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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Margo Adair and I will be there as well!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Bill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Peggy Holman<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSLIST] Fwd: A transition effective, delightful,
profound...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks to everyone who has "come out"
as involved with Transition Towns. Seems like a movement that
truly brings consciousness to being a complex adaptive systems. It
also seems to be another step in Open Space becoming just the way we
interact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>BTW, we have some of the Transition Town folks from the
Portland area coming to Leadership in a Self-organizing World - <a
href="http://www.selforganizingworld.net">www.selforganizingworld.net</a>, May
14-17 at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth, WA. I thought I'd
sent an invitation to the list but can't find any sign of it. So,
consider joining us - myself, Anne Stadler, Harrison Owen, and a host of other
students of consciously self-organizing. We expect it to be a very inspiring
and insightful gathering.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>appreciatively,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Peggy<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>______________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Peggy Holman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>The Open Circle Company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>15347 SE 49th Place<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Bellevue, WA 98006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>425-746-6274<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: <br>
<a href="http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook</a> <br>
<br>
"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
burnt, is to become <br>
the fire".<br>
-- Drew Dellinger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On Jan 20, 2009, at 3:43 AM, cliodhna mulhern wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";
color:black'>Hello Peggy</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";
color:black'>Sorry for being late to this conversation. I am a long time Open
Spacer and a committed Transition Towns activist...there are many of us out
here. Th is a genuine grassroots leaderless movement where communities are
renewing their sense of their own power, their own joy and their
humanity...making plans and sowing seeds for the new and better world that is
arriving every day...Conversation processes like OS, World Cafe and Ai are the
heart of communication in this movement...Everyone...go and find your local
transition initiative and be part of it...the time is now...we are the people
we have been waiting for...Cliodhna</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://transitiontowns.org">http://transitiontowns.org</a></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";
color:black'>Cliodhna Mulhern<br>
Flowstone<br>
Mobile : 07929328513<br>
Tel : 01244.312758</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";
color:black'>"I slept and dreamed that life was joy. I awoke and saw that
life was service. I acted and learned that service was joy"<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><br>
Tagore</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>2009/1/18 Peggy Holman<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><<a
href="mailto:peggy@opencirclecompany.com">peggy@opencirclecompany.com</a>><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Has anyone been involved with the Transition Town movement?
It is apparently large and growing. It starts off
"when a small collection of motivated individuals within a community
come together with a shared concern: how can our community<br>
respond to the challenges and opportunities of Peak Oil and Climate
Change? (see Tom Atlee's article below)." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>And Open Space is a central organizing practice for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>I'm curious whether anyone from this community has been a part of
this remarkable experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>appreciatively,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Peggy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Here are some excerpts from <a
href="http://www.transitiontowns.org/" target="_blank">http://www.transitiontowns.org/</a>:<br>
<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
<br>
What is a Transition Town (or village / city / forest / island)?<br>
<br>
It all starts off when a small collection of motivated individuals within<br>
a community come together with a shared concern: how can our community<br>
respond to the challenges and opportunities of Peak Oil and Climate Change?<br>
<br>
... [They embark upon] a process of:<br>
<br>
* awareness raising around Peak Oil, Climate Change and the need to<br>
undertake a community-led process to rebuild resilience and reduce carbon<br>
emissions<br>
* connecting with existing groups in the community<br>
* building bridges to local government<br>
* connecting with other transition initiatives<br>
* forming groups to look at all the key areas of life (food, energy,<br>
transport, health, heart & soul, economics & livelihoods, etc.)<br>
* kicking off projects aimed at building people's understanding of<br>
resilience and carbon issues and community engagement<br>
* eventually launching a community-defined, community-implemented
"Energy<br>
Descent Action Plan" over a 15- to 20-year timescale <br>
<br>
... The community also recognises two crucial points:<br>
<br>
* that we used immense amounts of creativity, ingenuity and adaptability<br>
on the way up the energy upslope, and that there's no reason for us not to<br>
do the same on the downslope<br>
<br>
* if we collectively plan and act early enough there's every likelihood<br>
that we can create a way of living that's significantly more connected,<br>
more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted<br>
treadmill that we find ourselves on today....<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>______________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Peggy Holman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>The Open Circle Company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>15347 SE 49th Place<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Bellevue, WA 98006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>425-746-6274<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com/" target="_blank">www.opencirclecompany.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: <br>
<a href="http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook" target="_blank">www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook</a> <br>
<br>
"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
burnt, is to become <br>
the fire".<br>
-- Drew Dellinger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>From:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span></b><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Tom
Atlee <<a href="mailto:cii@igc.org" target="_blank">cii@igc.org</a>></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Date:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span></b><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>January
11, 2009 2:29:02 PM PST</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>To:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span></b><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><a
href="mailto:cii@igc.org" target="_blank">cii@igc.org</a><span
class=apple-converted-space> </span>(undisclosed list)</span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Subject:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span>A
transition effective, delightful, profound...</span></b><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br>
<br>
Dec '08 - Jan '09 CII fundraiser progress report:<br>
<br>
Funds raised so far:
$8192 // Target: $36,000<br>
Percentage of needed
funds raised so far: 22.8%<br>
People on List:
1838 // Days left: 20<br>
<br>
+++ Thank you to the 55 people who have responded so far! +++<br>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br>
If you value our work, please participate with a donation.<br>
See the end of this mailing for how to contribute.<br>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br>
<br>
<br>
The concept of energy descent, and of the Transition<br>
approach, is a simple one: that the future with less oil<br>
could be preferable to the present, but only if sufficient<br>
creativity and imagination are applied early enough in<br>
the design of this transition. -- Rob
Hopkins<br>
<br>
<br>
Dear friends,<br>
<br>
I've been hearing more and more about a sustainability program called
Transition Towns in recent months. And it is not just me: it has
gone viral. It is being initiated in communities around the world at an
ever-accelerating rate. At the time of this writing, there are 126
communities who qualify as Transition Towns (see <<a
href="http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionCommunities"
target="_blank">http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionCommunities</a>>)
-- despite the considerable criteria involved (see <<a
href="http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Criteria" target="_blank">http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Criteria</a>>).
Beyond that, there are about 600 more communities seriously considering
it, all laid out on Google Maps <<a
href="http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Mulling" target="_blank">http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Mulling</a>>
to help everyone find each other and start new groups...<br>
<br>
(Note: The links above are from the excellent Transition Towns wiki, which
is a delightful portal through which to explore this topic.)<br>
<br>
First worked up as a student project in the UK in 2005, Transition Towns has
spread around the world in 3 years, entirely from the grassroots, truly viral.
I feel like a late-comer. It is almost embarrassing to be writing
to you about it now, in 2009, but I figure the world can use all the help it
can get right now, and building resilient communities is a "the more the
merrier" kind of undertaking.<br>
<br>
The Transition Town movement is sometimes called the Transition Initiatives
movement because it has come to include cities, colleges, islands, and all
sorts of other communities in addition to towns.<br>
<br>
And it is no surprise why it is spreading so rapidly. Not only are these
folks incredibly pleasant, upbeat, and savvy about the use of the internet, but
the Transition Towns initiative offers a refreshingly creative channel for
people's growing unease about the slow-motion collapse of the old structures
and systems we've come to depend on. It offers an inspiring, fully
adaptable and evolving positive vision of incremental change toward
sustainability that any community can realistically and pragmatically implement
-- one that can be launched by any group of ordinary citizens. The
Transition Town (TT) approach not only faces global-impact challenges squarely,
but suggests that we can "build ways of living that are more connected,
more enriching and that recognize the biological limits of our planet."<br>
<br>
While Peak Oil and Climate Change are understandably<br>
profoundly challenging, also inherent within them is the<br>
potential for an economic, cultural, and social renaissance<br>
the likes of which we have never seen. We will see a<br>
flourishing of local businesses, local skills and solutions,<br>
and a flowering of ingenuity and creativity. It is a<br>
Transition in which we will inevitably grow, and in which<br>
our evolution is a precondition for progress. Emerging<br>
at the other end, we will not be the same as we were:<br>
we will have become more humble, more connected to<br>
the natural world, fitter, leaner, more skilled, and<br>
ultimately, wiser. -- Transition Towns Handbook<br>
<br>
Perhaps most remarkable is that the Transitions Towns approach engages people
NOT by scaring them out of their wits or telling them what to do, but by
providing powerful motivations, possibilities, and ways for them to explore
creative local responses for and among themselves. There is no blueprint.
The guidance provided involves tools, ways of talking and co-creating
together, visons, and links to other people and resources engaged in this
effort. What we do with all that is up to us.<br>
<br>
Transition Town (TT) initiatives are formally about the
"localization" of communities to prepare for disruptions arising from
the twin crises of<br>
(a) PEAK OIL -- not running out of oil, exactly, but when the
world's demand for oil exceeds its ability to produce it (and the current low
price of of oil will not last long: see <<a
href="http://my.earthlink.net/article/bus?guid=20090106/4962e550_3ca6_15526200901061823557235"
target="_blank">http://my.earthlink.net/article/bus?guid=20090106/4962e550_3ca6_15526200901061823557235</a>>)
and<br>
(b) CLIMATE CHANGE and the extreme weather and other
disruptions that accompany it.<br>
<br>
However, there are other crises that effective localization and community
resilience programs like TT can also prepare us for, from economic depression
(which we're already tasting) to the disappearance of government services in a
flood of red ink (see <<a
href="http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/01/08/deficit-projection-stuns-congress"
target="_blank">http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/01/08/deficit-projection-stuns-congress</a>>
and <<a
href="http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/01/07/in-red-states-seek-tax-hikes/"
target="_blank">http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/01/07/in-red-states-seek-tax-hikes/</a>>)
to solar flares disrupting our power grid and electronic control systems (an
eventuality NASA has deemed possible by 2012 <<a
href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C478024%2C00.html" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C478024%2C00.html</a>>).
We have gotten ourselves into a kind of addictive dependence on globally
vulnerable systems whose potential (likely? current?) collapse dictates a
prudent (inevitable?) turn towards relocalization and resilience.<br>
<br>
As peak oil expert Richard Heinberg points out, the sooner we start learning to
live without oil and the vast supply networks it feeds, the easier it will be
for us when the current set-up is simply no longer an option.<br>
<br>
So all this community preparation would be a great idea, regardless -- and I'd
want to spread the word for that reason alone. But when I researched the
TT approach, I found something even more intriguing to me, personally:
the Transition Towns process uses two of my favorite processes -- Open
Space and World Cafe. In fact, I even discovered that the most visible
co-founder of this movement, Rob Hopkins, wrote in his Masters dissertation
"Energy Descent Pathways: Evaluating potential responses to Peak Oil"<br>
<<a
href="http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/system/files/msc-dissertation-publishable-copy.pdf"
target="_blank">http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/system/files/msc-dissertation-publishable-copy.pdf</a>><br>
<br>
"'[F]or many commentators, the
need for engagement<br>
points inexorably in the direction of new fora, such as focus<br>
groups, citizens juries or panels, round tables,
"visioning",<br>
and new consensus conferences, in which, with no technocratic<br>
monopoly of information, the necessary deliberation can take<br>
place'. This arises from a growing realisation that
environmental<br>
values are not preformed, rather that they 'emerge out of<br>
debate, discussion and challenge, as [people] encounter new<br>
facts, insights and judgements contributed by others'."<br>
"[Tom] Atlee's concept of
'co-intelligence' offers a tool for<br>
harnessing the power of communities to implement change.<br>
He defines its aim as being 'to increase the capacity of a<br>
society as a whole to act in a co-intelligent manner' and<br>
recommends the use of a wide range of facilitation and<br>
empowerment tools to enable this. 'Our goal...' he writes,<br>
'can become the creation of ways in which people can<br>
collaboratively arrive at solutions to their (and our)
collective<br>
problems'. Some of the mechanisms cited by [Gene] Rowe<br>
and [Lynn J.] Frewer, most notably Open Space Technology<br>
and World Café, are also advocated by Atlee, and are<br>
increasingly being used around the world by groups working<br>
to initiate relocalisation projects." (p. 41)<br>
<br>
Wow. It made my day to find that my work played a role in inspiring and
informing this intiative that just might make a decisive difference in how
things turn out in our world.<br>
<br>
But back to the Transition Towns movement. It has much to teach us.
Here's my take on one set of its core principles:<br>
<br>
The key to sustainability is RESILIENCE -- resilient communities, resilient
people, resilient cultures, resilient systems. Resilience, TT folks like
to point out, means a community or system can bounce back after challenges and
shocks -- everything from food-supply interruptions to economic downturns to
energy crises. Resilience is in many ways the healthy counterpoint to
obsessive efficiency. Resilience makes healthy systems in which
life-serving productivity arises from their well-being and responsiveness.
Obsessive efficiency, in contrast, makes productive systems at the
expense of well-being, degrading people and trashing ecosystems to maximize
production and monetary profit. When productivity is defined as units
produced and profits made per hour, rather than as life-value added, it becomes
the enemy of life. The effort to create resilient Transition Towns is an
effort to make an evolutionary leap into a kind of economics that focuses on
supporting and adding value to life, not only in the OUTCOMES of productive
activity, but in the vitality of the activity, itself.<br>
<br>
Three requirements for resilient systems are Diversity, Modularity, and
Tightness of Feedbacks.<br>
<br>
DIVERSITY is about the variety of a system's elements and parts. It shows
up in the idea that every vital function should be performed by more than one
entity (redundancy, which is essential for resilience) and that if a community
includes diverse people pursuing many various approaches to challenges and
providing different sources of resources, it can keep functioning even if some
of its parts fail. And if one approach doesn't work, there's a good
chance another will. When you want to nurture diversity, you help people
do what they are individually and collectively passionate about and good at
rather than formulating and managing master plans into which you engineer human
cogs. This kind of "follow your energy" self-organizing dynamic
is where the Open Space process shines.<br>
<br>
MODULARITY means that the whole scene works largely through groups or
communities who are<br>
(a) able to perform all the needed functions and<br>
(b) networked so they can share experience and information.<br>
This is an alternative to having everyone dependent on centralized governance
and vast and vulnerable supply networks that pull everyone down when they
collapse. Modularity enables the system as a whole to better re-organize
in the event of a shock.<br>
<br>
TIGHTNESS OF FEEDBACKS refers to how quickly and strongly one part of the
system can respond to changes (good or bad) in another part. This factor
involves good communication systems and, more importantly, local-ness.
The more local our interactions are, the more the results of our actions
are obvious to ourselves and others, and the more readily consequences can
inform and shape our individual and collective responses through learning,
answerability, corrections, rewards and penalties, and all the other forms of
feedback.<br>
<br>
Rob Hopkins stresses that Transition Towns is about cutting carbon and building
resilience. Cutting carbon and building resilience. They go hand in hand,
each inadequate by itself, each helping the other, each with long- and
short-term implications.<br>
<br>
There is MUCH more to the wisdom and practical know-how contained in the
Transition Team materials, but I'll leave it for you to discover. I've
included a number of further links below -- including links to the basic TT
primer and Rob Hopkins' extensive TRANSITION HANDBOOK -- mostly sent to me by
people on this list (Thank You!).<br>
<br>
I have a feeling that in the not too distant future a majority of folks reading
this will be involved, one way or another, in Transition Towns. The time
is very very ripe.<br>
<br>
Coheartedly,<br>
Tom<br>
<br>
=======================<br>
<br>
For a quick, clear, and compelling introduction to the Transition Town movement
see this great article from the Christian Science Monitor*<br>
<<a
href="http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/09/11/communities-plan-for-a-low-energy-future/"
target="_blank">http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/09/11/communities-plan-for-a-low-energy-future/</a>><br>
and this great introductory talk by TT co-founder Rob Hopkins, about 6 minutes
long<br>
<<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGHrWPtCvg0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGHrWPtCvg0</a>><br>
<br>
For some no-talk inspiration about community engagement for the kind of world
we dream of, here's a wonderful slideshow -- with great music -- about the many
Transition Town communities being formed in New Zealand. It's about 4
minutes long:<br>
<<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APMTXrIL48A" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APMTXrIL48A</a>><br>
<br>
Here's an excellent talk by Rob Hopkins, about 18 minutes long<br>
<<a
href="http://www.ifg.org/programs/Energy/triple_crisis_av/panel5/3rob-v.htm"
target="_blank">http://www.ifg.org/programs/Energy/triple_crisis_av/panel5/3rob-v.htm</a>><br>
<br>
Here's a PDF file about the Transition Network (14 pages), "Who We Are and
What We Do":<br>
<<a
href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/Strategy/TransitionNetwork-WhoWeAreWhatWeDo.pdf"
target="_blank">http://www.transitionnetwork.org/Strategy/TransitionNetwork-WhoWeAreWhatWeDo.pdf</a>><br>
<br>
And here's a PDF file (51 pages) of the Transition Initiatives Primer:<br>
<<a
href="http://transitionnetwork.org/Primer/TransitionInitiativesPrimer.pdf"
target="_blank">http://transitionnetwork.org/Primer/TransitionInitiativesPrimer.pdf</a>><br>
<br>
These PDFs contain information and guidelines that show a lot of wisdom about
the psychology of an enterprise like this, and about connecting and partnering
with different segments of the community, including local governments.<br>
<br>
Here is the Amazon Link for The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins:<br>
<<a
href="http://www.amazon.com/Transition-Handbook-Dependency-Local-Resilience/dp/19"
target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Transition-Handbook-Dependency-Local-Resilience/dp/19</a><br>
00322188/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227893553&sr=8-1><br>
<br>
Rob Hopkins' blog<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://transitionculture.org/" target="_blank">http://transitionculture.org/</a><span
class=apple-converted-space> </span>includes, among much else, an engaging
account of his own family's efforts to give up their addiction to "the
car".<br>
<br>
Here are a recent set of videos, about ten minutes each: Rob Hopkins,
co-founder of the Transition Towns Movement, speaking at the Positive Energy
Conference in Findhorn this past Spring. They are short and very
enjoyable, instructive, and inspiring.<br>
<br>
First segment<br>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kizxt14aPM8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kizxt14aPM8</a><br>
<br>
Second<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbLsmR21gnk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbLsmR21gnk</a><br>
<br>
Third<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwjGDtHGd9c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwjGDtHGd9c</a><br>
<br>
Fourth<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciZc5vv5-yY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciZc5vv5-yY</a><br>
<br>
Fifth<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0GYI5CJTkw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0GYI5CJTkw</a><br>
<br>
Sixth<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db9KpaELhCg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db9KpaELhCg</a><br>
<br>
<br>
-----------<br>
<br>
* NOTE: I wanted to feature that excellent Christian Science
Monitor article on Transition Towns (ironically dated September 11, 2008) -- in
its entirety -- but the Monitor has done something with its website that makes
it impossible to cut and paste that article (and others?), so all I can give
you is the link and hope that you will take the trouble to click it. I do
highly recommend it.<br>
<br>
PS: In researching this, I ran across this stunning fact: "Americans
drove 100 billion fewer miles in the 12 months ending in October than they had
the year before, a decline of about 3.4%, the Transportation Department
reported Friday. Miles driven fell by 9 billion miles, or 3.5%, to 250 billion
miles in October compared with October 2007. So far in 2008, miles driven have
fallen 3.5% to 2.45 trillion miles."<br>
<<a
href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/energy/americans-drive--billion-fewer-miles-past-year/"
target="_blank">http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/energy/americans-drive--billion-fewer-miles-past-year/</a>>.
I'm boggled that people can throw around numbers like billions and
trillions when talking about miles driven. I then stumbled on a chart
showing miles driven each month from 1983 to 2007<br>
<<a href="http://paul.kedrosky.com/archives/2008/05/06/nothing_but_flo.html"
target="_blank">http://paul.kedrosky.com/archives/2008/05/06/nothing_but_flo.html</a>>
which shows the yearly average was at 3 trillion miles per year for both 2006
and 2007 and will -- thankfully, painfully, undoubtedly -- be much lower for
2008. At 20 miles per gallon (about average for the US), that's 150
billion gallons of gasoline burned by American drivers during each recent year.
If I were the earth, I'd be getting hot under the collar, too... It
is high time to get our act together. And it adds immense poignancy to
Rob Hopkins' blog entry on his own efforts to give up driving<br>
<<a
href="http://transitionculture.org/2009/01/07/five-months-and-counting-the-realities-of-giving-up-driving/"
target="_blank">http://transitionculture.org/2009/01/07/five-months-and-counting-the-realities-of-giving-up-driving/</a>><br>
<br>
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