WhyTransition Initiatives? A word from AndrewMcNamara THETRANSITION NETWORK The impactof bumingfossil fuels on our climatehas Ahead of his govemment-commissionedreport on becomeobvious. Our streetsare chokedwith cars.We ''sVulnerability to Oil Prices"former QLD are fed, clothedand warmednot by the produceof the MP Andrew McNamara,minister for Sustainability, Edition land aroundus but by food,goods and fuel transported Climate Change and Innovation,talked about the hundredsand thousandsof miles, a systemwhich is importanceof relocalisationin the faceof oil depletion: entirelydependent on suppliesof cheapoil. fackling PeakOil.and Climate Change, The Age of Cheap Oil appearsto have come to its 'There'sno questionwhatsoever that communitydriven together inevitableend. With oil so deeplyembedded in our ways localsolutions will be essential.That's where government of living, from transportationand food productionto will certainlyhave a roleto playin assistingloc€l natworks, consumerproducts, the endof cheapoil will soonhave a who can assistwith local suppliesof food and fuel and severeimpact on the waterand jobs and the thingswe needfrom shops. lt was one of my contentionsin the first speechI made on this Helpingcommunities around the world to issuein February2005... thatwe will see a relocalisationof rebuildlocal resilience and reduce carbon the way in which we live that will remindus of not last emissions century,but the one beforethat. And that's not a badthing. Undoubtedlyone of the cheaperresponses that will be effectiveis promotinglocal consumption, local production, and local distribution.And there are positivespin offs to that in terms of gettingto know our communitiesbetter. There are human and communitybenefits from local networksthat I lookforward to seeinggrow.' Think global,act local TransitionNetwork The Transition Network is a new intemational organisationthat aims to inspire,encourage, network, supportand traincommunities, including existing groups ' www.transilionnetwork.org- Totnes, UK and initiatives,in exploring the transition from oil . www.transitiontowns.org- Totnes, UK dependencyto relocalisedeconomies. . www.seac.net,au - SunshineCoast TransitionInitiatives make no claim to have all the . www.transitionbrisbane.org answers,but by buildingon the wisdomof the past and . www.brisbanetransitionhub.ning.com accessingthe poolof ingenuity,skills and determination in ourcommunities, we believethe solutionswill emerge. Bringingthe head, heart and hands of communitiestogether in the transition to life Now is the time for us to take stock and to start re- Useful readingavailable at BrisbaneCity Council libraries beyondoil creatingour futurein waysthat are not basedon cheap, . TransitionHandbook - Rob Hopkins plentiful polluting and oil but on localised food, . Peak eveMhing: waking up to the century of declines sustainableenergy sources,resilient local economies - Can you imagine life ? andan enlivenedsense of communitywell-being. . Half Gone: oil, gas, hot air and the global energy need profound The for change is urgent and these crisis-Jeremy K Leggett The new TransitionHandbook changescan't happenovemight. We still havesufficient . The Tipping Point: how little things can make a time- if we startnow. difference- MalcolmGladwell (Australian edition) is now available By thinkingand actingtogether, the hansitionto a wayof . : principles & pathways beyond from us at info@transitionbrisbane,org living that consumessubstantially less carbon energy sustainability- Oavid Holmgren and yet is a happier,more fulfilling and abundantplace willbecome much more achievable. Newthinking, new tools GommunityChallenges Firststeps to Transition(continued)

A change to a way of life that can be sustained for The two toughestchallenges facing humankindat the . Use Open Space generationsto come is essential,as is the urgent need to startofthe 21stcentury are climatechange and peakoil. An innovativemeeting technology that brilliantly decarbonise our lives. The transition from our current While the former is well documented and very visible in encouragesand capturesall the creativity, wasteful, polluting and energy intensive way of life, to the media, there is a lot less public awareness arcund intelligenceand problem-solvingideas of the one that uses energy and resources in ways that will the issue of Peak Oil. And yet, the imminent decline of Darticioants enable us, our children and our grandchildrento enjoy a fossil fuel availability that Peak Oil refers to may well . Develop visible manifestations good standardof living in a lower energy context,is vital. prevent the economic and social stabilitythat is essential Prove to everyonearound that your Transition posed At the forefronl of defining this new approach is a if we are to mitigatethe threats by climate change. Initiativeis determinedto implementpractical growing band of communities that are adopting the Transition Initiativescurrently represent one of the most solutions Transition Model to devise an entirely new way of promisingways of engagingpeople and communitiesin . Facilitate the Great Reskilling thinking,living and workingtogether to make our local strengthening lhemselves against the effects of these The Transition Initiativecan reversethe "great communitiesmore resilientand moreabundant. two monumenlal challenges. Furthermore, these deskilling"of the last 40 years by offeringtraining in the vast range of lost practicalskills repairing, "'Recent greenhouse gas emissions place the Earth relocalisationefforts can be designed to result in a life - construction,growing, local economics,elc perilously close to dramatic climate change. We must that is more fulfilling,socially connected and resilient. . begin to move rapidly to a postfossil fuel clean energy "...whatis remarkableis the failurc of politiciansto staft Build a bridge to Local Government system. Moreover, we must remove some carbon that planning in any way for this inevitable transition, or even When the time is right, get your local council on board has collected in the atmosohere since the lndustrial to statTpreparing their electorates for its inevitability" and they'll provide significantsupport . Revolution." - Jonathan Ponitt. Honour the Elders may people your - James Hansen,NASA, leadingclimate scientist. Crucially,these be the only in communitywho know what a lower energy life is like First steps to Transition . Create an Encrgy Descent Plan Aimangfor Transition After about a year, you'll be ready to develop the plan, and the task of transitioningto a life beyond oil These are some examples of the key steps to setting up oe9rns. a TransitionInitiative in your area. TransitionIniliatives insDire the communitiesto come togetherto explorethe practicalitiesof rebuildinglocal . Sel up a sieering group resilienceand reducingcarbon emissions. Establisha core team to drive the projectfoMard duringthe initialphases What'shappening in Brisbane? Typically, solutions will involve some kind of . Awareness raising relocalisationand together, these will eventuallyform the Films,events and talkscan alertthe communityto the backboneof the locallydesigned Energy Descent Action . BrisbaneTransition Hub has been set uo potentialeffects of both Peak Oil and Climate Change Plan.This timetabledroadmap will definethe steps . - the former demandinga drive to increase 10 Brisbane locals attended 2 day workshop run by leadingtowards a life that has minimalreliance on fossil UK TransitionTown trainers fuels,dramatically lowers carbon emissions, and protits communityresilience, the lattera reductionin carbon emissions . First TransitionTown inductionworkshop held for 50 from the abundanceof resourcesand caDabilitieswithin pluspeople ourcommunities. o Lay lhe foundations Build connectionsto existingcomplementary . Local initiativeshave commencedor are commencing initiativesand networkwith existinggroups in Kenmore,The Gap, St John's Wood, West End, . Organise a Great Unleashing Annerleyand the MomingsideWard. A memorableevenl that announcesyour Transition o Successfulworkshop at Greenfest2009 Initiativeto the entire community . Form working groups Set up groups to focus on all key aspectsof local life, lf you want to find out more or become involved, please tappinginto the collectivegenius ofthe community, check out our website: www.lransitionbrisbane.oroor email suchas: energy,food, building, transport, business, us at [email protected] education,health, psychology, waste, local government