Introduction

This stuff couldn't come soon enough, for me. I'm doing a radio interview soon, and a local newspaper has just contacted me. And I have no idea what happens next...

Below is a text I issued last week to a local paper.  Feel free to pilfer if it will save somebody reinventing the wheel.

BUT make sure you tailor the bottom section to suit your region.

- Paul

RESPONSE TO OIL SCARCITY - TRANSITION TOWN MARTON

Anybody studying future trends knows that of the many global spectres one can think about three are highly predictable - Climate Change, Peak Oil and Recession.  In fact there is evidence of all three occurring simultaneously and continuing long into the foreseeable future.  When one ponders the likely impacts of these it is natural to ask, what to do?  With the recent unprecedented rises in petrol prices ordinary people are now asking such questions.  Those who have been examining this and looking for real-world practical solutions have developed a consensus about the kinds of things that are likely to work best when the favourable conditions of climate, energy and finance that we have enjoyed start to deteriorate.  One approach which is finding wide support across the world are ideas grouped under the banner of “relocalisation”.  This means intentionally retracting from a high energy lifestyle and opting to live more closely with local communities. In practice this means supporting local business over bulk retail chain stores, eating food that is seasonal and local instead of imported from distant nations, and attempting to reduce ones dependence upon fossil fuel based systems and infrastructure that will be increasingly expensive to maintain and operate. 

One rapidly growing network is the Transition Town movement.  Rob Hopkins lecturer in Permaculture studies initiated a student project in Kinsale, Ireland (2004) to study how the energy needs of Kinsale (pop 2,000) could be reduced.  The resulting report titled “Kinsale, 2021 – An Energy Descent Action Plan” captured the imagination of many and led to the subsequent establishment of the first Transition Town (2006) in Totnes, Devon (pop. 5,000).  The transition movement has since gone viral with 700+ Transition Initiatives springing up around the world.  In New Zealand five transition initiatives have become formally established in Waiheke Island, Orewa, Kapiti, Opotiki Coast and Motueka.  Closer to home fledgling groups have started in Wanganui, Feilding, Palmerston North, Otaki and Marton.  These groups are at varying stages of development however they are gathering momentum because there is obvious interest in the communities and a realisation that the time to prepare for the coming energy shocks is limited.  

One of the least understood issues is that of “peak oil” or the peaking of the world oil supply.  Because oil is a finite resource there are limits to the amount that can be extracted, transported, refined and utilised in the thousands of ways that a modern society has become used to.  The advent of peak oil however is more serious than just higher transportation costs.  This is because the use of oil over the past 100 years has revolutionised everything from agriculture to the way zoological gardens are run.  Until now the flow of this precious resource has kept up with demand because there was so much of it.  But we have now come to the point where the demand is exceeding the supply and the supply is starting to fall away.  As the flow of oil into consumer nations such as NZ reduces, our busy society is first going to feel light headed, then it is going to need a rest.  When we take this problem to the doctor a complete change of lifestyle will be the only prescription available and this will affect many aspects of our daily lives.  However, if we plan for a reduced energy lifestyle and make some prudent changes we are likely to be better off in the long run.  Whilst peak oil is the primary motivation behind Transition Towns, the directions advocated also overlap with responses to climate change and recession.  This integration of thinking has lent great credibility to the Transition Movement.

Transition Town xxxxxx meets fortnightly at the _____________ on alternate ________evenings at 7:30pm.  At present there is an average turn-out of between ___________ persons from a diverse background. The main interests of the people involved are to do with growing food, alternative energy systems, understanding peak oil, economising and alternative home products.  Transition Initiatives are non-party political however in an election year may provide a timely framework for comparing policies.

Those interested to find out more via internet link http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz or by contacting xxxxxxx tel: xxxxxxxx, email: xxxxxxx

END