Sustainable Living: What Is Transition?
It’s an interesting word Transition, don’t you think?
I mean to me it’s much softer than the word Change and yet, at it’s deepest level it means much the same thing. I realise it means change but it has so much more potential.
I used to work in a government department that was charged with organisational change – in those days that was shorthand for a lot of people losing their jobs and everyone else being jollied along to pick up the workload. Transition on the other hand means change yes, but it also has the potential to mean “evolution” to something different and that has the potential to mean something better.
Now, my dictionary says that Transition is “the act of changing or passing from one form, state, subject or place to another.”
Now that sounds participatory and creative and interesting to me, whereas change sounds nasty, like a top-down decision that I’m just going to have to live with. Transition sounds like it can be pulled of by anyone, with a little style even and that is what I think the Transition Movement, which is spreading all over the world, is all about.
Now this movement under it’s current guise, started in the UK but it began spreading itself around the world very quickly, anywhere there are “thinking people”, it will find a home.
The basic premise of the movement is to come up with solutions to the massive issues of Peak Oil and Climate Change but the difference is that the solutions are being sought with the aim of making communities, local areas and regions strong enough, diverse enough, resilient enough to not just survive in a post oil society with a very different climate but to thrive.
If you click on this link, you will find the Transition Primer which will give you the heads up on the important aspects of this movement… it’s FREE so download it today. Of course, there is a book and a website and a forum, so if you are the kind of person who just might be looking for a bit of a plan to help you develop the mindset, the skills set, the community connections and the enthusiasm to face to coming transition with a modecum of style rather than the mass panic developing around the place, these resources could be just the thing you need.
If you click the links you’ll get more information from what I think are credible sources, the books I’ve read (mostly) and are great resources. There is a lot of information and access to a lot of other resources through the links provided above but I’ve also given you some specific links to book that I think are well worth reading. If you are lucky you may be able to borrow them but if you want to or need to buy them, consider doing so via the links below.
The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience (Transition Guides)
If you have read about Permaculture, are an organic gardener or community garden participant then these books are a logical progression.
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability
is another fantastic book by Permaculture co-creator David Holmgren and while I was searching for that one, I discovered a more recent publication (although as yet I’ve not read it) so take a good look around and find the things that resonate with you.
I hope they are of assistance to you as you continue to educate yourself about the very real things that are occurring all around us. I believe that we each have the power to influence how these things play out in our lives, if we educate ourselves and each other, support each other, work together we will build the kind of future where we can live well without biting the very hand that feeds us.
I’ll be outlining some of the projects, steps and connections my family is making in response to Climate Change and Peak Oil There is enough information (through the links in this post) to give you a really good idea of what is happening and perhaps a few very good resources and ideas to get you started on your personal transition to a low energy future. If we do it together we can make it a graceful journey that everyone can take.
If you would like to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the following “Transition Projects” posts, if you would like to gain access to a whole range of tips and advice on how to save energy (and money in the process) just put your name and email address into the box at the top right of this page. I’ve had so much fun making the videos so I really hope you get some great ideas from them.
