January 2015 – Transition Network Newsletter
By Mike Grenville 7th January 2015
To start the new year we offer lots of inspiring news and new features. Our themes will now span two months and starts with getting started. We introduce our very own Agony Aunt, offer you a new year rubbish diet, find out what life is like without Amazon and announce plans for Transition Town -The Musical! Plus news of Transition Roadshow coming up in Cornwall, training on offer, events and book reviews.
NETWORK NEWS
Transitioners’ Digest (December 2014)
The theme for December was ‘Less is More’,
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/transitioners-digest-december-2014
How We Got Started
During January and February we’ll be exploring the first element of our Support Offer, ‘How to Start Transition‘. We start with Richard Barnett of New Forest Transition who tells the story of their beginnings in 2007
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-01/how-we-got-started-new-forest-transition-0
The Transition Agony Aunt
A new regular feature, The Transition Agony Aunt, will answers a reader’s question. The first one is about struggling to form working groups:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-01/transition-agony-aunt-when-theme-groups-fail-form
Have you got a question for her? Email agonyaunt@transitionnetwork.org
How ‘The Power to Convene’ can transform Transition
Should the Power to Convene be the key role of what Transition groups do and how they function?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-01/how-power-convene-can-transform-transition
Transition Town: The Musical!
This is the working title for a sparkling new musical to be written by poet Matt Harvey and composer Thomas Hewitt Jones. The plan is to weave a witty, warm-hearted tale of dreamers and do-ers addressing the practical, emotional and philosophical questions thrown up by climate change and oil dependency. The premiere of the final show is planned for July 2016 and then a license will be available for other groups to perform the show. “We want to bring as many people into this project as possible, so crowdfunding was an obvious choice” said Chloe Uden who conceived the project. “Over the past 10 years of working in the sustainable energy sector, I’ve seen how the arts can provide a space to deal with the emotional and human side of the story.” Find out more and support their appeal on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/862794604/transition-town-the-musical
Results from the Transition Culture survey
The responses from the short survey as well as some reflections on what we might do about them.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/results-transition-culture-survey
THINKING OUT LOUD
How the BBC might hold the election to account, carbon-wise
How about putting short term economic responsibility, alongside longer term climate responsibility?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-01/how-bbc-might-hold-election-account-carbon-wise
Responding to the Prison Industrial Complex with permaculture and resilience
Teacher, writer, speaker and designer, Pandora Thomas is a board member of Transition US, a founder of the Black Permaculture Network, a co-founder of Earthseed Consulting, and co-creator of the Pathways to Resilience programme. Read or listen to her inspiring interview:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/pandora-thomas-responding-prison-industrial-complex-permaculture-and-resil
The Rubbish Diet
Sometimes we make New Year’s resolutions that we don’t keep. The key, psychologists tell us, is to make the resolution simple, with stepped rewards along the way until the goal is reached. Bin Doctor Katy Anderson writes about the Diet and how you can Learn to Love Your Bin as a New Year’s Resolution.
http://transitionfreepress.org/2015/01/02/waste-rubbish-resolutions-or-how-to-learn-to-love-your-bin-in-2015/
If I Ruled The World
Asked by a local newspaper to muse on what he would do if he ruled the world, Rob Hopkins began by saying “that’s impossible” would be outlawed around the cabinet table.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/if-i-ruled-world
My year without Amazon
Having decided a year ago that Amazon was so at odds with Rob Hopkins’ values that he withdrew his support for good, he shares his reflections on how a year free of Amazon has been. (Spoiler Alert: it’s been great).
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/my-year-without-amazon
REconomy
Starting a Transition Enterprise
The first post in a series about the process of starting a Transition Enterprise. This blog by Mark Simmonds attempts to define a Transition Enterprise and look at the very early stages in the start-up “journey”.
http://www.reconomy.org/starting-a-transition-enterprise/
Talking Social Economy in a World of Extremes
Frances Northrop of Transition Town Totnes on her visit to Sweden for the Annual National Transition Conference.
http://www.reconomy.org/talking-social-economy-in-a-world-of-extremes/
The Community Enterprise Checker and funding opportunities through Power to Change
With £150m as potentially available, and some go-early investment opportunities, we are encouraging Transition Enterprises to get involved with Power to Change.
http://www.reconomy.org/the-community-enterprise-checker-and-funding-opportunities-through-power-to-change/
TRAINING
• 24-25 January. London. The world’s first Permaculture for Transition course
• Launch online begins again January 13th at the new time of 09.00- 10.30 UK time. This will enable people in Asia and Australia and New Zealand to take part more easily.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/network-training
COMING UP
The Transition Roadshow comes to Penwith
6-7 Feb. Penzance, West Cornwall
There are lots of positive things going on in Penwith and this event will take things further with a focus on RE-thinking the economic future of the area.
http://www.transitionpenwith.org.uk/roadshow
Devon Convergence – Forum for New Local Economies
February 7. Exeter
Gathering the changemakers in Devon to meet, become acquainted, perhaps start collaborative relationships, and definitely learn about what’s happening around the region to create thriving local economies.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/devon-convergence-forum-for-new-local-economies-tickets-14543107827
Using Social Media for Events
21 January 8pm – online
Bringing together Transition Initiatives in the UK interested in exploring how social media can help their activities expand and flourish.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-social-media-for-events-jan-2015-tickets-15165418174
More events
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events
BOOKS
One Minute Review: Behind the Green Door by Rotor
An eclectic book, rich in objects that will challenge (or reaffirm!) what sustainability means for you in relation to how the world around us is built.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2015-01/one-minute-review-behind-green-door-rotor
Don’t Even Think About It by George Marshall
Unlike most books about climate change, which try to convince people using science, Don’t Even Think About It examines why the science doesn’t convince people. Drawing on research across many disciplines and presenting it entertainingly, he argues that these insights are critical to mobilizing public opinion on climate change. While Marshall’s book may or may not fix widespread ignorance about climate change, it does an invaluable service by showing us why we ignore this greatest of all threats facing our species.
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-01-05/review-don-t-even-think-about-it-by-george-marshall
AND FINALLY….
Desert Island Discs, Totnes-style
The subject of a rather unusual version of Desert Island Discs in Totnes was Rob Hopkins. The Winter Concert, organised by two local choirs and others, invites a local person to choose eight tracks which are then performed interspersed with stories from that person’s life. Well worth a listen:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2014-12/appearing-desert-island-discs-totnes-style
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“For me, the most sustainable thing a person can do is continue to live! To stay alive and thrive and create and support systems that help affirm their own life. “
Pandora Thomas
More events
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events
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Film Reviews
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/films
Transition Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/transitiontowns
Resources — Editor’s Picks
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/resources
Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newsletter
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http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2015-01-07/january-2015-transition-network-newsletter
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This newsletter is published on the first Friday of each month.
Next newsletter is 6 February 2015