Press release
Transition rocks!: Acclaimed performance drama group delivers an educational and inspirational workshop
17 July 2008. On Saturday 12 July, the Rosemount church in Douglas was the venue for a special Transition Isle of Man workshop hosted by Movingsounds, the acclaimed Brighton-based performance drama group. Movingsounds members Ed, Caspar and Keith were in the Island working with secondary school students, in a week-long visit that culminated in Eco Day at QEII high school in Peel on Monday 14 July.
Around 30 invited guests included representatives from Isle of Man College, Girlguiding IOM and the Island’s schools and churches. The idea was to help people involved in educating or informing others to get the Transition message across in a creative and engaging way.
Cheryl Cousins, who is a member of the Transition Isle of Man steering group as well as Co-ordinator of the One World Centre, said, “During the three hours, Movingsounds had us creating our own rap-style songs and running an open space session to generate positive ideas for the Island in transition.
“While the workshop was fantastically energizing and great fun, the underlying message is an urgent one. Transition is a grass roots response to fossil fuel depletion and climate change. These are huge challenges that will affect us all in the very near future, so it’s vital that we work together to find solutions for the Island.”
Transition Isle of Man is part of the wider Transition Towns movement currently sweeping Britain. It’s all about communities finding ways to become more self-reliant; less dependent on imported energy and food. Around 75 places are officially on board, and a further 700 have signalled their intention to join. The Isle of Man was one of the first islands to get involved, officially becoming a ‘Transition Island’ earlier this year.
“In the Island we rely on imported oil and gas for over 99% of our energy needs, and much of our food and other goods are imported too,” added Janet Lees, another Transition Isle of Man steering group member. “But there is huge potential for renewable energy in the form of wind and tidal power, and plenty of land to support much more local food production.
“Having been instrumental – literally! – in Transition Lewes, one of the earliest Transition communities, Movingsounds know all about the problems and are actively working on a whole range of exciting solutions. The workshop enabled us to reap the benefits of their expertise, enthusiasm and, most of all, positive energy.”
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For more information on Transition Isle of Man, call Janet Lees on 823253 or Alice Quayle on 307842, or email transitioniom@mac.com
To find out more about Movingsounds, visit www.movingsounds.org