Transition Takoma recently held its first large public event. They hosted a movie, local foods potluck and discussion. The film was: "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil"
Transition Takoma is part of a growing worldwide movement to localize our economies and create sustainable, resilient communities - a positive vision and practical response to climate change, peak oil and economic instability. Cuba's inspiring story is a creative and successful response to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, when their imports of oil were cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent.
I think the green building movement needs to go way beyond LEED certification and individual efficient or renewably-powered homes and buildings. (Good work yes, but not enough on its own.) Specifically the power of community needs to be tapped, rebuilding our local infrastructure in system-wide approaches.
Local transition groups or informally with your own efforts you can help re-build local self-reliance. As much as I'd love for global, federal, state policy initiatives to be the best place for solutions to problems of global warming and peak oil, they won't be enough alone (especially as weak as they are being crafted) and we certainly need a groundswell of activity by everyday people building stronger local communities to prepare for changes that are already coming. As a bonus these efforts, in general, make our communities more vibrant and enjoyable.
for a more positive future,
-Sat Jiwan
more info...
Transition Movement: http://transitionus.ning.com/
Or find a group near you (here's some already going):
Transition MD: http://transitionmaryland.ning.com/
Transition DC: http://ecolocity.ning.com/
Transition Takoma: http://transitionmaryland.ning.com/group/transitiontakomapark
