Comments on: What Can Happen When a Transition Initiative and its Local Government Work Together: the Stroud Story

By: Keith Farnish

Keith Farnish — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:28:56 +0000

I have no problem with councillors as people, Adrian – there are good people in oil companies, car companies, hell, even the Labour Party! It’s councils and all other bodies that have been granted de facto “authority” I have a problem with. Hierarchical structures are incompatible with sustainable living and any concept of real community that I am familiar with.

Change, if it to achieve anything within the window of avoiding catastrophic environmental and societal collapse will (have to) happen in sudden jerks; it won’t be comfortable for the majority, but the majority need shocks to wake them from their brainwashed slumbers – the “credit crunch” is one such shock.

I recommend you read from Chapter 11 of A Matter Of Scale (http://www.amatterofscale.com) to get the full picture.

Cheers

By: Adrian Skilling

Adrian Skilling — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:05:03 +0000

In the past, Keith, I would have been with your pessimism that it wasnt worth engaging with local government. But the experience of Transition Stroud shows that things can be achieved. May not as fast and in quite the way we’d like but achieved, and its very important that things are achieved.

Recently I’ve worked in a campaign group engaging with the town council to stop a house building program, and with local MPs (not Labour though). We’ve found extremely capable councillors and MPs willing to work with us and against government policy. But its my impression that there are very disparate people within local councils. The rigid framework they are forced to work with can grind them down and it takes energy to push against the flow. So most don’t bother. But some really do want to make a difference. Its also my impression that as you move up government, particularly into the ruling party then you encounter more and more opposition. But the only way is to keep up the pressure and accept that change may be slow, but it will come I believe. It could be a better way than a revolution. But I accept sometimes it might seem finely balanced

By: Keith Farnish

Keith Farnish — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:07 +0000

I worry about this for two reasons: first, that Stroud — although not a large town — could not become self-sufficient in food by any stretch of the imagination. The term “Transition Town” is not strictly a misnomer (given the word “transition” as a pointer to something after) but is close to one. I wonder how many Transition groups have worked out how much external land is required to feed, clothe and provide additional materials for a TT. Urban transition areas can never be self-sufficient, so perhaps another term is required (“Escape Committee”?)

Second, I can’t see how local authorities, predicated on economic growth, and maintaining strict hierarchical structures and incestuous relationships with business (as they do) can be anything but a burden to the Transition Movement. Surely what is required is some kind of “shadow community” that works to usurp the business-obsessed status quo. Politics is a dangerous avenue for anyone who really wants change – the whole system is toxic.

And, BTW, I have great respect for everyone working for real change; we just have to make sure we have our eyes fully open.

By: Toni

Toni — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:52:45 +0000

What a fantastic story. You have achieved such a lot in just two years. I am really impressed.