If you wish to receive this newsletter as an email each month, please register on the forum – this will put you on our mailing list. Or email the website requesting that you be added to the list.
The next regular Transition Brighton and Hove forum meeting is at 7.30pm this Wed 2 July at The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove (map). Forum meetings include feedback from each transition working group and future planning. Everyone is welcome. Dates of TBH meetings can always be found on the main page of the website.News
Transition issues in the mainstream news
Climate change:
13 Jun – Iowa Floods force thousands out – BBC
14 Jun – Arctic thaw threatens Siberian permafrost – Independent
17 Jun – More floods threaten South China – BBC
18 Jun – Australian rivers 'face disaster' – BBC
Peak oil:
Oil currently $139 a barrel, up from $135 last month.
11 Jun – Global Crude Oil Production Dropped in 2007, BP says – Bloomberg
12 Jun – Spain & Portugal: Factories close, supermarkets empty and jets run out of fuel as truckers' strike bites – Guardian
13 Jun – Now struggling families told sky-high food and oil prices are here for 'years to come' – Daily Mail
23 Jun – Demand, not speculation, at heart of oil shock, says Brown – Guardian: Gordon Brown asks Saudi oil producers to invest in UK renewables
Green Wave festival
TBH will be participating in Green Wave, Brighton's first sustainable eco festival. The festival is in Preston Park on Sat 5/Sun 6 July and includes a solar-powered live music stage, a school eco theatre arena and a number of different zones: Wellbeing, Transport, Recycling, Water, Energy, Science, Earth, Music, Schools and Youth (see Upcoming Events below). If you would like free entry the festival organisers are looking for marshals, see Requests for help below.
Opportunity for TBH to meet and discuss with the Council on their Climate Change strategy
TBH’s Liaison with Local Government Group have organised an opportunity for all TBH members to listen to and question Thurstan Crockett, Head of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Sustainability & Environmental Policy. 7.30pm on Thu 17 July at the Salvation Army Hall (see Upcoming Events below and here for more info).
Introduction to Transition Brighton & Hove sessions
Thanks to those who have expressed an interest in introductory sessions, and apologies for their delay – they will be happening in the next few weeks. And if anyone else wants to know more about what Transition Initiatives and Transition Brighton and Hove are about, and learn more about climate change and peak oil, please email introsessions*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk so we can contact you with dates.
Allotment petition
Houses are being squeezed into any available land but allotment space is dwindling. It is vital to embrace local food if we are to cope with the twin challenges of climate change and Peak Oil. The following URL links to a petition to parliament for all new development to be obliged to include allotments. Please sign and forward on the link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/moreallotmentsRequests for help
TBH is not really about the coordinating group initiating projects and recruiting help – it's about people who want to be part of TBH both initiating their own projects, and providing help to others with their ideas. This could just as well be a project that's part of an existing organisation as something completely new – TBH simply aims to be a network of everyone who has the same goal of energy resilience and reduction. If you have an energy-reducing project that you need help with, if you have a pie-in-the-sky dream and you want to throw ideas around about it with other people, please advertise them here (by replying to this email), and it will go out in the next newsletter.
Green Wave festival 5/6 July – various requests for help
Free entry for marshals
The Green Wave organisers are looking for volunteers to be marshals - it simply involves wearing a yellow jacket and directing people around who ask questions! In return you get free entry (worth £5) and food and drink to sustain you. If you were planning on coming anyway, perhaps to help out at the transition stall, why not volunteer?. Any time appreciated but ideally we'd like volunteers for half day or whole days to make it easier to keep track. To volunteer or get more information please contact Green Wave on 01273 323 200 / Jacqui Cuff at jac.cuff*at*talktalk.net or on 07740 201194 / Frank Jay at frank*at*neweraassociates.co.uk
Clothes and helpers wanted for Swap-O-Rama-Rama
The Textiles group need clean unwanted clothes to swap, embellish and recycle at the Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Helpers are also needed on Saturday and Sunday to make the donated clothing look nice. Find them in the Recycling Zone, or contact Kat at textiles*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk or on 07958 964810
Helpers for transition cinema
There will be films shown on various transition themes in the cinema tent at the festival – if you can help out in the cinema please contact Stephen at only.connect*at*mac.comTransition Interest Groups
The dates of all Transition Interest Group meetings are on this website. (If you want to see meetings just for the area you are interested in, click on the link under 'Search Events by Subject', further down the home page in the right hand column.)Neighbourhood groups
In a city as large as Brighton & Hove it is going to become necessary to spread our activities out into neighbourhoods. TBH's plan is to ask existing neighbourhood community groups if we can give a talk to them about transition, with the aim of kickstarting a neighbourhood group. If you are part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come give a talk to your group, please contact talks*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk. Or if you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk.
Meeting for kickstarting Neighbourhood groups
This will take place on Mon 14 July – details hereUpcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Transition Library: there is a category on the forum when people can offer to lend, and borrow, books on transition-related subjects. If you have books on climate change, peak oil and other relevant subjects and think others will benefit from reading them, please offer to lend them out. Lending/borrowing arrangements at the top of the forum
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH newsletter – July 2008
TBH newsletter – June 2008
If you wish to receive this newsletter as an email each month, please register on the forum – this will put you on our mailing list. Or email the website requesting that you be added to the list.
At a general meeting in early May it was decided to start a monthly Forum for all those actively involved in TB&H. This will include someone from each working group (Transition Interest Groups, Functional groups – such as funds and finance, publicity and media, education and training, Project Groups and any Neighbourhood group) – but everyone else is welcome to attend. These Forum meetings, and introductory evenings for newcomers, will replace general monthly meetings. The first Forum meeting is at 7.30pm on Thu 5 June at the Salvation Army Hall, 1 Park Crescent (Off Union Road, North Side of The Level: map). The agenda is here.
Dates of TBH meetings can always be found on the main page of the website.News
Peak oil hits the mainstream news
Oil at $135 a barrel and rising food prices have caused multiple headlines in the mainstream media this month. Here's a selection:
24 May – $135 and rising ... has cheap oil gone for ever? – Guardian
23 May – April Oil Output Drop Biggest in 12 Years – Bloomberg
23 May – Britain is in the grip of an economic crisis as oil prices hit a record high – Daily Mail
23 May – Is the world about to be running on empty? – Independent
23 May – The flight from cheap fares – Guardian
Local news on vain attempts to drill for tiny amounts of oil in Sussex (including an interview with TBH):
19 May – Prospectors find their way to Sussex oil – Argus
Plus news on the further effects of climate change:
23 May – Vast Cracks appear in Arctic Ice – BBC News
The expanding Transition network
There are now 61 official Transition Initiatives worldwide, up from 50 last month...
TBH workshop at University of Brighton
In May Doly and Martin from TBH ran a workshop at the university on 'Making the transition from a high to low fossil fuel economy', asking students and staff to create a vision of how we would like our city to look in 10 years.
Green Wave festival
TBH will be participating in the Green Wave Festival, Brighton's first sustainable eco festival. The festival is in Preston Park on Sat 5/Sun 6 July, divided into zones: Wellbeing,Transport, Recycling, Water, Energy, Science, Earth, Music, Schools and Youth. Each TBH Interest Group will have a small presence in the section on their theme. If you would like to get involved, please contact the relevant group coordinator.
Transition allotment
By the time you receive this newsletter the first TBH Allotment meeting will have taken place, in the form of a picnic on the plot itself. The plot is on a new site on Whitehawk Hill, right next door to The Community Food Project and is the first to have an organic only stipulation written into the contract. It's just brambles at the moment but all are welcome to come and get involved, whether you have permaculture design skills or have never picked up a trowel! To get involved email allotment*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
Introduction to Transition Brighton & Hove sessions
If you want to know more about what Transition Initiatives and Transition Brighton and Hove are about, and learn more about climate change and peak oil, we will be running introductory sessions in the next few weeks. If you are interested in attending please contact introsessions*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk so we can get an idea of numbers.Requests for help
TBH is not really about the coordinating group initiating projects and recruiting help – it's more about people who want to be part of TBH both initiating their own projects, and providing help to others with their projects. This could just as well be a project that's part of an existing organisation as something completely new – TBH simply aims to be a network of everyone who has the same goal of energy resilience and reduction. If you have an energy-reducing project that you need help with, if you have a pie-in-the-sky dream and you want to throw ideas around about it with other people, please advertise them here (by replying to this email), and it will go out in the next newsletter.
Researching the Energy Descent Action Plan
The Energy Descent Action Plan is the document that TBH will be drawing up over the coming months and years, which will be our blueprint for how Brighton & Hove will take steps to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and become more resilient to future energy scarcity. The Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc) are beginning to research all the ideas that groups and individuals in Brighton & Hove have for this. We want to know your ideas, what you are excited about doing to reduce energy use, so that a framework can be drawn up for the Plan. Please contact Doly at lu_si_na*at*yahoo.com with your own and your group's ideas.
Guerilla Gardening
Guerrilla gardening is when you find a neglected area of public space, either unused waste ground, or somewhere that has at some time in the past been landscaped and planted but then left to its own devices, clear it of litter and weeds, improve the soil and put in some attractive plants. Sue Jones has a pet project in Portslade and needs some help – if you fancy the idea of publicly grown veggies, you can contact her at sue.jones47*at*tesco.netTransition Interest Groups
The dates of all Transition Interest Group meetings are on this website. (If you want to see meetings just for the area you are interested in, click on the link under 'Search Events by Subject', further down the home page in the right hand column.)Neighbourhood groups
In a city as large as Brighton & Hove it is going to become necessary to spread our activities out into neighbourhoods. TBH's plan is to ask existing neighbourhood community groups if we can give a talk to them about transition, with the aim of kickstarting a neighbourhood group. If you are part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come give a talk to your group, please contact talks*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk. Or if you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk.Upcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Transition Library: there is a category on the forum when people can offer to lend, and borrow, books on transition-related subjects. If you have books on climate change, peak oil and other relevant subjects and think others will benefit from reading them, please offer to lend them out. Lending/borrowing arrangements at the top of the forum
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH newsletter – May 2008
If you wish to receive this newsletter as an email each month, please register on the forum – this will put you on our mailing list.News
First TBH public talk
On 17 April TBH held the first of its public talks, with Jeremy Leggett talking on peak oil and Jim Watson on options for generating energy locally. The talk was well-attended, but for those who missed it a YouTube video will soon be available to watch on the website.
Introduction to Brighton & Hove sessions
If you want to know more about what Transition Towns and Transition Brighton and Hove are about, and learn more about climate change and peak oil, we will soon be running introductory sessions. If you are interested in attending please contact introsessions*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk so we can get an idea of numbers.
Transition Network conference
The Transition Network Conference was held at the beginning of April in Cirencester. There are now 50 Transition Towns/Cities around the country with more than 600 thinking about become one, and the conference may be becoming so large that smaller, regional conferences will be necessary next year...
Transition Library
There is now a category on the forum when people can offer to lend, and borrow, books on transition-related subjects. If you have books on climate change, peak oil and other relevant subjects and think others will benefit from reading them, please offer to lend them out. Lending/borrowing arrangements at the top of the forum.
TBH allotment
TBH has been offered its own allotment, next door to Whitehawk Community Food Project on the top of Whitehawk Hill. There are many ways we could use this, from growing food to teaching people how to, running workshops, etc. You are invited to get involved, the allotment needs everyone from those with skills in permaculture design down to those who don't even know what a trowel is but want to learn in a friendly community allotment. It's just brambles at the moment, but if you'd like to have a hand in deciding it's future and get involved in any capacity please contact Jo at allotment*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk to come to the first meeting. Transition Interest Groups news
The dates of all Transition Interest Group meetings are on the website. (If you want to see meetings just for the area you are interested in, click on the link under 'Search Posts by Area of Interest', further down the page in the right hand column.)Requests for help
TBH is not really about the coordinating group initiating projects and recruiting help – it's more about people who are part of TBH providing help for your own projects. If you have an energy-reducing project that you need help with, if you have a pie-in-the-sky dream and you want to throw ideas around about it with other people, please advertise them here (by replying to this email), and it will go out in the next newsletter.
Researching the Energy Descent Action Plan
The Energy Descent Action Plan is the document that TBH will be drawing up over the coming months and years, which will be our blueprint for how Brighton & Hove will take steps to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and become more resilient to future energy scarcity. The Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc) are beginning to research all the ideas that groups and individuals in Brighton & Hove have for this. We want to know your ideas, what you are excited about doing to reduce energy use, so that a framework can be drawn up for the Plan. Please contact the group coordinators with your own and your groups ideas – contact email addresses for each group are here.
Skills inventory
There are more than 300 people on the TBH mailing list, but we don't know what skills and talents you all have with which we could be helping each other! So we would like to make a 'skills inventory', so that when people are looking for particular skills for future projects there are people they can call upon. So if you are a carpenter/copy writer/wind turbine builder/graphic designer/cook/Farsi teacher/anything else please let the skills inventory know. The way to do this is on the forum. Log in (if you have lost your log in details, or are having problems logging in, please send an email to webmaster*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk), click on 'Profile' in the top bar, and fill in the 'Occupation' or 'Interests' boxes with the skills you have. This will add to a searchable skills database.
Support for TBH from Radio 4A
Local independent Brighton radio station Radio 4A have been welcome supporters of Transition Brighton and Hove's aims and objectives, and are keen to interview anyone putting on transition-related events to promote your activities. They would also like to receive regular updates about TBH activities. If you'd like to take them up on this please contact Debbie at debbie_mallard*at*yahoo.co.uk.Neighbourhood groups
TBH Neighbourhood groups are gradually forming, often as part of existing community groups. If you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, please contact hub@transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk. Or you are already part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come talk to your group about transition towns, please contact talks*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukUpcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH newsletter – April 2008
If you wish to receive this newsletter as an email each month, please register on the forum – this will put you on our mailing list.
Of special note this month is the first talks in our series 'Energy and Resources for the Transition to a Sustainable Future' on thu 17 April at the Brighthelm Centre (see Upcoming Events). Each in the series of talks aims to have a national and local speaker to inform us about transition issues – this month it's Jeremy Leggett on peak oil and Jim Watson on options for generating energy locally. Hope to see you there...
Next TBH general meeting
The next general meeting is at 7.30pm on Wed 9 April at the Salvation Army Hall, 1 Park Crescent, Brighton (north side of the Level: map)
Dates of TBH general meetings can always be found on the main page of the websiteNews
• Transition Towns get a mention on The Archers on Radio 4... next stop Transition Ambridge... (transcript here)
• Chris from the TBH hub was interviewed on the One World Community show on Radio Reverb about Transition Towns in general, followed by Doly from the Transport group talking about a proposal for a Car Free Week. You can hear the interviews here (scroll to the bottom of the page). If you are interested in taking part in the Car Free Week experiment, please contact transport*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• At the beginning of March TBH held a morning of film screenings at the Farmer's Market near Hove station – the film The Story of Stuff was very popular, an entertaining and informative short film that opens you eyes to the ridiculous way we live and consume. Watch it online here.
• A workshop on 15 March was attended by Transition group co-ordinators and hub members, with presentations on Gaian Democracy and the Heart and Soul of Change. This clarified some of the ideas about how Transition Brighton and Hove will organise itself. Charley Haward is also developing a workshop on Transition Training after attending training from the national Transition Network (see Upcoming Events below).
Transition Interest Groups news and requests for help
• Food group: we have the food event From Planet to Plate: Think Global, Eat Local coming up on April 12 – see Upcoming Events below
• Energy group: contact has been established with Peter Kaufmann and the National Energy Foundation on the subject of eco-refurbishments.
• Transport group: several people from the Transport Group visited the North Street Scheme exhibition and will send a collective proposal to the Council.
• Business & Economics group: The next Business & Economics Group meeting is on Thursday 3 April, 7.15 - 9.30pm, at Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (opposite The Hop Poles) followed by a catch up in the pub (please bring a mug). We're beginning to flesh out ideas for projects. What do you think this city, the business community and the economy most need? What is the most effective use of our time? See forum for notes from previous meetings and discussions, to suggest agenda items or generally throw ideas about. All contributions and comments welcome - please add to our page on the forum (where you can also join) or email business*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk / 07891 571739.
• Textiles & Clothing group: We would love to find people who can sew (by hand or machine!), or do any kind of customising clothing technique to come along for a couple of hours to Swapo-rama-rama on Sat 26 April (see Upcoming Events below). If you have a sewing machine you can bring and can show people how to alter stuff, all the better! Also free tea and clothes for anyone who fancies greeting people and/or sorting clothes for couple of hours. Contact Kat 07958 964810 or email textiles*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Liaison with Local Government group: There is much happening in Local Government at the moment which is relevant to the aims of Transition Brighton and Hove. Our Liaison Group's current priorities are (1) to see that sustainability carries importance and is not sidelined within the Council's new Governance Arrangements which come into effect from May 2008 and (2) to ensure that TB&H is represented on the Council's new Sustainability Forum, which is to replace the Sustainability Commission.
A further way to get TB&H's message across, working in cooperation with the Council's Sustainability Team, relates to the proposed panel of experts to support the new cabinets within the Council. There will be around 20 experts on the panel drawn from Brighton and Hove residents who have national or indeed international expertise to offer. Transition Brighton and Hove has some highly talented and knowledgeable people amongst its membership, and it occurred to us that there may well be TB&H members who may want to offer their expertise &/or who Brighton and Hove City Council may want to approach. When we know the criteria for selecting local experts, we will post the information on TB&H's website, so that willing and suitable experts can come forward.
We will continue to publicize Council initiatives (e.g. Home Energy Efficiency scheme) and events (e.g. Eco Open Houses organised for late June) as well as consultations relevant to TB&H main & Group objectives. An obvious one will be the major consultation, to be held later this year, on the options for refreshing The Council's Sustainability Strategy, expected to be presented by One Planet Living.
For information on the working protocol of TB&H's Liaison with Local Government Meetings Group, please see our posts on the main TB&H website, several of which also describe relevant issues addressed by the Council's Sustainability Commission - concerns which will become the substance of the new Sustainability Forum's work. There is a lot to learn through liaison with the Council's Sustainability Team. This TB&H Liaison Group both welcomes new members and recommends attendance (if only occasional) at the Sustainability Commission (soon to become the Sustainability Forum) meetings, which are open to all.Neighbourhood groups
TBH Neighbourhood groups are gradually forming, often as part of existing community groups. If you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, or you are already part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come talk to your group about transition towns, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Roundhill and Triangle group: The next meeting of the Roundhill/Triangle neighbourhood group will be at 7.30pm on Tue 8 April in the Park Crescent pub, Park Crescent (map). All welcome. For more details please contact roundhill_triangle@transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukUpcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH newsletter – March 2008
If you wish to receive this newsletter as an email each month, please register on the forum – this will put you on our mailing list.News
• A program of talks is being put together to raise public awareness of peak oil, climate change and related issues. We aim to have twin talks, with a nationally renowned speaker and a local speaker on each event, talking about related issues. The first one will be on April 17, with Jeremy Legget, author of Half Gone and Jim Watson from Sussex University (see Upcoming Events below).
• Members of the TBH hub are currently presenting talks about Transition Towns to community groups – to North Laines earlier in February, with others arranged for the Clifton Montpelier and Powis Community Association and Hove Community group. (If you would like a talk given to your community group, please contact talks*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk)
• Links have been established with Sussex University. Doly (from TBH hub) has given two brief talks as a participant of events organized by the Sussex Uni Environmental Society and the Environmental Action Network, and John (also TBH hub) has been in touch with students interested in doing Transition-related research.
• Chris and Stephen from the TBH hub were interviewed about TBH on Radio Reverb, Brighton's community radio station: once for the Vision Shack show on 14 Feb (you can hear the interview here, in two parts). The other interview was for the One World Community show and will be broadcast on Sat 1 Mar at 2pm (One World Community site)
• Transition Shoreham-by-Sea has so far been part of Transition Brighton & Hove but is soon to launch as an independent Transition Town. TSbyS have held their first public meeting, you can read the notes here
Contact shoreham*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk for more details.
• All the Transition Interest Groups have had their first meetings and started discussing their main goals.
General requests for help
• TBH summer gathering: plans are currently in motion to hold a Transition Brighton & Hove event in Preston Park on 8th June from 11am-7pm. Our vision for the event is a coming together of Transitioners and other groups and people within the city (and beyond?) to share ideas, unify the network and celebrate all that we have achieved so far. This is a fantastic opportunity to present our vision of the transition process to the rest of Brighton and Hove. The event will likely include talks, stalls, hands-on workshops, other entertainments, food and music. We currently have a very small group of people co-ordinating this event so could really use any help that can be offered. Jobs that need doing include applying for funding, publicity and help with organising key aspects of the event. Please contact tbhfestival*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukTransition Interest Groups news and requests for help
The various Transition Interest Groups all hold meetings to which anyone is welcome – a link to contact details for all groups can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. The Transition Interest Groups are organising a programme of day schools for adults: Transition Free Schools. Each will include a variety of different activities such as participatory workshops, films, practical demonstrations, talks and discussions. Based on popular education principles which aim to increase participation and break down the hierarchy between educator and learner, involving participants as much as possible and allowing them to reach their own conclusions. All these events will be free (donations very welcome). Keep an eye on the website for dates of both meetings and free schools.
• Food group: The Food Group is planning its first free school event - a day focused on raising awareness about food issues and learning practical skills such as seed planting. There will be talks, a film screening, seed planting demonstrations, info about local produce, activities for kids and hopefully a break for a local communal lunch. We would very much welcome help planning and publicizing this event, which is taking place on Saturday the 12th of April. Please come along to our next meeting on Tue 11 March at 7:30pm upstairs at the Earth and Stars pub. Please contact Ann on 07729 126772 or food*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk for more info or if you'd like to be added to the Food Group mailing list.
• Business & Economics group: the group is making good progress, with diverse and imaginative participants helping to shape its course. We've been educating ourselves, having a good debate, sharing dreams, hatching plans and having a laugh or two. We have been sketching out some kind of mission statement, describing our principles, purpose and aims and thinking about the best ways to use our time and skills. Anyone can join in, whatever your experience, by coming along to our meetings, adding your thoughts on our group's forum page - or by talking to Martin at business*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk / 07891 571739. Contact him to join the group email list. Next meeting is on Monday 3 March 7-9pm, at Brighton Media Centre, Suite 4, 68 MIddle St, Brighton, followed by a drink at the Hop Poles pub, almost opposite. Forum page
• Buildings and Construction group: Nicola who was coordinating the Buildings group has had to step down from coordinating the group. If anyone is interested in taking up this role, whether from the existing Buildings group or otherwise, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Waste & Recycling group: the next meeting will be at 6.30pm on Tue 4 March, upstairs at the King & Queen pub, Old Steine. All welcome. More info: waste*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk.
• Heart and Soul group: This is a new group that will soon be starting up. Many believe that transforming our world will mean a deep change of heart and mind, as the transition to sustainability goes far beyond the immediate practical tasks. Themes covered by the Heart and Soul group in Totnes include: understanding the psychology of the industrial growth society; reconnecting with nature; expressing how it feels to be alive and engaged at such an uncertain and critical time; creating community celebrations, and many many more. To get involved with this group and an invitation to the first meeting please contact heartandsoul*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukNeighbourhood groups
TBH Neighbourhood groups are gradually forming, often as part of existing community groups. If you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, or you are already part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come talk to your group about transition towns, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Roundhill and Triangle group: this neighborhood group encompasses the Roundhill and Triangle areas with a view to also including The Level. The group will be working independently but with strong links to the residents' associations in those areas. The first meeting will be at 7pm on Thu 13th March in The Roundhill pub on Ditchling Road. All welcome. For further details please contact roundhill_triangle*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukUpcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH monthly newsletter
Transition Brighton and Hove monthly newsletter • 25 January 2008
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Welcome to the first Transition Brighton and Hove newsletter – this is going to be a monthly affair, to let you know what's been happening over the preceding weeks, and what events are coming up in the future. Please feel free to forward to anyone who may be interested...
Transition Brighton & Hove news
• Jo and Charley from the TBH hub have attended a weekend-long training session by Transition Network trainers from Totnes, the first Transition Town. They will be presenting what they have learned to everyone sometime soon.
• Last week 30 members of TBH attended a free workshop on Sustainable Neighbourhoods run for us by the New Economics Foundation, which produced a number of ideas for energy-reducing projects. Details will be available on the website soon.
• A programme of transition-related film screenings and talks is being put together to raise public awareness of peak oil and climate change – keep coming back to the website (www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk) to see when these are, and encourage your friends and families to go see them (some films are already organised, see upcoming events below).
• Following the council's decision to ban plastic bags at the end of last year, TBH member Chloe Hanks (who runs the website www.plasticbagfreebrighton.co.uk) is raising public awareness by screening the film that kicked off the banning of plastic bags in Modbury, Devon (see upcoming events below).
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Transition Interest Groups news and requests for help
The Food, Waste & Recycling, Transport, Buildings & Construction, Business & Economics, Transport and Textiles & Clothing groups have all now held their first meetings – you can read the notes from these from the main page of the website – click on the labels in the right hand column to find the group you want.
• Food group: the Food group aims to increase the amount of food grown and consumed locally, and to raise awareness of the impacts the food system has on the environment. The group, which has met twice so far, is already planning some exciting and informative events for city residents. Our first event will be a whole day, Saturday 12 April 2008, dedicated to sharing our knowledge and learning more about food issues. The day will include a film screening, talks, seed planting demonstrations, and more. Please check the TBH website for more details as our plans develop!
Anyone is welcome to join the Food group, so please do come along if you're interested. Our next meetings are Tuesday 12 February and Tuesday 11 March, both 7:30-9:30pm. Venue to be confirmed soon, so please keep an eye on the website. There will also be an adult day-school around food-related issues on 12th April, venue tba. Agendas and notes from previous meetings will also be available on the website (click on the 'food' label in the right hand column to see our postings). For more info on the Food group, contact Ann at ann*at*bhfood.org.uk or on 01273 431700
• Energy group: the Energy group has its first meeting planned for 8pm on Sun 10 Feb at the Sanctuary cafe. Please keep an eye on the website for confirmation.
• Transport group: Call for guinea pigs for the Car-Free Week Experiment. The Transport group is looking for homes that use a car regularly for a radical experiment: life without a car. This is your chance to find out if it is possible or not. If you commit to try to abandon the car for a week, you will get all our support, and a perfect opportunity to make your voice heard about the issues that stop you from making that huge lifestyle change. If you are interested, please get in touch with webmaster*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk.
• Business & Economics Group: we are acutely aware that not all of us can come to meetings all the time; we have now met twice but everyone (including non-members) is very welcome to feed thoughts into the discussion on the forum (see link at bottom) or email Martin at martin*at*greenspeak-brighton.org.uk (07891 571739). It has been enjoyable and inspiring so far, with a great bunch of people. We've spent some time getting to know each other, our skills and dreams and working out what the purpose of the group will be and how we will go about working together. Our meetings have been balanced with a film and talks. We want to ensure that we are effective and imaginative, aiming high yet with achievable goals, that the process should be fun and even playful. The next stage is to start thinking about our objectives for the next 6, 12, 60 months. It's all very fluid, but now is a great time to share your ideas. Next meeting - all very welcome: Wed 13 Feb at 7.15pm . Brighton Media Centre, Suite 4, 68 Middle St, Brighton (opp Hop Poles pub)
• Waste & Recycling group: the group is to be involved in a public meeting on the subject of waste and recycling, to be arranged probably in early summer – details to be honed at next meeting; and also involved in a Buy Nothing Day/Reskilling Day, booked in as part of the Cowley Club's Brighton Festival activities on Saturday May 10th 2008. The next group meeting will be at the Cowley Club on Monday 11 February at 6pm. Contact Jessica at waste*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk for more details.
• Textiles and Clothing group: we have had a number of meetings. One of the projects in the pipeline: Swaparamarama, an event on Saturday, April 26. It will be a big clothing swap shop with workshops for revamping, customising, mending etc, and some awareness raising, probably a film related to the clothing industry. We'll be holding a planning meeting at the end of January/beginning of February. Anyone interested in helping run the event or contributing ideas please contact katneeser*at*hotmail.com or telephone Kat 07958 964810. Keep an eye on the forum for more information on this group's activities.
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other general requests for help
• Film screenings: a group has been set up to arrange a programme of film screenings of transition-related films (such as The End of Suburbia, Power of Community, What a Way to Go, etc). The group would like to hear from anyone who can help with venues, projectors, publicity, etc. Also planned for the future is screening films to existing community groups as a prompt for starting Neighbourhood groups around the city. If you are part of a community group and would like to host a screening, please let the group know. Contact Chris at webmaster*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk or on 01273 746797. Also if you can help with the Permaculture Film Showings in the studio at Ralli Hall Farmers Market (see Upcoming events) please contact Kat at katneeser*at*hotmail.com or on 07958 964810.
• Blog writers: Sarah Lewis, the editor of Rocks magazine (www.rocksmagazine.co.uk) has offered up to four of us the opportunity to make our voices heard on the 'Rocks' blogsite. If you reckon your typing fingers are mightier than a sword, send us your stories to webmaster@transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk and we'll publish them on the Transition B&H site, with a good chance they will be accepted by Sarah. For tips on how to write a blog, see here:
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Upcoming events
Sun 3 February – Films + speakers: Hawai'i – Message in the Waves at Duke of Yorks
Plastic Bag Free Brighton are screening Hawai'i – Message in the Waves at 1.30pm on Sun 3 February at the Duke of York cinema, Preston Circus, the film made by Rebecca Hosking that kick started the successful Modbury plastic bag-free campaign. Free entry/donations.
More details
watch trailer
Sun 3 Feb – Seedy Sunday
Community seed swap at 3pm in Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove. Plus talk about Seedy Sunday by Alice from Trapese.
More details
Thu 14 Feb – TBH interviewed on Radio Reverb 97.2 FM
Interview at 12 noon with Chris and Stephen from the TBH hub
Sun 2 Mar – Permaculture Film Showings in the studio at Ralli Hall Farmers Market (by Hove Station)
From 10.30am till 3pm. Grab your shopping and a cup of tea and watch some inspiring Transition-related short documentaries. For more information and if you can help contact Kat at katneeser*at*hotmail.com or on 07958 964810
Thu 6 March – Film + discussion: What a Way to Go at Duke of Yorks
What a Way to Go: A middle class white guy comes to grips with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American Lifestyle. At 6.30pm on Thu 6 March at the Duke of York cinema, Preston Circus, followed by a discussion in Circus Circus.
watch trailer
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General information
Meetings: the next general meeting is on Wed 30 January at The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove (map)
Dates of TBH general meetings can always be found on the main page of the website
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – your email address will be passed on to the group coordinator who will let you know about future meetings. You can also contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin:
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.