Transition Towns WIKI

Open Space write up (UK conference May-07)

Proceedings

• Community life cannot be preserved. It requires active involvement, and that now means re-engagement
• Avoid stories of gloom and enforced curtailment
• Create community resilience
• Suburban life is too isolated – eithe they have no local facilities or they've lost them
• Wealth is demonstrated through external display – they gate themselves in and have a sense of immunity
• Build awareness of community and a sense of place
• Engage with nature, promote contentment, re-evaluate our definition of success and our aspirations
• Look at what the community already has and build on it:
  • food co-ops
  • nurseries
  • local organisations
  • markets
• Children have a big part to play – they are a unifying point of concerns. Schools can play their part too
• Start by raising questions
• Campaign for a "less is more" Christmas
• Encourage people to take responsibility
• Some ideas to engage people:
  • country walks
  • farm open days
  • markets
  • buy local
  • "free is fun"
  • non-corporate entertainment and leisure activities
• Suburban communities
  • recreate their heart/centre – could involve WI groups, primary schools, churches
• "No Buy Zone" – a day where you encourage people to not buy anything for the day OR only buy local
• Challenge local people to engage in an "only buy local food" week or fortnight
• Educate people on the benefits of local and organic food
• Encourage PERSONAL transitions, tapping into what we all know – we can be happy and joyful without a lot of "stuff"
• Free music and poetry!
• Look back on our lives for moments when we were truly happy – they likely were not "bought" experiences
• Go to old people – find out what their happy moments were pre 1960s before the era of cheap oil
• Get WI or local schools to lead on oral history projects
• Turn to our shared humanity