2 May 2008: Natural Born SurvivorsArticle in Guardian G2 magazine about Transition Towns, interviewing Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Network31 August 2007: What future Brighton?
Article in Rocks Magazine about the formation of Transition Brighton and Hove
Press articles about TBH
Notes on Meeting - 29th August 07
Notes on Meeting - 29th August 07 (Note taker John Bristow)
Attendance 17
Purpose and Outline
Share ideas on Step 2 of Transition Journey: Education and Awareness raising in B&H
Complete Accreditation with Transition Towns Network and Agree some Hub Roles
Progress and Outcome
1. Forming our Network Organisation, and Planning our Meetings
We completed our accreditation application and this has been sent to TT central office (see Pages on this Website)
We have 10 members of the Hub so far and have allocated some necessary roles (see Pages on this Website)
We are discussing what meetings we need to have and have suggested a whole network meeting for Wed 19th Sept 7.30 - 9.30 probably at Brighthelm Centre (venue to be confirmed), with social time after; and the Hub will probably meet on the 12th Sept (venue to be announced).
A Website design group is planning to meet too - but see the Discussion on our website.
We have some people offering to convene Function and Neighbourhood Groups. I will email them and suggest they set up a Discussion and a Page on the website, with examples of TT network groups do in the early stages, if they have not done so already (Energy and Business have, and notes form Buildings, Health, Education and Awareness, Transport, Peak Oil, Integrating with others are in Pages).
2. Learning about, and Planning, Education and Awareness Raising in line with Vision Development and Working with Other Groups and Organisations in the City: Steps 2 and 3
We discussed ideas in groups of 3 and these were recorded on Post-its and have been typed up. They are in a Discussion and will be consolidated with other reports on this from 25 July and 15 August meetings in Pages
A small group discussed this further while the Hub was meeting and this report is included in these Pages - linking to other community groups and organisations and developing a shared vision.
Function and Neighbourhood groups can feed into this from their perspectives in due course.
But meanwhile we are seeking input and guidance from TT network nationally. Some of us are visiting Totnes and hopefully someone from Totnes will attend one of our network meetings. We also want to network with other towns and cities to learn from what they did in the first stages of transition, and have links to their websites in ours.
We can then pool this knowledge and the ideas generated so far and take it further in a whole network meeting using Open Space format.
We are developing a "journey map" for the initial steps up to our launch conference ("unleashing") adapting the Transition journey steps to our local context, and linking key elements together: issues of Climate Change and Peak Oil and how they impact on key function/need areas (food, energy, buildings, transport, waste etc), using input from our Science and Technology group, solutions from TT network and around the world, analysis of B&H situation now (generally and by key function/baisc needs group) and developing a shared vision (first version) with other groups and organisations, with targets and measures of progress - and a planning process to go with it.to address climate change and peak oil and move towards more local resilience and self-reliance in meeting our basic needs (some re-localisation). In our accreditation application we stated our purpose as "providing education and support that mobilises community and personal responses to climate change and energy scarcity", in line with TT network's purpose.
We are in a learning and planning stage right now, it seems.
Education and Awareness group – notes from 29th August 2007
Summary Notes of Education and Awareness Raising (Communications) Group – notes from 29th August 2007
Group members: David Greenop, Rebecca Fryer, Ted Power, John Baker
The group was not sure what more that they could add to the earlier Awareness Raising session output and decided instead to look at the communication role of TBH. They suggested that the output from the earlier Post It note session should be typed up and analysed after this meeting and then presented for discussion at the next gathering.
Members of the group were concerned about how TBH fitted with the activities of other local environmental groups, many of whom are already undertaking public awareness activities on similar issues. A further factor was TBH relationship with the B&H Council and how this should be developed. The question is what is locally unique about TBH and what role should it play in B&H.
The suggestion was made that TBH is more an umbrella organisation which developed and owned the overall vision for B&H. Development of the vision would be undertaken through a process of consultation with all other local stakeholders. It may well be that this vision process is unique to Brighton because of its rich ecology of other groups and activities.
Thoughts as to what the vision and its process could be are:
- It should have simple messages and be accessible
- The vision is something the community can work towards
- Vision can be reviewed and developed over time
- Its like a successful marketing exercise
- Careful consideration should be given to the type of vocabulary used, it should not be anecdotal
- Setup meetings with local groups, local councillors, other representative forums like the VSF
- Use as main themes the Transition Town generic groups
- Create different entry points into the vision
- We sell the vision to all the people who came to the first meting
- Need to include ideas such limits to growth and define what growth should be rather than a simple economic measure.
- A positive approach would be to develop what aspects of today’s life do we embrace or change
Participants suggested the setting up of a separate group to develop the vision.
Post-its on Education and Awareness raising (29th August)
Content - what is it we say:
- The message has to be based in solid knowledge and conviction.
- Climate change is only part of the problem: peak oil, economic
growth are also parts.
- What people don't know about what produces CO2, eg home electronics,
air flight, etc.
- What is Brighton and Hove's footprint? Compared to others.
- Photovoltaic solar
- Thermal waste conversion (connect to incinerator)
- Double glazing
- Quotes and facts, eg: "One flight across the Atlantic produces xxx
of CO2, as much as a car produces after 10,000 miles" (figures to be
confirmed), "Solar power, tide power, wind power, waste power could
provide 120% of Brighton's energy needs" (figures to be confirmed)
- Why is the Council opposed to green ideas?
- What Transition Town is about, what can be done as a Transition
Town.
- On every event, mention Transition Town as a local solution to the
problems of peak oil and climate change
- The long term plan of Transition Towns
Method - how we say it:
- Brighton Transition website
- Links and events listings on community groups, websites
- Stickers on cars, buses and trains about carbon emissions
- Posters
- Displays, eg in library, Cowley Club, BPEC
- Statement/agreement that people or organizations can sign in
- Card game to discuss how to allocate resources
- Map of a future sustainable Brighton
- Make a professional Powerpoint presentation
- Panflet (say 20 pages) on peak oil, climate change, list of elements
that a Transition Town aims to cut down and reduce, to give to people,
schools and organizations.
- YouTube video, linked to our website
- Showing films (End of Suburbia, Power of Community, etc.) around
different Brighton venues (Duke of York cinema, the Alley Cats pub,
Brighton Media Centre, etc.), with a talk.
- Talks at schools and other organizations
- Stalls at events, eg Food Debate on 20 Sept
- Events around particular aspects of the transition, eg food: a big
pot luck of local organic food.
- Hove Lawns educational event, with different stalls from all the
different local groups that make the elements and influence for a
Transition Town, speeches, etc.
- Publicity stunts to attract media and people, eg hitch-hiking race,
big community goods swap, flash mobs, street theatre
- Local radio: Reverb, Southern Counties
- Local press: Letters to the Argus, articles on the Argus, Rocks
- Get in touch with people doing a documentary on peak oil (initial
contact already done)
Organization - how we prepare:
- Is the group already presenting consensus about basic ecological,
climate change, peak oil issues? This is necessary. Invite to pile in
has delayed and obscured consensus on aims.
- Self-education as a group, shared expertise
- Honesty and clarification of our agenda.
- Consult people from other Transition Towns, what they have done
- Is education and awareness restricted to the education functional
group, or should everybody participate at these early stages?
- Neighbourhood groups can meet and discuss with Local Resident
Associations and schools.
Partnerships - who can help us:
- Networking community groups, spreading the word through existing
networks
- Linking with neighbourhood associations, giving talks at meetings.
- What are schools doing?
- Brighton Climate Change Group
- Magpie
- Brighton and Hove Food Partnership
- Cleod
- Brighton University (survey on climate change and peak oil)
- 3rd sector/CVSF
How will Function Groups & Hub coordinate?
How will function groups coordinate with each other?
What do function groups want from hub and what does hub want from function groups?
Function groups need someone to attend the hub.
Formal votes? Or dose it need to be more fluid?
Things will go together e.g. food and education, where education is not specific to food but is an overlapping need common to all function groups and the hub.
Need for basic information e.g. what is Transition?
The terms “wiki” and “sandbox” were not understood by several in this group. Attempts to describe it had mixed success demonstrating how important and difficult clear simple information for beginners is to compose and deliver – especially if the person explaining is primarily an expert or has relevant experience in the topic rather than as an educator.
It is often better to meet in real life rather than rely on emails and web pages, especially for those with limited or no online access.
The current Google ttBrighton web site was criticised for being poorly laid out and confusing. The constraints of the template Google has provided were blamed. But also subject lines in discussion topics were not always kept to making it hard / impossible to find relevant information.
A tailor-made website using wiki freeware (free licence computer software), php (a computer language) with our own domain name (the name of the site) and a local company volunteering to host the new site were touted as solutions. Links to the ‘official’ TT national network would be easy. Someone needs to be tasked with teaching others, and a web site / communications administrator and / or a ‘technology officer’ were cited as needed - for the whole of Transition Brighton & Hove.
The hub has information that other groups would need too. It must be clear what the decision-making powers of the hub are.
A constitution is needed. But some thought the process of creating a constitution is a very time consuming, frustrating and long winded. Perhaps a group needs to be set up tasked with overseeing the creation of the constitution and ensuring it is regularly modified as needed.
Appropriate skills and experience of hub members are vital to its success. Holding meetings every 2 weeks is a high requirement.
Access statistics “city stab” based on each ward or on neighbourhoods? Groups to integrate with each other but also to make them coherent and be known in the local community.
Advertising without the web is important too.
The hub and web site can have information on existing models from other transition towns.
Where and when should the hub meet with other groups? Perhaps rotate the spokes person role within each function group?
West Hove
Hi folks.
Its time to think about Transition Towns and how we can make it work for Hove. We have already had a day when people gave out free homemade bags to try and make people refuse plastic bags.
We have great public transport links by rail and bus, a reasonable bike path once you reach the seafront. Marvellous local shops some selling organic and local produce.
We have seen an increasing amount of green activity in the area. There were some very environmentally friendly orientated stalls at the Stoneham Park fete for the last two years.
Do you have some good ideas? If so please share them on the forum here.
Liz
TBH Constitution
A PDF of the Transition Brighton and Hove constitution is available to read here.
All members who are interested please read and make comments on the forum here. The constitution will be ratified at a general meeting in the next few weeks. (This is a requirement in order for us to obtain a bank account and funding for the group.)
Notes on Meeting – 15 August 07
Notes on Meeting – 15 August 07 (Note-taker: John Bristow)
Meeting Purpose, Outline and Turnout
Around 40 of us met at Brighthelm Centre for 2 hrs from 7.30.
The meeting went well and many were pleased at where we had got to by the end.
The aim was twofold to:
Form, or start to form, a Hub for the TBH network and begin to discuss its role in relation to the rest of the Network in B&H and other groups and organisations in the city, in carrying out together the tasks of the first steps of the transition journey.
Prepare to meet the Transition Network’s criteria for starting a transition within the national network, as agreed with its Funders.
Doly introduced the meeting.
John gave an update on numbers of network members (145 on email list) and the function and neighbourhood groups that people have interest in joining (sometimes putting name down for 2 or 3). Function areas cover: (1) the way how we meet basic needs links to climate change and peak oil (food, transport, buildings, energy, recycling etc – 64 people), (2) other community needs generally and in transition towards greater resilience (education and awareness raising throughout the city, community enlargement, use of arts and media, health, local economy – 48 people), (3) co-operating and joint planning with local government (8 people), community and environmental groups (16 people) and business (6 people) - and networking nationally and internationally (8 people), (4) use of science and technology (6 people). Neighbourhood groups cover 5 or so areas of B&H (101 people or 76% wanting to be in neighbourhood groups).
Steve described the first few stages in the transition process (from the primer), and went through the questions for meeting the national network criteria using the Nottingham example (a similar size city), and the typical functions of a hub group.
Questions then included:
What distinguishes the Transition Network and Transition B&H from other environment and community groups in the city? Answers included: (1) a coherent strategy to work with all groups to address the critical issues of climate change and rise in oil prices as oil passes its peak, to reduce carbon footprint and consume less energy and resources (“energy descent plan”). (2) This is a community-based network (3rd sector) that seeks to collaborate with local government and business, and leaves campaigning to others doing great work in that area already. (3) The uncertain, and potentially devastating, impacts of CC and Peak Oil together require greater local resilience across the country (much more re-localising of the economy to towns and regions, while not attempting complete self-sufficiency), and this is a key aim of the network. We focus on social and economic as well as environmental issues in addressing climate change and peak oil. A useful question which we can ask again from time to time!
Why was the 25 July meeting not made public in the Argus? We asked the Argus journalist present not to as we had not formed an organisation yet.
What are the Function and Neighbourhood groups supposed to do now? A good question that the Hub can discuss with F and N groups and others in the network, once the Hub has formed. Awareness raising across our city and neighbourhood seems to be an activity that all groups can share in during the first steps.
Creating a Shared Picture of the Transition Journey
We need to build a general picture of the transition process together, calling on the experience of towns such as Kinsale, Totnes, Stroud, and what has been distilled from this in the TT network guidelines. At the same time we can all start discussing how to go about education and awareness raising in all its aspects, both issues and solutions, with some of the 250K people in the city, including different income/age/ethnic/life style groups so that the network membership includes these. We can build relationships with existing local community-based organisations, local government, local media, schools and businesses through collaborating in this process, with a view to ongoing synergy and co-operation in the future. We have started this already – an education and awareness group formed on the 25th, and another one did at this meeting, and which will report back by website and email. Our membership has a good representation of local groups and organisations.
Building on what Steve said, based on TTNetwork guidelines (the “primer” and see also www.transitiontowns.org for examples) the next steps would be: after (or just before) an event to mark the start of the process proper (“the great unleashing”) we can develop a shared vision and direction for the transition. Then we can go on to create together both a long term plan, and a short term programme of projects, with others in government, business and the community locally, advised by our sci and tech group. Awareness raising and relationship building are key parts of the 1st stages of the transition journey leading to more specific initiatives after the shared direction and vision is in its first version or edition. These initiatives will in most cases be based on an analysis of the relevant city context and specific goals and measures and plans, with the aim of getting some some quick wins and visible results while making steps or achieving milestones in the longer term journey. Evaluation will stimulate learning-by-doing/doing-by- learning in making possible and attractive or desirable the necessary changes in life style, business practices, skills and preferred technologies. We mentioned that some external evaluation of outcome at various stages (e.g. awareness) can be conducted by local MSc students in 3 months projects for example. As a national network we can work on a regional and national scale as well, and link with others internationally.
We could start a discussion group on our transition journey.
Hub and Non-Hub Groups
After a round of introductions (we were sitting in a circle), introduced by Doly, John proposed the next phase in the meeting, as agreed by the Step 0 team planning and facilitating it: to vote with our feet in choosing whether to be (or explore being) in the hub or in a non-hub group
Participants in the hub group discussed what they might offer and what they needed to know before joining it (e.g. time commitments etc), and moved towards forming a hub group.
The non-hub group(s) were asked to discuss and report back on what they needed from the hub and what they thought the hub might need from them.
Two non-hub groups formed: an Education and Awareness Raising group (key initial activity) and a general non-Hub group, covering either function or neighbourhood groups. .
Report Back from the Hub Group
The good news is that there seem enough people ready to join the Hub now to make it work and to meet the accreditation criteria in this respect. At the same time the Hub membership is still forming: others may want to join and some of those in the Hub group on 15th are still thinking about it. 10 seem really interested and ready to join: Aisha Hannibal, Annie Baldridge, Chris Callard, Daniel Hill, David Greenop, Doly Garcia, John Bristow, Maureen Winder, Ming Wu, Stephen Watson. 2 others (who could not make it) said they might be interested. Once the network constitution and ways of operating are more established Maureen would like to withdraw as she sees her main contribution in helping us to set this up in a way that is going to attract and include people from different groups (income and ethnic etc).
We do not want too many in the core hub as we would not be able to have participative discussions – 12 as an upper limit was suggested. Others may play a co-ordinating role without attending hub meetings.
This Hub will need to have a number of people committed to stay in it until the launch conference (the “unleashing” as Rob Hopkins calls it) – and this is part of the accreditation criteria. Continuity of membership and a size small enough for discussions with all participating are probably essential conditions for the Hub to work effectively. But others who had necessary skills to offer that are not already in the Hub may well join in. After the launch (that could be 6 months to a year away) function groups will be more key, and need to be represented in the Hub full-time. So the Hub will be open again for a change of membership.
Those who have put themselves forward for the Hub will share very short bio details as part of the accreditation process. But we know already that the potential Hub group includes: a BPEC leader, B&H Food Partnership team member, a Futurist, knowledge of setting up inclusive 3rd sector organisations, Peak Oil writer, Local Businessman (recycling), Advisor on leadership and organising for societal change, Permaculture knowledge, International representative (China). 5 men and 5 women. Younger and Older people.
We began to start discussing what our tasks are, how we need to operate and some ground rules, and we would like to carry on and share these discussions with the network as a whole – e.g. through our website and at our meetings (“How do we want our Hub to be? What does the rest of the network need from it and what does it need from the network to do what we need to do together?) Visit our website now to join these discussions or email our email co-ordinator if you cannot get on the website (see end of these notes)
.
The Hub’s initial task is to go through the accreditation criteria to become an official Transition Initiative in the national network. We will also need to set up Transition Brighton and Hove as an organisation (trust or charity or other), and a constitution. Then we can discuss funding and budgets etc.
The Hub role will be to co-ordinate the activity and decisions of the network as a whole so that thinking, decisions and activities are joined up where they need to be, the experience and skills of the network are best used, and people feel heard and involved, and able to influence what we decide and do. We said we want there to be an open, visible and transparent communication and decision processes in the Hub to enable this to happen, and trust to be established and maintained. We will through our meetings, website and emails help people network and link together; self-organise, yet link back to the Hub and align with our shared direction.
We had a whole group phase and then Hub and Other groups phase, followed by whole group again at the end in our TB&H Network meeting on 15th. This format might work well for a while, especially in shared activities such as awareness raising, and then later for key decisions, as it enables the Hub both to work alone and with others in the same meeting, and immediately co-opt people outside the Hub as needed. With website discussions before and after these meetings on questions that emerge as important, and communication about meeting agendas and outcomes through the website and by email, we will endeavour to involve the whole network in the processes of forming our organisation and making plans and decisions. People will know which general network meetings they want to attend.
At the same time if meetings are to be effective they need to be planned and facilitated, with notes taken and later disseminated. We have been doing this as a Step Zero team as best we can and others will need to take on this role, so that we share the role between us (often 2 or 3 people for each larger group meeting).
For the Hub itself, Natasha Thoday has agreed to act as a facilitator for the time being while not being a member of it. Any lead or chair roles are likely to be taken up by different Hub members at different times.
Tasks that the Network needs to carry out, together with Others in the City
o Through awareness raising “shepherd and nurture” a sense of urgency and mobilise the energy for active participation in transition amongst more people in Brighton and Hove, reaching all parts of the community.
o Form effective function groups (e.g. in the 12 areas already identified by us).
o Establish strong connections with other community and environmental groups, local businesses, schools, public service agencies, universities and research centres, the city council, and others, starting with collaboration in the awareness raising itself
o Get training and advice from the national network
o Support other towns and cities in the network.
o Carry out other key activities in the early stage of transition (as we get a clearer picture of our journey – see above)
Report Backs from the non-Hub Groups
Someone from each group has agreed to write up the meeting notes from flipcharts and put them on the website and send them to John for emailing around the members of the network. Here are some of the initial points made in the wrap-up at the end:
On what they need from the Hub:
Info on the knowledge and skills of Hub members (to be met as part of accreditation process).
Way of finding out what the programme of activities and meetings of TBH is without going to the website or receiving e-mails e.g. advertisement in the Argus.
A constitution with democratic and inclusive principles – and maybe start with a relevant template used elsewhere.
Trasparent processes for decision making etc, with opportunity for input
Specific to the Education and Awareness Group:
Aims, targets and syllabus for awareness raising agreed with Hub.
Exchanges with other transition towns and cities on what worked best on peak oil or climate change.
“Give us a steer”
On what they think the Hub needs from them:
Some report back from Function and Neighbourhood groups (using website).
Suggestion: Representatives from each Function group attending every 3rd or 4th Hub meetings (taking it in turns so that there are not too many at once). (In fact once we are up and running this Hub membership will change and Function group representatives will need to be in it).
Discussions about Organising and Planning on our Website
One discussion group has been set up following this meeting and others are being started:
How do we want our Hub to be? What does the rest of the network need from it and what does it need from the network to do what we need to do together? (see above). The Hub’s role will be formed in relation to the rest of the network and other stakeholders, community groups and partners in the city, in collaborating to fulfil our purpose.
Agenda setting and Planning for Meetings
Education and Awareness raising (building on the report backs from both 25 July and 15 Auguest meeting), and the possible roles of neighbourhood groups and function groups in this, together with the education and awareness raising group.
Next Meeting and its Purpose
This is on Wed 29th August 7.30-9.30 Brighthelm Centre.
We are discussing the agenda on the website and in the planning and facilitation group for this meeting. Nat and Doly have agreed to plan, facilitate and arrange for report back on this meeting. If you want to contribute to agenda forming please put any of your ideas on to the website or email them back to me John Bristow (address on the email I sent round to us all) and I will forward them to Nat and Doly.
The main aims of this meeting are likely to be:
To address key questions in forming the network and hub, getting input from the website discussion. Complete the accreditation process. Agree membership and initial tasks in the Hub. Others wanting to be in the Hub but who have not attended so far are particularly welcome.
To plan the first steps in awareness raising, in collaboration with others in the community (local schools and universities, local media, local businesses, local government, other environmental and community groups - linking to what they are doing already while focusing on climate change and peak oil); using the experience of other towns and cities in the network (including use of specific CDs and expert panels). Role of our “science and technology” group, the "education and awareness" group, neighbourhood groups and other key function groups in the network in the awareness raising process.
To get ideas and input of whole group on 1st version of our website.
Website and email Communications
Sam Watts has kindly set up a domain name for us – done in the pub after the meeting on the 15th. This links automatically to our google website for now until we set up it up properly. Our website is:
http://www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
We will need website moderators – probably eventually one in each main function group.
I am prepared to handle the e-mail communications for the time being as I have the lists on my address book. john.bristow1@btopenworld.com tel 01273 820543.
Education and Awareness
Education and Awareness group – notes from meeting on 29th August 07
Education and Awareness group – notes from meeting on 15th August 07
Education and Awareness working group 15th August
" Education and Awareness " working group 15th August (Gerry Goldsmith notetaker)
The group is in serious need of help and advice from successful Transition cities to guide our group. We need direction as to what information the HUB can give to guide us in our task.
We also need to know what we are expected to feed back in the way of education and awareness and is this to the HUB or someother and what happens to the information after that ?
We need to know what is the criteria that is expected of this working group. Do we make a genral awareness of Peak oil and or climate change or do we bring up education and awareness of matters important to a Transion town such as energy efficiency in housing, recycling etc and there effect and implimentation, the conceqences of ignoring them ?
Please bring a reply to the group on Wed 29 Aug as I will not be able to access my Email before then.
HERE ARE THE NOTES FROM THE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS WORKING GROUP TAKEN ON 15 AUG 07
The Group requires
* Simple aims and targets
* A time scale of energy decent steps
* Learning from other Transitioners
* Organise a big awarness day with all function groups like in Lewes
* We would like to provide a rep to communicate with the HUB and vise versa
* Job responsibility to be joint wherever possible
Transition Brighton – Education Interest Group Discussion Notes
25th July 07
This is a key area for immediate action in any transition.
Notes from Flipchart:
Education and engagement with the community
Schools: “Eco Clubs”
“Green Education Plan”
Awareness: What is the need?
From awareness – into action.
Adult Education: Expand
Shift Values and Aspirations – use role models (and celebs?)
Run Events or “days” that model life style changes
Use mass media
Co-ordinated, decentralised and local but national event(s)
“Education for Sustainability” conference:
October – Council. “Online”
Energy Companies: More education
Use Action Learning method for innovation towards low carbon futures (contact: Margaret Geharty) (Also John Bristow)
Participants
David Allen, Melanie Rees, Terry Robinson, Thurstan Crockett, Persephone Bayley and the 6 others expressing interest on contact sheets.
This will be sent round this group of 11 members, and the “Co-ordinating Hub” alerted, once it is formed.
Co-ordinating Hub Members & Roles
1. Ann Baldridge: Co-ordinator B & H Food Partnership. Knowledge of Food issues. Role Treasurer
2. Chris Callard: Graphic designer with knowledge of website design & maintenance. Role Website Manager
3. Daniel Hill: Runs project in recycling unwanted building materials. Experience as land manager, of land types and uses, and in the construction industry
4. David Allen: Education: Director and Producer AV (on climate change), media practitioner and writer. Community engagement.
5. David Greenop: Strategic technology and business background in IT. 10 yrs experience of voluntary and community sector. Interest in sustainable IT Role Setting up Constitution
6. Doly Garcia: Founder of Brighton Peak Oil Group
7. Jo Nean: Involved in grass-roots campaigning for radical social change and environmental issues. Runs workshops on money-free living and anti-consumerism. Volunteers at local social centre and food co-op.
8. John Bristow: Consultant in leadership and organising for innovation and societal change, focusing now on transition to more sustainable living. Role Mailings (to be shared and reviewed)
9. Matthew Bird: Sustainability and Energy Officer, Lewes District Council. Specialises in renewables and sustainable energy and construction. Energy Function group.
10. Maureen Winder: Experience in inclusion and equality issues. Co-Chair of Triangle Community Group in Brighton, with one of its aims being sustainable community. Role Information Organiser
11. Stephen Watson: Member of B&H Green party for over 20 yrs. Peak Oil speaker. Completed Permaculture Design course in Brighton. Software engineer for 20 yrs.
Other Roles will be need to be filled and if we are to have a constitution as planned we will have to have a Chair and Secretary
Transition-themed films
Below is a list of documentaries on climate change and peak oil, and an indication of where they might be available. If you get hold of one, why not host a DVD club evening at your home and invite others to watch... This is a list of recommedations by Transition B&H members – if you've seen another film that you recommend, please email the website.
Climate Change
An Inconvenient Truth (Dir: Davis Guggenheim, 2006) – essentially a film of Al Gore's talk, warning about the effects of climate change, that he has been giving around the world for a number of years. A good primer on the basic details of climate change, and much better than you would expect from a politician. (Available everywhere on DVD)
Are We Changing Planet Earth and Can We Save Planet Earth? (Nicolas Brown, Stephen Cooter, 2006) David Attenborough-presented 2-parter first aired on the BBC about the dangers of climate change (watch on Google video, Part 1 here and Part 2 here)Peak Oil
The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (Dir: Faith Morgan, 2006) When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's oil imports cut by more than half. This film shows how Cuba coped with its own peak oil crisis, and how Cubans transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. (DVD available from film's website)
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream (Dir: Gregory Greene, 2004) An array of evidence that the growing energy demands of the American dream in suburbia will eclipse our planet's ability to provide it, and how the suburban way of life will soon become economically and ecologically impossible to maintain. (DVD available from film's website)The History of Oil by Rob Newman (2006) Refreshingly funny stand-up show about the history of oil and peak oil. (Watch on Google video or Realplayer)Oil, Smoke and Mirrors (2006) A sobering critique of our perceived recent history, of our present global circumstances, and of our shared future in light of imminent, under-reported and mis-represented energy production constraints. (Watch on Google video)
Crude Impact (James Jandak Wood, 2006) An exploration of the interconnection between human domination of the planet and the discovery and use of oil, Crude Impact exposes our deep-rooted dependency on the availability of fossil fuel energy and examines the dire implications of the pending threat of global peak oil. Well that's what the filmmakers say about it. (DVD available from film's website)
What a Way to Go - Life at The End of Empire (Tim Bennett, 2007) A middle class white guy comes to grips with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American Lifestyle.(sometimes on Google video if you're lucky, and on DVD from film's website)
What is Transition Brighton and Hove?
Transition Brighton and Hove is a group of volunteers aiming to start a city-wide community response to the challenges of climate change and peak oil. We want to bring together the collective skills and creativity in Brighton & Hove to evolve a sustainable low energy future reflected in an Energy Descent Action Plan. We are part of an international network of towns and cities with the same aims, the Transition Network.Why are we doing this?
Two main reasons: climate change and peak oil.
Climate change due to increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 is now generally accepted as a result of human activity and is affecting us right now: with permafrost melting and collapsing ice sheets in Alaska, and altered growing seasons, changes in animal migration patterns, heatwaves, droughts, famines and floods becoming more frequent and extreme both abroad and here in the UK. The scientific consensus identifies high levels of greenhouse gases due to human activity (mainly carbon dioxide and methane) as the main influence. For more information, see the article on Wikipedia.
Peak oil is the point at which the point of maximum global oil production is reached. After this point, the rate of production enters terminal decline. Because of the high dependence of almost all modern transport and many industrial systems on cheap oil, the post-peak production decline is expected to lead to severe increases in the price of oil, with negative implications for the global economy. For more information, see the article on Wikipedia.
Both issues have the same cause: our excessive consumption of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels is the main source of greenhouse gases, and there is only a limited amount of them on the Earth, which means that depletion will have severe implications for our energy usage if they continue to be our main source of energy.
In view of this, it is essential that we reduce significantly the amount of fossil fuels we use, starting at the local level.Who are we?
We are all volunteers, some of us involved in other environmental groups, some not. The organization is divided in several overlapping sub-groups:
• Transition Interest Groups: they work on specific aspects of the transition (see the current list). See a graphic of the groups and their aims.
• Neighbourhood groups: they work on specific Brighton and Hove neighbourhoods (see the current list). See a graphic of how they link to other groups.
• Coordinating Hub: they track what the other groups are doing, do basic administrative tasks (webmaster, treasurer, etc.), facilitate information exchange between the groups and gather the input from everybody to design and co-ordinate our strategy. See a graphic here.
• Project groups: involved in educating about transition issues and raising awareness. See a graphic list.
The organization is founded around a number of evolving principes, detailed here.
If you live in Brighton and Hove, we probably need you and you probably need us. Why not come to our next meeting and find out if you'd like to be part of Transition Brighton and Hove?
[read full text]
There are a number of graphics to view of how groups link to each other:
The organization is founded around a number of evolving principes, detailed here.
If you live in Brighton and Hove, we probably need you and you probably need us. Why not come to our next meeting and find out if you'd like to be part of Transition Brighton and Hove?
Where and when?
Our meetings are open to all residents of this city. For information on places, dates and times of both general meetings and meetings of smaller groups, see the listings on the website home page.
TBH printing material
Logo
Various formats available for download below
colour version:
hi res layered Photoshop file
Illustrator eps
hi res JPEG
transparent GIF
black on white version:
hi res layered Photoshop file
hi res JPEG
transparent GIF
white on black version:
hi res layered Photoshop file
hi res JPEG
Events programme (March-May 2008)
Download PDF of inside
Download PDF of outside
Flyer
The current look of the flyer – check back for updates. Please download and print out, can print PDF on both sides of an A4 sheet and then cut down to A5 for a folded version.
Principles and Methods of Organising as a Network
Whole Network Meetings
These are announced on the Home Page of our website, and by an email to all on our email lists. We are talking about how to keep network members not on email informed.
Some of our meetings may need more publicity if we want others currently not on our mail lists to come.
They have been 3-weekly but this will be determined by need and what we are doing.
We are seeking to find venues that are least cost and central if not free for community organisations.
We would like to keep the spirit of Open Space in these meetings, in line with the national network as a whole. This means organising ourselves during parts of our meeting to address a shared question in an open way, maximising self-organising and participation.
Website
This is key to integrating our knowledge, key info and activities amongst ourselves, and communicating and becoming known within our city and beyond. There will be an open area for Discussion Forums alongside Blog Areas managed my moderators: whole network, function groups and neighbourhood groups (static and dated Blogs).
The website and its Forums and Areas will be useful in forming the Function and Neighbourhood groups that people have expressed interest in. There are already people who have said they are willing to convene these.
Transition Interest Groups
All transition towns form these to address specific action areas to realise our vision in facing the issues of climate change and oil depletion alongside one planet living and maintaining the health of ecosystems on which the survival of life (ours included) on this planet depends.
These usually need to start by understanding the impact that climate change and peak oil will have on their area, and how we currently live creates CO2 emissions, with advice from our science and technology group and other groups and organisations within our city, as well as specialists around the world.
Then go on to create a vision of how we need to live and what would work in 20 yrs time. This will incorporate solutions in these areas coming from other towns and cities around the world as well as our own national network.
Devise some action plans for this area: how to reduce and reverse carbon emissions and how to build or rebuild resilience to mitigate the effects of peak oil. Relocalising the way we meet our basic needs may well be part of this.
Function groups can advise us and input into the vision and plans we develop with others in our local community – local government, businesses, voluntary sector etc, as well as advising local neighbourhood groups within the network and linked to it (e.g. residents or community associations). Examples of Function groups include:
Core: Food, Energy, Transport, Buildings and Construction, Waste and Recycling, Textiles and Clothing, Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Urban and Land Use Planning, Business and Economy, Health, Science and Technology (11)
Change process: Education and Awareness, Heart and Soul of Change, Transition Process, Vision, Use of Arts, Community Enlargement (6)
Liaison: Liaison with Other Community Groups, Liaison with Local Government, Liaison with Schools and Universities, International and National Networking (4)
Each function group will need to find someone to moderate their discussion Forum and their Blogs.
Neighbourhood Groups
Cities find they need these (and often district clusters of them). Their purpose and activity will evolve and be explored locally and shared amongst us.
Following the principles of the effective networking of cells (each cell being a group of 9 +/- 3): neighbourhood groups would replicate the Hub cell at their level of scale.
This means having someone linking to each core function area in it, and looking at neighbourhood issues and solutions from the perspective of each of these.
Neighbourhood groups would participate in the transition process in their local geographical area: education and awareness raising and building relations with other organisations – businesses, schools etc. And to the B&H vision, and its ongoing update, as a whole
They could also support personal change amongst local residents and households or apartment blocks, with advice from the Heart and Soul of Change function group.
Project Groups
These might be needed too, but can come and go as tasks need to be done rather be ongoing. They could also involve working in partnership with other groups and organisations in the city
Hub Meetings, Membership and Role of the Hub
We need a committed membership of about 12 people both for continuity of responsibility for a period, as well as meeting the criteria for official status in our national network. We now have this, and official status as the 20th Transition Town in the UK network. After Function groups form then they will need representatives on the Hub and the membership will change.
Hub meetings are open for others to attend, and notice of these (date, venue) will be on our website in the discussion Forum called “Hub”. Please let us know if you can if you want to come on this Forum, as we may need to find a larger space if many want to join a particular meeting.
The Hub discussion Forum will include reports on our meetings and agenda suggestions, as well as discussion amongst ourselves and others. So the Hub will be as transparent as possible, and inclusive.
We want to keep the network a safe, attractive and supportive “space” for our community to come together to tackle climate change, peak oil and related environmental, social and economic issues. This means building and maintaining trust and being careful that no individuals or groups have a dominating role. This means taking care how we make decisions and get the input and support that is needed.
Part of the role of the Hub is to co-ordinate decisions affecting the whole network, as well as programmes and projects, relations with the media and support for local government initiatives, alongside looking after the website, funding and budgets and constitutional arrangements. [read full text]
Related books
A collection of books on various transition subjects, as recommend (or warned against) by TBH members. Some of these books may be offered for lending in the Transition Library:
Peak oil
• Hubbert's Peak by Kenneth S. Deffeyes – The classic that told the world what peak oil was, in the updated edition of 2003. Everything you need to know to become a hopeless peaknik. (recommended by Doly)
• Half Gone by Jeremy Legget – Peak oil told from a British perspective. A very readable and entertaining book, but I find that Jeremy Leggett doesn't have a good sense of proportion - there are things in this book I don't agree with, that some back-of-the-envelope calculations would prove wrong, like his support for hydrogen. Having met him brieftly twice personally, I can confirm that maths isn't his strong side. Still, most of the book is about right. (Doly)
• Eyewitness Oil by John Farndon – The book about oil every teenager should have, that explains all the facts about oil including peak oil and oil alternatives, with lots of photos and a CD with clipart (Doly)
• The Reckoning by David Halberstam – Not exactly a peak oil book, but one full of facts related to it. It's about the progress of the auto industry in the USA and Japan, and how Japan took over. The book was written in 1987, and it was already obvious to the author that the small Japanese cars were the winners. (Doly)
• The Carbon War by Jeremy Leggett (Kat)
• The End of Oil by Paul Roberts – Really informative and easy to read (Kat)
• The Party's Over by Richard Heinberg – the first PO book I bought and it's very clear and accessible (synopsis here). (Stephen)
• Energy Beyond Oil by Paul Mobbs – This is not about peak oil as such, rather it examines all manner of energy use and their implications for us (synopsis here). (Stephen)
• Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World by Richard Heinberg – This is the first book that really opened my eyes to Peak Oil. Comprehensive evidence of fossil fuel depletion, plus four possible ways of addressing it. It goes without saying that Richard Heinberg favours energy descent over global resource wars or hoping that we'll find a technological solution. (Simon)
Climate change
• Heat by George Monbiot – a riposte to those who accuse climate change campaigners of merely wanting to return society to the Stone Age, Monbiot provides a detailed breakdown of almost all areas of life and how we can make a combined cut in them of 90% by 2030. Except aviation, for which he starkly states there is no alternative but a drastic cut in flights. (Chris)
• Six Degrees by Mark Lynas – a sobering degree by degree analysis of how life will change on a hotter planet. (Jo)
Limits to growth – The Big Picture
• The Limits to Growth by the Club of Rome – The original classic. It's still ahead of the times in some ways, in the seventies it was so far out there it's incredible anybody got the message. They made a computer model (in the times when computers were something that only the NASA and a few other God-like powers had) with all the variables about the world that could possibly represent a limit: population, nonrenewable resources, pollution, arable land, etc. Then they ran the model and started driving conclusions. Amazing. The only book I have that I will only lend under some strong guarantee of return. (Doly)
• Limits to Growth: The 30-year update by Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers, Dennis Meadows – The most recent update to the above, explaining the most recent developments. The understanding of the authors of the current situation of the world is quite good and the book is well worth reading. Unfortunately, their understanding of computer models hasn't advanced an inch since the seventies. But I'm currently working hard at correcting this small weakness (I'm updating the model myself with the latest data about climate change and peak oil and including economic variables). (Doly)
• The Upside of Down by Thomas Homer-Dixon – If you want an explanation of all that's happening in the world right now: climate change, peak oil, the population explosion, globalization, and more, and whether it's all going the way the Roman Empire went... I haven't ever found any other book that comes even close to this. (The original Limits to Growth is fantastic, but very outdated, and the update won't keep you awake at night because you want to know more - this book can). Can't recommend it more highly. Other books will tell you about the details, this gives you the big picture. The only fault I find in it is that it doesn't tell you much about what you can do about it. (Doly)
• Going Global – Key Questions for the 21st Century prepared by Michael Maynagh & Richard Worsley of the Tomorrow Project – a very comprehensive set of trends & scenarios about what is influencing global societies. Helps one think about the interdependency of most things. Just published. (David)
• Guardians of Power (The Myth of the Liberal media) by David Edwards and David Cromwell – I think an ability to read the media and read between its lines is absolutely crucial for anyone who is envisioning a different present and future. (Stephen)
• Globalization - A Very Short Introduction by Manfred B. Steger – Very, very good. Includes environmental aspects of globalization and shows how everything ties in together. (Jo)
• Gaian Democracies: Redefining Globalisation and People-Power by John Jopling and Roy Madron – This is only one of an amazing series of books from the Schumacher Centre. Roy Madron and John Jopling explore systems of governance that could enable us to work in harmony with our planet. Importantly, they tackle the problem of how to reconcile the values of centralised and local governments with one another. (Simon)
Sustainable cities
• Sustainable communities edited by Hugh Barton – A fantastic collection of essays on the subject of how to make neighbourhoods more sustainable. The book is British, and it contains a lot of contact information for sustainable projects in the UK that we might want to use. (Doly)
• Ecocities by Richard Register – An interesting and very readable book, with one man's vision of what ecological cities would be like. The book is full of ideas, anecdotes and drawings but has little structure. It will appeal to those wanting to get a vision or a feel for where we want to go, but anybody hoping for a structured, practical manual with detailed instructions will be disappointed. (Doly)
• The Different Drum by M. Scott Peck – Essentially, M. Scott Peck believes that rebuilding community is the most important task of human beings in the 21st century. A timely reminder of WHY we get involved in all this transition malarkey. A really clear description of what is involved in building community, and how important it is that we do so. (Simon)
Practical energy saving and general sustainability for individuals
• Converting to an Eco-Friendly home by Paul Hymers – Just what it says on the box. Good practical advice and instructions on everything from light, power and heat to waste and water. Small but not lightweight. (Doly)
• Extreme simplicity: Homesteading in the City by Christopher and Dolores Lynn Nyerges – The fascinating experiences of a couple that decided to live sustainably in Los Angeles. As you probably know, that city is nothing more than an inmense suburb, so most of the things they did aren't doable in a small flat in a city centre. Also, the weather in California is nothing like the British weather, which makes several of the ideas impracticable here. This said, there is a lot of practical advice in the book that would work almost anywhere. (Doly)
• DIY Projects in a Weekend by Albert Jackson and David Day – A good general DIY book, that includes good step-by-step instructions on how to do pretty much all of the energy-saving insulating stuff. (Doly)
• The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency by John Seymour – A classic. If you can, and want to get a bit of land and become a self-sufficient organic farmer, this should be your main reference book. If you are, like me, somebody who would either live in a city or find no reason to live, you will also find hope in the very informative chapters 'Energy and waste' and 'Crafts and skills'. Also 'Food from the garden', 'Food from the wild' (remember that abandoned lot?) and 'Brewing and wine-making' (assuming you can get hold of the raw materials) could be practiced in a city. (Doly)
• Green living in the Urban Jungle by Lucy Siegle – Not everybody has seen the light (or the doom and gloom). If you need to introduce sustainable living to a consumerist fashion victim, this book has all the little practical suggestions you need to give them to gradually wean them out of their dangerous habits and introduce them to the concept of simple living. Some people might feel offended by this book because some of the contents could be seen as greenwashing, but I see it as the perfect approach for some people. (Doly)
• Forgotten Household Crafts by John Seymour – An interesting review through all those skills and ways of doing things the Victorians had and now aren't done any more. Instructions are mostly general rather than detailed, and probably most of them will remain as forgotten in the future as they are now, but the pictures are wonderful and it could provide inspiration to some. If anybody is seriously interested in this book, I'd be happy to give it away. (Doly)
• The Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield – review by Rob Hopkins (Stephen)
Empowerment / Heart and Soul
• Soil and Soul by Alastair McIntosh – http://www.alastairmcintosh.com/soilandsoul.htm – say no more. (Stephen)
• Only Connect - The Best of Resurgence magazine 1990-1999 (Stephen)
• Free to Be Human (Intellectual Self-Defence in an age of illusions) by David Edwards – Shows how the media filtering system distorts our understanding of many personal, ethical and spiritual issues, ensuring that we remain passive, conformist, confused and uninformed - and willing to accept the irrational values of corporate consumerism. (Stephen)
• The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann – On the back it says "A call to consciousness combining spirituality and ecology that offers hope for the future." Which so far seems about right. It has science as well as spirituality, doom as well as hope though, so I'd say it's pretty well balanced and the writer is very passionate. (Jo)
Activism
• DIY: A Handbook for Changing Our World by the Trapese Collective – A collection of ideas and instructions for the green activist. It also contains a few instructions on how to live more sustainably, but the main focus is on activism. It's a taster to give you ideas on possible things that can be done, so you can research later the subjects you find more interesting, rather than an attempt to cover all the ground, because each of the chapters would be a whole book if the matter was covered in detail. Another good thing about the book - one of the authors, Alice Cutler, is involved with Transition Brighton. (Doly)
• Green History edited by Derek Wall – A collection of essays on environmentalism. I personally didn't find it very interesting, but other people might, and I'm willing to give it to anybody who wants it. (Doly)
Money and economy
• How to Survive without a Salary by Charles Long – If you ever dreamt of sacking your boss, or are worried about becoming unemployed in the already-beginning economic crisis brought by peak oil, and you suspect that depending on the government for unemployment or sickness benefits would be a recipe for absolute misery in tough times, this book will tell you exactly what to do. The good news is that the author has done it and it seems to work just peachy for him. The bad news is that it requires a lot of preparation if you want a good degree of security, and you probably need to own your home (whatever you use as a home), or at least be dead certain that nobody will take it away from you. (Doly)
• Living well on Practically Nothing by Edward H. Romney – A similar book to the one above, but the contents are more specific to the United States and less relevant to the UK. Still, it has a lot of interesting ideas in it that aren't found in the previous one. Also, some practical information on what worked and didn't in Great Depression for those who think it could be the way things go. (Doly)
• Nickled and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich – This book tells the story of a journalist that tried living in a few low-paid jobs in the USA to see if she could