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Saturday, 3 September 2011

Shewood Forest:: Transition Network Newsletter August 2011

 
EXPLORING THE TRANSITION WORLD
An August Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
Australia, Japan, Spain, Kinsale, Canada, Italy and the UK and more are included.
http://bit.ly/august11-roundup
US Edition Round Up
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US.
http://bit.ly/august11-roundup-USA
Let it go where it needs to go
A status report about Transition in Los Angeles
http://transitionus.org/blog/let-it-go-where-it-needs-go
Ruah Swennerfelt recounts her travels visiting Transition Initiatives in Belgium, Netherlands, and Sweden
http://transitionus.org/blog/visiting-transition-initiatives-belgium-netherlands-and-sweden
and then on to exploring Transition in England in Chesterfield and Bristol.
http://transitionus.org/blog/exploring-transition-england-part-one
A journey home – Seeking the essence of Transition in England
http://bit.ly/England-transition-essence
Transition Fujino — Prospects for a better future
In these difficult months following the 11 March quake and tsunami, it has been a time for reflection and an opportunity to ponder what the future holds in store for Japan.
http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/transition-fujino-%E2%80%93-prospects-for-a-better-future/
Cycling to raise money for Transition and Sustrans
A 4,500 mile bicycle ride around the coast of Britain.
http://bit.ly/fundraising-cycle-coast
THINKING ALOUD
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 1: Uncivilisation
Last month Charlotte du cann went to Uncivilisation, a festival organised by the Dark Mountain project. Below is a writer’s cut of article she wrote for The Independent newspaper.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/09/coming-round-dark-mountain-1.html
Coming Round The Dark Mountain Part 2: the Shaman and the Village
Here Charlotte explores the idea that Dark Mountain is something you can visit, Transition is something you live.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/02/coming-round-dark-mountain-part-2.html
Why do so many people believe in the fantasy of infinite growth on a finite planet?
There are three honest (but bogus) reasons why we pursue economic growth past the point of effectiveness and reason.
http://bit.ly/infinite-growth-finite-planet
Five bummer problems that make societies collapse
A TED talk Jared Diamond gave has examples from the Greenland Norse. These were the unlucky Vikings who missed the boat to Normandy, where their more fortunate countrymen set up colonies.
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/five-bummer-problems-that-make-societies-collapse/
A Different Kind of Tea Party
What kind of teatime conversations are you having?
http://bit.ly/different-tea-party
Why I Don't Read Like I Used To
I have a confession. I don’t read books anymore. Or rather I read books very rarely, is this just me, or is it a symptom of our age?
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/08/benchmarks.html
Economic Resilience
In Sacred Economy, Charles Eisenstein poses the seemingly outrageous idea that money should be sacred
http://www.transitionus.org/blog/economy-possible-scenarios-future-3
Panic on the streets of London
Now is the time when we decide what sort of country it is that we want to live in.
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-08-09/panic-streets-london
A Discussion on Resilience
What does it mean, and what it looks like in practice? This video of a panel discussion at Sunrise Off Grid took a good hard look at the subject.
http://bit.ly/resilience-debate

NETWORK TRAINING
New Training section on the website
The how, what, where and how of Transition Training but didn't know where to look is now online.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/training
Transition Training survey: the results
Since October 2007 Transition Training has been offering a two day training course and a survey in May assessed the impact it has had.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-08-23/training-survey-results
A follow on to the 2 day course: Transition Thrive
A positive, no-nonsense exploration of the Transition model and process, tailor-made to fit the requirements of those people attending that we will be piloting shortly.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-02/follow-2-day-course-transition-thrive
Your thoughts needed: Where does equality fit in Transition?
We’ve come up with a possible new purpose statement to reflect which says: “Transition Network supports community-led responses to climate change, inequality and shrinking supplies of cheap energy, building resilience and happiness.” Do you feel strongly about this either way? If so, we want to hear your thoughts.
http://bit.ly/does-equality-fit-transition
The Road to Resilience in Low Income Communities,
23-25th September Chester
http://bit.ly/Road-to-Resilience-training

PROJECTS
Linen Project
A group in Australia has set about developing the skills and knowledge to produce and process fibre flax locally.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/linen-project
Project sharing engine funding bid
Like the News Sharing Engine, its intention is to distribute the movement's project information to Initiatives' websites, enabling webmasters to easily embed all the functionality of our projects directory into their own sites.
http://bit.ly/project-sharing-engine-funding-bid
More projects and add yours here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/node/add/project-profile

RESOURCES
Exploring Community Resilience
This new free publication from Nick Wilding and the Fiery Spirits CoP gathers a mix of experience and academic insight into how local communities are learning how to cope – and even thrive - through difficult times. Written in an accessible style its stories highlight experience from Cumbria to the Scottish Highlands, and from New Orleans to Tooting, London. Web links direct readers to topical references, and a practical guide shows how to run a community workshop on the topic.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/resources/exploring-community-resilience
The End of Growth; Adapting to Our New Economic Reality
Review of Richard Heinberg's new book
http://transitionvoice.com/2011/08/economics-has-failed-us-but-there-is-life-after-growth/
German military analysis of peak oil now available
The Bundeswehr has posted an English version (112 pages) of their extraordinary analysis of peak oil. The original German document was approved for public release last November, yet neither the complete German version nor the partial English translation has attracted interest from mainstream media.
http://t.co/lsENYBY
COMING UP
Transition Companion
At the end of October 'The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times by Rob Hopkins will be published. The launch timeline is here including the ‘Twitter Book Launch'!
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/transition-companion
Exploring the Ingredients for Transition
12th September - 3:00pm (BST)
An online conversation with Rob Hopkins where he will go more deeply into the "ingredients of Transition" as well as answering questions supplied by participants.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events/2011-09-12/exploring-ingredients-transition
Bill McKibben: Building Social Movements and Organising for Change
3-7th October Schumacher College, Totnes
http://bit.ly/bill-mckibben-building-social-movements
Transition Camp south east
7-9th October
http://there.is/transitioncamp/
German/Austrian/Swiss Transition (Un-)Konference
14-16th Oct. in Bielefeld/Germany now open for booking
Program, details and booking (in German) here:
http://www.transition-initiativen.de/page/2011-un-konferenz
More events here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns

Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newsletter

Read this newsletter online
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-09-02/september-2011-transition-network-newsletter
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Sunday, 7 August 2011

Transition Network Diversity Newsletter July 2011

Published on July 26, 2011 by Catrina Pickering in

Transition Network Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter

WELCOME to the Transition Network’s Diversity and Inclusion newsletter. This newsletter is compiled by Catrina Pickering, Diversity Coordinator, Transition Network.  I aim to get this newsletter out to you approximately every two months.  
TRANSITION NETWORK DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION NEWS
Training: The Road to Resilience in Low Income CommunitiesFriday 23rd – Sunday 25th September 2011, National Communities Resource Centre, Chester
This two day workshop at the National Communities Resource Centre in Chester is for people involved in Transition who want to strengthen their work with low income communities.  It will include sessions on: Understanding resource problems in low income communities; enterprising case studies presented by the people doing them; exercising Transition talents - practical, outdoors session to reflect on Transition strengths for working in low income communities; supported action planning process to take ideas home. The workshop is being facilitated by Anne Power, Chair of the National Communities Resource Centre and is a one-off opportunity for Transition to receive tailored training from an organisation that has an outstanding twenty year record of building resilience in low income communities. 

Transition Network Conference:  Diversity Highlights
The recent annual Transition Network conference held in Liverpool gave us all much to think about, explore and expand on in relation to diversity.  Here's a snapshot of some of the workshops, discussions and people that really stood out.

Report back from Quaker and Transition Event
What do Quakers and Transition have in common?  On Friday 24th to 26th of June, around forty Quakers met at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre to find out.  We had a lively time looking at the links and potential synergies between Quakers and the Transition movement.  Overall there was a sense of urgency, an abundance of interests, initiatives and enthusiasms, and a call to get more people involved in Transition. 

Call for Stories for Diversity and Social Justice Recourse
The Transition Network is currently putting together a resource on diversity and social justice and we want to include your stories of projects from Transition and beyond.  Whether it be a story about a food growing project on a housing estate or a project that alleviates fuel poverty in a local community, please send your stories to catrinapickering@transitionnetwork.org. 

Transition Pittsburgh:  Witney Avenue Urban Farm
In a boarded up street of Wilkinsburg (United States), Chris Condello, a local resident and Transition Pittsburg member is clearing the front yards, establishing gardens and involving the local children in the process. Litter has been reduced to almost nothing and the children who used to chase people from their homes are now getting involved, learning new skills and contributing to the growing sense of pride and belonging in the street.  

Putting Social Justice at the core of Transition Stratford
How do we ensure that our work in Transition meets the needs of the most vulnerable in our local community and builds solidarity with communities overseas?  How important is social justice in the Transition movement and what might a strong social justice approach look like?   Transition Stratford upon Avon might have some interesting answers. 
NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES FROM ELSEWHERE
Islington Fairness Commission: Closing the rich-poor gap
Why focus on inequality at a time when public services are crumbling? Islington’s council has an answer: The problems that public services address — from crime to mental health — all get worse as the gap between rich and poor widens.  The newly elected members of Islington  Borough Council last July created what they called a “Fairness Commission” and asked this new panel to help “make Islington a fairer place to live and work.” Their new report, Closing the Gap, includes an impressive set of recommendations from improving environments and growing food on housing estates to paying at least the London Living Wage to all staff employed in the area.

Escalating fuel costs pushes thousands more UK households into fuel poverty
Nine million customers will see their gas bills rise by an average of 18 per cent next month, after British Gas announced massive increases in its energy prices.  Some customers face a 24 per cent rise in their gas costs, depending on where they live and how they are charged. The increases will almost certainly push many thousands more UK households into fuel poverty where they will be spending 10% or more of their household income on electricity and heating. 
National Energy Action news report
The Independent news report 
Channel 4 news report

 
A Little Patch of Ground:  Growing Food and Performance in East London and Dartington
A Little Patch of Ground is a rural/urban food growing and performance project run by Encounters Arts taking place in Dartington, Devon and East London.

Each week, beginning in May, 25 local people from the South Devon area meet at Dartington and 25 local people from the East of London meet at Toynbee Studios. The project involves an intergenerational group meeting in each area to create a permaculture inspired vegetable garden, eat together, explore thoughts on food, climate change, sustainability and interdependence, and use creative methods to share stories about our relationship with the natural world. The project will culminate in the creation of a multi-media performance in the autumn which will take place in each location as well as touring within the local area.

Read a summary of the project on the Transition Network website.  
Read the “Little Patch of Ground” blog.

 
Over to you...
If you’ve got news items, events or something you’re proud of that you’d like to include in the next Diversity Newsletter edition, please let us know: catrinapickering@transitionnetwork.org.


 
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Friday, 3 June 2011

Sherwood Forest Transition June Newsletter

 
TRANSITION NETWORK CONFERENCE, 8-10th July Liverpool
Why should you come to the 2011 Transition Network conference?
Imagine immersing yourself for 3 days in the latest thinking on Transition, hearing from the most ground-breaking projects, going deeper into what it’s all about, putting faces to names you only know from reading them online, meeting hundreds of other Transitioners from all over, and going home revitalised, refocused and refreshed.
There will be 3 sessions of workshops, 10 in each. The workshops are also, of course, only a small part of the overall programme. There will also be many opportunities to meet other Transitioners and find out what they are up to, including the chance to meet in theme groups, so you can, for example, connect with all those who share your passion for local energy, food or education. There will be some large group activities, which were, for many, the highlight of last year’s conference.
Also, this year we are trying a different approach, substituting Open Space, which has been a focal point for each of our previous conferences, with the Fishbowl technique, which will allow a much deeper exploration of some of the more charged and pertinent issues that you bring to the conference.
Please book accommodation and meals as soon as possible as we have to give final numbers to the venue around two weeks before the Conference. There are still plenty of concession spaces left. If you need one, please contact us at transitionconference@googlemail.com
Here is more of what is being planned:
http://tinyurl.com/TTconf2011-whycome
COMMUNITY NEWS
May Transition World Round-up
We start with a bio-waste project Kinsale in Ireland which was the first ever Transition Town in the world; Marlow's project to get 100 homes fitted with solar panels is on target; Bridport in Dorset joined forces with a local school and helped them grow their own vegetables, plus many more here:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-30/may-round-whats-happening-transition
US Edition - May Transition World Round-up
In Texas, Transition Houston held their 5th Permablitz
In Colorado, volunteers from Grow Local Colorado (a project of Transition Denver converged on the Colorado State Governor's lawn
In Minnesota, Transition Northfield celebrated their annual Earth Day Celebration indoors with music and treats and learned how to install a rain barrel
http://transitionus.org/stories/may-round-whats-happening-world-transition-us-edition-2011
Draught-Busting Workshops
In North London Transition Belsize Draught Busting workshops are helping the community stay warm, save money and tackling fuel poverty.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/catrina-pickering/2011-05/draught-busting-phenomena-saving-money-saving-carbon-and-staying-war
Bicycles for Community Building
A project exploring all the ways bicycles can be used in our lives in transition has built a facility for bicycle maintenance, repair, and building special bicycles.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/bicycle-use-community-building
Transitioner selected for Yellow Pages cover
Big cheer for Sandra Murray, founder of Transition Launceston in Tasmania, for being on this year's cover of their local Yellow pages. The theme for the book cover this year is "Australians creating a better future".
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-24/transitioner-selected-yellow-pages-cover
Transition Network Diversity Newsletter May 2011
Includes Launch of Transition Network Diversity Sub-Site; Celebrating Heroes with the Brixton Pound; Research on Diversity and Inclusion in Durham and more:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-25/transition-network-diversity-newsletter-may-2011
COMING UP
Social Reporting Pilot Call To Action
Calling all writers, photographers citizen journalists, community blog editors and everyone who has a story to tell. This September we’re launching an innovative and ambitious Social Reporting project that sets out to explore and communicate the different issues and experiences of being in Transition. And we’re looking for 12 correspondents in the UK to tell their initiatives' story from the front-line, on line, over a three month period between August and December 2011.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2011-06/social-reporting-project-call-reporters
An update on 'In Transition 2.0' - the film
The ‘In Transition 2.0' team have had a sneak preview of Rob’s now-complete manuscript and meetings are well underway to co-ordinate this huge film effort. We’ve heard from filmmakers and Transitioners in Argentina, Australia, California, Canada, France, Isle of Man, New York, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, and Spain.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-24/update-transition-20-film
UK Allotment Waiting Lists 2011 Report
Transition West Kirby have just finished their annual survey of allotment waiting lists across the country. The report demonstrates that demand for allotments remains high, and there seems to have been little increase in supply - the number of plots in new allotment sites brought into use by local authorities in the last year represents only about 1% of the number of people on local authority waiting lists.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-18/uk-allotment-waiting-lists-report
Free Trees For Communities
The Woodland Trust is offering free trees for communities to plant in their neighbourhoods in order to double the number of native trees in the UK.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-05/free-trees-communities

THINKING OUT LOUD
No More Need to Talk to Talk About Peak Oil?
Has everybody has now heard so much about climate change, peak oil and sustainability that there is nobody left who can genuinely call themselves undecided?
http://transitionculture.org/2011/05/19/might-peak-oil-and-climate-change-outlive-their-usefulness-as-framings-for-transition/
Transition and Activism
Charlotte Du Cann from Transition Norwich and Bungay agreed to write us an article 'Transition and activism'. She sees it as a working document, designed to inspire conversation, and it's certainly done that. The question is if Transition embraced activism “as a dynamic force within the whole pattern of Transition ” as Charlotte writes would it be strengthened or, as Rob Hopkins has replied, would it in fact it do just the opposite? Join the discussion here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-05-31/transition-and-activism
Transition and Entertainment
What does a resilient entertainment industry look like?
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/05/transition-and-entertainment.html
When Is a Meeting Not a Meeting?
Once upon a time in a small artist's studio three people who live in the north of Norwich were sitting round a table trying to work out what to do. They loved Transition Norwich, and they loved where they lived, but no one came to their meetings. After half an hour wondering they came up with the only legal answer: A PARTY!!
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/05/once-upon-time-not-very-far-away_20.html
Toads Talk Transport
One wet night in February I picked up a large, old female toad on her way to the pond and she asked me why there were so many more cars going through the village now.
http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2011/05/toads-talk-transport.html

OTHER EVENTS
Quaker and Transition conference: 24 - 26th June, Birmingham
Real Farm Festival: 17-19th June, near Stevenage
Building Community in the Long Emergency: 27 June - 2nd July, Schumacher College
London Permaculture Festival - 16th July
The Green Gathering 28th July - 1st August
Uncivilization: The Dark Mountain Festival 19-21st August
Economics for Transition -a masters degree course - September
'On The Money': Currency Design Workshop at Findhorn - September, Schumacher College
These and many more here:
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/events
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
The triple crunch won't be pretty. ATMs freeze up, the planet warms up and the lights go out. [However] the prevailing belief is that the global economy had a narrow escape in late 2008 but has emerged pretty much unscathed. Job done. Time to go back to sleep. Only wake us again if there is another chance that the banks might run out of money.
Larry Elliott, The Guardian 1st June 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/31/triple-crunch-economic-torpor

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns
Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newsletter
This newsletter is published on the first Friday of each month.
Newsletter Editor: Mike Grenville, from Transition Forest Row
Contact: transitionnetworknews@googlemail.com
+44 (0)7974 924289 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 (0)7974 924289     
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Friday, 27 May 2011

Transition Network Diversity Newsletter May 2011

Transition Network Newsletter Header image
Transition Network Diversity Newsletter
Bi-Monthly Newsletter May 2011
View this newsletter online

WELCOME to the Transition Network’s Diversity and Inclusion newsletter. This newsletter is compiled by Catrina Pickering, Diversity Coordinator, Transition Network. I aim to get this newsletter out to you approximately every two months.

Transition Network Diversity and Inclusion News

LEYTONSTONE: Report from Winter Faiths Festival
Report on a faith inspired weekend celebration of sustainable living, with food, hospitality and entertainment held by Transition Leytonstone (East London) in partnership with Sacred Roots, a Muslim-led organisation promoting interfaith dialogue through arts and culture. Aiming to make the events programme socially inclusive, culturally varied and engaging, we strove together to deliver a mixture of environmental information and entertainment.
Read more on the Transition Network site

The Draught-Busting Phenomena: Saving money, saving carbon and staying warm

16% of UK households are in fuel poverty which means that they spend more than 10% of their income on energy in the home. Transition projects that help people to save money by boosting home energy efficiency meet a fundamental need of staying warm in winter while also lowering carbon emissions. Draught-busting teaches people the skills needed to fit cheap draught proofing products that insulate against cold draughts in their homes. Since 2009, Transition Belsize in London have held more than 20 workshops that have bought local people together to have fun, learn skills, reduce carbon and combat fuel poverty.
Read more on the Transition Network site
Transition Network Conference, Liverpool, 8-10th July
The Transition Network conference 2011 will take place from 8-11th July in Liverpool and is now open for bookings. This year's conference theme is living well in uncertain times. Through workshops, discussions and skill-sharing, there will be lots of opportunities to explore themes around diversity and social justice. For example, how can we all live well in changing times? What is the role of power in Transition? How can all people in a community contribute and have their needs met while transitioning to a low carbon, post oil world? How do we create inclusive social enterprises?
We’re also working hard to maximise accessibility through:
  • Ensuring that we have a venue that is physically accessible to all. Read the conference page for information on access needs
  • Concessions for those who would otherwise not be able to attend as well as a concessions fund for those who wish to donate to help someone else with the cost of their ticket.
  • A family friendly kids' conference that will run alongside and mesh together with the main conference.
Hope to see you there!
Transition Movie the second: In Transition 2.0
The Transition movie 1.0 was a roaring success. The Transition movie 2.0 is now in production and we’re looking for your stories and videos. We want to make a movie that yes, looks at how communities are building resilience against climate change and peak oil. We also want to make a movie that shows how communities are doing this through a lens of social justice that enables everyone in a community to live well in changing times. If you are doing activities around this then we’d love to hear from you and have your project included in the forthcoming film. Please get in touch by emailing Catrina.
Launch of Transition Network Diversity Sub-Site
The diversity sub-site brings together all the news, projects, people and blogs related to diversity and inclusion in one page on the Transition Network site. So whether you want to find inspiration for diversity projects or find people in Transition that are working on social justice, this is the place to find it.
See the Diversity sub-site on the Transition Network site
BRIXTON: Celebrating Heroes with the Brixton Pound
Transition Brixton in South London is based in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community, with history and achievements to be proud of. They’re working to engage members of their very diverse local community, to make their stories heard, and to involve them in the design of the second issue of the Brixton Pound notes. They’re competing for a £5,000 Co-op grant. If successful, they will collect people’s stories about local unsung heroes and their thoughts about Brixton. With the Brixton Heroes project, they seek to counteract negative stereotypes, and to give Brixton’s local people and communities a stronger voice to talk about their experiences and what matters to them.
Read more on the Transition Network site
Read more about the project on the Brixton Pound site, and vote for them to win the Coop Join the Revolution award.
DURHAM: Action Research on Diversity and Inclusion
Transition Durham is undertaking action research on the topic of diversity and inclusion within the initiative. Firstly, they will be reflecting back over our history and our current activities to identify any unintentional barriers they may have created. Secondly, they will begin investigating new avenues to becoming more involved in and building or extending links in the community. The research is being managed by Louise Senior from Durham University as part of her MSc Development Anthropology dissertation and should be completed by September 2011.
If you’re interested in the research and want to know more, or think you have something to offer to this research, please email her or comment on the Forum on the Transition Network site.

News, events and resources from elsewhere

Workshop on Rank, Power and Conflict Facilitation, 15-17th July, Totnes
Process Oriented Psychology, founded by Dr. Arnold Mindell, offers powerful tools for making group life flow more smoothly in connection with an earth based approach to life. It recognises that anyone can help facilitate a group, whether you are a participant facilitator or an official leader. This seminar is for anyone interested in improving their understanding of groups and in gaining methods to use as facilitators, participants, therapists or in organisational development.
Cost £180 (£160 if £50 deposit received by 1st June 2011). Some concessions/ scholarships available for those active in Transition. Registration & info email Sue Milner or call 01364 643108 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01364 643108      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
See the workshop on the Transition Network site
Quaker and Transition conference: 24 - 26th June, Birmingham
A weekend for Quakers involved in Transition Initiatives. If you are a Quaker already engaged, or just starting to get involved, in Transition activity (or other similar low-carbon communities), this weekend is for you. Come as an individual, or come representing your meeting’s involvement. We aim to share and learn from each other’s experiences, and look at what Quakers can both contribute to, and learn from, collaborative work in our local communities. Is there something unique that Quakers can bring, from our processes and testimonies?
See the workshop on the Transition Network site

Over to you...

If you’ve got news items, events or something you’re proud of that you’d like to include in the next Diversity Newsletter edition, please let us know by emailing Catrina Pickering.
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Veolia Lose Rainworth and Sherwood Forest Win - NO to Incinerator

We keep our Landscape and move on to a Regional Park fit to live in.

Pickles rejects Sherwood Forest Incinerator

Following a public inquiry, the Secretary of State Eric Pickles has refused planning permission for Veolia’s proposed 180,000 tonne waste incinerator in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire. The public inquiry, which was presided over by Inspector Rupert Grantham, opened in October 2009 and was adjourned twice at the request of Veolia to allow them time to submit further evidence.

The greenfield site, owned by UK Coal and subject to a planning condition requiring restoration to heathland and woodland, is in the heart of Sherwood Forest, and is used by rare and protected bird species such as woodlark and nightjar.

Local campaign group People Against Incineration (PAIN) were joined by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Newark & Sherwood District Council in opposing the application at the public inquiry. There was also a community evening where local residents voiced their opposition to the incinerator.

In the Planning Inspector’s view: “...Veolia have failed to show use of the Rufford facility would not prejudice further movement up the waste hierarchy...Recognition that the site is not previously developed land would have ruled it out at an early stage in the site selection process. I have also identified significant shortcomings in the subsequent assessment of this and other shortlisted sites. To my mind, the appraisal of alternative sites has not been robust”.

PAIN’s Chairman, Bernard Thompson, said: “This is a happy day for the people of Rainworth, and for all who care about Sherwood Forest. I would like to thank everyone involved. Local support remained solid over many years of campaigning. We have utmost respect for the Planning Inspector, Mr Rupert Grantham, who treated all parties fairly and arrived at the right conclusion.”

Shlomo Dowen, who gave evidence on behalf of PAIN at the inquiry, said: “It is unfortunate that Veolia and Nottinghamshire County Council have squandered so much time and public money on this misadventure. Now that this distraction is over PAIN looks forward to working with our County Council to ensure that Nottinghamshire’s ever-decreasing quantity of waste is managed sustainably.”

Newark & Sherwood District Councillor Linda Tift said: “I am overjoyed to hear that this beloved site will be protected from development. The site is clearly important to nature conservation and is surrounded by Sites of Special Scientific Interest. I hope that UK Coal will now honour their promise to return the site to heathland so that the community’s vision for the area to be restored and included in a Sherwood Forest Regional Park can be realised.”

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Friday, 6 May 2011

Sherwood Forest May 2011 Transition Network Newsletter

Transition Network
May 2011 Transition Network Newsletter
CONTENTS
 
THE 2011 NETWORK UK CONFERENCE
LOCAL STUFF
~ April Round Up of What's Happening in Transition
~ People of Tottenham Street
~ Free Trees for Communities
VIDEOS
~ Movie 2.0
~ How Can We Grow More Food Locally?
THINKING ALOUD
~ Inconvenient Truths About the Coming Transition
~ Activism and Transition
PEAK OIL
~ Oil Crunch Video
~ ASPO 9 Conference Presentations
~ On Peak Oil, You Are Not Alone
~ How Many Days Work in A Litre of Oil?
ELECTRICITY
~ Community-owned Solar Powers Brewery 
~ Linlithgow’s Solar Bulk Buying Scheme
EVENTS
~ Green Gathering is back 
~ Sunrise Festival 
~ London and Thames Valley Transition Gathering, 11-June
~ Plus lots more 
TRAINING
~ Grow your Group
TECH BYTES
~ Syndication and Social Media
~ What is the best way for Transition Initiatives to use Facebook and Twitter? 
~ Facebook page. 
QUOTE OF The MONTH
~ And Finally....
 
 
THE 2011 NETWORK UK CONFERENCE
Liverpool Hope University  8th - 11th July.
The programme schedule is underway. The programme design team consists of Rob Hopkins, Jo Hardy, Steph Bradley and Pete Lipman. We will publish the programme as it emerges with an update in June's newsletter. You can be sure it will be a veritable smorgasbord of knowledge, activities, experience and discussion on topics close to our practical experiences on the ground. If you want to suggest a workshop, please email workshops@transitionnetwork.org with the following:
 
~ Title
~ Description: maximum one short paragraph
~ Benefits for Transitioners
~ Time needed for workshop
 
Please note that we welcome all workshop proposals. However, we can't guarantee you a slot as time is tight! So if you don't get a slot, please don't feel bad, and remember that there's always next year. 
 
Read more about it and book your ticket here
 
LOCAL STUFF
 
April Round Up of What's Happening in Transition
Our tour this month starts in Australia, across to South Africa, then around the UK from Worthing, to Maidenhead, Amersham, Lewes and London plus more but we must also mention Germany, Ireland before we hop across to North America. 
 
 
People of Tottenham Street
How well do you know your neighbours? Having lived in Fitzrovia for over 48 years Fiona Green decided it was time to pay a tribute to all her lovely neighbours.
 
Free Trees for Communities
The Woodland Trust is offering free trees for communities to plant in their neighbourhoods in order to double the number of native trees in the UK.
 
VIDEOS
 
Movie 2.0
Shown thousands of times around the world, ‘In Transition1.0' has done a huge amount to support initiatives and give them a good “so this is what Transition is” resource. Things have moved on a lot since then, so we are going to make a second one, provisionally titled (imaginatively) “In Transition 2.0.“
 
 
How Can We Grow More Food Locally?
Transition Bath made a film from an excellent talk they hosted 
 
THINKING ALOUD
 
Inconvenient Truths About the Coming Transition
Skill-swapping, gardening, knowing your neighbours – these are brilliant and vital parts of a hopeful future. But all the warm and fuzzy feelings we get from sharing bran muffins in the local town hall can sometimes obscure rather than highlight the reality of the situation we’re in.
 
Activism and Transition
There are some very interesting stories of Transition Initiatives finding themselves coming closer than expected to activist groups and activism in general. Do you have any thoughts or experiences about it? We're looking into this as it's clearly quite controversial, and going to be increasingly important for Transition Initiatives in times to come. Join the discussion here:
 
PEAK OIL
 
Oil Crunch Video
An excellent new 12 min video available online (and to download) about Peak Oil. Jeremey Leggett decribes it as "the best short TV account I have yet seen on the peak-oil problem". He notes that "In it the IEA's chief economist is teased into going as far as I have ever seen or heard him go in saying that a crisis of global oil supply is near." Leggett adds that "a poll of oil-and-gas industry leaders shows that the majority  now think that the biggest share of world energy in 2025 will be held not by oil or gas, or coal, but renewables."
 
ASPO 9 Conference Presentations
The ninth international conference of the Association For the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) took place at the end of April in Brussels. The presentation slides & videos are online. 
 
On Peak Oil, You Are Not Alone
While the signs are all around us nobody knows, and nobody cares. At least that’s how it seems. But people know something’s up.
 
How Many Days Work in A Litre of Oil?
Having often quoted “1 litre of oil equals 35 days of human work”, Rob Hopkins found his number challenged which sparked a lively discussion about what the real number is.
 
ELECTRICITY
 
Community-owned Solar Powers Brewery 
A project to put solar panels on the roof of Harvey's brewery in Lewes is tantalisingly close with only about £20,000 still to be raised this weekend.

Rob Hopkins has written a 'Transition Ingredient' about "Investing in Transition"  which covers the many ways Transition Initiatives can invest in their local communities
http://transitionculture.org/2011/05/03/ingredients-of-transition-investing-in-transition/
 
 
Linlithgow’s Solar Bulk Buying Scheme
In 2010 Transition Linlithgow began ambitious bulk buying project for solar thermal heating systems for over 160 homes.
 
EVENTS
 
Green Gathering is back - smaller but perfectly formed with a Transition area 28 July - 1 Aug 

Sunrise Festival will again be featuring the Transition Tin Village with
a full programme of workshops and films. 2 - 5th June
 
London and Thames Valley Transition Gathering, 11-June
Grow Heathrow is hosting a gathering for Transition Towns based in
London & the Thames Valley area.
 
 
Plus there are lots more in the directory including:
~ 'Imagine There’s a Future' short story competition for writers resident in SW England.
~ A weekend for Quakers in local Transition initiatives
~ Dragon Dreaming Training
~ London Permaculture Festival 2011 - Sat 16th July
 
TRAINING
There are a couple of places left in the training in London on May 14/15, and we can do those for a discounted price and also places left on Wivenhoe, Essex training 4/5th June.
 
Grow your Group
How thriving is your group? Is it in the first flush of action and enthusiasm? How will you
keep it so? Is it shrinking into a small core of overwhelmed people? GROW YOUR GROUP consultancy and training believe that successful groups need the same sort of care and attention as a garden.
 
TECH BYTES
 
Syndication and Social Media
We now have a page to explain where else we live on the web; to provide the more 'social network-y' types with our social network locations, and the initiative webmasters among you with tools to connect your sites with ours, and the most popular feeds to embed on your sites and aggregators.
 
What is the best way for Transition Initiatives to use Facebook and Twitter? 
Join the discussion here

And of course, we must mention that we now have an
Official Transition Network Facebook page. 
 
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Happiness and good conversation are carbon-negative technologies that deserve re-discovery.
Energy Bulletin Editor
 
And Finally....
Gort and Klaatu's blog
Our poor specimen earthling continues his adventures into possible futures.
 
Follow Transition Network on Twitter 
 
Find previous editions of the newsletter here 
This newsletter is published on the first Friday of each month.
 
Newsletter Editor: Mike Grenville, from Transition Forest Row
Contact: transitionnetworknews@googlemail.com
+44 (0)7974 924289 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 (0)7974 924289      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
 
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Sunday, 1 May 2011

Special Trees of Sherwood Walks May 2011



Saturday 14th May 10-30am - 1.00
Thynghowe Trail

A gentle Stroll along forestry boundaries and tracks to the Viking Assembly of Thynghowe

Sunday 15 May 10.30am - 1.00pm
King's Wood & St Edwin's Chapel

An easy stroll around the sweet chestnut and oak wood witk owners and foresters Stuart Reddish and Lynda Mallett. Hear the story of centuries of woodland management including medieval deer leaps and ancient coppicing, then visit the site of St Edwin's Chapel.

Booking Details

For further details, contact the Trust on 01623 821490 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01623 821490      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01623 821490      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01623 821490     

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