Resilience Takes Form -- A Handbook for Transition

Something strange has happened over in old Blighty. I'm not sure if the Utopian dreams of the 1960's are making a comeback or if a new movement, one grounded in reality but focused on our future, has taken shape. No matter how cynical you are, you can't ignore one of the fastest growing grassroots movements in the UK -- The Transition Network.

In 2006 a founding member of this network, Rob Hopkins, had begun working on an idea in Totnes, a sleepy town in the West of England. From the land of Cornish pasties and clotted cream a community-led initiative began to focus on a duel issues of climate change and the realities of a post peak oil society.

It seems crazy, but by galvanizing the community Rob and a highly networked team developed what is now called the Transition model, the 12 steps or initiatives to transition as described in his book The Transition Handbook. Totnes has become the accidental epicenter of a quiet revolution.

The key components of the Transition model are that groups involved in each of the 12 transition initiatives that focus on the various sectors of local communities. The groups plan awareness programs, include screening movies followed by talks by experts about climate change. Round two they stimulate a local movement by organizing networking events and developing groups focus on different themes deemed important to their local community. Then they produce a 'Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP)' that reflects the views and inputs from many local stake holders. Then it gets really interesting -- the town collectively finds ways to power down.

It was at this point I went crazy researching, and began writing what I thought was going to be an insightful piece about the movement, where it's going and what it means -- then I found this online video... ...what better than an English poet with a wry sense of humor to explain this fascinating phenomenon.

I recommend you watch the video and make up your own mind. As you watch, just remember that there are many new towns, villages and hamlets are self-organizing under these ideals. They are looking inward to ask themselves what will their future look like based on their needs -- not just some generic government white paper. Take note. This movement could be coming to a town near you.

Follow Cameron Sinclair on Twitter: www.twitter.com/casinclair

Comments

[Randy White]

brightneighbor.tv is documenting the Transition actions in Portland, and we are about to offer our resilience technology for free to all of the US and Canada.

The transition Handbook acts as a great guide for people!

[William50]

I am all for your cottage industry. Now, please explain how you are going to feed the millions in the urban centers. Should they, who have never seen such a romantic peaceful place, flock to your area thinking that they can survive? I hope not.
By all means and ways keep working on the ways to help the earth, cut oil usage but always remember that the world and 98% of its people can not, could not ,survive with out the supply lines into their homes.
What scares me more then the dreamers is if at some point in time power, water, food or fuel were not available to supply the millions of urban dwellers and they left the towns, like a host of locusts on the country side. Give that bleak thought a small consideration....it scares me to no end.....
middleamerican2010
Casey

[lastpost]

Gazing at rolling chalk hills and ever encroaching shopping malls one day, a thought occurred. Often, inside those palaces of dreams, no sunlight ever shines. So why not hollow out the hills and bury them underground, (along with hangar-like factories perhaps)? Continual internal lighting is in use anyway. Heating would be reduced, if not dispensed with. And the outside could be devoted to housing and areas for outdoor activity.

[Indra]

I think the logic of the movement is a bit fuzzy. It is an interesting movement but of not much value in my opinion. I had joined a local group but was not happy with what I was seeing. There is something fishy about it in my opinion. I think there are much better venues to address the problems of peak oil and global warming. I do not think this group will succeed.