Today is May 1st 2019 and tonight GCN will host an event in collaboration with our friends at Project Arts Centre and Extinction Rebellion Ireland – Mayday: The Fight To Save Our World. It’s happening in the life cycle of our inaugural Global issue – a response and battle cry from our community about climate justice and the fact that each one of us has immense power and capacity to effect positive change in our worlds.

Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications and so it felt like a most relevant title to express the seriousness of where we find ourselves in the current climate crisis.

We must take this crisis seriously in order to save the planet from certain death and destruction.

Irish people are no strangers to the reality and amazingness of people power to effect positive change in the world. In the past few years, we’ve fought and won two referenda, introduced progressive Gender Recognition legislation, repealed draconian legislation and are in the ongoing process of detangling from the oppressive grip of the Catholic Church and our states collusion with them.

There is undoubtedly still a lot of work to be done. We must tackle our homelessness crisis, end Direct Provision and strive for a truly equal society that honours our constitutional promise, “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally.”

We’re really proud to collaborate with Extinction Rebellion Ireland on this event. Their urgent campaigning in the UK and here in Ireland has been pivotal in placing climate justice issues on the agenda and drawing attention to the seriousness of the challenges ahead and need for us to take it seriously.

Hope is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul. And sings the tune without the words. And never stops at all. – Emily Dickinson

Personally, I’m very concerned and find it immensely upsetting and overwhelming but have resolved to educate myself and take necessary action to effect change in any way I can. One of the features in the current Global edition is titled, Change One Thing, Change Everything and that thought gives me hope and energy and a belief that we can work together as a community to protect, restore and rebuild the future and pay back our beautiful planet in all the ways we must.

I was at an event recently where Mary Robinson told an impactful anecdote about her friend and peer, Desmond Tutu. He was asked about how he remained positive despite the epic problems and challenges faced by humanity. He explained that he’s a prisoner of hope, and I identify strongly with that. Hope is absolutely essential in the battle we face. It’s the force that’ll sustain us and enable us to save ourselves and the planet.