Transition Towns - 1 April 2010
I'm looking forward to seeing In Transition, a film about the Transition Towns movement. Made by UK filmmakers, it draws on footage sent in from towns all around the world involved in facing the twin challenges of declining fossil fuel reserves and climate change. The film received an overwhelming response when it was shown recently in Katoomba.
The film will be introduced by Clare Power, one of the founding members of Transition Blue Mountains, which formed in mid-2008. Blue Mountains Transition have held a number of events ranging from retrofitting workshops to coordinating a gathering of Blue Mountains groups with a sustainability focus.
Clare is a transition town trainer and is currently working on a PhD on transition towns in Australia.
The transition towns model is based on the idea that life with lower energy consumption is inevitable and that it is better to plan for this than be taken by surprise. The transition town movement notes that many communities presently lack resilience – the ability to respond well to change - and that action needs to be collective and urgent.
The international movement got underway in the United Kingdom in 2006 and now has over 265 villages, towns and cities worldwide on its list. Each of these places has taken "transition initiatives" appropriate to their local area.
The film night in Bathurst will also include a presentation by Patrick Forman on making Bathurst a cycle-friendly city. Patrick will talk about how this old means of transport might be a powerful tool in initiating cultural change, fostering new business initiatives and creating a more vibrant, healthy and convivial community.
The film and presentations will be held from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Courtyard Room of the Bathurst RSL next Wednesday, April 7. All are welcome; entry by gold coin donation.
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Earth Hour was fun last Saturday night. I hung out some wet washing my moonlight and my partner managed to do the crossword by candlelight, showing that you don't have to stop everything just because the lights go out!
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The Energy and Buildings Action Planning Team meeting next Tuesday, April 6, will hear a report-back on the recent visit by wind farm assessor Craig Memery to a property in O'Connell. The meeting will be held at 5pm at Allen House, CSU. Contact Bob Hill on bhill@csu.edu.au if you are interested.