Bulletin February 2007
Welcome to the first bulletin of Transition Town Lewes
Thank you for signing up to this news, and letting us keep you informed about Lewes's response to the challenges of climate change and our overdependence on fossil fuels. If you'd prefer not to get this bulletin, there's information about unsubscribing at the foot of every issue. At the bottom of each section, you will find links to other information resources.
Film event
Our first event last Sunday, the screening of The End of Suburbia, went very well, with 81 people turning up. The afternoon started with Moving Sounds's great short film about and by Lewes, and after the main film we had a lively paired talking and listening session about our responses. A lively discussion ensued, followed by a post-it-note exercise: Steps I could take/ Steps Lewes could take/ Steps the government could take. The amazing cascade of ideas and pledges was emailed to all who came to see the film, and posted, with photos, on the wiki pages.
Next film – Sunday 25 February
The Power of Community is a positive and inspiring film about peak oil and how Cuba responded to the sudden withdrawal of oil supply by the Soviet Union. We'll run a similar feedback session before and after the film, which will be shown in association with Lewes Cinema at 2pm on Sunday 25 February.
Networking
In the lead up to the Official Unleashing (24 April), we're starting to make connections with groups like Common Cause, the District Council's Sustainability Team, Brighton Permaculture Trust and others who have been working towards localisation and sustainability for many years, as well as action groups such as Brighton Climate Change, Friends of The Earth and Lewes Matters. We also support the work Lewes Climate Concern, which is launching on Lewes Climate Concern, which is launching on Thursday 15 March at 7.30 p.m. at the Town Hall. Their aim is to get An Inconvenient Truth and/or the BBC-David Attenborough programme Climate Change: Britain under Threat to be shown and discussed widely in homes and communities around Lewes. If you'd like us to talk to you about what we're doing, please get in touch. We also have the support of our eco-friendly MP Norman Baker.
Awareness in the town
The editor of Sussex Express is very positive about Transition Town Lewes and has agreed to support us as a Campaign; we look forward to a rich relationship. Viva Lewes continues to give us generous coverage, for which we're grateful.
Our library has agreed to source and buy a range of books on climate change, peak oil and solutions such as energy savings, local food and Permaculture, which they will place on a prominent stand for several months, and which could go on tour to other libraries in the county. Which is great.
Some of the team are planning a workshop with the year ten students at Priory School. If it goes well Priory School hopes this will be the beginning of an ongoing collaboration.
We've contacted Sussex Downs College for a similar partnership. One of our members, Moving Sounds, is seeking funding to make a short film with young people in the area to take around primary schools in the area and then further afield. Contact us if you can support this.
Vision
Since this initiative will be fuelled by our collective vision, when Lewes District Council asked for visions for the North Street area we couldn't resist sending in an article written in 2017 from Sussex Express staff writer Maevis Happen. You can view it alongside the Stakeholders' ideas on the district council's planning department website. Transition Town Lewes is not an official stakeholder, although the North Street land is a hugely important resource for a town making an energy transition.
What will Lewes be like?
We're entering a time of global uncertainty, with climate change and oil insecurity being only two strands, symptoms perhaps. Responses to this range from panic, reaching out for Branson-style technofixes, belief that the government, industry or God will sort it out, or plain old-fashioned denial. So we asked for help from two people most able to answer the question - ex-BBC environment correspondent Alex Kirby, and Dr Tom Crossett - consultant scientist for 30 years on environmental matters.
Web connections
One of our team is brilliant with e-communication and has set us up with the latest web-based communications tools. Our website is based on wiki, an open format so, though it's not 'glossy' - which rather appeals to us - it can evolve and be added to by a range of people. It will also become a source of shared resources. We will soon start a blog for articles, links to information and threads of debate. Please join in!
Finance
As a grassroots organisation, we are volunteers who have put in hundreds of hours of work to date. We've received no funding but have got this far on a wing and a prayer. We have opened an account with the Cooperative Bank and have applied for an Awards for All Grant which, if agreed, will be available in April, as well as a grant from Lewes Town Council. In the meantime, we'd be very grateful for £2-3,000 of seed funding up to and including the Official Unleashing. Thanks.
Competition
The first five readers to email us back with Five Useful Local Resources for a energy transition in Lewes will win a copy of i-count's step by step guide to planet Bliss. It's a great little book with easy-to-do but radical ideas.
Action
Although the main focus of our core group is to provide a framework for the year-long public programme following the Unleashing, it is not just a talking shop. Some ideas are emerging for long term projects such as increasing Allotment provision, takeup and support of growing skills; creating a Community Orchard; and starting a Car Club.
Finally
This is a way to create a positive future for our community, as well as to prepare to respond to various challenges ahead. We are all learners here, and hope you will join in this adventure in any way you feel is possible.
Contact us
We will be opening an email account soon. In the meantime, please use the email addresses at the bottom of our wiki pages.
Get involved: contact hello [at] TransitionTownLewes.org.uk
