The world is in ecological crisis: we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event this planet has experienced, and scientists believe we may have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown. This is an emergency. So join GCN and Extinction Rebellion Ireland this May Day to talk about what each of us can do to effect meaningful change.

Extinction Rebellion Ireland is the Irish branch of an international movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience to achieve radical change in order to minimise the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse. GCN will be teaming up with them this May 1st for an evening of information, conversation and action in the Project Arts Centre, from 7.30-9.30pm.

The night will begin with a presentation by Dr Ciarán O’Carroll of Extinction Rebellion Ireland, who will share the latest climate science on where our planet is heading, discuss some of the current psychology around climate change, and offer solutions through the study of social movements.

We will then host a panel discussion with invited guests – including John Gibbons, Oana Marian and Carol-Anne O’Brien, with more to be confirmed – to discuss the climate emergency we all face and talk about ways to remain hopeful while creating positive change.

John Gibbons is an environmental journalist and commentator. John has been writing and speaking about environmental and climate-related issues for over a decade. This included a two-year stint as the weekly environmental columnist with the Irish Times. He also maintains an environmental blog at ThinkOrSwim.ie

We’re teaming up with @ExtinctRebelsIE & @projectarts to bring you an evening of action, conversation and education on how we can fight for our planet’s future! Get involved: https://t.co/w9GQX0sqTT pic.twitter.com/vqCiLWtLvF

— Gay Community News (@GCNmag) April 11, 2019

Oana Marian of Extinction Rebellion and Active Hope Network will share reflections on climate justice and climate grief, on how to act in time of crisis without remaining in crisis, and on the need for creative, compassionate, accountable and anti-racist responses within environmental activism.

Carol-Anne O’Brien worked for nearly 10 years on advocacy with BeLonG To, the national organisation for LGBT+ young people. She’s now doing a master’s in climate change at DCU, is a (belated) climate activist, and has been a queer activist for more than 25 years

There will be ample time for questions from the audience. We all have a part to play and we want to hear from the audience just as much as the panel on the evening.

Commeting on the neccessity of events centred on climate activism, Lisa Connell, Managing Editor of GCN said:

“We are really proud to present this vital event in collaboration with Extinction Rebellion Ireland and Project Arts Centre. All three organisations share a core value of activism, action and creating a provocative discourse in order to effect meaningful change in our world. We’re running out of time to save the planet and we believe in people power. It’s time to join the rebellion!”

For more information, see the Facebook event. Tickets, at €10 per person or €8 for students and the unwaged, are available now.