Climate Change, Extractivism and Colonialism - weekend training 2025

Friends of the Earth Ireland in collaboration with climate justice educator Sian Cowman are delighted to offer a weekend training on Climate Justice Fundamentals: An Intro to Colonialism and Extractivism, to take place in beautiful Ballaghnatrillick Co. Sligo on April 4-6.

In 2021, we published a Facilitators and Learners’ Handbook on these themes, designed as a set of resources for climate change educators or facilitators and climate or environmental activist groups. We’ve hosted two residential workshops based on the handbook, because connecting around these issues in-person allows for a different way of engaging.

This year, we’re publishing a new handbook, designed with more creative and accessible activities to build understanding of how colonialism and extractivism are at the root of climate justice. This year’s residential workshop will be based on the new handbook, and we’ll have copies for all participants.

Note: This course is intended for people who already have some knowledge about climate change and climate justice, and experiences of climate and environmental activism and organising, and who are willing to continue the learning experience by facilitating workshops on these themes within their communities or activist groups. We intend to create a community of practice where participants will receive support from each other to do this work.

To register your interest, please fill out the form and you will be sent an email with further application information. Please note there is a 50 EURO participant fee to help cover training costs. Please see below for further details. Meals and accommodation is provided. Should this fee be a barrier to your participation please contact Sara.

Deadline for applications is 10^th March at 12pm. For any queries please contact sara@foe.ie

When: 4th - 6th of April

Where: The Benwiskin centre, Co. Sligo

What: Weekend Training on Climate Change, Extractivism and Colonialism

About the facilitator: Sian Cowman is a climate and environmental justice educator and researcher. She spent years working in Latin America on climate justice communications and accompanying community resistance to fossil fuel and mining projects. Her recent work includes the authorship of a tutor handbook in climate justice education for the City of Dublin Education Training Board, and the development of the pilot programme of a new Junior Cycle Short Course in Climate Action. Her academic qualifications include a BSc in International Development, a Postgraduate Specialisation in Epistemologies of the South from the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, and a MA in Critical and Creative Media. She is currently a PhD researcher at the Department of Media Studies in Maynooth University where her research focuses on critical analysis of media framing of climate migration.

Training fees cover:

• Accommodation at The Benwiskin centre: this will be in a variety of shared rooms
• The venue is accessible by wheelchair; please indicate any accessibility considerations (physical or otherwise) in the application form
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner (starting with light meal on day of arrival and breakfast on day of departure) will be provided; please indicate any dietary requirements you may have in the application form
• All teaching and teaching materials 

Fees:  Fees will be payable to Friends of the Earth. Following your application, Friends of the Earth will email you to request fees. We have places for up to eighteen participants available.

Funded through Irish Aid and Concern

The Benwiskin Centre, Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo