Many of us recognise that modern life as we know it is not sustainable and that something has to change. All it takes are a few people with heart felt conviction which can rapidly expand and change an entire society. Something is bubbling to the surface and opportunities to make a real change within our own local communities are beginning to flourish. The fast growing global movement is known as "Transition Towns"...
- "Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
It's happening!
The "Transition Towns" network begun in the UK is now spreading across the world! People are gathering together in droves as the realisation dawns that the current system is not sustainable and something has to change.
Rather than helplessly waiting for the system to collapse before taking action, initiatives are now beginning to draw on collective skills and resources reclaiming inherent skills to create self sustaining local communities. These are beginning to offer a solution (or at least a transition through) the collapse of the system which many are now believing inevitable.
Although the movement is relatively young, Totnes in the UK has already developed its own currency of which over 50 local businesses now accept as legal tender. Other initiatives include Lewes, Bristol, Forest Row, Nottingham, Brighton & Hove, Glastonbury, Falmouth, Stroud, Forest of Dean etc... They are all exploring creative ideas to sustainability with experts in all relevant fields such as food, housing, currency, health, energy supply, transport, and spiritual development.
The big question that they are all asking is this...
- "for all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive,
how do we significantly increase resilience to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil
and drastically reduce carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of Climate Change?"
Peak oil is the point at which half the world's oil reserves have been used, after which production goes into rapid decline and therefore prices escalate rapidly. Since our society is dependent on oil as it's main source of fuel, life will become very different indeed. The Transition Towns initiative will also insulate against other growing risks such as the collapse of our over exposed, heavily indebted financial system and our dependence on imported food...
- "To be thrown upon one's own resources, is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previously unsusceptible."
Benjamin Franklin
Transition Towns will also provide the breathing space for our forgotten spirituality to flourish once more. Bring it on!
Find out what your local community is doing and if it's doing nothing, find out how you might seize the initiative - visit the Transition Towns website, click here...
http://www.transitiontowns.org
Warm Regards
Trinity
Thanks for that, trin.
That's quite a move, for the famed Totnes to have a currency. I also lived nearish to Bristol so knew a lot was going on there (but only in a minority by far).
In HP discussions about global warming, it's often come down in the last year or so to "But the West can't have any effect on the dirty and swift growths of China and India", which is probably (?) true, so I have no answer to that.
But at least 'Transition Towns' could perhaps provide a local saving grace when / if global events may go pear-shaped (though I don't say they will for sure).
V
But at least 'Transition Towns' could perhaps provide a local saving grace when / if global events may go pear-shaped (though I don't say they will for sure).
V
Hi V,
Yes, there are so many variables that nobody really knows what will happen globally.
I feel it wonderful that communities are pulling together in this way and creatively exploring sustainable options. Transition Towns are very young and even the more established ones are just beginning to get going. It will be most interesting to see what unfolds in the coming months/year.
Trin
x
I've a friend who's very active in doing something like this, though not quite the same thing: it's more of a partial (as best as can be managed) 'transition community' within the larger city of Seattle - somewhat of a more deprived and downtown area I think.
Thinking of the larger cities, as Current Affairs on HP often highlights, if anything we often at least perceive that there's a breakdown of community, not a growth toward it (such as increased crime). So the idea is full of conundrums. How about the old idea of the 'global village'? We've at least learned that not all aspects of globalisation are that great, such as food transportation across the world, immigration difficulties [COLOR="RoyalBlue"]... and on a lighter note, could anyone assist me in just sheer getting through to BT on their Indian call center? 😮 (but not wanting to go off-topic!)
V