Wednesday, 4 July 2012

Independent Panel on Forestry Final Report

Open publication - Free publishing - More defra

Friday, 2 December 2011

Shewood Forest:: Transition Network Newsletter November 2011

A November Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
Everyone is talking about money, so this month we start in Cornwall where the suggestion that Cornwall should set up its own currency made the national news; Prince Charles went shopping with Brixton Pounds!; Transition Town Cheltenham held a Transition festival to celebrate their first year of community, environmental and creative activities in town; In Monteveglio in Bologna they have revived an old tradition of planting a new tree for every child born in the town that year; In a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, an open evening invited people to “create the community we want to live in”. These are just a small taster of the many Transition activities - read more here:
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/30/a-november-round-up-of-what%E2%80%99s-happening-out-in-the-world-of-transition-2/
US Edition Round-up
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US.
http://transitionus.org/stories/november-round-whats-happening-world-transition-us-edition-2011
The Introduction to ‘The Transition Companion’
This book seeks to answer the question: “What would it look like if the best responses to peak oil and climate change came not from committees and Acts of Parliament, but from you and me and the people around us?” It’s a big question, which is why it requires this relatively big book to address it. Read the rest of the Introduction to the book here:
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/14/the-introduction-to-the-transition-companion/

SOCIAL REPORTING
A round up of some social reporting articles from November, from the big picture to the small print, with everything you wanted to read about transition and more!
Food and Health
The Seeds of HealingThe easy part of Transition is all that attractive busy-ness about food and energy, local currency and sustainable business.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/caroline-jackson/2011-11/seeds-healing
Inner Transition
Culture for a Healthy WorldCulture both expresses something of who we are and also shapes us – tells us what’s expected in order to belong.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-11/culture-healthy-world
Under the Rocks and Stones
To quote the post-punk classic Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads, ‘You may ask yourself: “Well, how did I get here?”’
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/catriona-ross/2011-11/under-rocks-and-stones
Cenedl heb iaith yw cenedl heb galon*
You cannot live in Wales for any length of time and not be aware of the deep cultural wounds this country has suffered under the occupation of the English. [*A nation without a language is a nation without a heart.]
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/ann-owen/2011-11/cenedl-heb-iaith-yw-cenedl-heb-galon
Economics
OccupyTransition, or ‘this Halloween I dressed as the economy’
Most of those I have met at OccupyLondon hadn’t previously heard of Transition, and that got me thinking about the parallels and differences between the two movements…
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-11/occupytransition-or-halloween-i-dressed-economy
Our Money Our Future - Money for the 99% by the 99%
Helping to create the Bristol Pound is in part because I love Bristol.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/ciaran-mundy/2011-11/our-money-our-future-money-99-99
Time to Get to Work
“it’s the economy, stupid” could join “let them eat cake” in the double irony Hall of Fame.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/jay-tompt/2011-11/time-get-work
Navigating Community Chaos
Navigating Change Evolution or mutation? From 'hungry caterpillar' to 'beautiful butterfly'?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-11/navigating-change
All Hands on Deck - from Control to Relationship
What does chaos look like? an inability to respond in the face of an overwhelm of stimulus?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/mark-watson/2011-11/all-hands-deck-control-relationship
People Get Ready, There's a Crisis Coming!
Communities with active Transition initiatives will fare undoubtedly better than those without because already there will be a committed group of people who is used to meet and work together
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/ann-owen/2011-11/people-get-ready-theres-crisis-coming
People and Connections
People and Connections - David Fleming
The legacy of the many life changing and life enhancing conversations that occurred there, and ideas that found form under its eaves.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-11/people-and-connections-david-fleming
The Fire Stealers - a love story
Some of us can see in the dark, and we know what's coming if we don't pass on the fire.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/charlotte-du-cann/2011-11/fire-stealers-love-story
Consensus
There's something a bit childish about the traditional adversarial style of making decisions.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/jo-homan/2011-12/consensus
More Social Reporting here:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories

THINKING ALOUD
The Seven Ages of TransitionSometimes it is suggested that Transition only appeals to older people, whereas Occupy, for example, tends to attract more younger people. But is that the case?
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/25/the-seven-ages-of-transition/
Community resilience, Transition, and why government thinking needs both
The latest “national statement for how individual and community resilience can work”, published by the Cabinet Office in March of this year refers explicitly to the Transition movement, and as such deserves a post reflecting on it.
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/22/community-resilience-transition-and-why-government-thinking-needs-both/
Transitioners debate how to engage Occupy movement
Not all Transitioners agree that Occupy is a good angle for local groups devoted to making their communities more resilient.
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/11/transitioners-debate-how-to-engage-occupy-movement/
Rob Hopkins Reflections at OccupyLSX St Paul’s Cathedral
What Occupy is doing that matters so much is that it is holding a space.
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/10/some-reflections-on-a-day-at-occupy-lsx-at-st-pauls-cathedral/
The October Transition podcast
Local currencies, Transition Councils and Declarations of Food Independence
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2011-11-08/local-currencies-transition-councils-and-declarations-food-independence
Life after the end of economic growth
A continually rising GDP is not necessarily possible – or even desirable. So why do policymakers obsess over it?
Richard Heinberg comments in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/30/end-of-growth

RESOURCES
The Low Carbon Cookbook
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/one-planet-community-kitchen-low-carbon-cookbook

PROJECTS
Himalayan Permaculture Centre, NepalNepal's first "Transition Project" entitled "Building Household and Community Resilience" began in April.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/himalayan-permaculture-centre-nepal
Church 10 kW solar PV system
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/church-10-kw-solar-pv-system
Cornish Diet
A campaign to source 85% of food from Cornwall.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/cornish-diet
More projects here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects

TO DO
New funding opportunity for Transition initiatives (UK)The ‘Communities Living Sustainably’ is framed as being about supporting communities in England to live and work in a more sustainable way. Grants of up to £1 million are being distributed between 10 successful projects.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-11-29/new-funding-opportunity-transition-initiatives-uk
Publishing Opps for Transitioners
Two Ravens Press: The Outer Hebrides, a working croft, a publishing house and a new magazine
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-11/transitioning-ethical-eco-publishing-and-birth-new-magazine

REVIEW
Shut Down: A Story of Economic Collapse and HopeCollapse could happen, literally, overnight! I didn’t imagine that the most powerful and complex civilization in world history could collapse in 24-72 hours. That is, until I read this book.
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/11/collapse-could-happen-literally-overnight/

COMING UP
Transition in PracticeJanuary 3 – 13, Schumacher College
This two week course, taught by pioneers and leaders of the Transition movement looks at what it is about Transition that has created such widespread engagement around changing how we live. The course has a special focus on the emerging economic innovations being pioneered in Totnes. The ambitious aim of this course is to bring together models and practices from many different fields to create a synthesised working map of the transition to a healthy, sustainable, thriving way of life. Based on direct experience of community change from the Transition movement we will explore understandings of how change happens from economics and permaculture as well as social movements, psychology and spiritual traditions. And we will visit and learn from people who are putting these understandings into practice as businesses and community projects.
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/transition-in-practice
Fundraising for Environmental Projects
25-26th Jan, Chester
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/2012-01-25/fundraising-environmental-projects
More events here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Love is the felt experience of connection to another being.
An economist says ‘more for you is less for me.’
But the lover knows that more of you is more for me too."CHARLES EISENSTEIN
Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society in the Age of Transition
http://occupylove.org/occupy-wall-st-the-revolution-is-love/

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns
Be a Friend on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/transitionnetwork
Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newsletter
Read this newsletter online
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-12-01/december-2011-transition-network-newsletter

Thursday, 27 October 2011

Sherwood Forest Transition October: check out new resources

Transition model leaps ahead with book and ingredients

Published on October 27, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

Today sees the launch of three exciting new developments and outputs from Transition Network, the results of many months of work, that finally emerge blinking into the daylight.
We are sure that they will greatly deepen your understanding of Transition, bring depth and richness to your work, re-inspire and energise you. They represent a radical shift in how Transition is understood and communicated.
They are, in no particular order,

Together, they represent a sea-change in how we understand what Transition is and how to do it. So, let’s have a look at those things one-by-one.

No. 1. The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times.

This new book, which replaces ‘The Transition Handbook’, is the result of 18 months of a collaborative process involving people from Transition initiatives around the world. It reframes Transition as a collection of ‘ingredients’ and ‘tools’ which each initiative assembles in its own way. It is rich with stories, artwork, case studies and photos contributed by Transition initiatives themselves. It is rich with insight and the kind of wisdom that can only come from an open-source 5 year global experiment such as Transition. It represents a quantum leap forward in the Transition movement, a deepening, a maturing, and a very tangible vision of where all of this might go and how we might be most confident of actually getting there. It has 320 pages, and is in full colour, It’s probably got a picture of you in it somewhere…

How to order the book

You can order it from me (which would be great), from Green Books, from Beetroot Books, from Amazon (if you must), or even better, from your much-endangered local bookshop, or order it through your local library. If you are in the US you can order it from the US publisher Chelsea Green. There are no plans for an audio book. I’ll also be speaking about the book, answering questions, and picking some of my favourite records (Desert Island Discs-style) on the Transition Show on StroudFM, 2pm this Friday.

No. 2. The Ingredients Directory

As well as being gathered together in the book, the ingredients have also been put online in an interactive, interlinked, technologically dazzling kind of jamboree.

Our Transition Network Vebmasters have excelled themselves with this, their finest creation to date.

You will notice the homepage now looks rather different, with the ingredients as a major theme. All the ingredients, and all the tools, are now online, each with space for comments and feedback.

There is also the “Transition Ingredientator”, otherwise known as “Add your own ingredient”, which will give you the opportunity to draft any that you feel we have neglected.

These will be moderated over the coming months.

You can either view the ingredients in the 5 stages as set out in the book:

… or see them in a directory format:

See the ingredients directory in a directory format.

This is an invaluable resource, I hope you find it really useful and link to them often.

No. 3. The Transition Ingredients Card Game

At the 2011 Transition Network conference we trialled a card game based on the Ingredients.
The idea was that they might help you to familiarise people with them, to better understand the ways in which your group is working, and also to identify ways in which it might be more effective.
They were very popular, and so the wonderful Marina Vons-Gupta has produced a set of beautiful cards which you can download for free, print out (instructions are provided) and use.
Some games are suggested, but they are made available on the basis that you are invited to create you own games and share them, so that in the future we can update them. They should hopefully prove to be a really useful resource.

Download the full set of ingredients cards

Download the full set of ingredients cards here

Let us know what you think.

Explaining Transition in a new way

We have also reworked the Why do Transition? page on this site, and what was the Transition Primer and other pieces has now been condensed into the link-tastic ‘What is a Transition initiative’ page.
The above projects have been inputted into by thousands of people, but I would particularly like to thank a few people who have put an amazing amount of work and creativity into them, namely Marina, Ed, Laura, Amber, Helen, Ben, Naresh, Sophy, Jim and everyone at Green Books.
It is five years since we kick started this whole Transition thing, which is now active in 34 countries around the world in thousands of communities.
These new iterations of what Transition is represent as deep a shift as the emergence of the whole idea was in the first place. They are a distillation of all the bravery, innovation, generosity, kindness, success, failure and genius that everyone involved in this has poured into it for the past 5 years.
As a result, they embody a richness and a maturity that is quite extraordinary, yet they remain intensely focused and practical, indeed far more practical than what went before. Today is a landmark, a key milestone, and I’ll leave the last word to Denise Levertov, the poet, who captures how I feel about this:

Brilliant, this day — a young virtuoso of a day.
Morning shadow cut by sharpest scissors, deft hands.

Rob Hopkins, October, 2011 (original article on Transition Culture)

Saturday, 8 October 2011

Sherwood Forest Transition October Newsletter

NEWS
September Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of TransitionThere is news of food from West Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Tooting, Leytonstone, Stroud, Rotterdam, Turkey. applepluking in Holland and Toronto. Plus
energy in Worcestershire, Hebden Bridge, Worthing, High Wycombe, Bath and the launch of the Brixton Pound as an electronic currency and a whole load more here:
http://transitionculture.org/2011/10/05/a-september-round-up-of-what%E2%80%99s-happening-out-in-the-world-of-transition-2/
US Round-up Edition
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US.
http://transitionus.org/stories/september-round-whats-happening-world-transition-us-edition-2011
Nearly 100
In just three short years the number of official Transition Initiatives in the USA are about to pass 100.
http://transitionus.org/initiatives
Article in the Sunday Independent
The Transition movement: Today Totnes... tomorrow the world
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-transition-movement-today-totnes-tomorrow-the-world-2364355.html
Read more Direct News from Initiatives around the world
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/community

THE TRANSITION COMPANION
'The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times’ is due to be published by Green Books on October 27th. It’s a big book! 320 pages, in full colour and large format, and much time and attention has been lavished on it to produce something that really does justice to what has become one of the most fascinating world-wide social experiments of our time, It is the result of a collaborative process involving thousands of people, possibly yourself included, over the past 18 months, and picks up where ‘The Transition Handbook’ left off. It sets out what Transition has become, packed with stories and photos from around the world, of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Launch Timeline
October 12th: the London launch at Food from the Sky, Crouch End.
October 13th: Twitter Book Launch
October 27th: The official launch date from when it is available in all good bookshops
October 27th: Transition ingredients available online.
Books ordered now below will be shipped on October 13th, (2 weeks before Amazon)
Transition initiatives are able to get great discounts for bulk orders.
http://transitionculture.org/shop/the-transition-companion/

THINKING ALOUD
Welcome to the Social Reporting PilotWe've begun a grand experiment in Transition – a national blog created and compiled by 12 writers around the country that aims to communicate the real-life issues and experiences of being in Transition. We’ll be posting every day for the next three months on subjects ranging from economics to food to inner change. Guided by Charlotte Du Cann, each Sunday a guest editor will write on a chosen subject and set the theme for the following week. Peter Lipman (chair of the Network) is kicking off October, writing on The Big Picture, Sophy Banks (Transition Training) November, with a post on Inner Transition.
Our intent behind the Project is to provide a friendly and intelligent space for this reflection and appraisal, where we can pay attention to all things great and small, from the greatest metaphysical questions to the humblest vegetable on the allotment. To link up and show the pattern of Transition culture across the country - what it looks like, sounds like, feels like. All those invisible connections that make us a resilient people. What the future might hold if we can walk down the mountain together.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-18/welcome-social-reporting-pilot
A liminal Song of Thanks from Ed Mitchell, Transition Network web co-ordinator
It's a story about how technology and what it represented used to bother him, and how much change he has gone through working on the Transition web project, how he learned to accept the paradoxes, and why the stories project is so important to him.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-09/liminal-song-thanks
Transition and I - A love story
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/jo-homan/2011-09/transition-and-i
Finding the People
A tale of the stirrings of Sustainable Bungay and Transition Norwich
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/mark-watson/2011-09/finding-people-sustainable-bungay-and-transition-norwich
The Slow Journey to Change
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/ann-owen/2011-09/transition-bro-ddyfi-trawsnewid-and-slow-journey-change
How the transition town movement found Transition Heathrow
Transition Heathrow jumped on board the transition town movement at a very different stage to most. Where did it all begin?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/joe-ryle/2011-09/how-transition-town-movement-found-transition-heathrow
The Big Picture
In this guest editorial from Transition Network chairman, Pete Lipman shares his version of “the” big picture, taken to be the context in which the transition movement is experimenting, responding to the challenges we face, while we live through the unfolding of an extraordinary story.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-editor/2011-10/big-picture-and-transition-response
Deep Time
The evidence is there, in our media, in our daily lives. Yesterday was the hottest October day on record in the UK. The cost of filling our community car is going up. Our income is going down. And yet we remain focused on what’s in front of our noses.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/adrienne-campbell/2011-10/deep-time
The Big Picture View from Totnes
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and recently famous for his civil disobedience outside the White House where he and thousands of activists were protesting the Keystone XL pipeline project, described the fight against carbon, as a fight. "We have to do Transition and we have to do direct action…we have no choice.”
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/jay-tompt/2011-10/big-picture-view-totnes
There isn't space for all the Social Reporting articles published so far, plus there is more to come here:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories

Who’s Storing Food Now?
If you’re considering starting to store some of your own food, why not start by learning from the experts?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/transition-voice/2011-09-16/who-s-storing-food-now
How To Reflect On How an Initiative is Doing
In the forthcoming ‘The Transition Companion’, one of the ingredients is called ‘How are we doing?’ and it looks at how groups can pause and reflect. Transition Town Totnes held an event to celebrate and reflect on the journey so far and on where we might go from here - your Transition initiative might find it useful for having similar reflections.
http://transitionculture.org/2011/09/06/happy-birthday-ttt-tools-for-stopping-to-ask-how-are-we-doing/

DIVERSITY
Final Diversity Newsletter and ending of Diversity Coordinator role at Transition Networkhttp://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-10-03/transition-network-diversity-newsletter-october-2011
Inequality as a central driver of Transition?
Following our call out for people to send in their thoughts on including "inequality" alongside climate change and peak oil in the Transition Network purpose statement, we publish the responses to generate further discussion.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/catrina-pickering/2011-09/inequality-transition-network-purpose-statement-discussion/
Diversity, Leadership and Patience in Transition
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/catrina-pickering/2011-09/louis-alemayehu-some-thoughts-diversity-leadership-and-patience

ENERGY
Japanese Researchers Venture Onto Harveys RoofWith the move away from nuclear power in Japan, Japanese researchers visited the community solar power station in Lewes.
http://www.transitiontownlewes.org/news.html#item373
Work Starts on Solar Bridge
The first of more than 4,400 solar panels are being installed by Solarcentury above the new Blackfriars station and will be the world's largest solar bridge when it opens next year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/04/solar-bridge-blackfriars-station
Switch to Ethical Energy and Earn Money For Your Initiative
Local United has teamed up with a number of leading ethical energy suppliers to offer community groups the chance to benefit financially from their members switching to one of these suppliers.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-12/switch-ethical-energy-and-earn-money-your-initiative

MATERIALS
Introduction to Permaculture Videoshttp://www.transitionnetwork.org/resources/introduction-permaculture
Peak oil explained graphically
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/09/peak-oil-explained-graphically/

PROJECTS
Turkish Mums on BikesBelieving that the best way to get children on bikes is to teach the parents, Transition Finsbury Park is running a bike project which aims to get parents cycling, particularly Turkish mums.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/mums-bikes
Projects Sharing Engine Update and Invitation for Webmasters
We now have an 18 month project to start to bend some virtual boundaries and build some bridges between Transition Initiative websites, enabling their visitors to read and add to the projects directory all from the comfort of their own local websites.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2011-09/projects-sharing-engine-update-and-invitation-webmasters

COMING UP
~ Transition Tales Training
~ GrowthBusters Documentary- Global Release
~ Compassionate Communication Workshop - Oxford
~ Transition:THRIVE Sustaining Momentum 19-20th November
These and more events here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events

QUOTE(s) OF THE MONTH
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome becomes bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
Cicero, circa 55 BCE
"This economic crisis is like a cancer. Get prepared. It's not a time right now to wishful think the government is going to sort things out. .... Be prepared and act now. The biggest risk people can take now is not acting."
Alessio Rastani, trader
http://youtu.be/lqN3amj6AcE

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Sherwood Forest Transition September Newsletter

EXPLORING THE TRANSITION WORLD
An August Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of TransitionAustralia, Japan, Spain, Kinsale, Canada, Italy and the UK and more are included.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-08-31/august-round-whats-happening-transition
US Edition Round Up
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US.
http://transitionus.org/stories/august-round-whats-happening-world-transition-us-edition-2011
Let it go where it needs to go
A status report about Transition in Los Angeles
http://transitionus.org/blog/let-it-go-where-it-needs-go
Ruah Swennerfelt recounts her travels visiting Transition Initiatives in Belgium, Netherlands, and Sweden
http://transitionus.org/blog/visiting-transition-initiatives-belgium-netherlands-and-sweden
and then on to exploring Transition in England in Chesterfield and Bristol.
http://transitionus.org/blog/exploring-transition-england-part-one
A journey home – Seeking the essence of Transition in England
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/a-journey-home-seeking-the-essence-of-transition-in-england/
Transition Fujino — Prospects for a better future
In these difficult months following the 11 March quake and tsunami, it has been a time for reflection and an opportunity to ponder what the future holds in store for Japan.
http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/transition-fujino-%E2%80%93-prospects-for-a-better-future/
Cycling to raise money for Transition and Sustrans
A 4,500 mile bicycle ride around the coast of Britain.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-08-31/cycling-raise-money-transition-and-sustrans

THINKING ALOUD
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 1: UncivilisationLast month Charlotte du cann went to Uncivilisation, a festival organised by the Dark Mountain project. Below is a writer’s cut of article she wrote for The Independent newspaper.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/09/coming-round-dark-mountain-1.html
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 2: the Shaman and the Village
Here Charlotte explores the idea that Dark Mountain is something you can visit, Transition is something you live.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/02/coming-round-dark-mountain-part-2.html
Why do so many people believe in the fantasy of infinite growth on a finite planet?
There are three honest (but bogus) reasons why we pursue economic growth past the point of effectiveness and reason.
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-08-29/why-do-so-many-people-believe-fantasy-infinite-growth-finite-planet
Five bummer problems that make societies collapse
A TED talk Jared Diamond gave has examples from the Greenland Norse. These were the unlucky Vikings who missed the boat to Normandy, where their more fortunate countrymen set up colonies.
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/five-bummer-problems-that-make-societies-collapse/
A Different Kind of Tea Party
What kind of teatime conversations are you having?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/transition-norwich/2011-08-30/different-kind-tea-party
Why I Don't Read Like I Used To
I have a confession. I don’t read books anymore. Or rather I read books very rarely, is this just me, or is it a symptom of our age?
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/08/benchmarks.html
Economic Resilience
In Sacred Economy, Charles Eisenstein poses the seemingly outrageous idea that money should be sacred
http://www.transitionus.org/blog/economy-possible-scenarios-future-3
Panic on the streets of London
Now is the time when we decide what sort of country it is that we want to live in.
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-08-09/panic-streets-london
A Discussion on Resilience
What does it mean, and what it looks like in practice? This video of a panel discussion at Sunrise Off Grid took a good hard look at the subject.
http://transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2011-09-01/panel-discussion-resilience-what-it-means-and-what-it-looks-practice

NETWORK TRAINING
New Training section on the websiteThe how, what, where and how of Transition Training but didn't know where to look is now online.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/training
Transition Training survey: the results
Since October 2007 Transition Training has been offering a two day training course and a survey in May assessed the impact it has had.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-08-23/training-survey-results
A follow on to the 2 day course: Transition;Thrive
A positive, no-nonsense exploration of the Transition model and process, tailor-made to fit the requirements of those people attending that we will be piloting shortly.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-02/follow-2-day-course-transitionthrive
Your thoughts needed: Where does equality fit in Transition?
We’ve come up with a possible new purpose statement to reflect which says: “Transition Network supports community-led responses to climate change, inequality and shrinking supplies of cheap energy, building resilience and happiness.” Do you feel strongly about this either way? If so, we want to hear your thoughts.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/catrina-pickering/2011-08/your-thoughts-needed-where-does-equality-fit-transition
The Road to Resilience in Low Income Communities,
23-25th September Chester
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-07-27/training-road-resilience-low-income-communities-23-25-september-2011

PROJECTS
Linen ProjectA group in Australia has set about developing the skills and knowledge to produce and process fibre flax locally.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/linen-project
Project sharing engine funding bid
Like the News Sharing Engine, its intention is to distribute the movement's project information to Initiatives' websites, enabling webmasters to easily embed all the functionality of our projects directory into their own sites.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2011-05/project-sharing-engine-funding-bid
More projects and add yours herehttp://www.transitionnetwork.org/node/add/project-profile

RESOURCES
Exploring Community ResilienceThis new free publication from Nick Wilding and the Fiery Spirits CoP gathers a mix of experience and academic insight into how local communities are learning how to cope – and even thrive - through difficult times. Written in an accessible style its stories highlight experience from Cumbria to the Scottish Highlands, and from New Orleans to Tooting, London. Web links direct readers to topical references, and a practical guide shows how to run a community workshop on the topic.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/resources/exploring-community-resilience
The End of Growth; Adapting to Our New Economic Reality
Review of Richard Heinberg's new book
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/economics-has-failed-us-but-there-is-life-after-growth/
German military analysis of peak oil now available
The Bundeswehr has posted an English version (112 pages) of their extraordinary analysis of peak oil. The original German document was approved for public release last November, yet neither the complete German version nor the partial English translation has attracted interest from mainstream media.
http://t.co/lsENYBY

COMING UP
Transition CompanionAt the end of October 'The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times by Rob Hopkins will be published. The launch timeline is here including the ‘Twitter Book Launch'!
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/transition-companion
Exploring the Ingredients for Transition
12th September - 3:00pm (BST)
An online conversation with Rob Hopkins where he will go more deeply into the "ingredients of Transition" as well as answering questions supplied by participants.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/2011-09-12/exploring-ingredients-transition
Bill McKibben: Building Social Movements and Organising for Change
3-7th October Schumacher College, Totnes
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/2011-10-03/bill-mckibben-building-social-movements-and-organising-change
Transition Camp south east
7-9th October
http://there.is/transitioncamp/
German/Austrian/Swiss Transition (Un-)Konference
14-16th Oct. in Bielefeld/Germany now open for booking
Program, details and booking (in German) here:
http://www.transition-initiativen.de/page/2011-un-konferenz
More events here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns

Monday, 19 September 2011

The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times

Transition Network Special Announcement

Click here to view this announcement online

Hello,

This is a special announcement about Rob Hopkin's new book, the Transition Companion. You are receiving this mail as you have bought something on Transition Culture in the past, and we hope that you will be interested in the new book...

I thought you might be interested to know that my new book, ‘The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times’ is due to be published by Green Books on October 27th.
It is the result of a collaborative process involving thousands of people, possibly yourself included, over the past 18 months, and picks up where ‘The Transition Handbook’ left off. It sets out what Transition has become, packed with stories and photos from around the world, of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

What’s it about?

The Transition idea has gone viral around the world, from Italian villages and Brazilian favelas to universities and London neighbourhoods. In contrast to the ever-worsening stream of information about climate change, the economy and resource depletion, Transition focuses on solutions; on community-scale responses; on meeting new people and having fun.
The Transition Companion sets out what Transition is and how to do it in a far deeper, richer and more useful way than the Handbook did (fond of it though we are). It presents a collection of ‘ingredients and tools of Transition’, suggesting that Transition is like cookery, each initiative assembling ingredients in a way most suited to their culture and their community. Changing the world as a process that is delicious and self-organised? Why not. You’re going to love it...
It’s a big book! 320 pages, in full colour and large format, and much time and attention has been lavished on it to produce something that really does justice to what has become one of the most fascinating world-wide social experiments of our time, what Nicholas Crane, presenter of the recent BBC2 series ‘Town’, called “the biggest urban brainwave of the century”.

When’s it coming out?

The book will be officially released on October 27th, but you can already pre-order your copy from Transition Culture, as of today! Just follow this link, where you will also find endorsements from the likes of Richard Heinberg, Tim Jackson and Bill McKibben, as well as from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has also written a beautiful foreword.

Here is an idea of the timeline of events around its release:

Tuesday October 4th: The official launch of the book will take place at Totnes Civic Hall (do come along, it’s free, and you’re very welcome).
Thursday October 13th: I will be doing a ‘Twitter Book Launch’ (Green Books wanted to call it a ‘Twinterview’, but you’ll be glad to hear I put my foot down) where you will be able to ask questions about the book (keep an eye on Transition Culture for details)
Thursday October 27th: The official launch date from when it is available in all good bookshops (and Amazon (boo hiss))
We have also made a series of 10 short promotional films called ‘The Story of Transition in 10 Objects’ which will be posted over the days running up to the launch of the book. The first one, celebrating a jumper from Taunton, is already online.

Please use this book as an opportunity to support independent booksellers, to keep your High Street alive, to put localisation into practice, or if you buy The Transition Companion direct from TransitionCulture.org you can do so safe in the knowledge that you are supporting the website (which is funded only out of my pocket) and the author.
Many thanks for your support.
Rob

Newletter Contact

Rob Hopkins

Transition Network: 43 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5HN.
Email: info@transitionnetwork.org
Tel: 05601 531882
www.transitionnetwork.org

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Shewood Forest:: Transition Network Newsletter August 2011

EXPLORING THE TRANSITION WORLD
An August Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
Australia, Japan, Spain, Kinsale, Canada, Italy and the UK and more are included.
http://bit.ly/august11-roundup
US Edition Round Up
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US.
http://bit.ly/august11-roundup-USA
Let it go where it needs to go
A status report about Transition in Los Angeles
http://transitionus.org/blog/let-it-go-where-it-needs-go
Ruah Swennerfelt recounts her travels visiting Transition Initiatives in Belgium, Netherlands, and Sweden
http://transitionus.org/blog/visiting-transition-initiatives-belgium-netherlands-and-sweden
and then on to exploring Transition in England in Chesterfield and Bristol.
http://transitionus.org/blog/exploring-transition-england-part-one
A journey home – Seeking the essence of Transition in England
http://bit.ly/England-transition-essence
Transition Fujino — Prospects for a better future
In these difficult months following the 11 March quake and tsunami, it has been a time for reflection and an opportunity to ponder what the future holds in store for Japan.
http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/transition-fujino-%E2%80%93-prospects-for-a-better-future/
Cycling to raise money for Transition and Sustrans
A 4,500 mile bicycle ride around the coast of Britain.
http://bit.ly/fundraising-cycle-coast

THINKING ALOUD
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 1: Uncivilisation
Last month Charlotte du cann went to Uncivilisation, a festival organised by the Dark Mountain project. Below is a writer’s cut of article she wrote for The Independent newspaper.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/09/coming-round-dark-mountain-1.html
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 2: the Shaman and the Village
Here Charlotte explores the idea that Dark Mountain is something you can visit, Transition is something you live.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/02/coming-round-dark-mountain-part-2.html
Why do so many people believe in the fantasy of infinite growth on a finite planet?
There are three honest (but bogus) reasons why we pursue economic growth past the point of effectiveness and reason.
http://bit.ly/infinite-growth-finite-planet
Five bummer problems that make societies collapse
A TED talk Jared Diamond gave has examples from the Greenland Norse. These were the unlucky Vikings who missed the boat to Normandy, where their more fortunate countrymen set up colonies.
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/five-bummer-problems-that-make-societies-collapse/
A Different Kind of Tea Party
What kind of teatime conversations are you having?
http://bit.ly/different-tea-party
Why I Don't Read Like I Used To
I have a confession. I don’t read books anymore. Or rather I read books very rarely, is this just me, or is it a symptom of our age?
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/08/benchmarks.html
Economic Resilience
In Sacred Economy, Charles Eisenstein poses the seemingly outrageous idea that money should be sacred
http://www.transitionus.org/blog/economy-possible-scenarios-future-3
Panic on the streets of London
Now is the time when we decide what sort of country it is that we want to live in.
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-08-09/panic-streets-london
A Discussion on Resilience
What does it mean, and what it looks like in practice? This video of a panel discussion at Sunrise Off Grid took a good hard look at the subject.
http://bit.ly/resilience-debate

NETWORK TRAINING
New Training section on the website
The how, what, where and how of Transition Training but didn't know where to look is now online.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/training
Transition Training survey: the results
Since October 2007 Transition Training has been offering a two day training course and a survey in May assessed the impact it has had.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-08-23/training-survey-results
A follow on to the 2 day course: Transition Thrive
A positive, no-nonsense exploration of the Transition model and process, tailor-made to fit the requirements of those people attending that we will be piloting shortly.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-02/follow-2-day-course-transition-thrive
Your thoughts needed: Where does equality fit in Transition?
We’ve come up with a possible new purpose statement to reflect which says: “Transition Network supports community-led responses to climate change, inequality and shrinking supplies of cheap energy, building resilience and happiness.” Do you feel strongly about this either way? If so, we want to hear your thoughts.
http://bit.ly/does-equality-fit-transition
The Road to Resilience in Low Income Communities,
23-25th September Chester
http://bit.ly/Road-to-Resilience-training

PROJECTS
Linen Project
A group in Australia has set about developing the skills and knowledge to produce and process fibre flax locally.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/linen-project
Project sharing engine funding bid
Like the News Sharing Engine, its intention is to distribute the movement's project information to Initiatives' websites, enabling webmasters to easily embed all the functionality of our projects directory into their own sites.
http://bit.ly/project-sharing-engine-funding-bid
More projects and add yours here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/node/add/project-profile

RESOURCES
Exploring Community Resilience
This new free publication from Nick Wilding and the Fiery Spirits CoP gathers a mix of experience and academic insight into how local communities are learning how to cope – and even thrive - through difficult times. Written in an accessible style its stories highlight experience from Cumbria to the Scottish Highlands, and from New Orleans to Tooting, London. Web links direct readers to topical references, and a practical guide shows how to run a community workshop on the topic.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/resources/exploring-community-resilience
The End of Growth; Adapting to Our New Economic Reality
Review of Richard Heinberg's new book
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/economics-has-failed-us-but-there-is-life-after-growth/
German military analysis of peak oil now available
The Bundeswehr has posted an English version (112 pages) of their extraordinary analysis of peak oil. The original German document was approved for public release last November, yet neither the complete German version nor the partial English translation has attracted interest from mainstream media.
http://t.co/lsENYBY

COMING UP
Transition Companion
At the end of October 'The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times by Rob Hopkins will be published. The launch timeline is here including the ‘Twitter Book Launch'!
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/transition-companion
Exploring the Ingredients for Transition
12th September - 3:00pm (BST)
An online conversation with Rob Hopkins where he will go more deeply into the "ingredients of Transition" as well as answering questions supplied by participants.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/2011-09-12/exploring-ingredients-transition
Bill McKibben: Building Social Movements and Organising for Change
3-7th October Schumacher College, Totnes
http://bit.ly/bill-mckibben-building-social-movements
Transition Camp south east
7-9th October
http://there.is/transitioncamp/
German/Austrian/Swiss Transition (Un-)Konference
14-16th Oct. in Bielefeld/Germany now open for booking
Program, details and booking (in German) here:
http://www.transition-initiativen.de/page/2011-un-konferenz
More events here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns

Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newsletter

Read this newsletter online
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-02/september-2011-transition-network-newsletter

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