May 2016 – Transition Network Newsletter
By Mike Grenville 5th May 2016
New beginnings and a ‘Springtime Renewal’ theme plus a Digest of the previous theme of ‘International’ brings Transition news from far and wide. More on the success of Demain, the power of beer and was flying justified? Some ‘Good’ Bremain thoughts plus several insightful pieces on keeping your Transition Initiative healthy.
Introducing our theme of Springtime Renewal
Rob Hopkins was working in his greenhouse last week, planting out lettuce seedlings with the kind of grounded but slightly heady optimism that starts to course through a gardener’s veins at this time of year, and listening to the radio. “Turns out, with the benefit of hindsight, that I grew up through a time of systematic abuse of children, a profoundly corrupt financial system designed to serve elites, with endemic police corruption on a huge scale, and the brutal suppression of dissent by minorities and those seen as ‘other’… Into this space where the old systems are crumbling, new models rooted in a different set of ethics rooted in a culture of care, equality, relationships and wellbeing, are taking hold.”
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-05/introducing-our-theme-springtime-renewal
Transitioners’ Digest (March – April 2016): International
Our theme on the website over the past 2 months was ‘International’. We set out to look at Transition in its many international manifestations and how it has spread, and what it has become. Read the Digest of all the related articles here:
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/transitioners-digest-march-april-2016-international
Report: Converging For the Common Good in Denmark.
A recent event in Denmark provided an inspirational taste of how Transition and other related movements are coming together to do great things. Rob Hopkins reports, and gets over-excited about wind turbines.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/report-converging-common-good-hvals-denmark
How Transition Palo Alto Brings Sharing and Community to Silicon Valley.
Based in Silicon Valley, Cat Johnson writes about about what makes a successful Transition group, how the group hosts so many events, and how sharing is at the heart of their community.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-05/how-transition-palo-alto-brings-sharing-and-community-silicon-valley
A Snapshot of Transition in … Brazil.
Three days of collective construction of the dream and vision of the network we want to have took place in Brasil writes Isabela Maria Gomez de Menezes.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/snapshot-transition-brazil
A Snapshot of Transition in … Japan
Shunro Yoshida, co-founder and representative board of director of Transition Japan reports from the annual Summer Festival in Japan, a Transition gathering to exchange ideas and experience, and congratulate each other.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/snapshot-transition-japan
How ‘Demain’ is giving Transition a boost in Belgium.
Imagine suddenly your friends and neighbors talking enthusiastically about their new implication in their neighborhood, their plans to start acting locally and the deep changes they are contemplating in their daily lives. François-Olivier Devaux of Transition Hub Wallonie-Bruxelles looks at the considerable impact the ‘Demain’ film is having in Belgium.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/how-demain-giving-transition-boost-belgium
The Panama Papers and the emergence of Transition in Iceland
In this short interview with Tinna Guðmunds, Director of a Center for Visual Art, she gives her perspective on how this small country of 350,000 people and two very large volcanos, were able to force their Prime Minister to resign in such a short time, and her hopes for Transition in Iceland.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/panama-papers-and-emergence-transition-iceland
INTERVIEW
We talk ‘Demain’ with co-director Cyril Dion. “We are going to reach 1,000,000 viewers in France” he tells us.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/cyril-dion-demain-my-message-transition-movement-would-be-huge-thank-you
THINKING ALOUD
The Beer That Innoculates Against Philip Green
How might a craft beer, only available for 2 weeks a year, inspire us in thinking of solutions to protect our local economies from the predations of the likes of Philip Green? We offer some reflections…
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-05/beer-innoculates-against-philip-green
On Reflection: why the TN team took time out.
The Transition Network team recently took some time out to reflect. Sarah McAdam writes about why they did it and what came out of it, and in the video above the team reflect on how it was for them.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-05/reflection-why-tn-team-took-time-out
Flying to the US: Was It Worth It?
In October 2013, Peter Lipman and Rob Hopkins travelled to the US, initially to be part of the Environmental Grantmakers’ Association annual retreat, but also to visit a number of Transition groups. There are many people who write articles about why they don’t fly. There are also many articles by people about why they do. What we haven’t yet seen is someone who did fly, writing with hindsight about whether the journey was worthwhile or not. So that’s what Rob sets out to do here, a kind of cost-benefit analysis of the trip.
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/flying-us-was-it-worth-it
Juliet Davenport of Good Energy on the UK’s EU Referendum
How might a Brexit vote affect the push for a renewable energy system in this country?
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/juliet-davenport-good-energy-uks-eu-referendum
SUPPORT
Being part of the Transition Movement
Being part of Transition is not just about what you do locally in your community – it is also about joining a global movement building a future we all want to live in. Step-by-step guide here:
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-03/activity-fortnight-being-part-transition-movement
How to Develop a Healthy Group
To be successful at Transition, you need to be successful at working together collaboratively as a group. A group that works well together is a joy to be involved in, it runs smoothly, gets things done and members feel fulfilled and nourished through their work together. That is not to say that it won’t be challenging at times, but a resilient and self-aware group will be able to work through its challenges in a constructive way. Alternatively being involved in a group that is not functioning well can be frustrating, not a lot of fun, exhausting – and often leads to burnout. Whilst it may feel like there is some magic art to working together successfully, actually a lot of it is about breaking free from our tendency to push uncomfortable group dynamics under the carpet and instead put the time and effort into…..
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/how-develop-healthy-group
What to do if Donald Trump joins your Transition group.
Read our 6 tips here:
www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2016-04/what-do-if-donald-trump-joins-your-transition-group
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Transition is
“A movement of people and communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world”.
Rob Hopkins