Climate justice activist improves skill and knowledge at bootcamp

A DRIMNAGH woman and climate justice activist recently participated in a prestigious activist bootcamp run by Alice Public Relations.

Sara Hurley, 36, who lives in Drimnagh, was one of a group of 21 activists who were selected for the four-day bootcamp that was held last month.

Ms Hurley was selected as she is a founding member of the Climate Justice Cooperative, which was set up last year.

The group is a collective of activists, educators, creatives and innovators working on climate justice issues.

“We translate very complex and weighted topics and issues around climate justice,” said Ms Hurley.

One of the highlights of the group’s work is a game that they hosted at the last Electric Picnic festival which made people more aware of climate justice issues, such as forced migration.

“We played a game at Electric Picnic, because we thought it would be interesting to bring it into a place where looking at climate change isn’t the main purpose,” explained Ms Hurley.

“We wanted to come to them where they could learn about climate justice in a non-formal way, covering topics like equality, forced migration.

“We asked who’s responsible [for affecting climate change] and what can we do to change our behaviour so people aren’t constantly suffering the consequences of what richer countries are doing.”

Shortly after this, Ms Hurley discovered the Alice Academy for Activists’ bootcamp and swifty applied, and later found out that she had been selected for the inaugural course.

“I was directed to it by one of the members of the Climate Justice Coop, and we were really interested because we loved the thought of getting that support in the early stage of our group,” she said.

“I was in the lucky position of being able to be selected, and I knew I could bring back the learning to the group and we’d all benefit from it, especially with things like our media strategy.”

The bootcamp allowed the activists to improve their skills and knowledge in areas such as campaign strategy, polling and research, fundraising, coalition-building, political engagement and media relations.

Several well-known campaigners appeared as special guests over the four days, including Ailbhe Smyth, who led Ireland’s campaign to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, and Senator Lynn Ruane.

Commenting on her experience of the bootcamp, Ms Hurley said: “We got four really full days of workshops.

“There were also lots of opportunities to meet people from organisations that were very established, and members of grassroots activism movements.

“Everyone there benefited from it, and it was very invigorating and exciting.

“It was nice to be there because of everyone’s willingness to participate, a lot of good friendships were made, and we all support each other.

“The bootcamp gave me confidence, and a renewed sense of what direction my compass needle needs to be in so I can be more strategic.”

For more information, visit the Climate Justice Co-Operative on Instagram HERE.