Transition Towns

jomtones · Post by **jomtones** » 20 May 2009, 10:36

I was well freaked out when I came across Peak Oil and it seemed like:

1. No-one much knew about it.
2. Definitely no-one was DOING anything about it.

Thankfully since then I've come across the Transition Town folk who are trying to help with both those problems... I don't know if what we can do collectively will be enough, but hey gotta try and do SOMETHING even if it's just to ward off the 'peak oil blues'.

I'd like to propose a 'Transition Towns' sticky or even a subforum so people new to Peak Oil can find out about practical local efforts and people they can talk to about the situation.

Anyway hopefully I can get the ball rolling by posting these links - I've been in touch lately with people in Stoke Newington and Highbury, but I know there are others around London, including Brixton.
http://ttstokenewington.ning.com/
http://transitionhighbury.ning.com/

Anyone else out there involved in 'Transition Towns'?

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 20 May 2009, 12:47

Transition Towns / Transition Initiatives are such wonderfully positive things. We've got something coming very very soon which will highlight Transition Initiatives and other groups dealing with Peak Oil and Climate Change. Watch this space!

ziggy12345 · Post by **ziggy12345** » 20 May 2009, 16:42

A great big concrete wall with machine guns mounted on all sides would be a good start for such a town

mobbsey · Post by **mobbsey** » 20 May 2009, 17:12

ziggy12345 wrote:A great big concrete wall with machine guns mounted on all sides would be a good start for such a town

Dunno about the guns, but the bullets are a finite and non-renewable resource.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 20 May 2009, 17:18

You're still allowed to shoot raiders from our city walls! But it has to be by bow and arrers (more sustainable than guns) and the said raiders have to be Scottish. Hey the PM's a Scot...

ziggy12345 · Post by **ziggy12345** » 20 May 2009, 17:55

Not the french?? Damn

mobbsey · Post by **mobbsey** » 20 May 2009, 18:12

ziggy12345 wrote:Not the french?? Damn

If it's any consolation, I think you can still shoot Welsh people with an arrow in the Cathedral Close in Hereford.

jomtones · Post by **jomtones** » 20 May 2009, 20:20

lulz... good to see the local colour out in force!

a similar post on a U.S. site would probably have loads of artichoke planting tips and hand-on-heart proclamations about God's Will or something by now!

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 21 May 2009, 08:08

Yes, you can see how seriously people here take a positive approach to the peak oil problem. It seems they much prefer their doom-mongering and endless circular arguments.

I would love to see a separate Transition Towns forum here and can only hope it will attract serious contributions.

Nicko · Post by **Nicko** » 21 May 2009, 11:03

I think one of the main reasons why we need the Transition movement is presicely to stop that kind of'shoot the outsider' approach.
The transition to a powered down future has to be community, country and planet wide.
That is why I feel the survivalists have got it so wrong. Yes you need to know how to look after yourself and not be dependent on global supply chains, but you also have to help other people learn the same skills so they don't(and 30 of their mates) want to bonk you on the head for that deer you have just stalked/carrot grown/tree harvested.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 21 May 2009, 11:47

My first essay on on my sustainable architecture course was titled
'could Cambridge be a sustainable city?' My conclusion was that a transition town style transformation was the only option.

I'm not hopeful, but it's the only hope I have!

jomtones · Post by **jomtones** » 21 May 2009, 11:58

yeah i'm with you guys... don't see much hope for the dog-eat-dog trip...

i guess its a predictable response though given the advertising driven cult of the individual / erosion of community solidarity due to cheap energy / eurovision / nintendo etc.