Open Space write up (UK conference May-07)

Specific Topic Engaging the whole community

 

Overarching question How do we sustainably expand and support the network of communities working on transition?

Proceedings

Issues with different cultures

  • Bristol has:
    • 29 languages
    • mansions
    • poverty stricken inner city housing
    • many religions
  • Whitstable has:
    • Natives
    • DFLs (Down From London)
  • Aberystwyth has:
    • lots of students - transient population
    • many other types of communities
  • Hungerford
    • town councils
    • traditional groups
    • current projects and schemes: Future plans 2010, Every Action Counts, Free Training for Climate Change
  • Stroud
    • has a green core, often see the same faces at the same events, generally late 30s
    • need to involve youth and get a multicultural mix
    • getting a base or HQ in a town centre Transition Cafe which is a public space managed by the working groups of the Transition Initiative in rotation.
    • the railway station would make a good transition space reaching more of the public - the idea has been proposed
  • Forest Row
    • Steiner School
    • an active community - largest GM debate in the UK
    • big divide - parish council controlled
    • currently Transition Initiative is building bridges to the council
    • making partnerships with existing groups, starting with those that are awake, making sure there's no sense of being in competition, working towards the same end

Communicating the message

  • Transition is a process to start creating a more pleasurable life now
  • If 6 people write to an MP, then it becomes an issue. Could do that for Transition Initiatives
  • Use local groups and local issues - eg Womens Institute and milk
  • Get the community to appreciate how it's been pulled apart by the economic forces of de-localisation
  • The context is that we're being "pushed by circumstances, pulled by a dream"
  • Meet people where they are, and listen to their concerns and deal with them
  • Explain the EDAP, that it has stages in between and can involve all
  • Enthuse about the "Lo-carbon hi-life"
  • Communicate using visual, sensual and physical - food, film, music. It will appeal more to people's senses

Ideas for getting more people involved and aware

  • Farmers market - involves all ages, buying and selling local food
  • Street parties - around the village/town
  • Movable Feasts [this is like a pubcrawl except it's for eating and instead of pubs it's in people's houses - starter at Marions, main course at Jim's, dessert at Clara's. A lovely idea - Ed]
  • Village picnic in the local park (Brixton put one of these on using predominantly local grown food)
  • Community orchard
  • Tree planting in gardens
    • Bristol ran a scheme doing this
      • promoted it in the local paper
      • bought 200 trees at £5 each
      • got people to send in a form and money
      • the people collected the trees
      • held a workshop on planting an maintenance
      • touched a lot of people
      • it allowed people to be involved without committing themselves to a cause or spending lots of time
  • Learn from the elders
    • green gardening day, sharing produce (permaculture idea)
  • Permaculture gardens
    • people put their gardens forward to become "allotments" worked by volunteers, bringing back the value from "redundant" land
    • this can protect an old person's land from development
  • Try to involve young people - children are ready for change, and it's important to let them know what they can do, without engendering an "us and them" feeling
  • Flyer - 10 things you can do now. It's an invitation to change eg carry a cloth bag and not plastic. Put the good ideas out there.