Social Justice Matters

115. SJI Interviews Ep69: Freedom of Information with Ken Foxe

The Freedom of Information legislation is a key tool allowing individuals and organisations to request records from public bodies. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know about the power it gives them. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats with Ken Foxe, writer, researcher, trainer and director of Right to Know, an Irish transparency organisation that campaigns for greater information access. Ken is an expert on Freedom of Information and has helpfully taken the time to go through the what and how of information access.

The guide that Ken talks about during the podcast is available on his website www.kenfoxe.com and check out the website of Right to Know at www.righttoknow.ie.

114. Crossover Episode with C.J. Quartlbaum from the Labor Forward Podcast

In the week that marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we bring you a Crossover Episode with C.J. Quartlbaum from the Labor Forward podcast. CJ chats about the work he does and the stories he tells and we discuss the changing face of racism and lessons for a multicultural Ireland. 

CJ is a writer and speaker from Brooklyn, NY. He is the founder of the nonprofit, Labor Forward, whose aim is a better teaching of Black history. They do this through a variety of means which includes courses, calendars, and the Labor Forward Podcast. He speaks on a variety of topics but mainly focuses on history, culture, and creating a more unified future. He loves his family (wife and three kids), basketball, and food. You can find his work at  CJQuartlbaum.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @CJ_Quartlbaum

113. SJI Interviews Ep 68: A Just Transition with Davie Philip and Michelle Murphy

In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats to Davie Philip of Cultivate. Davie currently manages the Community Resilience Programme that developed out of the Community Powerdown Programme in 2010. He was a founding member of both FEASTA: the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability and Sustainable Projects Ireland Ltd the company behind the ecovillage project in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary where he now lives. 

 

Michelle is Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland and has written extensively on a Just Transition, Sustainability and Climate Action.

112. SJI Interviews Ep.67: International Women’s Day with Tara Farrell and Louise Lennon

To mark International Women's Day, Susanne Rogers chats to Louise Lennon, Policy and Communications Officer with Irish Rural Link  and Tara Farrell, CEO of Longford Women's Link  about issues of concern to women in rural Ireland. 

Find out more about Irish Rural Link HERE and Longford Women's Link HERE.

 

 

111. SJI Interviews Ep.66: Social Determinants of Health with Cathal McCrory

In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Cathal McCrory, Associate Professor (Psychology) of Life Course Development and Ageing in the Department of Medical Gerontology. He also leads the Behavioural and Social Sciences group within TILDA. His research explores the pathways, processes and mechanisms through which socially mediated risk factors come to influence health over the life-course, with a particular emphasis on stress. 

 

This episode looks at the impact of childhood adversity on life expectancy and is one that all policymakers should be listening to.

110. SJI Seminars Ep27: Prof. Charles Clarke and the Measurement of Wellbeing

On Friday, 18th February 2022, Social Justice Ireland published Measuring Progress: The Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which ranks 14 comparable EU countries based on their delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Written by Prof. Charles M.A. Clark of St John’s University, NY; Dr. Catherine Kavanagh of UCC; and Colette Bennett of Social Justice Ireland, the index compares 15 EU countries across all UN SDGs, assesses their performance on each individual SDG; creates a ranking table for performance overall; and provides national and local-level policy proposals to improve Ireland's progress towards the Goals.

Here, we listen back to Prof. Clarke as he considers measurements of Wellbeing.

109. SJI Interviews Ep65: A Playful City with Aaron Copeland

Play is a serious business! A Playful City is Ireland’s first not-for-profit focused on creating more playful, engaging and inclusive cities with and for communities. Creative Director, Aaron Copeland joins Susanne Rogers to chat about play and involving children in creating safe spaces for them in cities. 

108. SJI Interviews Ep.64: Inequality Kills - the latest Oxfam Report with Simon Murtagh

In this week's episode Colette Bennett chats with Simon Murtagh, Senior Research and Policy Officer with Oxfam Ireland about Oxfam's latest report, Inequality Kills: The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of Covid-19 and their proposals for a more equal world.

For those of you who may be interested in wealth taxes and how they might work, check out the website Simon mentions in this episode - www.wealthandpolicy.com - for a range of useful resources.

107. SJI Interviews Ep63: Locked out of the Market - Report from Simon Communities with Wayne Stanley

The Simon Communities of Ireland publish "Locked out of the Market" quarterly. It is a snapshot study undertaken over three consecutive days which tracks the number of properties advertised to rent within the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits.

The latest edition published on January 30th 2022 and Wayne Stanley, Head of Policy and Communication joins Susanne Rogers to discuss their findings and subsequent policy recommendations.  

106. SJI Interviews Ep62: Introducing a 4 Day Week with Caroline Whyte, Feasta, and Ciarán Nugent, NERI

We are all aware of changes that need to be made to reduce our emissions and live more sustainably.  One such change, according to many advocating in this space, is the introduction of a four-day week. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats to Caroline Whyte of Feasta and Ciarán Nugent of NERI on what exactly it is and what it means for environmental, labour-market, and social sustainability.