[Scpg] "Transition Towns" conference in LA, Sat. Sept 20!
LBUZZELL at aol.com
LBUZZELL at aol.com
Tue Jul 29 11:23:48 PDT 2008
_http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm)
Life After Oil:
Designing the Transition
A series of events
exploring the twin opportunities
of
peak oil and global warming
in Los Angeles “Peak oil” is the term for the end of cheap oil. Our
contemporary society is leveraged upon a continuous stream of the stuff. But as
prices climb, things are going to change...
The future with less oil could be better than the present, but only if we
engage in designing this Transition with creativity and imagination.
--Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Towns movement
Join us as we explore the Transition Towns concept that is catching on like
wildfire in the UK. What Can We Do about peak oil and global warming? The
answers are in our neighborhoods and communities.
Through the Transition concept, we take a positive, forward-thinking view of
what the future will hold for our area in the time beyond oil.
* Sunday, Sept. 14, 6pm - Movie "The End of Suburbia" followed by
community discussion
* Saturday, Sept. 20, 9am-5pm - "Designing the Transition" - a full
day conference exploring the Transition concept
* Thursday, Sept 25, 7-9pm - Peak Oil Community Discussion - the
first followup event to the Transition conference
* Thursday, October 23, 7-9pm - "Power Down"
The converging challenges of peak oil and climate change mean that
change--on an almost unimaginable scale--is coming whether we want it or not.
You
are invited
to explore
the twin opportunities
of
peak oil and global warming
Our series will begin with an examination of the "hydrocarbon twins" -- peak
oil and global warming. We'll acknowledge the magnitude of the cultural
Transition before us. We'll provide an introduction to the Transition concept
by its founder, Rob Hopkins, via video from the UK. Then we'll get down to
work on our local Transition: exploring, visioning, planning, brainstorming,
identifying key players and key issues, and much more. Meet others in So
Calif who are grappling with peak oil and climate change ideas. Join forces
with people who are shaping a positive plan for our
power-down future. This is the first time (to the best of our
knowledge) that the Transition Towns concept has been explored in Los Angeles. Come
be part of this pioneering series!
* Detailed agenda
* _Registration information_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm#registr)
* _Cost_ (http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm#tuit)
* _Prerequisites_ (http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm#prereq)
Detailed agenda: Sunday, September 14 movie: "The End of Suburbia", a
movie that discusses the dwindling supply of cheap energy in the form of fossil
fuels and its effect on society. Movie website _here_
(http://www.endofsuburbia.com/) . We will conclude the screening with a community discussion to
address what Rob Hopkins humorously calls "post-petroleum stress disorder."
Attendees will leave with a homework assignment for the week prior to the Sept
20 session.
Saturday, September 20 session: Designing the Transition
* Part I: Understanding what lies ahead
* "The Hydrocarbon Twins" an examination of global warming and peak
oil. Also, biocapacity issues. Guest speaker T.B.A.
* "Energy Descent Futures" Joanne Poyourow, co-founder of the
Environmental Change-Makers, recaps the ideas David Holmgren shared in a 2005
conference in Santa Barbara (preview_ here_
(http://www.futurescenarios.org/content/view/16/31/) )
* The Great Turning concept (preview _here_
(http://www.findhorn.org/events_report/2008/03/day_2_taking_heart_in_tough_ti_1.php) )
* "Sustainability as a Yardstick" by Joanne Poyourow, co-founder of
the Environmental Change-Makers
* Break, with assignment
* Part II: How Do We Get There From Here?
* "Introduction to the Transition Concept" by Rob Hopkins via video
* Introduction to Energy Descent Action Plans (EDAP)
* Vegetarian and local foods lunch, with assignment
* Part III: Roll Up Your Sleeves
* Scoping: What is our community? Rob Hopkins works with distinct
towns of 2500 people. We have WAY more than that. What is our community? How
much do we bite off for the first known Transition Town attempt in the LA
basin? How do we determine what is enough, and what is too much? The
community discussion in this segment will determine the makeup of the breakout
sessions that follow.
* Breakout sessions
* Track A: EDAP development track. Attendees who live within
geographical proximity of each other will break out into group(s) to brainstorm.
What is needed in order to begin an EDAP for our community? How far away are
we from beginning a Plan? We'll take a beginning inventory of tools at our
disposal: positive happenings in this local area, power-down resources, human
resources.
* Track B: Cross-pollination track. Cross-pollination is what bees
do as they carry pollen from one flower to another. Attendees who live in
outlying areas will brainstorm ideas about getting their community ready for a
gathering like this conference. Rob Hopkins describes "Creating a sense that
something is happening." How do you do this? How did Westchester get ready
enough to host this conference? (we'll tell you) What do I need to do
within my pocket of So Calif?
Thursday, September 25 session: Peak Oil Community Discussion - We'll
conduct a _World Cafe_ (http://www.theworldcafe.com/articles/cafetogo.pdf) style
discussion about power down solutions, the Transition concept, and application
here in LA. This session is designed to continue the community-oriented work
we began on Sept. 20. Thursday, October 23 session: "Power Down" - This
regular meeting of the Environmental Change-Makers will be related to the
conference topic. We will discuss What We Can Do, as individual citizens, to
"power down" our own lifestyles.
Registration information
Download a registration form _(pdf)_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/documents/LAOregistr.pdf) (or _html_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/LAORegForm.htm) if pdf doesn't work). Please return your registration form via
email, snail mail, or hand delivery, to the _Environmental Change-Makers_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/ECM.contact.htm) . Registration is due by Sept.
6. Yes, it is possible to attend some sessions and skip others - we
invite you to attend as many portions as you can. Realize, however, that the Life
After Oil Conference is designed as a continuous progression; you will miss
out on content.
Cost information
* Sunday, Sept. 14, 6pm - Movie "The End of Suburbia" - free, no
registration required.
* Saturday, Sept. 20, 9am-5pm - "Designing the Transition" -
$50 tuition includes vegetarian lunch, and helps defray conference costs.
(A limited number of work/study scholarships are available - _contact us_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/ECM.contact.htm) asap if interested)
* Thursday, Sept 25, 7-9pm - Peak Oil Community Discussion - free, no
registration required.
* Thursday, October 23, 7-9pm - "Power Down" - free, no registration
required.
Prerequisites
With the Life Beyond Oil conference, we are embarking on a journey. This
conference is not intended as a mere one-day entertainment. It is intended as
the beginning of a transformative process, upon which rests the security of our
urban future.
Our mainstream society has ill-prepared us to consider the concept of Life
After Oil. Thus we ask that you do some homework to orient yourself into these
power-down ideas. At a minimum, please complete the Essential Reading list
(3 items). It would be great if you could read a few of the other items
suggested prior to the conference.
Essential reading (pretty much mandatory):
* _The Peak Oil Primer_ (http://www.energybulletin.net/primer.php)
(single webpage)
* Union of Concerned Scientists, "_Our Changing Climate: Assessing the
Risks to California_
(http://www.climatechoices.org/ca/site/our-changing-climate.html) " (16 page pdf)
* David Holmgren, "The Essence of Permaculture" (pdf available _here_
(http://www.holmgren.com.au/) )
* "_Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) Primer_
(http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/edap-primer/) " single webpage from Adam Grubb
Strongly recommended:
* Hopkins, Rob, The Transition Handbook. A detailed discussion of the
Transition concept and a refinement of several years of what Hopkins has
explored in the UK and shared on his blog. The book is currenly only available
in the UK, but a limited number of copies will be available at upcoming
_Environmental Change-Makers meetings_
(http://www.envirochangemakers.org/ECM.calendar.htm) . Otherwise, order directly from the _author_
(http://transitionculture.org/shop/the-transition-handbook/) .
* selections from the Transition Culture website:
* Resilience (page 5 of _this pdf_
(http://transitionculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/TransitionHbook12ppBladLR.pdf) )
* _Trough Oil_
(http://transitionculture.org/2008/01/21/is-peak-oil-the-best-way-of-looking-at-this-might-trough-oil-be-more-useful/)
* _What Exactly Is Energy Descent? _
(http://transitionculture.org/2006/05/02/what-exactly-is-energy-descent/#more-318)
* Ecological Footprint: _overview_
(http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=footprint_overview) , and _world trends_
(http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=global_footprint) (two single webpages)
Suggested reading - general:
* _Kinsale 2021: Energy Descent Action Plan_
(http://transitionculture.org/wp-content/uploads/KinsaleEnergyDescentActionPlan.pdf) (pdf)
* McKibben, Bill, Deep Economy
* Whitefield, Patrick, Permaculture in a Nutshell
* Chiras, Dan and Wann, Dave, Superbia
Suggested reading - specific topics:
* (culture) "_10 Things To Do to Prepare for Life Beyond Oil_
(http://transitionculture.org/essential-info/pdf-downloads/10-things-to-do-to-prepare-f
or-life-beyond-oil/) " by Rob Hopkins (pdf)
* (energy) "_Worse than Fossil Fuel_
(http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/12/06/worse-than-fossil-fuel/) " George Monbiot
* (energy) "_Nuclear Energy in Brief_
(http://www.theleaneconomyconnection.net/nuclear/summary.html) " a single page from the pdf book The Lean
Guide to Nuclear Energy by David Fleming
* (energy) _Nuclear Guardianship_
(http://www.joannamacy.net/html/nuclear.html) by Joanna Macy
* (education and culture change) _12 Tools for Transition_
(http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/12Steps) by Rob Hopkins.
* (food/agriculture) Gardening for the Future of the Earth, Howard
Yana-Shapiro, editor
* (finance/economics) _Genuine Progress Indicator_
(http://www.rprogress.org/publications/2007/GPI2006_ExecSumm.pdf) Executive Summary (pdf)
* (government) _Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate
Uncertainty, a Guidebook on Peak Oil and Global Warming for Local Governments_
(http://postcarboncities.net/guidebook) , by the Post Carbon Institute. Free
abridged pdf version available online, or copies of the complete work may be
purchased.
* (health care)"_Healing Without Harm: Ecologically Sustainable
Medicine_ (http://www.teleosis.org/pdf/WithoutHarm.pdf) ," by Joel Kreisberg, DC
* (spiritual) [ECMg resource list]
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