Transition feeds also . . .

29-09-2010 14:46

We are just about to show this film, and planning to do it in 2 parts as it has been split by the producers - 'Are we changing planet earth?' and 'Can we save planet earth?'

Has anyone done this before and produced any posters, as we are struggling to put somethign together?

Regarding the licence for showing the film, you can get an annual licence for about £93 which covers however many films you want, provided you don't charge for the event. See http://www.filmbank.co.uk/default.asp?page=article&id=45173&section=pvsl&subsection=home

thanks

23-06-2010 19:28

Not an official Transition event - but organised by Transitioners to support the community (& beyond)

Open Space Co-Learning Workshop

Sat 03 July 2010 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Brighton, East Sussex, UK |

For booking go to > http://decisionlab.org.uk/open-space-training (and also for details of FacilitationCamp, London 9-10 July)

This workshop invites those who are new to using Open Space Technology and those who already have some (or even extensive) experience of using it to co-learn together, deepen our practice, and share our experiences.

It will be run as an Open Space so that participants can learn experientially, while learning how to design, prepare and facilitate an Open Space event, including tips and tricks, likely issues that may be encountered, follow up and incorporating an event within a wider context or strategy.

This will help anyone looking for a method for encouraging participation, engagement, equality and inclusion. Open Space Technology is a format for organising compostable conferences, unconferences, meetings, or stakeholder engagement, with maximum efficiency and minimum time and resources. It is a form of ‘crowd sourcing’ which can be used to bring together a company or any group or organisation to focus on a specific problem or question; Open Space allows for participants to co-create experience, learning and solutions in a way that unlocks creativity.

Open Space is used by large companies, local government, community activists, the BarCamp (CrisisCamp, FacilitationCamp, ChangeCamp etc) movement and forward thinking organisations everywhere, from gatherings of 5 to several thousand people, from a couple of hours to several days. Open Space is a fundamental in the Transition Towns tool kit.

10-06-2010 17:27

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/transitiontownspolska

I'm going to present in Cracov http://zig.eco.pl/s35_konferencje.html on a conference about the Transition Towns model. I've set up with a group of people Transition Towns Polska to support the spreading and evolution of the Transition Town model in Poland by making access to information more available and facilitiate networking between projects in Poland and with projects in other countries. I'd be grateful if you could forward this message to people you think might be interested in working together with us and also to the two transition towns members who were at the conference. Thank you.

kamilpac@googlemail.com
www.southendintransition.org.uk

10-05-2010 11:12

Thanks, yes, it should be interesting - especially now that it no longer clashes with the Transition Conference. I'll be leading a discussion on how the Dark Mountain Project and Transition fit together, or don't, which it'd be great to have lots of Transitioners attending. Morning of Friday 28th May, at the pre-festival workshop camp.

Shaun

08-05-2010 05:33

College golf
College golf is a terrific development ground. You don't have to pay to play [url=http://www.golfwholesaleseller.com]wholesale golf clubs[/url]. You don't have to pay for lessons or time at the driving range. You get regular practice time with your team, access to weight training and the opportunity to compete at a high level. Many professional golfers matured at the college level, on their school's dime(ishiner). Even Tiger spent 2 years at Stanford.

19-04-2010 15:32

New Economy, new Business? Building Low Carbon Economy
First in series of seminars - see full details at:
http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/liverpool-seminars-towards-a-low-carbon-economy
http://www.liv.ac.uk/geography/research/lowcarboneconomy/index.htm

The Megacentre, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, UK, L5 8TY
Thurs 22nd Apr 2010, 8.30am for 9 till 12.30

Issues: What would a low carbon economy look like? What low carbon business opportunities are there, for ordinary and social businesses? How can individuals and community groups who want to do something about climate change be helped to set up new businesses and social enterprises? How can we make sure that people in socially excluded parts of Merseyside are able to take up the new opportunities rather than being bypassed?

Speakers include Peter North, Liverpool University (chair); Victor Anderson (Sustainable Development Commission, tbc), Bob Doherty, Liverpool John Moores University; Paul Squires (new economics foundation), Mark Knowles (The Mersey Partnership), Alan Johnson (School for Social Entrepreneurs), and a panel of Merseyside green businesses and social enterprises

15-04-2010 17:24

Friday 23rd April, 4-7pm, and Sat 24th April , 10am – 4pm
Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1BH;
Oxfordshire’s second Ideal Green Home Show will take place at Oxford Town Hall on Friday 23rd and Sat 24th April.
If you want to find out about energy efficiency grants or new micro-generation technology, compare products or hear how local house holders have eco-renovated their homes, then this event is for you.
Featuring:
• Over 30 local green building and renewable energy companies
• Technology introductions from local suppliers
• Presentations from local eco-renovators
• Updates about local grants and the recently announced feed in tariffs
• The opportunity to learn from people who have eco-renovated their homes
<p>For further info about the stall holders and programme of talks, see www.climatex.org
or call Jo on 01865 275 856.
Suggested donation of £2 per adult for entry.
Organised by Oxfordshire ClimateXchange and the Climate Outreach Information Network (COIN), with support from Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.</p>

11-04-2010 20:57

This is a FREE weekend workshop, teaching practical skills:
·to respond creatively to the environmental challenges we face;
·to uncover what means most to you, and make sustainable living choices that are in line with your values
·to discover what sets you back, and how to get back on track
·to radically increase your sense of connection with yourself, your community and the world in which we live
·that can be used in all areas of your life!

It's a pilot course, and part of a dissertation research project, so the course is free in exchange for feedback over time, to assess the effectiveness of the methodology taught.

It's powerful; it's enlivening - an experience not to be missed.

To be held at Lewes New School from 9am-5pm, 24th & 25th April.
Registration deadline 20th April.
Contact Vania: 01342 823 629 or vania.phitidis@gmail.com

29-03-2010 21:32

2010 is Biodiversity Year and concepts of sustainability will be presented for discussion by Sir Julian Rose and Jadwiga ?opata on Sunday 16 May at 3 pm at Studio Theatre, The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR
Tickets £5 (£3 concessions) available only from The Courtyard Box Office
Tel: 01432 340555 www.courtyard.org.uk (All ticket revenue donated to ICPPC)

Can we instigate a new agenda to replace the moribund Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union? Can the regions regain their powers and give birth to new localised marketing initiatives? Can farmers and consumers work together to close the gap between production and consumption? These are some of the questions that will be central to the day’s proceedings presented by Sir Julian Rose (farmer, forester, writer and social entrepeneur) and Jadwiga ?opata who is the Polish initiator of the International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside and President of ECEAT-Poland.

25-03-2010 18:22

Documentaries give facts.
Cafes find practical options for Change

Food.inc
Consequences of industrial agriculture and the need to make fundamental changes to the way we farm, process, distribute, prepare and eat food.
Soil Association/ Permaculture
Vanishing of the Bees
We do not need to create honey factories. We can provide accommodation for the bees in return for whatever they can afford to give us, as our food security depends upon them.
Resurgence /New Internationalist
The end of the Line
The consequences of unchecked unregulated trawl-net fishing across the oceans - the equivalent of ploughing a field seven times a year; our largest food supply under threat and species imbalance as larger predators disappear.
Transition culture
Black rain White Light
Nuclear weapons putting the world at risk.
Kingston University/ Ministry for Peace
Corporations
Industrial agricultural policy creates hunger in the majority of the world. If the western world had one meatless day per week, green house gases would be reduced by the equivalent of not driving for 1,630 miles.
Bull-Shit
Indian farmers’ non-violent resistance to GM seeds and corporate misinformation. Herbicide such as Roundup kills everything green except one crop thus destroying biodiversity, whereas India has thousands of drought-resistant nutritious crops.
Vandana Shiva
Meet your Meat
Clear facts about industrial animal farming. Pollution and depletion of water table, inhumane conditions, resistance to antibiotics in humans and creating new diseases.
Resurgence
Flow
Water deprivation and pollution caused by industrial farming.
Pig Business
Industrialised pig farming in USA and water pollution.
Tracey Worcester
Organic is the Only Sensible Way to Live
Gandhi in action. 21st century resistance to market terminator systems and celebrating abundance with diversity. Food sovereignty means involving women equally with men in the decision making as well as in farming.
Joy Carey
Turning Point
In spite of corporate advertising the Environmental Movement grows worldwide. Ecological and organic ways to live in town and country.
Findhorn
One Man, One Cow, One Planet
A system of environmental and sustainable farming to supply food for the world community.
Biodynamic Farming

Films can be obtained through www dogwoof and amazon
To maximise the potential approximately 3hrs are needed for a Film Café.

Information film cafes: sue@filmcafes.net
Café host and bookings: trish@filmcafes.net

23-03-2010 07:50

Moderator....?

20-03-2010 08:48

UK Herts. 25 March 2010 "Your Carbon Counts!" events

A series of talks called "Your Carbon Counts!" has started with evening sessions in Letchworth & Hertford
- both useful, fun and fully attended.

A 2-hour lunchtime version will be held next Thursday 25th March from 12 noon to 2pm in Stevenage.
The topics are Energy (personal & household) then after the buffet break, Transport.

If there's anyone who would wish to know of this opportunity, the EP Conference on Friday 26th (below)
or that the series of talks is taking place, please forward this notice to them.

All Environmental Population events:

http://www.environmental-population.com/body_nevigation.php?nevigation_page_id=475

(Note also the Conference on the following day...)
---
Your Carbon Counts - 25th March

Price: £0.00 12 noon to 2pm
Do you want to know more about carbon footprinting?
Do you want to understand how to control your footprint?
... then come along to "Your Carbon Counts" talk.
Environmental subjects will be presented by Dr. Mike Page of the University of Hertfordshire.
This talk is free to attend and a buffet lunch is provided, but booking is essential.
This talk is an AGILE event.
__________________________

15-03-2010 23:22

Hola amiguitos,

Following what I had announced in previous discussions and meetings, I am developing a full online course about the Transition Movement in English and Spanish.

The course has been developed in Sloodle -the integration of SecondLife and Moodle-. For those who are not familiar with SecondLife, you can follow the course in Moodle, a course management software, as a normal online course.

I am inviting you to view the asynchronous part of the demo course "Into Transition" which was shown at the iMoot 2010 and will be shown at the European Transition Conference in Germany.

The url is:

http://elearningforsustainability.edumoot.com/
course: Into Transition

username: test1, password: hola1, username: test2, password: hola2, ... until username: test4, password: hola4.

There will be a demo of the Sloodle course in SecondLife, scheduled in April 2010.

Those who are interested in attending the Sloodle demo course in SecondLife, let me know your availability in the following link:

http://www.doodle.com/cxdrzq6ksrbkxu2m

This demo course is free.

Likewise, I would like to offer here my services as a elearning consultant/educational technologist.
Kind regards

Mari Cruz García

22-02-2010 12:26

Jon Walker has developed an excellent online manual to help social enterprises apply the viable systems model in their management practices: http://www.esrad.org.uk/resources/vsmg_3/screen.php?page=home

VSM "offers an alternative to the usual approach which depends upon hierarchy, authority and obedience, and is of particular interest to enterprises which are looking for ways of becoming more efficient and of encouraging participation and democratic work practices."

the great thing about VSM (and the transition approach) are that both are based on systems principles :-)

19-02-2010 13:04

Hi John, here is a case study of setting up a Transition Group using Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Model to maximise autonomy while retaining coherence. I'm afraid I can't link to the document so here it is in full. The group was very lucky to have a VSM practitioner in the town. If you want to get in touch, her name is Jane and you can contact her through transitionleekATyahooDOTcoDOTuk.

Development of a Transition XXXX Initiation Group
Background
The initiating group in XXXX has only been in existence for a short while. One member, a prime instigator of Transition XXXX, chose not to be involved in ‘committee type’ activities, but to focus on a strategic objective leaving a gap in the initial group. Individual objectives for involvement with the group and passions had been discussed and a fair degree of shared ground had already emerged. There was a strong belief in the importance of ‘inclusion’ and ‘autonomy to act’ and a desire to avoid ‘hierarchical managerialism’. In these early days, the initial culture within the group radiated creativity and energy, but little coherent action. E.g the constitution, based on the work of other transition towns, was being repeatedly edited by one group member after another but was not agreed and was seen to be ‘taking up too much time’. The task faced by the group was to delicately constrain autonomy sufficiently to achieve coherence and enable steady forward momentum.
Approach
One of the members proposed applying the Viable Systems Model (VSM) principles to create a radical alternative to an individual leadership dominated organisation and this was accepted as a culturally acceptable way forward. The case for ‘designing freedom’ was articulated and explored, resulting in a VSM diagram of the target organisation and its environment being agreed. The constitution was then able to be revised and agreed and a set of roles created to implement the agreed structure.

The VSM principles were used to examine the draft constitution and to translate the theory into practice. The purpose of the constitution was agreed to be protecting stakeholders rights and the shared objectives for Transition XXXX were articulated. VSM was applied to the constitution text to remove inconsistencies and achieve a consistent and effective level of autonomy /constraint. The VSM model was then explored to identify and add in missing elements of the constitution. The organisational structure was defined separately as a number of roles again building on existing drafts and following VSM principles.
Project outcomes
At the start of this process, members of the group felt varying degrees of anger and resentment with each other over wasted effort and overwhelmed by competing activities. The ambitions for the start-up phase were reduced to make it achievable with expected resources. The resulting constitution and roles were swiftly agreed and implemented by the group and steady progress ensued. Whilst these roles are being learned and refined within the group, co-ordination issues might be expected, but they have been very few and handled with good humour.

The role design principles and a VSM based structural layering were used, in tandem, to maximise members autonomy both to detail their own roles and to act, whilst working within a coherent and co-ordinating structure. Tools and approaches used were VSM and Role / Interaction Modelling.

The need for a coherent strategy development process was recognised from VSM, but omitted in the first pass, to focus effort on the initial difficulties to be resolved. Three weeks later we are organised the 1st meeting of the ongoing organisational development / strategy support sub-group. This has led in the future to the separation of planning meetings from organisational development meetings, to ensure progress on both. It has also led to the encouragement of small sub-group meetings for autonomous roles who have more than one role owner.
Points of Interest for other Transition Towns Initiating Groups
• VSM is believed by its practitioners to address effective structure for organisations of any scale. It can act as an anitidote to excessive bureaucracy and inappropriate hierarchical control and also to anarchic confusion. In this case it proved highly effective for a very small group struggling to provide effective co-ordination without the need to gather around a single leader.
• Timing was important, the group had reached a crisis and knew it had to change the way it was operating.
• In role names, the terms manager, officer and committee were not used to avoid existing cultural connotations, the more neutral term of secretary has been used throughout to focus on community enabling.
• Role design focused on reducing complexity of interaction by working outside-in and grouping responsibilities together which would enable autonomous dialogues with each group of stakeholders. E.g. publicity secretary is not a single role. There is a role including overall publicity from Transition XXXX to the general public, a different role for each event organised, encompassing its own publicity function and project sub-groups with their own publicity arrangements for their specific membership and their own specific external stakeholders. Two way communication is handled similarly.
• Roles are taken on by one or more volunteers and can be transferred as necessary. They provide a working context which can be handed on.
• Within a role, the specific mechanisms for sharing work between a number of role holders do not have to be visible and understood by every other role as long as the role group have their own understanding and have a single point of external contact. This role encapsulation technique is used throughout the constitution to allow for any emerging form of sub-group activity that may be required in the future.
• Role descriptions can be updated whenever necessary. They are held separately from the constitution.
• Co-ordination issues are being handled via use of an online group. This is working very well. We have now also set up a public on-line group to initiate both member-to-member and member-to-initiating group communication.
• Each role has responsibility for deciding on the most appropriate mechanisms for communicating with its external stakeholders and other internal roles e.g. newsletters, web pages etc. There is a common overall list of current mechanisms in the on-line group co-ordination site.
• There was a specific issue in the constitution as to whether whole organisations could be treated just like other individual members. We decided against this because ‘why should another organisation want to commit all its members to operate within our constitution as well as their own ?’ Let alone have the right to make such a commitment. Instead we have made clear arrangements for partnership, based around either an agreed shared project or an agreed shared strategy to work together on achieving a specific shared objective by whatever means are appropriate. We believe this will help us focus on awareness through co-operation with existing local groups.
• The organisational design is being confirmed gradually through the development meetings, one role at a time. This structure will allow the organisation to be scaled up easily as new members join the initiating group.
• The organisational roles defined, operate at two different levels: Transition XXXX and within Transition XXXX, the Initiating Group. This brings clarity to the scope of the roles and who those roles address. e.g. the membership secretary is operating at the transition XXXX level, because we are collecting members for Transition XXXX. Those members may or may not then choose to join the initiating group as well.
• The XXXX Transition Town Initiating Group, would be happy to discuss its organisational principles with other Transition Towns.

16-02-2010 20:15

Hi John, this is a really common problem and one we're all struggling with - partly getting to grips with the idea that the initiating group isn't really a "controlling" body is quite hard.. especially when there are funding or other responsibilities and funders like to see hierarchical governance models. For example how can the TT be sure that all groups are complying with a "safeguarding children" policy when its a requirement to have something in place for a funder - how do we make sure that events are communicated/ promoted / not overlapping?

We've all but abandoned our steering group in Dorchester as all of the energy is in our theme groups - but the problem of communication is still very difficult and our poor web-guy and newsletter writer are constantly chasing for information. Events are easier as we use a google calendar which anyone can put events onto (we actually share a single calandar with all of the Transition Initiatives and environmental groups in Dorset)

We now have a governance and grants group that requires attendance from anyone who's looking for money or is managing funding and that deals with the legal stuff..Invariably there is a lot of media pressure on a chair and or secretary.
Nick Osborne from Glastonbury did some good stuff on groups for the Weaving Magic training - not sure if you can get it for free / but the taster training at the last conference was really good.

I think the new website is up in a few days so maybe look then...

Best wishes

Linda

Transition Town Dorchester
lindascreen@into-action.org

06-02-2010 20:22

Winkleigh Society Annual Lectures 2010
Theme: Rural Futures
Time: Friday evenings 7.30pm
Place: Community Centre, Castle Street, Winkleigh, Devon

19th Feb: Serbia: Lessons from a Peasant Landscape
12th Mar: The Future for Rural Children
19th Mar: Futures for Power Generation
26th Mar: Lessons from Biospheres around the world
9th April: 'Where in Winkleigh?' A co-operative project.

Admission £4 including refreshments

03-02-2010 22:21

Greenacre Project - Transition Finchley
Eco Film Club showing
Transition 1.0
Speakers from Transition Stoke Newington
(other speakers very welcome pls get in touch)
Also
'Anyone for Finchley Council?' - a way to devolve power to local communities ......
Harriet Copperman (OBE)
TUESDAY 9TH MARCH
7.00pm-9.30pm
Blue Beetle Hall
(near the library)
Hendon Lane, Finchley Central (Northern Line)
London N3 1TR
Admission by donation (towards cost of hall)
Tel 020 8346 5503

21-01-2010 16:08

Transition Town Tralee
KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL AND NORTH & EAST KERRY DEVELOPMENT
Thursday 28th
January 2010
Fels Point hotel,(now known as The Carlton)
Tralee 8pm - 10pm
CONTACT: MÍCHEÁL Ó COILEÁIN - KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL - 066-7162017
SEAMUS O’HARA - NORTH & EAST KERRY DEVELOPMENT - 066-7180190
admission free
--------------------------
Local Tralee man Rowan Fealy who works with the Climate Change Research team in Maynooth University will speak on 'How Climate Change is going to impact on us locally in Kerry'.

The evening will also include the showing of a David Attenborough movie on Climate Change.

Proceedings begin at 8pm and generally finish up around 10pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.

There is much debate and discussion on all the issues surrounding climate change. Transition Town Tralee is a movement interested in highlighting these serious issues and providing information on how each individual can play a role in taking personal responsibility for reducing our carbon footprint and leading more sustainable lives. Worth checking out.

22-01-2010 10:24

Why not arrange a bespoke one-stop clothing collection for charity at your work, school or community group?For more information about Clothes Aid and a list of our charity partners, please see http:/www.clothesaid.co.uk.

The specific service we offer to Community Groups/Businesses/Schools/Colleges/University Halls of Residence is thecollection of clothes, shoes, beddings and other textiles on a specified day/days in aid of charity. Clothes Aid will deliver all the collection bags needed which carry the chosen charity's and Clothes Aid branding to minimise theft. The donor will just have to arrange for temporary storage until pick-up.

If you are interested, or know others who might be the first step towards organising a one stop clothing collection in aid of one of our charity partners is by logging onto our website and filling in the web form so that we can start processing your details as soon as possible. So, please see http://www.clothesaid.co.uk/onestop.html

21-01-2010 10:34

Naresh Giangrande (co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and co-founder of Transition Training) just told me about a lovely course that's been run in Seattle, for which the course designers are making the materials available to anyone.

He's looked through the content and was highly impressed.

Here's an extract from their website and the relevant links:

----------------------------------------------------
Sustainable NE Seattle, an "official" Transition Initiative in North America, has developed a six-week discussion course based on The Transition Handbook. The course is a great way to introduce local people to the concepts of Transition. For each week, participants will read the assigned chapters on their own, then meet to discuss the questions provided. The course has been designed to stimulate personal examination of our own cultural stories, and how we might collectively rewrite these stories to create a world that's better than the one we have now.

The course, developed by Joann Kerr, Susan Gregory, and Leo Brodie, received glowing reviews from its eleven participants when it was offered recently.

It's designed to be run by the participants themselves, so once you kick it off there's no more work for you to do. They are happy to share the course with you at no cost.

Full details are here |-- http://sustainableneseattle.ning.com/page/the-transition-handbook --|

The course workbook is here: |-- http://www.netspeedlearning.com/transition/discussion_course/TransitionHandbookDiscussionCourse.pdf --| (less than 1MEG)
----------------------------------------------------

If anyone uses it, please post feedback here. Thanks.

20-01-2010 16:41

Should any of you be in London tonight do come along!

From bad COP to good COP

What: A peoples report on COP 15, and preparations for COP 16

Where: The Window, 13 Windsor Street, London N1 8QG
When: 6.30pm - 9pm, Wednesday 20th January 2010
Cost: £5 for Event (students FREE) ; £7.50 for Dinner (pay at door)
RSVP: polly@wisewomen.me.uk

Read more here: http://www.wisewomen.me.uk/Upcoming_Events/Upcoming_Events.html

140,000 people attended COP 15 in December 2009. 50,000 of those people came - not as part of a delegation, nor as an NGO representative - with one agenda: concern for the planet. Those excluded from the COP taking place in the Bella Centre were based downtown at Klimaforum, in warehouses in the meatpacking district, Christiania & the Fresh Air Centre.

4 women from the UK who were actively involved:

- Kirsty Schneeberger, environmental law student &UKYCC youth delegate,
- Anuradha Vittachi, documentary maker & Founder,OneClimate,
- Tamsin Omond, activist & founder of Climate Rush, and
- Polly Higgins, barrister & advocate for Planetary Rights.

They need your help to co-create a good COP.

As the lawyer at the Peoples Climate Summit, Polly will report on how events unfolded from the peoples perspective and the legal steps we can take to protect the planet; Tamsin was out on the (freezing cold) front line of direct action and will tell us what took place on the streets, while Kirsty (who famously asked delegates in Bonn 'How old will you be in 2050?') and Anuradha (who filmed and spoke with many of the leaders) will provide the insider’s view from the Bella Centre where the NGO's, business lobbyists, negotiators and politicians were unable to prevent the collapse of the negotiations.

To kick off the evening, Ande Somby, is a well known traditional Norwegian Sami joik artist and Indigenous Rights Lawyer, shall open the event with a joik.

6.30pm joik by Ande Somby
6.40 - 7.30pm reports from the speakers
7.30 - 8.15pm Q&A, refreshments and optional dinner
8.15 - 9.00pm Co-creating COP 16
9pm Andy Somby joiks

Where: The Window, 13 Windsor Street, London N1 8QG
When: 6.30pm - 9pm, Wed 20th Jan 2010
Cost: £5 for Event (FREE for students); £7.50 for Dinner
RSVP: polly@wisewomen.me.uk

This is an event hosted by EnlightenNext in collaboration with Wise Women and Be The Change.

http://www.wisewomen.me.uk/Upcoming_Events/Upcoming_Events.html

10-01-2010 12:35

Just a reminder:

For those of you, who plan to apply for Grundtvig-funding, please do
so in the next days, the deadline of most countries lies within
january 2010.

For more detailled information about the conference and to
preregister, please visit
http://www.siebenlinden.de/content.php?p=9965

FUNDING OF TOTAL COSTS: It is for residents of the EU others than
Germans to apply for a Grundtvig-grant for the conference - that
grant includes the course fee, a lump sum for food and lodging
and the travel expenses. For more detailled information about the
funding, please visit http://www.siebenlinden.de/content.php?p=9971).

Because of the tight deadline we ask you to spread this news in your
networks as soon as possible and to ask all people that might be
interested to preregister and to apply for the funding.

The conference fee that is published now is really high, because that's the sum that can be funded by the EU. The more people participate apply for this grant (and get it!), the more we can reduce the fee for non-funded participants, as we want to make it possible for everybody to come.

07-01-2010 01:40

“How do we love all children of all species for all time? That is the first question we must answer.”

“The world needs to be seen as a place where abundance can be celebrated by all of us. Nothing is beyond our limits,”

“Our goal is a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just world with clean air, water, soil and power… economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed. Which part of this don't you like?”

Those are beautiful quotes from William McDonough.

I like McDonough attitude in that he is trying to inspire, not reprimand people, as words of fear will close ears and minds but words of genuine hope will open hearts and eventual inspires.

Regards,
Detlef

Teaser:
"Well I think as designers we realize that design is a signal of intention
but it also has to occur within a world and we have to understand that world
in order to imbue our designs with inherent intelligence, so when we look back at the basic state of affairs in which we design. We, in a way, need to go to the primordial condition to understand the operating system and the frame conditions of the planet and the exiting part of that is the good news that's there, because the news is the news of abundance and not the news of limits and I think as our culture tortures itself now with tyrannies and concerns over limits and fear we can add this other dimension of abundance that is coherent driven by the sun and start to imagine what that would be like to share..."

by McDonough http://www.mcdonough.com/

05-01-2010 17:57

Transition Exeter & Exeter University
A Low Carbon City Green Society

Reaching Out:
Working with the
towards a wider audience
A one-day training for members of voluntary and community groups working to get their message across
with
Cathy Debenham
and others
Saturday 27th February 2010
Exeter University
10 am – 4.30 pm
Cathy has worked both as a journalist and in the voluntary sector; she is founder of YouGen.co.uk, was head of PR at Hospiscareand has done media trainings for charities and community groups. The day includes how to be strategic about PR, angling for particular media and target audiences, writing press releases, interview practice, and more.

Cost £25 (£16 before Jan 31, some concs)
Booking and Enquiries
Gill gillamoz@hotmail.co.uk
or tel 01392 851568 or
01647 24789

24-12-2009 12:23

Showing on the Community Channel (Freeview 87, Boxing Day 8am)

http://www.communitychannel.org/component/option,com_rnschedule/task,listSchedules/startat,1261825200/Itemid,3/

Seasons greetings!

14-12-2009 18:35

Ever thought you’d like to see real action in your local community on climate change? COIN has launched a Climate Action Group toolkit, providing all the information you need to set up and support Climate Action Groups in your local area. Climate Action Groups are groups of people who come together to take decisive action on a climate change issue of their choice over a six-month period.

The toolkit includes:
• How to plan, publicise and get the best out of your Matchmaker (the event that creates and launches the Climate Action Groups)
• A step-by-step guide to facilitating the Matchmaker and final evaluation event
• A guide for Climate Action Group Convenors who coordinate each resulting group including tips on how to chair meetings and how to keep the momentum going.
• An appendices section including sample publicity materials and action plans.
In addition to the toolkit, COIN is offering free support and advice to those who want to set up Climate Action Groups including facilitation of the Matchmaker (the event that sets up the groups) and assistance for those looking to obtain funding to support their groups.

To receive a free electronic copy of the toolkit or/and for further information, contact Catrina Pickering, catrina@coinet.org.uk, 01865 403 332.

09-12-2009 14:03

... Cumbrian Workshop now fully booked up. Places still available at the Hebden Workshop on the 20th. Otherwise feel free to get in touch if you'd like to attend future workshops, or to get me to come to you...

02-12-2009 12:45

Dear Steve,

DragonDreaming is a Method that's recommended in the transition town handbook (in the German handbook it's in chapter 7, the power of positive visions, in German p. 98-99, and appendix 2).
We have made many positive experiences with that method - it is an ideal project planning method for sustainable projects. John Croft, the person who invented this method, will still be in Europe next year and in 2011 move back to Australia again - so we think we should use the time while he is still in Europe to spread this method!

Eva

02-12-2009 10:23

Dear Ben, dear Steve,
dear others who have questions about the meeting,

I can understand that you are bewildered because we didn't coordinate the meeting enough with this network. I apologize for it.

What we did, was:
when we had the idea of the conference, we talked about it with John Croft and he wrote an e-mail to the people of the transition movement that he knew and asked for comments and we only got positive comments. We discussed it with Larry Butler from the scottish Transition Town Network, and with the German initiatives we know. We contacted Gerd Wessling, who is as far as I know the only German who can give Transition Trainings, ... so it was discussed in transition networks, but not within "the transition network".

And then, all of a sudden :-) (as it always is with deadlines...), the date needed to be fixed, because some deadlines are coming up. That's why we decided to just say: "Yes, we go for it!" without more contact with the transition network.

I'd love to do what we haven't done so far and agree with you about the things that still can be discussed: the content and the ethos of the project.

Some more information about the Camp and the Organizers:
It will be held in Sieben Linden ecovillage, a place that is a great example for a newly built resilient village. Sieben Linden has a good infrastructure for camps and is an experienced organizer for international events.
We, the people from Sieben Linden, have started a transition town initiative together with other people from the region for our region.
This initiative started in March 09, and now we have initiatives for
- regional and organic school catering
- safe bicycle riding and more bikelanes,
- a citizens energy cooperative,
and are already pretty well established in our area. We even have 2 seats in the local council.
So we thought we could integrate two activities - the transition town activities and our pleasure of organizing european camps and organize such an event next year.

We put the conference in the Grundtvig-Database - this will give people who apply early the chance to get the full costs of the meeting granted by the EU.

The prices that we published now are very high - as they are the prices for the funded participants. After we have an idea about how many funded participants we have, we will set the prices for the non-funded participants - these prices will be much lower. But how low they will be, that depends upon the question, how many will apply for the funding. Ideally, every person applying for the funding will make it possible for 2-3 people to participate for a much lower price, as the high fee covers already part of the costs of the non-funded people.

(If you want to see the calculation, how we want to use the money, I'll send you the file.)

To the presenters / facilitators:
There will be workshops in:
- DragonDreaming with John Croft
- TransitionTraining with Gerd Wessling & another facilitator
- Permaculture with Sandra Campe and maybe Jascha Rohr,
- Group Facilitation with Marion Quaas.
- agriculture and climate change with Jörg Zimmermann.

To Steve's comment:

It is true that any travelling can always be questioned if you look at the ecological footprint of it.
We ask people to come here by train and bus, not with a private car and of course not with a plane. It's published on our Sieben Linden website, but not yet on the invitation for the meeting. But I'll change that as fast as I can. We don't want the participants of the meeting to come by plane!
Our experience is that international networking is a very powerful ressource for inspiration and fun and energy for our local projects. That's why we think it's worth the ecological costs of the journey. But I can very well understand everybody who doesn't come because they don't want to spoil the environment with their travelling.
And I know that most people from tt-initiatives travel abroad for their vacations and I invite these people to combine the trip to the meeting with their vacations, so that no additional ecological travel-costs arise.

I'd like to hear from you about your feelings, questions and thoughts about "content and ethos of the meeting". I don't know if we shall do that here in the forum or in a personal e-mail-exchange. Please contact me.

eva.st-?at?-siebenlinden-?dot?-de

01-12-2009 18:08

FYI - this is an independently organised event, not one set up by Transition Network. We don't know anything about this event at all or anything about the people who are organising it. We don't know how much they're charging nor who will be presenting/facilitating.

It's not unusual for groups to organise conferences within their regions (Transition North conference, various Welsh get togethers and others around the world). It just that usually, we get invited to discuss the timing, location, content and ethos.

It could be wonderful. Or not. We just don't know.

Ben and the Transition Network team.

02-12-2009 11:25

Hi Eva - many thanks for the extra info & for clarifying.

Re: "Content and Ethos of the Meeting"

- From what I've read, the conference is probably gonna be a fabulous experience, and a positive contribution to the Transition movement - no worries there!

- I think it's a good idea to make the EU cough up as much ca$h as possible, especially if it helps others to attend that couldn't otherwise afford to go.

- 'Dragon Dreaming' ; sounds intriguing, what's that about?

Best wishes
Steve

01-12-2009 21:31

I just thought I'd let people know what happened at the Transition East Regional Gathering on the 14th November.

In spite of the torrential rain 55 people from 18 different initiatives travelled from Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and converged in Diss (Norfolk). In the morning a mapping exercise was followed by an Open Space session, with twelve different subjects, ranging from Making the Most of Food and How Many People are Enough? to Converting Talk into Action and How Best to Tell the Story of Transition through the Present Media and Culture?

After a terrific lunch back in the great circle we had half a dozen Community Keynote speakers giving short, high-energy highlights from their respective initiatives: Cambridge's packed events programme, Norwich's Transport Group and original Transition Circles, Downham Market's great Food for the Future Day with 400 visitors, Ipswich's massed bike ride for the International Day of Climate Action...and more

The main slot of the afternoon was Transition Troubleshooting in which we posted our 'troubles' - anything from getting public liability insurance and choosing a legal structure through to difficulties in core groups and awkward relationships with local councils - on the wall and, led by the Transition East Support Team, set about finding ways of dealing with them (see Rob Hopkin's post on Transition Culture: http://tiny.cc/snd8i for more about the work we did in preparing for this).

A write-up of the event is gradually emerging here: http://tinyurl.com/yl9ys3t (all the notes should be in by the end of this week or next)

You can find out more about what groups are doing in the East here: www.transitioncircleeast.blogspot.com

If you're in the East and we missed you do get in touch (via either of the sites above).
If you're setting up or already have set up a regional meeting and or regional support network it would be good to talk too.

Best wishes,

Josiah

01-12-2009 18:08

FYI - this is an independently organised event, not one set up by Transition Network. We don't know anything about this event at all or anything about the people who are organising it. We don't know how much they're charging nor who will be presenting/facilitating.

It's not unusual for groups to organise conferences within their regions (Transition North conference, various Welsh get togethers and others around the world). It just that usually, we get invited to discuss the timing, location, content and ethos.

It could be wonderful. Or not. We just don't know.

Ben and the Transition Network team.

27-11-2009 16:39

Please see details of a great way of meeting each other while travelling to the wave in London.

The South West Wave Train
On Saturday 5 December thousands of people will flow through the streets of London as part of The Wave.

It's the UK's biggest ever demonstration on climate change.

Are you riding The Wave?

To help get you to there, The South West Wave Train is taking 500 people from Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and other stops on route to the march and back again.

On board there'll be activities for all ages and an unbeatable atmosphere.

It promises to be a spectacular day out.

The South West Wave Train is organised by:

?CAFOD
?Christian Aid
?Friends of the Earth
?Tearfund
How do I book?
You can book your seat by phone on our dedicate booking line: 0845 678 2976

Times and ticket prices are as follows:

Departs Returns Price
Plymouth 07.14 21.29 £35
Totnes 07.42 20.59 £35
Newton Abbott 07.55 20.47 £35
Exeter St David's 08.18 20.08 £30
Taunton 08.43 19.41 £30
Bristol TM 09.34 18.54 £25
Bath Spa 09.48 18.39 £25
Swindon 10.17 18.12 £25
Paddington 11.34 17.14

24-11-2009 03:00

proudly presents:

An evening of CLOTHES MAKING

John-Paul Flintoff (Sunday Times)

John-Paul will be demonstrating the art of clothes making for a sustainable future and talking about his fabulous new book ‘Through the eye of a needle’.

Introduction by Dannielle Pafford from the Climate Change Coalition.

Snacks & refreshments available.

MON 7th DECEMBER 2009 7.30-9.30pm

Blue Beetle Hall, 28 Hendon Lane N3 1TR

Admission by donation (towards cost of hall)
For more details: 020 8346 5503

23-11-2009 01:22

I'm looking to contact representatives of transition towns in the Cumbria area, with a view to inviting them to a workshop I am running on the 12th December near Kendal.

I run workshops on LEDs – a major low-energy lighting option for our low-energy future. I show participants what is currently available and then teach them how to construct their own lighting from scratch. As you can imagine, this is highly empowering for all those involved.

Please check out my website www.LEDfantastic.com and/or mail me smileyd@LEDfantastic.com for further information.

Thanks
Dave Brooks

20-11-2009 17:06

Gill - looks great. I'm signing up.

For further details, here's |-- the flyer --| for the training session.

Ben.

19-11-2009 10:39

A one-day training for members of voluntary and community groups working to get their message across, run by Transition Exeter and University of Exeter Green Society with journalists and NGO PR expert Cathy Debenham.

Saturday February 27th, Exeter, £25/16 concs

tel 01647 24789 or 01392 851568.

19-11-2009 12:05

I've had a look through UK social trends: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_social/Social_Trends38/Social_Trends_38.pdf
Scroll down to page 178 and check out the 'Activities Performed In Spare Time' (respondents could give more than one answer):

- 80% stay at home watching TV
- 75% spend time with friends/family
- Listening to music is up there at 70%

If the 'In Transition' film was circulated around a typical suburban cul-de-sac:

1. How might the film licensing work with the same DVD being passed from house to house, or perhaps a better result may occur by distributing, eg 50 DVD's all at the same time?

2. Dya think the residents would connect ??

3. How might it best be followed up with a meeting, event and survey?

Please add your thoughts and further ideas below, yes please!

Best wishes
Steve

17-11-2009 18:37

I like that Steve - Peak Oil Inc.!

I believe there is actually a firm called Peak Oil Ltd based in Derbyshire...

Seriously though - this is something I have personally wrestled with and commented on at Rob's excellent blog: how careful do we need to be in our usage of terminology? How many novel terms should we introduce when talking to the public? OK - Transition is essential as it's what we are (even if the politicians have "borrowed" the term) - but I think we do need to be careful. If you're trying to win new people over to an idea, no matter how great it is, you need to be careful not to overwhelm them in novel terms at the first encounter.

Cheers - John

17-11-2009 11:29

I suspect that most people would think Peak Oil is an American corporation.... so I use the phrase "rising energy costs". Somewhat broad brush, sure, but the mention of 'costs' helps to get people's attention – than you can explain more precisely that it's about fossil fuel dependency, offering a neat link to the food supply issue with a decent prospect of a "really? I didn't realise that..." response.
I think it better also to say early on that this is not about an overnight transformation, but a....well..... transition from where we are to where we want to be, in maybe 15 years from now. It's a long and gradual shift, but we need to begin it now.
Moreover, it's not about "no this, no that" (e.g. driving, meat, pineapples, energy use), but a bit less: about having a pleasant life, but within the constraints of what the environment can sustain - living smarter.

16-11-2009 14:28

Trish/Sue,

Do you have a listing of the potential movies that could be part of this programme? In the Transition Initiative Primer, there's a list of movies that help move the agenda forward, but I'm aware there are lots of movies out there that we haven't yet catalogued.

Could you help with this, or should we point to a page on a website of yours?

Thanks. Ben.

16-11-2009 01:18

FILM CAFES

Documentaries give us the facts. Holding a Conversation Café after the film transforms dialogue into action.

This autumn we are exploring the partnership of Conversation Cafes with key documentary films, all of which link ecology and economics. I am in the process of team meetings with the following organisations who are enthusiastic to develop this holistic approach. The concept is also being considered for school programmes. All the documentaries address the present global urgency and need international, national and local action. The link with Conversation Cafes encourages compassionate listening so we can support the next generations to create a safe and more stable planet.

Soil Association – ‘Food.inc’ Looks at food sourcing and food security, and what can be grown in the UK to prevent poverty and water shortage elsewhere.
New Internationalist – ‘The Vanishing of the Bees’ Every third bite of food we consume depends on pollination by bees.
Transition Culture – ‘At the end of the Line’ Overfishing and depleting the seas.
Kingston University – ‘Black rain White Light’ – Nuclear weapons - putting the world at risk

Ministries and Departments for Peace
Twenty-one countries world-wide are now working with those in governance to prevent violence. In the Ministry for Peace our UK team have a programme within Westminster under the theme of ‘Our Taxes, Our Lives’. Building bridges with parliamentarians and civilians through regional and local peace councils is under discussion. Under MFP this autumn films being shown in parliament and across YouTube compare the balance against particular items of military expenditure against public spending. I am delighted the team are wishing to link Conversation Cafes with documentaries.

CONVERSATION CAFES
‘Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things which matter.’ Martin Luther

Holding a Conversation Café directly after a documentary film harnesses the creative energy in the audience. The film gives the facts, “how we have allowed such violence to happen” and the café poses the question: “Now we know what we know, what are we going to do about it?” The café structure and agreement introduced by a host give the participants the opportunity to share how they have been affected by the film. Ideas emerge in the café circles, whilst the hosts ensure all voices are heard. In this spirit of co-operation our own assumptions, beliefs and expectations may be challenged. The café process gives space and time so that the final action round can be surprising and the outcomes sustainable.

FILM CAFES & GREEN COMPASSION
Mass movements of people across the industrial world are linking with citizens from debt crippled countries and with the wisdom of indigenous people to address the ecological violence outlined in these films. Our informed actions can protect all life on this planet: we can create food security for all, and through our choice of actions, prevent poverty, misery and displacement. Marc Barasch calls this Green Compassion.

We welcome your participation in the film cafes movement and hope you will choose to contact us.
Trish Dickinson email: trish@jadegate.demon.co.uk
International Trainer in Non-violence; Ministry for Peace UK; Super Café Host

Information Sue Beilby email: sue_beilby@blueyonder.co.uk

15-11-2009 10:10

I'm aware that my education and in depth reading of Transition related stuff helps me muddle through the Transition jargon. I often find though when I use the words peak oil, climate change etc that people blank out.

I was wondering if we could find appropriate words and sentences when we talk with people for the first time who don't have that level of understanding yet to help them grasp the issues better and understand their seriousness. More emotionally laden less scientific and rare.

What words do you think are not understood (boring, scientific)/ what could be their substitute

peak oil (peak coal, gas etc)/ energy crunch, energy crisis
climate change/ climate chaos, climate disruption, climate induced flooding (famine)

end of growth economy/ prosperous steady state economy, stable economy, wellbeing economy

capitalism, free market economy/ cancer capitalism

Help me out here with your creativity:)

other examples from using different words to give ideas more meaning. Not that I agree with them necessary but they show the possibilities:

inheritance tax/death tax
private health insurance/private tax
Obama/socialist

24-10-2009 10:47

'Green Ghost Walk' followed by 'Green Drinks' event

~ 1st December 2009 ~

Check out Alistair Chisholm in the Little Britain photo, he's a great champion for Transition Town Dorchester click here to see event on facebook

23-10-2009 12:17

Please see extract below from the latest 10:10 newsletter. Hope to see some of you there (Bristol and London venues to be confirmed soon, but will be central and close to public transport).

Thanks

Tracey

-----------------------------------------------------
"We know that emissions reductions work best when they're tackled together, so building real-world 10:10 Communities is a top priority. That's why we're recruiting a crack team of 10:10 Community Champions to help spread the 10:10 message in your neighborhoods - and to get you started, we're proud to announce the first series of 10:10 Community Roadshows, coming soon to a venue near you.

The events are completely free and every participant will get a copy of our new Community Resource Pack - paid for by your generous donations, and designed to help you promote 10:10 alongside your own campaigns.

The roadshows cover:

* face-to-face introductions to other 10:10ers near you
* the campaign so far and plans for 2010
* how to use the resource pack
* improving your communication skills so you can talk confidently about 10:10
* top tips on organising events
* advice on speaking to the press
* inspiring stories from other 10:10ers

Anyone involved in a community group of any kind, should get loads out of these days. We'll send you home ready to give your town, school, university, workplace, street - anywhere you like – a 10:10 makeover.

Book now for the event nearest you (you may need to copy and paste the link into your browser):

London, 14th Nov: http://1010londonroadshow.eventbrite.com
Bristol, 21st Nov: http://1010bristolroadshow.eventbrite.com
Manchester, 22nd Nov: http://1010manchesterroadshow.eventbrite.com

Early next year we'll be heading to Scotland, Wales and other UK locations. If you want us to come to your town and you can find a venue to host us - or help out with the events in any other way - then please email communities@1010uk.org.

18-10-2009 20:25

Dear Colleagues,
Next week, parliament votes on whether or not to sign up to the 10:10 campaign.
If passed, the motion would be a big boost in the fight against Climate Change, placing huge pressure on the government to commit to big emissions reductions next year.
Together, we can help make sure the vote goes the right way. The Liberal Democrats have tabled the motion and committed to supporting it, but now we need to put pressure on MPs of all other parties to vote in support of the motion on Wednesday.
Please contact your MP and ask them to vote in support of significant carbon reduction in 2010.
10:10 have teamed up with 38 degrees so you can get in touch with your MP online here: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/1010parliament
And don't forget there's still time to enter 10:10's Home of the Future Competition: http://www.1010uk.org/future-home

08-10-2009 17:27

Transition Derby is hosting a 2-day “fundamentals” course for those wishing to know how to set up, run, and maintain a successful Transition Initiative
on Sat & Sun 23rd & 24th of Jan 2010

The cost for the two days is £110 per person.
A small number of Bursary places are also available for a reduced fee.

For more info see our website. www.transitionderby.co.uk
To book a place please contact training AT transitionderby.co.uk

01-10-2009 14:51

Excellent - I'll be there! Real ale and live bands - what else could we ask for?! Glad I moved 'up North'!!