Abstract
Humans are causing unprecedented change to global environment contributing to the ongoing
mass extinction, climate change and worldwide destruction of natural habitats. Implications of
these changes for the future of humankind are increasingly coming into public discourse as
new social movements such as Extinction Rebellion are being established. This qualitative
study was conducted to investigate experiences of people who choose to include elements of
self-sufficiency and environmentally friendly approach in their lives and to find out their
approach to sustainable living practices in modern Ireland. By conduction and analysing four
semi-structured in-depth interviews it was found that even though each individual journey into
sustainability is separate, they all form coherent patter of a social movement underpinned by
real and virtual connections in the community and on social media. For people to succeed in
their changing lifestyle they have to compromise between their ideals and being part of the
community. By taking change one step at a time in slow continued move towards they are able
to justify non-sustainable choices as part of their progression to being responsible guardians of
their land and examples for others who may follow the same route.
