October 2007

EYFA (European Youth For Action) developed from a tour that was initiated by a Swedish/German group in 1986 to save the old forests in Europe: then named European Youth Forest Action. From these ‘routes’, it developed into a platform for grassroots movements working to transform local and international communities in their approach to environment and social, political and economical positions.
The international office located in Amsterdam coordinates EYFA’s activities. We support grassroots projects and initiatives in the following ways:

On the 17th of August the “Movimento Verde Eufémia” went into action, targeting the first transgenic field in the Algarve GMO Free Zone in South Portugal. 65 mowers entered the field and were able to mow a hectare of GM corn in less than 20 minutes. The action received support from a parade of dancers and a samba band!

You are invited to a weekend of workshops, talks and films to be held in Seomra Spraoi in Dublin from 16th-18th November.

The Gluaiseacht Zine can be downloaded here.

Articles include:

  • Background on Gluaiseacht
  • Gluaiseacht Projects
  • Report of Shell to Sea Sitdown Protest
  • Buy Nothing Day
  • Tree Preservation in Limerick
  • Ecotopia 2007
  • GMO Direct Action in Portugal
  • Skillshare Weekend

For Friday 9th November, almost one year since Gardai batoned people protesting the Corrib Gas Project and twelve years since Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni eight were hanged by the Nigerian government, Shell to Sea has called a day of action at Bellanaboy, Co. Mayo.

Ecotopia is an annual gathering of environmental and social justice activists. This is what it might say on the website of the host organisation but for me ecotopia has become so much more. I have been to four ecotopias and it is becoming like a pilgrimage for me. Ecotopia takes place in a diferent country each year.This year it was in the Algarve in the south of Portugal. The first one I went to was in Holland in 2004. In the intervening years Ecotopia has been hosted by organisation in Moldova and Slovakia.

A personal account.

We arrived at the refinery site at around 6am with a car full of protesters and we took the opportunity for an hour’s shuteye in the car before proceedings started. This was most welcome especially by the driver who had driven through the night to get us there.

Gluaiseacht carries out work in the following areas: