Transition: what does it mean?

So, what does it mean to Martley residents? Does it concern us at all? I happen to believe it does.
It’s hard to avoid the phrases “climate change” and “peak oil” these days. It’s everywhere in the media: mankind is about to face some of the toughest challenges ever. They will affect us all.
But what can we do to ease the transition from our current way of life to a more sustainable one? Many people have already switched to using energy-saving light bulbs and recycling waste. More people are being inspired to ‘grow their own’, are composting their garden and kitchen waste and using the recycling facilities provided by our local council. But what else can we do? It is easy to feel isolated and helpless in the face of such a problem. Enter Transition.
The transition movement originated from work Rob Hoskins did with students of Kinsale College in writing an "Energy Descent Action Plan". Transition supports the local community, raising awareness of sustainable living and building future local resilience. Communities are encouraged to find ways of reducing energy usage as well as increasing their own self reliance — a slogan of the movement is "Food feet, not ‘food miles’! A Transition Town is a community in a process of creating a future that:
addresses the challenges of diminishing oil and gas supplies and climate change
creates the kind of community that we would all want to be part of.
But.....

• if we wait for the governments, it'll be too little, too late
• if we act as individuals, it'll be too little
• but if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.
  

Some Transition Working Groups:

Food

From supporting local producers, to growing and cooking one’s own food, including composting at home, land/garden-share, allotments etc. Community-supported Agricultural schemes, and Community gardens and Farmers Markets. Reducing food miles.
Social; Locally run community events, large and small.

Transport

Car-share schemes. Cycling. Encouraging walking or cycling to work/school.
Energy; From insulation clubs where people learn how to reduce heating bills to local, to community green energy production.

Re-use, recycle, and repair ...

rather than throw away. Swap shops, bring and buy sales, re- learning old ‘make do and mend’ skills.

Waste

Encouraging people to buy wisely, reducing packaging, composting, recycling and re-using rather than throwing away. Saying “no” to plastic bags!
Local economy; Supporting local trading and exchange within local communities.
Heart & Soul, and Health groups; Local support groups for body and mind.
Visit www.transitionnetwork.org for more information
and www.transitionmalvernhills.org.uk for information about our local initiative.
Get involved!!! Everyone has something to offer. Everyone has something to gain. Help build a positive future for Martley!

Some facts for you to think about:
How we use oil: 130kg packaging made from oil-derived plastics is consumed by British households each year. 2/3 of it is used in food production. 57miles is the average distance a tonne of freight now travels by road. In 1953 it was 21 miles. 95% of our food products require the use of oil, and the supply of food accounts for 21% of Britain's energy use. 3.5 ltrs of oil is needed to produce 1/2 a kg of steak.

Angie Hill April 2010

Did you know?

Our Village Hall Committee are planning to replace the current elderly heatitng system with a greener alternative - probably based on a heat-exchange system (a bit like a fridge in reverse) that uses the ambient heat of the air.
Leominster are planning to install a heating system that will heat their public buildings using compostable waste - garden waste and so on. msh May 2010