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Transition Walthamstow. Paul Gasson 020 8520 0648 / 07979-767274 paul.gasson@gmail.com. Tonight. What is Transition all about? (15 minutes) Mapping exercise and discussion (15 minutes) Open floor - hot topics (10 mins) Tea break (5 mins)
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Transition Walthamstow Paul Gasson 020 8520 0648 / 07979-767274 paul.gasson@gmail.com
Tonight • What is Transition all about? (15 minutes) • Mapping exercise and discussion (15 minutes) • Open floor - hot topics (10 mins) • Tea break (5 mins) • Visioning exercise: What do we want for Walthamstow? (30 mins) • Next steps: (10 minutes)
Transition Fundamentals • Peak oil • Climate change • Transition model • (Some local projects)
A typical oil field Forties field UK sector North Sea • The basic dynamics of oil production: • A steep initial increase, a production plateau and then a slow but irreversible decline. • Once the peak is past there are many techniques and technologies that can brought to maximise the declining output, but it is a losing battle and production will never return to it former levels.
Oil producers (98) Post peak oil producers (64) www.lastoilshock.com
Where we get our energy Source: ExxonMobile web site
Why is oil so important? How many men does it take to push a car?
Transition Training 2007 What do we use oil for?
CO2 levels over past 60,000 years 381 ppm 2006
Responses to Peak Oil & Climate Change • PEAK OIL • Burn everything! • relaxed drilling regulations • biofuels • tar sands & non-conventional oils • Resource nationalism • Resource Wars • P O + C C = • Systems Re-think • Planned Relocalisation • Energy Descent Pathways • Local Resilience • CLIMATE CHANGE • Climate engineering • Carbon capture and storage • International emissions trading • Climate adaptation • Nuclear power
Transition ‘recognitions’ • Life with dramatically lower energy consumption is inevitable. • Our communities lack the resilience to withstand the severe energy shocks that will follow peak oil. • We have to act collectively and we have to act now. • By unleashing the collective genius of those around us we can build better ways of living.
Fundamental principles • Key goals: reducing energy use & carbon emissions • Reskilling: relearning lost skills, mending rather than buying new, … • Satisfying our intrinsic desire for community: William Morris 'fellowship is life, and lack of fellowship is death' • Catalyst: with no fixed answers, solutions are community led • Systems resilience: tight feedback, diversity, social capital, innovation, … • Permaculture principles
Why the transition model works • Visioning of a positive future • Awareness raising - decide on appropriate response • Inclusion - everyone is needed, every skill is valuable • Resilience - building strong local communities • Credible, appropriate solutions • Psychological insights - inner & outer transitions needed
Psychology of change • Apocalyptic approach • depression, apathy • Transition approach • addiction (stuck patterns causing harm), detox from oil • hope, positive vision, proactivity • community connection & inspiration • inner and outer: be the change you want to see • joyful, fun
Key Transition stages • Set up a steering group • Raise awareness • Official launch • Form groups e.g. food, energy, transport, economy • Public meetings - open space • Practical projects • Facilitate reskilling • Honour the elders • Energy descent action plan
Totnes: Nut tree capital of Britain • Plantations of modern nut varieties are much more productive than similar areas of arable crops. Wheat commonly produces between 2-10 tons/acre on good soils. • On much poorer soils chestnuts have an annual yield of 7-11 tons, pecans 9-11 tons, hazelnuts 9-12 tons, and walnuts 10-15 tons.’ Richard Mabey, ‘Fencing Paradise’.
Lewes pound … The Lewes Pound is driven by three main considerations: • Economic: Money spent locally stays within the community & is re-used many times, multiplying wealth and building local economy resilience (NEF) • Environmental: Supporting local businesses and goods reduces the need for transport & minimises carbon footprint. • Social: By spending money in local outlets we strengthen the relationships between local shopkeepers and the community.
Our choice • We’ll be transitioning to a lower energy future whether we want to or not. • Far better to ride that wave rather than getting engulfed by it.