Transition TownsTransition Towns

What are What are Transition Towns?Transition Towns?

A way for us to build strong, A way for us to build strong, local communities to create a local communities to create a

future we want to live intofuture we want to live into

Transition:Transition: An Overview An Overview

• A vibrant, international grassroots A vibrant, international grassroots movement that builds community movement that builds community resilience in response to the resilience in response to the challenges of peak oil, climate challenges of peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis.change and the economic crisis.

• Started in the UK and is outlined Started in the UK and is outlined in in The Transition HandbookThe Transition Handbook..

PEAK OILPEAK OIL

CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGECHANGE

ECONOMIC ECONOMIC INSTABILITYINSTABILITY

How will these affect us?

How can we prepare ourselves?

Energy Descent is Energy Descent is InevitableInevitable

Do we want to ride that wave………….Or be engulfed by it?

Energy Use Energy Use Through Through Human HistoryHuman History

Indu

stri

al A

scen

t

Peak Energy

Techno-Fantasy

Green-Tech

Stability

Earth

stewardshipPost Mad Max Collapse

Great Grand Children

Agriculture10.000yrs BP

Industrial Revolution

Baby Boom

Pre-industrial culture Historical Time Future Time

Creative D

escent

(Permaculture)

Transition: Transition: Guiding Guiding PrinciplesPrinciples

• Inner and Outer Inner and Outer TransitionTransition

• Positive VisioningPositive Visioning• Inclusion and Inclusion and

OpennessOpenness• Enable Sharing and Enable Sharing and

NetworkingNetworking• Build ResilienceBuild Resilience• Self-organization and Self-organization and

decision making at decision making at the appropriate levelthe appropriate level

!

Transition:Transition: Ingredients Ingredients

• Set up a Set up a temporary temporary steering group steering group to:to:– Raise awarenessRaise awareness– Lay the foundationsLay the foundations– Organize a Great Organize a Great

UnleashingUnleashing– Form Working Form Working

GroupsGroups– (Steering Group re-(Steering Group re-

forms at this point)forms at this point)

• Create visible, Create visible, practical projectspractical projects

• Facilitate the Facilitate the Great ReskillingGreat Reskilling

• Build a bridge to Build a bridge to local governmentlocal government

• Honor the eldersHonor the elders• Let it go where it Let it go where it

wants to go…wants to go…• Create an Energy Create an Energy

Descent PlanDescent Plan

The Solution: Co-create a Resilient, The Solution: Co-create a Resilient, Thriving, low carbon community Thriving, low carbon community

together in (your town)together in (your town)

Want to join us?

What would Richmond look like?

Local Local Agriculture Agriculture

The seed landing library

Fruit tree give away

Farms in Richmond High Schools

Permaculture apprenticeship

Community sharing food, skills and resources

Local TransportationLocal Transportation

Refreshing

Build community

Improve our health!

Economical!

What if Richmond was ‘energized’ by What if Richmond was ‘energized’ by windmills and solar panels?windmills and solar panels?

Green Jobs Green Jobs Training + Training +

opportunitiesopportunities

How are Transition Towns How are Transition Towns Different?Different?

Like the string that holds a necklace together

Food

Water

Energy

Transportation

Arts

Education

Heart & Soul

Health

Recreation Currency

Transition: Transition: A MovementA Movement

• As of today, March 2010:As of today, March 2010:– 60+ “official” Transition Initiatives (TIs) 60+ “official” Transition Initiatives (TIs)

in 24 states across the US (250+ in the in 24 states across the US (250+ in the world)world)

– We estimate that for every “official” TI We estimate that for every “official” TI there are 15-20 similar groups doing there are 15-20 similar groups doing this work and “mulling” it over (and an this work and “mulling” it over (and an ever increasing number of people ever increasing number of people “waking up”)“waking up”)

Where to Find Out MoreWhere to Find Out More

• Transitionus.orgTransitionus.org• Transitioncalifornia.ning.comTransitioncalifornia.ning.com• RichmondRivets.orgRichmondRivets.org• The Transition Handbook by Rob The Transition Handbook by Rob

HopkinsHopkins

TransitionTransition: Cheerful : Cheerful DisclaimerDisclaimer

• We truly don't know if this will work. We truly don't know if this will work. Transition is a social experiment on Transition is a social experiment on a massive scale. What we are a massive scale. What we are convinced of is this:convinced of is this:– If we wait for the governments, it'll be If we wait for the governments, it'll be

too little, too latetoo little, too late– If we act as individuals, it'll be too littleIf we act as individuals, it'll be too little– But if we act as communities, it might But if we act as communities, it might

just be enough, just in time.just be enough, just in time.