| Do you think that our society is ready for a Post Oil | | | | interesting to me, whereas change sounds nasty, like a |
| future? | | | | top-down decision that I'm just going to have to live |
| Do we even really know what that means? | | | | with. Transition sounds like it can be pulled of by |
| I heard little sound bytes on the radio or the television | | | | anyone, with a little style even and that is what I think |
| every now and again but couldn't really put my finger | | | | the Transition Movement which is spreading all over |
| on what "Post Oil Future" really means. Especially, | | | | the world, is all about. |
| what it will mean for me and those that I love. | | | | Now this movement under it's current guise, started in |
| Then I started reading about the Transition Towns | | | | the UK but it began spreading itself around the world |
| movement. Now it started to make sense to me - | | | | very quickly, anywhere there are "thinking people", it will |
| perhaps I just needed some practical information and | | | | find a home. |
| things to do to make it really sink in. | | | | The basic premise of the movement is to come up |
| Leading up to hearing about the Transition Towns | | | | with solutions to the massive issues of Peak Oil and |
| movement I read a book, a good few years ago now, | | | | Climate Change but the difference is that the solutions |
| by a man from Australia, called David Holmgren. Now | | | | are being sought with the aim of making communities, |
| David, is pretty smart, committed to living sustainably | | | | local areas and regions strong enough, diverse enough, |
| and teaches extensively so that other people who | | | | resilient enough to not just survive in a post oil society |
| want to can create sustainable lives too. He was part | | | | with a very different climate but to thrive. |
| of the duo who put the pieces together and created | | | | If you go to the Transition Towns Movement website |
| the Permaculture movement. Type that word into your | | | | you can click and download the Transition Primer |
| browser and just see what an impact those ideas | | | | which will give you the heads up on the important |
| have had on the planet. | | | | aspects of this movement... it's FREE so download it |
| This man is to be taken seriously. | | | | today and get to know all about this important issue. |
| So when he started to talk about Peak Oil, I listened. | | | | Of course, there is a book and a website and a forum, |
| Now, out of Permaculture thinking (and a lot more too) | | | | so if you are the kind of person who just might be |
| has come the Transition Town movement. Beginning in | | | | looking for a bit of a plan to help you develop the |
| England and the brainchild of Rob Hopkins (another | | | | mindset, the skills set, the community connections and |
| thoughtful person) and now popping up all over the | | | | the enthusiasm to face to coming transition with a |
| world. | | | | modicum of style rather than the mass panic |
| Transition Towns. That's an interest word, Tranisiton | | | | developing around the place, these resources could be |
| don't you think? | | | | just the thing you need. |
| I mean to me it's much softer than the word Change | | | | In David Holmgren's book, he suggested that we could |
| and yet, at it's deepest level it means much the same | | | | continue along just as we have been, which I feel is |
| thing. I realise it means change but it has so much | | | | akin to an ostrich with it's head in the sand or we could |
| more potential. | | | | take a good hard look at what is really going on and |
| I used to work in a government department that was | | | | take some pretty simple (but apparently radical) steps |
| charged with organisational change - in those days | | | | to face our demons (the loss of cheap, abundant fossil |
| that was shorthand for a lot of people losing their jobs | | | | fuels) and make our descent into a low energy future |
| and everyone else being jollied along to pick up the | | | | with grace. The alternative is certainly looking a lot |
| workload. Transition on the other hand means change | | | | more painful, bloodier and uncertain. |
| yes, but it also has the potential to mean "evolution" to | | | | I hope you take the time to look around and read up a |
| something different and that has the potential to mean | | | | little on what Peak Oil, the Transition Movement and |
| something better. | | | | Permaculture mean, where they are headed and the |
| Now, my dictionary says that Transition is "the act of | | | | value they could bring to your life. It is certainly life |
| changing or passing from one form, state, subject or | | | | changing for many people, who knows it may turn out |
| place to another." | | | | to be life saving as well. |
| Now that sounds participatory and creative and | | | | |