Fossil fuel depletion, climate change and economic contraction are all serious issues that affect most towns and villages. As population and consumption increases, resources become strained under the added pressure. Fortunately, the Transition Towns Initiative is turning the tide for weakening communities.
What is the Transition Town Initiative?
Transition Towns is a grassroots movement that uses local community members to promote economy and ecology side by side. These members aim at reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing local partnerships and commerce as well as developing models for sustainability and growth that these transitioning towns can follow into the future.
As far as the Transition Network is concerned it all starts with one simple question:
"How can we make our community stronger and happier as we deal with the impacts of peak oil and economic contraction while at the same time urgently reducing CO2 emissions?"
To answer that question the Transition Network came up with three rough phases:
The Three Phases
1.) Awareness: The first step starts with building a small initiating group that starts an awareness campaign. This initiating team should make connections with local environmental groups to engage the community and promote the reasons why transition is needed and even necessary.
2.) Self-Organization: As this initiating group grows larger it will need to be divided into sub-sets such as food, http://lvoutletstoreonline.webs.com/ - http://lvoutletstoreonline.webs.com/ , energy, transportation, housing, education, etc. This helps to create practical projects for each sub-set and allows industry leaders to work on the transitions that affect them most. Most transition towns are in this phase of development.
3.) Energy Descent Planning: The third step deals directly with issues of energy consumption and approaches that can reduce and even eliminate fossil fuel and electricity use. Communities are also encouraged to develop their own energy companies and social enterprises which reduce usage, http://toryburchoutlet-us.webs.com/ - Tory Burch outlet .
In time, many cities form a more concise action plan to tackle local issues. Often a 12-step program, referred to as the Transition Town Model, is implemented after the initial organization is completed.
The Transition Town Model
Below is an example of a working Transitions Model from Bridport, England:
1. Set up a steering group and design its demise/transformation from the outset - This team is generally comprised of one member from each community group that is involved in the Transition project.
2. Start raising awareness - Identify the key allies in your community from various industries, e.g., local farmers, businesses, politicians.
3. Lay the foundations - Establish connections with local activist and environmental groups, acknowledging the work they do, and explaining how peak oil and climate change issues will impact your community.
4. Organise a Great Unleashing (otherwise known as a launch) - Introduce your work to the larger community with a presentation that will raise awareness - such as a movie or lecture. Mix in some music, food or other elements that bring people in and keep them engaged.
5. Form theme (or special interest) groups - Tap into the unique interests and skills in your community. Sub-groups may include food, http://lvoutletstoreonline.webs.com/ - Louis Vuitton Outlet Bags , waste, energy, education, youth, economics, transport, water, local government, etc.
6. Use Open Space - This is a unique approach to hosting meetings that allows large, diverse groups to function peacefully and effectively.
7. Develop visible practical manifestations of the project - Increase your visibility with creative initiatives that demonstrate sustainable living in action. For example, Transition Town Totnes planted edible nut bearing trees in the centre of town, and got their Mayor involved.
8. Facilitate the Great Reskilling - Help your community to relearn the skills our ancestors used when they had to be locally self-reliant, e.g., how to repair instead of replace, cook instead of rely on prepackaged foods, or make their homes more energy-efficient.
9. Build a bridge to Local Government - Create and sustain a positive and productive relationship with your local officials.
10. Honour the elders - Learn from people who lived in a time when we used less energy. We can take the best from that time and combine it with our current knowledge to create a better future for everyone.
11. Let it go where it wants to go - Focus on the key priorities of building a resilient community and reducing oil and energy consumption, and see what emerges as the group works together.
12, http://lvoutletstoreonline.webs.com/ - Louis Vuitton Outlet . Create an Energy Descent Action Plan - Create practical projects that will reduce CO2 emissions. Examples from the Transition Town Bridport website include producing fuel crops, large community PV solar arrays (collection of solar panels), consumer groups buying in bulk from suppliers, creating electricity from local biomass (e.g., wood waste), garden-sharing for food production, and tool and skill trading.
Above all, Transition Towns aim to be resilient and self-sufficient, relying on our own local resources and encouraging people to make more conscious choices about everything they do. We know that we won't change the world overnight, but we can help with part of its transition.
To find out more or to start your own Transition Initiative visit these links and get the ball rolling. The path to the future has to start somewhere.
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