‘Global Green’ at the Electric Picnic festival, 4-6 September, was a place relax, explore and reflect on critical issues and ponder on how we might green up our lives. The whole area was curated by Challenge Europe partners, Cultivate with a little help from the British Council’s advocates from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

One team of advocates were on hand to guide festival goers through the Carbon Confessional, which this year was supported by the Change campaign and ESB. The Carbon Confessional was a video viewing booth where festival goers could watch media on climate change and relieve their carbon conscience by making a pledge to change something in their lives.

A second team of advocates worked on a giant picnic, the ‘EAT IN’ with Slow Food. Tables were laid for over sixty people, many had pre-booked weeks before the event. They ate from ceramic plates, using real cutlery in a statement on waste and how we eat. The EAT IN was dedicated to raising awareness of global issues, including biodiversity, food security and climate change. The Irish Minister for Energy, Eamonn Ryan, was the first to take his seat at the EAT IN, with his wife and four kids. An expert panel discussion involving the Junior Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargeant followed and the focus of discussions was 'How Do You Eat Yours' and how as a consumer we have the ability to make choices around the food we eat.

Global Green was a great success and a unique opportunity for Challenge Europe advocates to develop their own knowledge and project ideas, to network with experts and decision makers and to have lots of fun in the process!