An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent
Transition Culture has moved
I no longer blog on this site. You can now find me, my general blogs, and the work I am doing researching my forthcoming book on imagination, on my new blog.
Here is something rather wonderful that emerged in late 2008 from New Zealand, thanks for Dr. Susan Krundieck (about whom more below). It is an update of the US Declaration of Independence, brought up to date for a generation facing peak oil, climate change and economic contraction, and is attributed to the Representatives of the Transition Committee of Oamaru (a town in New Zealand). I love the list of ‘the Growth Economy has for its own sake…’ accusations statements… there is a deep, forceful power to this, a clearly spoken and resonant declaration of intent. Prepare yourself for a goosebumps moment.
We landed in Vancouver in pouring rain, reflecting on the new meanness of air carriers, having been transported from New York to the west coast in a journey of 6 hours starting at 7am with nothing but poor bagels you have to pay for as breakfast. A wonderful sign of the effects of oil prices, and a bit hard on the stomach. The bus and ferry ride over to Victoria Island were grey, still, foggy. We got one view of the snowy mountains by Seattle from the southern coast before the mist settled in, to remain for the duration despite promises that bad weather never lasts.
John Papworth’s journal Fourth World Review (4WR) has recently undergone a shift in emphasis, and finds itself under new management and dedicating its focus to Transition. It has become, in effect, the Transition Journal, offering weightier articles than you might find, for example, here at Transition Culture (ie. no articles about UFOs or handbags), creating a very welcome addition to the world of Transition-related publishing. 4WR is under the very capable editorship of Jon Hughes. The most recent edition contains excellent articles, by luminaries such as Kirkpatrick Sale, Peter North and others. It is essential reading, and will be published every 2 months.
Saw a wonderful film a while ago called ‘Bombs at Teatime’, a collection of archive films made during World War Two as part of the public education campaign that led to the emergence of Dig for Victory, rationing and so on. Although they were very much of their time, media and film-making having moved on vastly since, there are still some fascinating insights here into how one might communicate thift and conservation. The first is a wonderfully stilted film called ‘Two Cooks and a Cabbage’ which is about the right and wrong way to cook a cabbage.
I have had a copy of the initial edition of this small book for many years. Graham both wrote and illustrated the book, and it has a very distinctive look and feel which are particular to his work. His particular background and his perspective on permaculture emerges from a long background in anarchism, veganism, and a more urban, communitarian approach than some more rural-focused writers such as Patrick Whitefield. He is also active in Transition Westcliffe-on-Sea.
How might our response to peak oil and climate change look more like a party than a protest march? This site explores the emerging transition model in its many manifestations
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Here is something rather wonderful that emerged in late 2008 from New Zealand, thanks for Dr. Susan Krundieck (about whom more below). It is an update of the US Declaration of Independence, brought up to date for a generation facing peak oil, climate change and economic contraction, and is attributed to the Representatives of the Transition Committee of Oamaru (a town in New Zealand). I love the list of ‘the Growth Economy has for its own sake…’ accusations statements… there is a deep, forceful power to this, a clearly spoken and resonant declaration of intent. Prepare yourself for a goosebumps moment.
