Comments on: Bristol Meeting about the Transition Network Structure Document http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/ An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:35:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: lucy neal http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/comment-page-1/#comment-59422 lucy neal Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:36:07 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=1602#comment-59422 <p>Keeping Peak Oil and Climate Change as the 2 main challenges feels essential. This duality (and oscillation v the 2) feels like the bit of grit in the TT oyster shell. Everything else can be (will be) complicated - keep this simple.</p> Keeping Peak Oil and Climate Change as the 2 main challenges feels essential. This duality (and oscillation v the 2) feels like the bit of grit in the TT oyster shell. Everything else can be (will be) complicated – keep this simple.

]]> By: Sylvia Rose http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/comment-page-1/#comment-59418 Sylvia Rose Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:55:12 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=1602#comment-59418 <p>Thinking about structures for the Transition movement, I think it's important (for both practical and principled reasons) to keep them as horizontal as possible, allowing for both autonomy for individual groups and for clear communication between groups. One way to promote autonomy while keeping the 'brand' consistent is to have a very clear and comprehensive statement of values and principles, which details not only the core concerns ie energy descent, etc, but also all the values which we probably take for granted as understood, ie issues of equality, valuing diversity, social justice, balancing personal autonomy with social responsibility etc. It would then be very clear that the movement was entitled to disenfranchise any potential Transition BNP groups and suchlike.</p> <p>One example of how this has worked in practice is the Reclaiming tradition, an Earth-based spirituality movement founded by Starhawk and others, which has grown from a single coven to a worldwide network of autonomous individuals and groups, all (reasonably) united by ascribing to the same 'Principles of Unity':</p> <p>http://www.reclaiming.org/about/directions/unity.html</p> <p>Incidentally, they also work to a strong and successful model of consensus decision making, without recourse for voting. All such models have their flaws, but in my experience, any time that it costs in taking longer to make decisions is more than repaid afterwards by everyone's much greater committment to enacting those decisions. And it gives a much clearer committment to 'bottom up' empowerment, which is surely what Transitioning needs to be all about.</p> Thinking about structures for the Transition movement, I think it’s important (for both practical and principled reasons) to keep them as horizontal as possible, allowing for both autonomy for individual groups and for clear communication between groups. One way to promote autonomy while keeping the ‘brand’ consistent is to have a very clear and comprehensive statement of values and principles, which details not only the core concerns ie energy descent, etc, but also all the values which we probably take for granted as understood, ie issues of equality, valuing diversity, social justice, balancing personal autonomy with social responsibility etc. It would then be very clear that the movement was entitled to disenfranchise any potential Transition BNP groups and suchlike.

One example of how this has worked in practice is the Reclaiming tradition, an Earth-based spirituality movement founded by Starhawk and others, which has grown from a single coven to a worldwide network of autonomous individuals and groups, all (reasonably) united by ascribing to the same ‘Principles of Unity’:

http://www.reclaiming.org/about/directions/unity.html

Incidentally, they also work to a strong and successful model of consensus decision making, without recourse for voting. All such models have their flaws, but in my experience, any time that it costs in taking longer to make decisions is more than repaid afterwards by everyone’s much greater committment to enacting those decisions. And it gives a much clearer committment to ‘bottom up’ empowerment, which is surely what Transitioning needs to be all about.

]]> By: Jude English http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/comment-page-1/#comment-59408 Jude English Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:04:15 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=1602#comment-59408 <p>I feel there may be a useful structure already in existence that seems to offer a well tested model for Transition, that is the co-operative movement. As a member I agree to certain principles and trust that when I deal with a fellow co-operator or co-operative business we share a common goal. This movement operates through social and community business with training and support, has its own political wing and is international in scope. Is it time for Transition Co-operatives -which of course can take many forms.</p> I feel there may be a useful structure already in existence that seems to offer a well tested model for Transition, that is the co-operative movement.
As a member I agree to certain principles and trust that when I deal with a fellow co-operator or co-operative business we share a common goal. This movement operates through social and community business with training and support, has its own political wing and is international in scope.
Is it time for Transition Co-operatives -which of course can take many forms.

]]> By: John Marshall http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/comment-page-1/#comment-59389 John Marshall Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:33:15 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=1602#comment-59389 <p>We have a shared vision and Peter's statement sums it up well. Climate change and peak oil point to the need for change over time. An organic structure together with the trust that this infers is paramount in dealing with the need to respond to changing circumstances. We should avoid developing unnecessary inertia.</p> We have a shared vision and Peter’s statement sums it up well. Climate change and peak oil point to the need for change over time. An organic structure together with the trust that this infers is paramount in dealing with the need to respond to changing circumstances. We should avoid developing unnecessary inertia.

]]> By: Kamil Pachalko http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/comment-page-1/#comment-59387 Kamil Pachalko Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:45:04 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=1602#comment-59387 <p>Thanks for all the hard work ladies and gentlemen:)</p> <p>I like the focus on trust within Transition Movement and wonder if my own nagging thoughts on putting some regulatory measures into the Movement to prevent the spread of unwanted ideas isn't just a sign of my own despair and lack of trust which I developed looking more critically at politics, business and societies passiveness to the problems it is facing.</p> <p>I think Fukuyama wrote quite a bit on trust as social capital which allows a group to minimize organizational costs. With trust you don't need costly monitoring of the others work as you share a common ideal and vision. From the IMF:) http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/seminar/1999/reforms/fukuyama.htm</p> <p>This seems to work on this stage of transition but I wonder what will happen if we move on and spread ourselves over a bigger population. Or when the society gets into a crisis and will try to tap on our knowledge massively will be able to keep the vision and coherence?</p> <p>Well again... I think I'll just work on developing trust. And I trust you ladies and gentlemen but will still keep an eye on you:)</p> Thanks for all the hard work ladies and gentlemen:)

I like the focus on trust within Transition Movement and wonder if my own nagging thoughts on putting some regulatory measures into the Movement to prevent the spread of unwanted ideas isn’t just a sign of my own despair and lack of trust which I developed looking more critically at politics, business and societies passiveness to the problems it is facing.

I think Fukuyama wrote quite a bit on trust as social capital which allows a group to minimize organizational costs. With trust you don’t need costly monitoring of the others work as you share a common ideal and vision.
From the IMF:)
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/seminar/1999/reforms/fukuyama.htm

This seems to work on this stage of transition but I wonder what will happen if we move on and spread ourselves over a bigger population. Or when the society gets into a crisis and will try to tap on our knowledge massively will be able to keep the vision and coherence?

Well again… I think I’ll just work on developing trust. And I trust you ladies and gentlemen but will still keep an eye on you:)

]]>