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1. citrus
   Member

   hello everyone. i was wondering if anyone can offer me some advice about what is becoming a niggling issue in the transition project i am a part of?

   there is a very established and rather wonderful environmental-issue based centre in the town i live in. the transition process was however started seperately by myself and my partner. we looked very hard to see evidence of an emerging TT project and found none, including at the centre. very few people had heard of the idea, so we started a group independantly of any organisations. we didn't have a clue what we were doing to be frank but we wanted something to happen.

   since then the group has formed and is developing, and includes representatives of the centre. we have held some meetings there, but not all, so as to prevent TT becoming sidelined as just another green project in a host of many. also we are trying to move around town so that meetings are accessible to as many people as possible. also they host a page on their website about us which is currently our only web presence.

   unfortunately the TT project seems to be attracting the ire of established environmentalists (termed 'professional environmentalists' in one email we received which i found very distressing: should my work count less because i am not being paid??)here because we are not a project based at the centre, nor do we hold each and every event there.

   we have received some very terse emails suggesting that it is divisive of us to be working 'against' the centre and to be effectively snubbing it. these comments have come from different quarters so i can only presume this is a widely spread rumour. we have worked with several organisations to date and are careful to credit them wherever applicable. it seems though that without mentioning the centre on each and every communication/poster/flyer and preferably holding every event there (even when it's not suitable) we will continue to receive these comments.

   i understand some of these issues may have arisen because apparently some work was happening at the centre around TT before my partner and i put flyers and posters up, but nothing was mentioned to us even though we asked specifically at the centre before taking any action.

   so i suppose i'm wondering how we might find a way to dampen the rumour, without compromising the TT process by becoming embedded in another organisation which already runs many projects. or am i looking at this is completely the wrong way? any ideas would be very gratefully received!

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. JudithN
   Member

   My question is: have you explained all this to the centre? Do they understand that you see yourself as a separate, but allied, organization? Clearly, to me, you are delighted that this organization exists and you lean somewhat on their presence, and perhaps some of the TT groundwork they laid, but you don't think it healthy to be subsumed.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. citrus
   Member

   yes, the centre is aware of this. they don't seem to find it much of an issue, although they have helped us to deal with some of the criticism. perhaps i am being over sensitive as the comments have been directed personally at my partner and i for the most part (we have nearly stepped out of the process because of it several times). this seems to be because we are not recognised as being 'environmentalists', having no groups that we mention immediately after our names.

   i think that they do see us as seperate, but as we are only in the very beginning stages, it can seem as though we are looked upon as very inexperienced. of course we are! but as far as the transition town approach goes, aren't we all? and there is something powerful to me in the TT approach that *everyone* needs to be involved that should mean inexperienced people are also welcomed for their enthusiasm, new ideas and frequent response of 'but why can't we do that?'.

   as per being subsumed, i personally am very concerned about being too thoroughly entangled with any other organisation - the risk being that TT is seen as being a single issue approach. in this case, i worry alot that individuals who would not consider themselves interested about 'the environment' (as something they see themselves as seperate from) would not come to an event at the centre. to me it seems they might automatically rule it out from the venue alone. but if we come to their local community centre with a film and activities advertised as being about strengthening the community, they might be more likely to come. this is in no way a snub to the centre as their work is excellent and the centre is a lovely place to attend events - but i can say that as someone who would readily describe themselves as green. i would be just as wary of the project getting too entangled with a political or religious group.

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. Nicko
   Member

   So I take it you are at the 'awareness raising' stage, and have already set up your steering group and planned it's demise from the start?
   I think you should carry on with your awareness raising campaign, and it doesn't matter where it is done, if people are interested they will turn up.
   Be enlivened by the fact you are doing something positive, and don't get bogged down with the thought of failure. It is your intentions which make you successful.
   Once you are further on in the process all manner of people will get involved.
   People with no concern what so ever about the environment, but with a keen interest in local food growing, or cycle maintenance. They may join one of the groups that are set up and,through that group and other associated TT meetings, learn more about the hydrocarbon twins and develope a more holistic concern for the planet.

   I started talking about TT to our local Green Party. A few members are interested but they know it could not be done under the party banner. I then moved on to the Christian community in the town. Again some members are interested, but know it is not solely a religious initiative. I am now networking in the local schools. They know they have a role to play but again, it is not solely an educational issue.I am gradually acrewing a group of very motivated, informed people who will hopefully form our steering group.
   One is a teacher, one a builder, one a gardener, and another a vet. I hope to attract a politician and a christian minister, if the are interested enough!
   I like the idea that what ever happens is meant to happen, and who ever gets involved is meant to get involved.
   Try to let the thing go where it wants to.
   Cheers
   Nicko

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. benbrangwyn
   

   It's always worth checking with Transition Network for any other contacts in your community. We have 7 contacts for Swansea, and they may not all be talking to eachother (they have arrived on the database through various means).

   Sorry to hear there's a bit of a turf war going on. It's one of the first I've heard about.

   I'm wondering why the "centre" is being so sensitive and how they think holding an event anywhere else could be so threatening.

   Your instincts seem sound to me, particularly around getting out into the community rather than waiting for them to come to you. Keep that approach going and keep modelling full inclusivity, and let me know if you need the contact details of all the other Swansea people.

   I'm always interested in what's happening in the city that's got a Brangwyn hall in it!

   Cheers. Ben Brangwyn

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. Sonya-Australia
   Member

   Hi,

   We (here in Australia) did encounter a couple of individual detractors when we first started. They felt they had already been doing this type of work and saw no need for us to be there.

   As it was only a couple of people, we made an effort to include them, to acknowledge their contribution and the groundwork they laid.

   No they are among our strongest advocates. When we were approached to join Transition Towns Network, I made a point of asking these people if they would like to be part of our team. They now are proud to be part of Australia's first TT.

   Perhaps a meeting with them, showing how their environmental efforts and work fit in the TT model might help. Also, educating them, in a kind and inoffensive way, that tt is not only about env, it's about social behaviour and regional infrastructure.

   It is very unique in its comprehensiveness. Invite them to help you establish the env collective.

   It's hard walking in and presenting this type of stuff to people who are hostile. You need good support and to be prepared for the knock backs and their negative barriers.

   Prepare your positive responses, give it a good go, offer them the chance to get on board. If all that fails, just keep working on the TT, do it really, really well and you will attract your own support network of good positive people.

   I think a lot of us probably go through the "I'm going to chuck it all in" phase pretty frequently.

   Good luck,
   Sonya

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. Roger
   Member

   Hi Citrus

   I am over in Cwmafan / Port Talbot. Would love to meet your group - atleast I will not die due to lack of contact ... LOL

   Environment Centre, I am a member of the Swansea Organic Gardening Group and we have our meetings there - never have seemed to be anything other than helpful. However I am aware of a couple of 'full time professional' environmentalists making a living from advising others and setting up groups etc. Maybe they are feeling threatened by your presence - which would suggest a lack of appreciation of how big Swansea is and how much needs to be done. Also I understand that the funding for the EC may be under threat - pressure on the council funds. Maybe there is something there.

   Maybe.

   If you want please contact me on transitionafan@btinternet.com

   Rog

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. Jane
   Member

   It might be a good idea to demonstrate what is different about the Transition approach from previous environmental approaches. My idea is that you hold a joint event with members of the Environment Centre, making clear that it is a joint event, but perhaps not holding it in the Centre (although you could).
   Give it a title like 'What is peak oil and how will it affect this community?' It would be good to have a speaker and then you could break into a discussion afterwards about peak oil, climate change and the Transition response. You could make clear in the discussion afterwards that working on climate change and peak oil issues with the Environment Centre as well as the whole community is a priority. If there is anyone from the Environment Centre who knows about peak oil and has started to connect it with their work, they could contribute.
   If there is still criticism after this, well,let them get on with it while you get to work on better things.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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