uk

Peak oil alarm revealed by secret official talks

Rimu — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:46:35 +0000

The Guardian says, among other things:

Behind government dismissals of 'alarmist' fears there is growing concern over critical future energy supplies.

Speculation that government ministers are far more concerned about a future supply crunch than they have admitted has been fuelled by the revelation that they are canvassing views from industry and the scientific community about "peak oil"

If all politicians could answer questions like this...

James Samuel — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:57:54 +0000

Here's a response by a politician in the UK to a question about the local sustainability initiative. What will it take for all Transition initiatives to get to this point, where the awareness, and appreciation for the Transition work is so widespread and valued?

4. Thame is trying to 'go green' with several groups springing up, ie Greening Thame and Transitions Towns; What will you do to ensure that Thame and other market towns can move towards becoming a sustainable community?

The Brixton Pound - community currency

James Samuel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:49:16 +0000

Unleashing - a look at what it could be

James Samuel — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:32:01 +0000

Dialogue on the NZ and UK transition work

James Samuel — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:37:59 +0000

Here are two recent posts from Rob Hopkins.

http://transitionculture.org/2009/09/11/why-we-dont-need-formal-agreements-for-national-transition-hubs/
This one includes extensive feedback letter from Natalie Hormann in Lower Hutt, on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding.

Transition Town Brixton (UK) launches its own currency

James Samuel — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:53:47 +0000

Rock legend David Bowie and comedian Chris Morris are among the faces that could grace the notes of a local currency being launched in Lambeth to boost trade. The former Lambeth residents are on a shortlist of famous names that could grace the "Brixton Pound” currency, being launched on September 17.

UK Govt Low Carbon Transition Plan

James Samuel — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:34:28 +0000

While I didn't read every word of Rob's thoughtful review of the UK Government's Low Caron Transition Plan my eye caught his critique on the way funds are allocated into communities.

Ed Miliband (UK Energy Minister) talks up Transition Towns

James Samuel — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 10:22:21 +0000

It's just 1 minute long, but indicative of how far Transition Towns have come.

Friends Of the Earth and Climate Change education in School

James Samuel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:19:59 +0000

I stumbled across this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8DYF5_J31o) after a friend sent me this url: www.nearbuyme.com - a local-shopping site in Scotland. I had no idea how much The Friends Of the Earth were doing and what they have achieved. If you watch this video here, wait till it's played and see the extra videos that appear across the bottom of the window...

Peak Oil Taskforce (UK)

James Samuel — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:49:09 +0000

http://www.peakoiltaskforce.net/

Peak Oil Task Force (UK)

On 29th October 2008 at The London Stock Exchange, eight leading UK companies launched a report, The Oil Crunch: Securing the UK’s energy future, warning that a peak in cheap, easily available oil production is likely to hit by 2013, posing a grave risk to the UK and world economy. The warning comes from a broad spectrum of industry (Arup, FirstGroup, Foster + Partners, Scottish and Southern Energy, Solarcentury, Stagecoach Group, Virgin Group, Yahoo), known as The Peak Oil Group.

UK energy usage

Rimu — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:48:46 +0000

Click on the image for a more detailed and readable PDF version!

This chart shows energy sources as coming in from the left, energy uses as leaving on the right, and energy losses/exports as falling out the bottom.

Aside from the obvious huge gas and oil inputs, some other points of interest (warning, back-of-the-napkin quality calculations ahead!):

Local currency launched

Rimu — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:12:23 +0000

The town of Lewes in East Sussex has printed £10,000 of its own pound notes to be used as an alternative to sterling.

The idea is to boost the local economy by keeping cash circulating among local traders and suppliers rather than leaking out to the wider economy via national chains.

UK Transition Towns Newsletter - growth is exponential!

James Samuel — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:42:32 +0000

So much has happened since the last newsletter an (embarassingly long) while ago. Where to start...

"Official" initiatives and all the mullers

In the Japanese myth, the hundredth monkey represents the point at which a learned behaviour spreads instantaneously from one group of monkeys to ALL related monkeys once a critical number is reached. So it's somehow fitting that the 100th official transition initiative was Fujino in Japan.

Something Wonderful Just Happened in Somerset

Rimu — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:28:19 +0000

Taken from transitionculture

Last week, Somerset County Council voted unanimously to endorse a motion that they become the UK’s first ‘Transition Local Authority’. What is means is that SCC could start taking an integrated approach to its planning processes, putting peak oil and climate change at the heart of its forward planning. It may well also unlock funds for the many Transition initiatives emerging across Somerset. The proposal put before the Council ran as follows;