part night lighting schemeMarnie Ogg dark sky AustraliaLightpollutionmap.infoAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Jessica Dunne is an activist I met at the recent Mary Robinson Climate Conference. She has put thousands of hours into campaigning for a just future across various groups such as Fridays For Future and Young Friends of the Earth. I wanted to interview her for advice on people (young or old) looking to join the movement, and also discuss the importance of having a unified front! You can follow her on Twitter @UpNorthsCold or Instagram @UpNorthItGetsCold[06:50] Jessica’s inspiration for being aware of the climate emergency[10:30] How Jessica keeps momentum on activism & recruiting more people[14:10] Her experience of not being valued as a young activist[20:10] Mary Robinson climate conference experience & having a unified front[36:45] Favourite protest moments[39:40] Solidarity vs allyshipAlso Mentioned: ISSNYoung Friends of the EarthFridays for FutureWhat White People Can Do Next by Emma DabiriAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Eddie Mitchell has been a prominent activist in Ireland, contributing to the ban on fracking here and now devoting a lot of his time to extractivism in the country. He'll also be participating at this year's Climate Camp in August (9th-12th) which I'd encourage you to go to! Stay up to date with Eddy's activism by following him on Twitter @WestyEddy.[04:20] Eddie introduces himself & path into environmental activism[08:50] How Eddie feels about the threat of fracked gas being allowed back into the country.[10:30] The various groups Eddie volunteers with: Save Leitrim[14:25] Treasure Leitrim – gold mining[17:20] CAIM - Communities against the injustices of mining[19:40] Critical Minerals Regulation[27:55] Climate Camp www.climatecampireland.ie/Also mentioned: Johnny McElligott - Safety before Shannon LNG Futureproof ClareAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Joanna O'Dowd has one of those shining accounts on Instagram that's not only full of practical sustainable tips, but lots of positivity, needed now more than ever! The runs sewing classes in Cork and can be followed on Instagram @joannasfeelingcrafty and YouTube.[07:40] Joanna introduces herself[15:25] Why Joanna doesn’t like the term zero waste.[18:50] How sewing & mending came back into Joanna’s life[26:55] SHEIN’s recent PR stunt and how Joanna felt about it[22:15] Joanna’s classes leading to creativity[34:50] Tips for making your wardrobe last and loving your clothes[46:40] Tips for sewing repairs[49:20] Sourcing fabric in an eco friendly wayAlso mentioned: Everything is Figuroutable – book.Kindfolk children’s upcycled clothesDomestikaSkillshareFabric Romance – sustainable fabric shopAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Whether or not you have participated in gardening (community or otherwise), this episode is bound to be inspirational for you. If you're in Cork, check out the various organisations Maria is involved with. Otherwise, search your locality for a food policy council, SHEP branch or community garden. The latter you can always set up yourself! Make sure to stay up to date with Togher Community Garden on Facebook, Twitter @GardenTogher or Instagram @TogherCommunityGarden.[04:20] Maria's introduces herself[07:20] What is SHEP, Cork Food Policy Council & Green Spaces for Health[10:50] Turning a graveyard into a community garden[18:10] Their tree nursery & how to create your own[22:30] How to find land for tree nurseries[26:35] What is a community garden and how do they differ from allotments? Togher garden as the example.[34:20] Stories Maria has that demonstrate the ripple effect of the garden[38:55] *Maria’s favourite community gardening tips[46:20] Dealing with pests organically[49:30] A seed library & keeping it wild[54:05] Maria’s imagination of the futureAlso Mentioned:Joanna MacyRob HopkinsAshleigh Ellis - Artist Dying FabricTrees PleaseTidy TownsThe Solidarity Garden – for people living in Direct ProvisionSeedsavers in ClareBrown Envelope Seeds Company As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

With 62% of people in Ireland being regular drinkers of coffee, a bean we can't grow in Ireland, how can we make our consumption more sustainable? Alejandro, the man behind Ethical Origin, uses his Columbian roots to our advantage, and connects Ireland directly to coffee farmers. [03:25] Alejandro introduces himself[08:25] Ethical Origin. What’s it all about?[11:25] A look into the issues coffee & chocolate farmers face[15:55] How the cocaine industry affects people in Columbia[22:25] The importance of roasted at origin[23:45] Other tips for people who want to consume coffee ethically[26:25] Stories from farmers since Ethical Origin startedAlso mentioned:Water Movement in ColumbiaFairtradeKildare's Picnic In The Park day, Sunday the 18th of June '23As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

@tryingtobegreensince2016 is an Instagram account run by teacher Ide. She constantly shares the most thoughtful eco alternatives for absolutely everything. Like me, she's no expert on environmentalism, but you don't have to be to make a difference! She has generated so much advice over the years, I'm only delighted to have her share some insights and tips on Book of Leaves. Have a listen![03:20] Ide introduces herself[06:05] What it was like to buy nothing for a year[09:20] Sourcing furniture second hand[13:20] Green hacks for getting food and reducing food waste[17:35] Dumpster diving in Ireland[21:10] How to scope out dumpsters for diving[22:40] Ide’s sustainable fashion tips, including a capsule wardrobe[26:10] How Ide nourishes her mental health[31:05] What it’s like trying to be zero waste in Ide’s work setting of teaching[34:20] Sustainable socks and underwear[40:00] Ide’s Fairphone – a modular phone that you can repair[42:00] Eco travel tips[45:20] Ide’s favourite thing about the future & final tipsAlso Mentioned:DepopOlioAdvertsDonedealPatagoniaDedolesRockay Running sport socksAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

‘Save the paper!’ is something we hear so often, but every email, every website loaded and attachment sent, has a carbon footprint. This waste is often tucked away in data centres and thus out of sight, out of mind. Gerry McGovern has been working with the internet since the 90s and is here to remind us that digital is very much physical. From waste produced by our electronic goods to what needs to change systemically to reduce our data use, Gerry is an absolute wealth of knowledge. Make sure to get a copy of his latest book World Wide Waste, or check out his podcast of the same name.[02:00] Gerry introduces himself[04:30] E-waste and data waste explained[09:30] Why tech devices are not made to be recycled[17:00] How companies and groups can stop contributing to child labour and e-waste[21:00] What’s the story with data centres?[29:30] Measures we can take to reduce our data use and energy consumption[34:25] When Ceara met a group of data centre staff from Meta.[41:00] Ireland as a mining friendly countryAlso mentioned:Right to RepairYes to Life, No to MiningFairphone eco-friendly modular phone companyFramework – modular design computerCAIM Anti mining groupAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee