An Overview of An Overview of TransitionTransition
Economic Instability & Inequity
Global WarmingResource Depletion
What’s going on in the world?
What does it mean for What does it mean for communities?communities? Climate Change responses cost $:Climate Change responses cost $:
– Impacts on food production, water, Impacts on food production, water, infrastructure, transportation, carbon offsets!infrastructure, transportation, carbon offsets!
Economic inequity & instability:Economic inequity & instability:– More debt & more volatility = less controlMore debt & more volatility = less control– More poverty pushes service demandsMore poverty pushes service demands
Resource depletion:Resource depletion:– Forest & fisheries sectors declineForest & fisheries sectors decline– Ecosystem disturbance & stress Ecosystem disturbance & stress – Peak oil = rising fuel costsPeak oil = rising fuel costs– Land competing demands and priceLand competing demands and price
How’s the system working?How’s the system working?
How did we get here?How did we get here?
What are the What are the actions and actions and behaviours behaviours that have contributed that have contributed over time to the conditions that we over time to the conditions that we are now facing? are now facing?
(Peak Oil, Climate Change, (Peak Oil, Climate Change, Economic Instability & Inequity)Economic Instability & Inequity)
Resilience –Resilience – can we can we adapt adapt to change?to change?
65 years ago:65 years ago:
65 years from now?65 years from now?
Transition towards resilience:Transition towards resilience:
From global to localFrom global to local From centralized to diverse (connected)From centralized to diverse (connected) Tight feedback: learn/adapt/learn/adaptTight feedback: learn/adapt/learn/adapt From growth to steady stateFrom growth to steady state From consumption to self-reliance (re-From consumption to self-reliance (re-
use, repair, borrow, grow, make, share)use, repair, borrow, grow, make, share) From depletion to stewardshipFrom depletion to stewardship From individual to collective … From individual to collective …
The 4 Recognitions of the The 4 Recognitions of the Transition Movement.Transition Movement.
1.1. Life with less energy is inevitable and it is Life with less energy is inevitable and it is better to plan for it than be taken by surprisebetter to plan for it than be taken by surprise
2.2. We have lost the resilience to be able to cope We have lost the resilience to be able to cope with energy shockswith energy shocks
3.3. We have to act for ourselves and we have to We have to act for ourselves and we have to act nowact now
4.4. By unleashing the collective genius of the By unleashing the collective genius of the community we can design ways of living that community we can design ways of living that are more enriching, satisfying and connected are more enriching, satisfying and connected than the present.than the present.
CONVENTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALISM THE TRANSITION APPROACH
Individual behaviour Group behaviour
Single issue Holistic
Tools: lobbying, campaigning and protesting Tools: public participation, eco-psychology, arts, culture and creative education
Sustainable development Resilience and re-localization
Fear, guilt and shock as drivers for action Hope, optimism and proactivity as drivers for action
Changing national and international policy by lobbying
Changing national and international policy by making it electable
The person in the street is the problem! The person in the street has the solution!
Blanket campaigning Targeted interventions
Single level engagement Engagement on a variety of levels
Prescriptive – advocates answers and responses Acts as a catalyst – there are no fixed answers!
Carbon footprinting Carbon footprinting + resilience indicators and actions
Belief that economic growth is still possible, albeit ‘green’ growth.
Designing for economic renaissance, albeit a local one!
1st Principle: Build & Hold Positive Visions for the Future Our popular culture offers
future visions like star trek or star wars, mad max and the disaster theme (earthquake, insects, etc.).
There is no positive vision that speaks to a gradual descent in energy use over time – that is oriented to stewardship – we need to create one!
2nd Principle2nd Principle: Make it real! : Make it real!
“Totnes, the Nut Tree Capital of Britain”. Tree Planting, January 2007.
Estates in Transition conference. June 11th 2007.
3rd Principle3rd Principle: Work with Special : Work with Special Interest Groups & other PartnersInterest Groups & other Partners
Example - Build a Bridge to Example - Build a Bridge to Local GovernmentLocal Government
World Cafe on Peak Oil and Climate Change with Local Councillors
City staff on transportation, food (etc.) working groups
Contributions to Local Development Framework.
4th Principle4th Principle: Include : Include everyone - honour the everyone - honour the elders – youth ...elders – youth ...
5th Principle5th Principle: Attend to : Attend to inner transition as well as inner transition as well as outerouter
transition
Inner world individual
psychology, world view, beliefs
Outer world society, behaviour,
institutions
Understanding ourselves – and each other
What are our beliefs, assumptions and values that underlie the actions that have contributed to our current situation?
Everyone thinks of changing the world, Everyone thinks of changing the world, no one thinks of changing himself.no one thinks of changing himself.
Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy..
How can Transition movement support inner transition? Meet people where they are – Meet people where they are –
encourage comfort zone – doing, encourage comfort zone – doing, planting, organizingplanting, organizing
Reconnect with natureReconnect with nature Home groups – peer supportHome groups – peer support Celebration, ritual, healing, Celebration, ritual, healing,
encourage abundance viewsencourage abundance views
66thth: Let It Go Where It Wants : Let It Go Where It Wants to to
Solar projectsSolar projects Farm marketsFarm markets Car share co-opsCar share co-ops Bike trailsBike trails Housing retrofitsHousing retrofits Local currencyLocal currency Tree plantingTree planting Car Share ClubCar Share Club Green Music Green Music
Festival…Festival… Recycled art Recycled art
showshow Transportation Transportation
policiespolicies ??
And always – have fun!And always – have fun!
Step One: Form an Initiating Step One: Form an Initiating Group and Do Your Group and Do Your Homework Homework
Second Step: Awareness Second Step: Awareness Raising…Raising…
Pre-contemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Change
Who needs what?Who needs what?
“Keep going?” “Something else?”
“What will I do? and how?”
What needs doing?
Is there a problem?
Talks, films, information!Peak oil films, 11th hour
Detailed reasons for change, and solutions
Re-skilling; transition teams; take the bus
Support, company, celebrations, deepening work
Stages of Change
Some towns: The Official Some towns: The Official UnleashingUnleashing
“Maybe they will tell stories about what happened in Totnes. Maybe this evening will be something that is the beginning of one of those stories”.
Dr Chris Johnstone – TTT Unleashing Sept ’06.
Step Four: Form Working Step Four: Form Working GroupsGroups
• Key to engaging citizens – let it Key to engaging citizens – let it go where it wants togo where it wants to
• Key to making it realKey to making it real
• Key to representing the depth & Key to representing the depth & scope of the “transition”scope of the “transition”
• Scope: regional, neighbouhood, Scope: regional, neighbouhood, “bio-region”?“bio-region”?
• Eventually working groups form Eventually working groups form the core group – the “governing” the core group – the “governing” body & initiating group disolves.body & initiating group disolves.
Example: Local Food Directory
Example: The Totnes PoundExample: The Totnes Pound
Example: Facilitate the Great Example: Facilitate the Great ReskillingReskilling
Skilling Up for Skilling Up for Powerdown.Powerdown.Peak Oil / Climate Change, Permaculture Principles, Preserving Food, Building and Housing, Gardening, Water Conservation, Bike Maintenance, The Psychology of Change, Energy Descent Planning… etc.
Other group examples:Other group examples:
EnergyEnergyFoodFoodGovernment PolicyGovernment PolicyHealth and WellnessHealth and WellnessHeart and SoulHeart and SoulHousingHousingIntroduction to Introduction to TransitionTransitionLocal EconomyLocal EconomyMeaningful WorkMeaningful WorkOutreach/EducationOutreach/Education
MediaMedia
TransportationTransportation
Urban DesignUrban Design
BusinessBusiness
Neighbourhood Neighbourhood GroupsGroups
Regional RelationshipsRegional Relationships
Art and CelebrationArt and Celebration
Green BuildingGreen Building
Step Five: Establish Step Five: Establish Core GroupCore Group Strategic Focus: Reps from working Strategic Focus: Reps from working
groups, government & …. ?groups, government & …. ?
Geographic: Regional Hubs – reps from Geographic: Regional Hubs – reps from areas, villages, urban “hoods”areas, villages, urban “hoods”
Blended: A bit of both at the tableBlended: A bit of both at the table
New hybrids are evolving New hybrids are evolving
Step Six: Energy Step Six: Energy Descent PathwaysDescent Pathways
Engage the community!!Engage the community!! Start with a vision and Start with a vision and
then backcastthen backcast Use scenario planning to Use scenario planning to
work with uncertaintywork with uncertainty Incorporate creative Incorporate creative
activities – Transition activities – Transition TalesTales
Integrate with municipal Integrate with municipal planning?planning?
Where to from here?Where to from here?
Send reps to a Transition workshop Send reps to a Transition workshop near you: near you: www.cedworks.com//transition.html
Powell River April 9/10: Powell River April 9/10: [email protected]
Read the Transition HandbookRead the Transition Handbook Watch Rob Hopkins on You TubeWatch Rob Hopkins on You Tube
Victoria TransitionVictoria Transition
http//www.transitionvictoria.ning.com
Email: Email: [email protected]
http://twitter.com/Transition_Vic