Transition Times
February '09

NETWORK NEWS
~ Transition Conference 2009: Dates and Venue Announced
~ Who We Are and What We Do
~ Desperately Seeking Presenters
~ Had your 15 minutes of fame yet?
~ Dissertation Compilation
~ Transition Googlemaps
BOOKS:
~ The Transition Timeline
FILMS:
~ A Farm for the Future
~ Age of Stupid - film release
~ Eat The Suburbs’
~ Peak Transition Moment
~ The Big Squeeze - Film review

2009 CONFERENCE
Transition Conference 2009: Dates and Venue Announced
We are delighted to announce the details of the 2009 Transition Network conference. It will be held between lunchtime on Friday 22nd and lunchtime on Sunday 24th May 2009 at the Battersea Arts Centre in south London. NETWORK NEWS
Who We Are and What We Do
It has been along time in gestation, and the text version was posted a while ago, but we are delighted to present, in pdf. format, Version 1.0 of the Transition Network’s ‘Who We Are and What We Do’ document.
Desperately Seeking Presenters
Transition Initiatives frequently ask for presenters who can do a reasonable job of explaining peak oil, climate change and Transition at one of their community meetings. We have a hunch that there must be loads of transitioners out there who’d be willing to step up for this.
Had your 15 minutes of fame yet?
We'd like to compile a list of transition groups that have interesting projects and would be happy to receive a film/radio crew.
Dissertation Compilation
Now that the world of academia is turning its bespectacled eye towards all things transition, we’re seeing an increasing number of dissertations and papers, both proposed and completed, associated with this subject. To help signpost and coordinate these efforts, we’re planning to put up an on-line reference.
Transition Googlemaps
If you haven’t already done it, Please update your contact details. BOOKS
The Transition Timeline
Originally conceived for EDAP teams in Transition communities, Shaun Chamberlin’s new book The Transition Timeline: for a local resilient future will be published at the end of March. LOCAL
Transition Chepstow - The Big Launch
Welsh market town Chepstow unleashed last week. Marcus Perrin tells us how it went. FILMS
A Farm for the Future
This powerful and moving film shown on BBC last week explores the state of farming in the UK in the context of Peak Oil. Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking, who turned Modbury against plastic bags, investigated how to transform her family’s farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future.
Age of Stupid - film release
The Age of Stupid is a 90-minute film about climate change, set in the future, which will have its world premiere in London on March 15th 2009 and then be released in UK cinemas on March 20th 2009, followed by other countries.
Eat The Suburbs’
This short film follows Melbourne’s “permablitzers” as they prepare for the end of the oil age… one garden at a time.
Peak Transition Moment
Jennifer Gray of Transition US was interviewed by Peak Moment TV called “The Transition Movement comes to America.”
The Big Squeeze - Film review
Subtitled ‘Surviving the Human Project’, this new film from the producers of Energy Crossroads covers not just the impact Peak Oil will have but looks at how the coming together of wider resource depletion, climate change, water systems and the impact on the whole of our interdependent civilisation. Quote of the Month
"You Are What You Love

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Transition Times
Jan '09

TURN YOUR WASTE INTO MONEY? WHAT A GAS!
Vicky Heslop, the president of the Irish Bio-Energy Association was the guest at a January meeting in the Trident Hotel, to help us understand if Kinsale is a viable town in which to establish a community anaerobic digester, turning waste into fertiliser and gas/electricity. The resulting energy could be used to power a leisure centre, a hospital, or school; and residents and farmers would have access to high quality fertiliser. All of which is done with huge reductions in transport and waste management costs.

The conclusion that emerged is ‘Yes’. Kinsale is an ideal place to do this, and Vicky explained schemes in Europe and elsewhere in Ireland where digesters are already doing good things. It could even make the town smell nicer!

What is required now is a site, a group of local farmers and businesses who want to save, and possibly even make some money, a town and county council prepared to support such a voluntary initiative, and some professional project management skills.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the local farming community, the Chamber of Tourism, Town Council, potential site owners, independent business folk and residents.

The recommended next step is to apply for funding for a feasibility study, so now is the time to register your own suggestions, and to tell others you think may be interested. A copy of the presentation made at the meeting is available free. Apply to info@transitiontownkinsale.org.

A big smiley award goes to those who attended.

OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IN TTK
What is your vision for a sustainable Kinsale in 2020? Here is an ideal opportunity to have your say. A number of people in Kinsale have expressed interest in becoming more involved in TTK and its projects but aren’t sure how to go about it. On 7th March next, TTK are hosting a special daytime event at the Carmelite Friary, open to members of the public to discuss such matters.

Here are some possible outcomes:

• Producing a list of practical projects for the community
• Finding people who would like to help run those projects
• Setting up small working groups to take on the projects
• Eventually rewriting the Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan – the document that kick-started the whole Transition process in Kinsale in 2005.

Watch this space for more details.

SPRING FAIR 2009
Another date for your diaries is Saturday 25th April when we will be hosting the annual Spring Fair. Last year’s event proved highly successful so this year we hope to be even more entertaining, exciting, informative and fun.

The first planning meeting was held on Tuesday 27th January when a number of volunteers formed working groups to run a market, children’s events, competitions for primary school children and the evening concert. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 24th February in Hamlet’s VIP Lounge, so if you’d like to get involved or just volunteer for an hour or two on the day, come along and join in the fun.


It is hoped to have a Community Powerdown Exhibition at the Fair, where you can share your Powerdown story – let us know how you have saved on your energy bill in your home or business. Have you or your business made any new year’s resolution to save energy?
Email: info@transitiontownkinsale.org to share your stories, pictures and ideas.

TRANSITION UNITED STATES
In a hugely important and exciting development in the ongoing story and expansion of the Transition Movement, Transition has been welcomed with open arms in the USA. Transition has been called a huge social experiment, and with their love of adventure and willingness to embrace change, Americans in almost all 50 States are flocking to Transition Training seminars in order to learn how to rebuild community resilience and self-reliance. Knowing how Americans like to take initiative, we believe it will be a great success.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
‘I think we may be on the cusp of the most surprising social change in our lifetimes: a rediscovery of the pleasures to be had in thrift, in simplicity and in parochialism.
We've had decades of the reverse - spending money we don't have; over-complicating everything from high finance to how food reaches our plates; and meekly allowing global conglomerates to trample local interests almost everywhere you look. Where has it got us? We're broke, and so are our communities. It's time to try something different.
My parents' generation darned their socks, patched their jackets, walked or cycled to work with a lunchbox of Spam sandwiches and a flask of tea, and scrimped and saved so that they could pay for the occasional luxury with cash on the nail. It was called “living within your means”. Readers under 40 may not have heard that phrase before. I wouldn't wish the return of Spam on anyone. But the rest? A new Age of Austerity might be quite refreshing. And bustling, vibrant market halls, cheap and cheerful on every high street, could be part of the fun.’
Richard Morrison, The Times, 20th January.

TIP OF THE MONTH – GIVE ‘EM ENOUGH SOAP
When did we all stop using soap and start using shower gel? Does anyone use a simple bar of soap anymore? Clearly they do or the shops wouldn’t stock them. But the shelves seem to be weighted in favour of countless plastic bottles of expensive and artificially coloured gloop to smother all over our hair and bodies. As far as sustainability goes, bar soap wins hands down. A bar of soap will not only last longer than an equivalent quantity of gel and therefore save money in these hard times, but it doesn’t come in a plastic bottle that is made from oil and will need to be shipped to China for recycling. You can also buy natural, locally produced, environmentally friendly bars of soap which are kinder to your skin and the environment after the suds have been washed down the drain.

The Community Garden page will be updated shortly for more Diary updates check back soon
Community Garden


Transition Town Kinsale is always looking for ideas and suggestions so if you have anything you’d like to offer or contribute you can contact us at 087 7839446, info@transitiontownkinsale.org
Website: www.transitiontownkinsale.org

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This is a Newsletter that keeps us in touch with the happenings within
the Global Transition Network

Transition Network Newsletter
January 2009
Monthly Newsletter January 2009 Volume 2 Issue #1View this newsletter online:
http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/january-09-newsletter/


CONTENTS

• USA NEWS
  Post Carbon Backs Transition US
  All 50 US States Start Transitioning
• LOCAL NEWS
  From a duckling to a Swan
  North Cornwall Online
• TRAINING
  Transforming Conflict Training
• MEDIA
  Transition Movie News
  Audio Calling
  Fourth World Review: a Transition Journal
• AND ALSO..
  Play Oiligarchy
  Declaration of Interdependence
  Refugees in Transition
  LocalEyes Gets A Voice
  

~*~*~ USA NEWS

Post Carbon Backs Transition US
The Post Carbon Institute has announced a partnership with Transition US to inspire and support communities across the United States to shift quickly away from dependence on fossil fuels.
Read the article post-carbon-backs-transition-us

All 50 US States Start Transitioning
'It may come as no surprise that Transition has been welcomed with open arms in the United States'. Carolyne Stayton reports that after a number of years of pessimism, the optimism of the Transition model is being embraced with great relief.
Read the article all-50-us-states-start-transitioning
~*~ LOCAL NEWS

From a duckling to a Swan
Tonya Stewart writes about the newly formed Transition Godalming: from a duckling to a Swan.
Read the article Godalming

North Cornwall Online
A new website aims to encourage and facilitate community groups across North Cornwall.
Read the article transition-north-cornwall
~*~ TRAINING

Transforming Conflict Training
A training day for people in the Transition movement hosted by Transition Bristol
A group can have high aspirations, and yet suffer from internal dynamics that hold it back. We know we need diversity and inclusion, but we can still fall into issues of power and helplessness. Conflicts may float around unresolved in the background and continue to affect the life of the group, and are sometimes only resolved by withdrawal or exclusion. Unresolved conflicts can bring overwhelm and burn-out.
This one day course will adress these issues.
Saturday January 24th
Read the article transforming-conflict-training
~*~ MEDIA

Transition Movie News
It is coming to the end of the filming side of the production. Most of the filming should be completed by the end of January. So get your footage in by then if you're planning to.
Emma Goude reports on progress with the Transition movie:
Read the article transition-movie-news

Audio Calling

Traydio is a sort of audio YouTube, where people can post interesting audio files and it has a monthly Transition podcast. In the the December edition, Totnes-based performance poet Matt Harvey shares his understanding of all things Transitionary. Now over his initial concerns that world supplies of olive oil were running low, Matt talks about – among other things – his recent meetings with Stroud basket-weavers and the raised beds in Brixton.
Read the article audio-calling

Fourth World Review: a Transition Journal
Founded 40 years ago, John Papworth's journal Fourth World Review (4WR) has recently undergone a shift in emphasis, and finds itself under new management and dedicating its focus to Transition.
Read the article fourth-world-review-a-transition-journal
~*~ AND ALSO ...

Play Oiligarchy
Part strategy game, part political statement, part chilling near-future narrative, Oiligarchy is an attempt to spread understanding of Peak Oil and to highlight the intricate relations between war, politics, and energy corporations as a way to understand present and future crisis.
Read the article play-oiligarchy

Declaration of Interdependence
Brought up to date for a generation facing peak oil, climate change and economic contraction, the Representatives of the Transition Committee of Oamaru (in New Zealand) have updated the US Declaration of Independence.
Read the article declaration-of-interdependence

Refugees in Transition
At the Transition Cities conference in Nottingham recently, some participants were doubtful about the relevance of refugees to the Transition movement. Craig Barnett, Transition Sheffield, believes that the participation of refugees is crucial to shaping the kind of communities that we and our children will live in over coming years.
Read the article refugees-in-transition

LocalEyes Gets A Voice
Community Building tool LocalEyes is being trialed by several Transition groups. Peter Anderson from LocalEyes gives an insight into what it is all about.
Read the article localeyes-gets-a-voice
~*~*~ Quote of the Month
"Peak Oil. I thought to begin with that the world's supplies of olive oil were running dangerously low, I thought it's the end of salad dressing as we know it. But it's not, it's OK. It's bad, but it's not as bad as that..."
Matt Harvey

~*~*~
No news here means you havn't sent any in so tap tap tap and write something to share ...
~*~*~
Next Edition 28th February 2009
Content Submission Deadline Thursday 26th February

~*~*~

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Transition Town Kinsale Spring Fair and Powerdown Launch



This video shows our Minister of State for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent in Kinsale talking at Transition Town Kinsale Slow Food Event



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TRANSITION TOWNS:
An Interview with Rob Hopkins