Transition Network Diversity Newsletter October 2010
By Ed Mitchell 28th October 2010
Transition Network Diversity Newsletter October 2010
Monthly Newsletter October 2010
INTRO
WELCOME to the Transition Network’s Diversity newsletter. You’re receiving this newsletter, because at some point over the last few months, you’ve signed up for it! Please forward it onto anyone you think may be interested and encourage them to sign up at the subscription link below.
CONTENTS
* TRANSITION INITIATIVES’ DIVERSITY NEWS
* TRANSITION NETWORK PROJECTS AND EVENTS
* NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES FROM ELSEWHERE
TRANSITION INITIATIVES’ DIVERSITY NEWS
KINGSTON: Inter-faith Forum
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Thursday 28th October
Kingston on Thames Transition are holding their first Interfaith Forum event on 28th October. The event promises to provide an opportunity for people from different perspectives to meet and to talk about a subject of fundamental importance to us all – our environment . Another aim is to discuss what might motivate us to make more sustainable choices in life – such as ways to reduce our carbon footprint. A theme running through the seminar could be: – connecting people in our local community and – connecting beliefs to action. In the words of one Inter Faith Forum member, the focus of the seminar will be on: how our various beliefs can help us to achieve a way of sustainable living and how in our congregations/ groups we can be given mutual support and encouragement to act on these beliefs.
Read more on the Transition Network website
See TT Kingston’s website for details.
STOKE NEWINGTON, London: Inclusion Group
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Mini report back from Danielle Cohen, Transition Town Stoke Newington (TTSN) inclusion group
Transition Town Stoke Newington’s inclusion group started up in February. Stoke Newington is in Hackney, one of the most diverse boroughs of London. After a couple of meetings discussing how we wanted to approach inclusion and diversity we came up with some practical ways of exploring it. We did things like talking to other people in TTSN about their views on inclusion and organising a picnic in a local park with lots of different activities. We made sure that we had signs up telling people what was going on and inviting them to join in, and we tried to have a variety of things there that would be fun for people of different ages, from rounders to making paper kites to a shared picnic. At meetings we discussed how these things were going and shared our reflections on the best way forward.
We decided as a group to take part in the Transition Network Bringing Diversity Pilot project because we hope the workshops offered by the project will help us develop our approach to inclusion further and in more depth.
Read more on the Transition Network website
GLASGOW: Faith and Belief Conversation Evening
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Thursday 28th October, Glasgow, 6.30-9.30pm
Sometimes Transition projects start a “Heart and Soul” group to explore the emotional and spiritual aspects of the work they’re doing. This is seen as being vital in developing the awareness to work with nature and each other to build sustainable and fairer communities. Likewise, most faiths and beliefs also share an awareness of this deep connection with our planet and need to protect what is precious.
With this in mind, Transition Scotland Support is hosting an evening in Glasgow on 28 October to share the values of caring for the planet’s resources provided by faith and non-faith beliefs. The aim is to create a welcoming and explorative space for shared conversation in small and larger groups as needed.
More information on the Transition Scotland website
See the event on the Transition Network website
TOOTING, London: Harvest Foodival
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The 3rd annual Tooting Harvest Foodival which took place on the 19th September was a roaring success with crowds thronging in and around Mushkil Aasaan (a local charity for Asian families) all afternoon sampling delicious dishes cooked up by local restaurants Roti, Ambala Sweets, Lahore Karahi, Spice Village, Pooja, Rick’s, Al Mairage and Mirch Masala. Vegetables all provided courtesy of local food growers. Also available were smoothies from locally picked fruit and information about growing your own and food waste with Scotscape, Garden Partners, Fair Trade and Love Food, Hate Waste …. and 150 people created their own vegetable printed reusable bag – look out for them around Tooting over the coming weeks! A fiercely fought condiment contest judged by local chefs Volker and Rick was won by Jane Clare for her home made crab apple and chilli jelly – with Sally Hill as runner up.
See pictures of the day on the Foodival website
Read more on the Transition Network website
LANCASTER: Community Radio
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Transition City of Lancaster aims to communicate all Transition issues in an accessible and enjoyable way, mixing technical issues such as peak oil with lighter features such as children talking about their green school and practical tips. Launched in September, it broadcasts on local community radio station Diversity 103.5 fm on the first Monday of the month and Sundays. It showcases local projects, gives information on larger Transition subjects, advertises events and gives voice to individual Transition groups.
Listen to Transition Lancaster Community Radio
Radio Programme Project page on the Transition Network website
TRANSITION NETWORK PROJECTS AND EVENTS
International Conference: Diverse Roots to Belonging Conference
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20 – 21 November, Edinburgh, Scotland
Tickets are still available for the Diverse Roots to Belonging conference on 20-21st November. This conference will offer a feast of fantastic opportunities to see how the range of movements currently driving social change to reclaim our creative, collaborative, place-based way of living can make alliances and work together.
You will work with a wide range of people: from Rob Hopkins sharing his latest thinking on pattern language and how it can be used as a powerful resource for change to Samuel Nnah and Justin Kenrick on connecting grassroots groups in Africa and Europe who are working on community rights and resilience in the face of climate change. From Alastair McIntosh on reconnecting with our own sense of being indigenous to Gemma Seth-Smith and Serge Marti on using film to work on climate change responses with indigenous peoples in Indonesia, and many many others. There will also be a 5-11 and 12-16 year olds programme from the fantastic Moving Sounds.
Further information on the Transition Scotland website
Event page on Transition Network website
Participatory Budgeting: participation and public money
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Participatory Budgeting enables local people to decide how to spend part of a public budget. High proportions of people on low incomes have got involved in local participatory budgeting projects and have had their say on local resource allocations. In order to explore further how Transition and Participatory Budgeting might work together, we’re looking to support the development of a few pilot projects across the UK. In some ways, it’s a tricky time to be introducing these kinds of projects. But, it could also be precisely because of the current economic situation that this might be a great time to start exploring Participatory Budgeting further. If you think your Transition initiative might be interested, get in touch at catrinapickering@transitionnetwork.org or 01865 403147.
Read more on the Transition Network website
Opening new spaces through the arts
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Are you an artist interested in how the arts can open up new and collective spaces for people of all walks of life? We’re going to be organising a meeting in the New Year to bring together artists involved in Transition who have an interest and/ or experience in participatory processes and the arts. If this sounds like you, please contact, Catrina Pickering, catrinapickering@transitionnetwork.org, 01865 403147.
Read more on the Transition Network website
NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES FROM ELSEWHERE
The Spirit Level Conference: Why Equality is Better for Everyone
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Saturday 30th October, London
The authors of “the Spirit Level” are about to put on their first conference. Have you read the book “The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone”? If not, then I’d highly recommend it. It’s likely to change your world view. It argues that inequality is the root cause to all the problems in society and more importantly – in the words of Johann Hari of the Independent – it provides “a compass to rebuild our societies… a shining vision”. More good news is that the guys who wrote this book run a fast growing organisation called the Equality Trust which is putting on their inaugural conference on Saturday 30th October in London. Best to book your place quickly as I’ve heard that places are running out fast. Oh and in case you’re wondering why I’ve ticked all the tags of business, food, transport etc, it’s because this conference will surely cut across all of those themes.
Read more on the Transition Network website
Islam and Climate Change Toolkit
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Wisdom in Nature, a London based Islamic ecological and community activist group, has just published a booklet on Islam and Climate Change. Through basing itself on Islamic principles, the booklet explains climate change from an Islamic perspective and draws out a deeper approach to the issues. Intended for anyone.
Download the booklet from Wisdom and Nature website
Read more on the Transition Network website
London Islamic Community Food Project
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The London Islamic Community Food project is open to people of all faiths and beliefs and enables participants to take part in hands-on practical food-growing sessions in an empowered, inclusive environment. As Saira Khan, a participant in last month’s event said “Each person came with their own story and a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. I felt that this group of like minded people who found themselves laughing, praying, meditating, conversing and eating delicious food together could really be part of something extraordinary.” Events are run by the Islamic environmental group Wisdom in Nature and take place at Spitalfields City Farm. Next event is Saturday 30 October – please register for this event by Monday 25 October 2010. Possible areas to be explored in the workshop this time include: Food from an Islamic value system; Local voices; Realities of activism.
Read more on the Wisdom in Nature website
See the project profile on the Transition Network website
Low Cost Retreats
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Quaker Voluntary Action (QVA) runs a successful and energising programme of Working Retreats across the UK and abroad where groups undertake practical projects and spend some time in spiritual reflection. Sustainability is their focus for 2011 and they’re looking to team up with Transition initiatives to run collaborative pilot projects. Costs are kept very low and QVA provides project administration, facilitation and publicity. For further info and to discuss possibilities, contact Jasmine Piercy, jasmine@qva.org.uk or 07910 434941.
Read more on the Transition Network website
Cold homes
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Currently, it’s believed that more than 5 million households in the UK can’t afford to keep adequately warm in winter. The Centre for Sustainable Energy has just published a study documenting peoples’ experiences of people on low incomes who struggle financially to keep their homes warm in winter. It captures both the cold-dominated misery of having to ration heating and the genuine pride people find in managing (just) to make ends meet in the face of such hardship.
Download the document from the CSE website
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Over to you…
If you’ve got news items, events or something you’re proud of that you’d like to include in next month’s Diversity Newsletter, please email submissions to Cat
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