Coastal crusader Flossie Donnelly made headlines when she started collecting plastic and other rubbish from Dublin’s beaches and installed Ireland’s first sea bin in Dun Laoghaire.
The 14-year-old, from Sandycove, is hailed as Ireland’s Greta Thunberg.
She spends her spare time cleaning plastic from beaches near her home with her mam Harriet.
Flossie and Harriet run a marine environmental charity called Flossie and the Beach Cleaners that raises awareness around plastic pollution and brings together like-minded people for clean-ups.
This Friday, Flossie is striking to help save the planet and fight for the future of younger generations.
She told Dublin Live: “This is another climate strike that we’ve had to do during lockdown. We’re doing it online with the hashtag NoMoreEmptyPromises.
“The politicians and government continue to patronise and ignore us which just isn’t fair.
“They have goals for 2030 and 2060, we don’t have time (to wait) for that, we’re already going through climate change.
“Last year, numerous countries had wildfires, droughts, floods - climate change is already happening but we still have a chance to stop it, but the government is just being selfish.”
She believes that even a virtual protest can make a big difference. Due to the COVID pandemic, Twitter and Instagram users are being urged to use #NoMoreEmptyPromises.
Flossie explained: “If anything, these protests can achieve education and it’s to show the government that it doesn’t matter what they do and they say.
“We know what’s going to happen and at the end of the day it’s our future and we really would like to fight for it.”
The 14-year-old highlighted that COVID and climate change have a lot in common, but the virus is being treated more seriously.
She said: “COVID is a distraction, climate change is going on, the government can’t completely ignore it.
“COVID and climate change are really similar, they’re both causing death and they are wiping out generations.
“COVID is being treated like a problem but climate change isn’t, because it’s not killing people immediately.
“They’re the exact same but climate change isn’t being treated like a crisis.
“We’re even finding around four masks on every beach clean now which are made of plastic and we’re recommended not to collect them which is really bad for the environment.”
How to be more green this St Patrick’s Day
Cut down on plastic and recycle
Flossie said: “One of the biggest problems is recycling - the big black bin bags aren’t recyclable then it all has to go to the landfill which is really heart-breaking.
“If you can avoid buying something that’s plastic, do it, toothbrushes are being made with bamboo and they’re just as good.
“You can get plastic free chewing gum, you can stop using cling film - there are lots of reusable items you can buy.
“Bamboo items can last ten times longer than plastic and when they do break, they can be recycled.”
Choose alternative transport
She also urged people to consider different modes of transport rather than driving.
Flossie said: “People need to understand that you don’t have to drive everywhere, walking and cycling are options and also without COVID, carpooling and taking public transport, not the best but a lot better for the environment.”
Clothing
Ways to be mindful about how your clothes impact the environment include cutting down on how much you buy.
Constantly buying from fast fashion outlets isn’t great for the environment. Buying second-hand on websites like Etsy and Depop is great, because many people only wear certain things a few times.
Always ask before buying: Do you need three pairs of novelty onesies at Christmas for that Instagram photo? Do you need to live the life of a celebrity and never be seen in the same outfit twice?
Eat less meat
Livestock is the world’s largest use of land resources. Grazing land and cropland makes up 80% of all agricultural land.
In some parts of the world, mass deforestation is happening to make way for this food production, it’s this loss of habitat for many animals.
The meat industry also emits a lot of greenhouse gases. Some people may be alarmed by the fact that they may have to cut out their fillet steak or beef burger, but you can do your bit and cut down your meat consumption to a few days a week, it will make a big difference.
Use your voice
Doing your bit for the environment doesn’t have to just be about losing, reducing and cutting back.
It can connect you with your local community. You can join your local Tidy Town group or tag along to the beach clean-up.
Flossie said: “I’ve been beach cleaning for five years, I started when I was nine.
“I do a weekly clean with my mum normally and for a few years now, I’ve been climate striking.
“And sometimes I give motivational speeches to adults and young children because education can start with the elderly and the young.”
Join Flossie by striking this Friday, upload a picture on Twitter or Instagram holding a sign saying #NoMoreEmptyPromises.
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