1. The A to C of Transition – an overview…
This is a short overview of the 12 steps/ingredients of transition
We go into more detail about awareness raising & initiating groups and working groups in other sessions, please save questions for then
Only done a-c so far, just getting onto D, we can work it out together
Using totnes as example of what has happened

2. Resilience is not a New Idea. Totnes in the 1930’s…
Central concept of resilience,
taken from complex adaptive systems theory
Means ability of system to maintain its identity and core functions in the face of shocks
Market garden grew veg for town
Taken by horse up the high st and sold
X food miles, food feet
Local resilience in food, not dependent on external and something over which we don’t have control
© Totnes Image Bank

3. George Heath. A Powerdown Pioneer.
Losing local resilience,
This is his market garden and shop
© Totnes Image Bank

4. 1981
© Totnes Image Bank
2007
He left the land to old people’s home cos he knew his son didn’t want to carry it on
Council built a car park on it
Now developing on it
Lost chance to put it back into food production
Losing local resilience
Juggernaught of globalisation

5. The 4 Recognitions of the Transition Movement.
Life with less energy is inevitable and it is better to plan for it than be taken by surprise
We have lost the resilience to be able to cope with energy shocks
We have to act for ourselves and we have to act now
By unleashing the collective genius of the community we can design ways of living that are more enriching, satisfying and connected than the present.

6. The Early Stages of Transition
Form initiating group
Awareness raising
Form working groups
Initiator
Initiating group
Unleash!
Core group
Central group deepening
Working groups
12 steps quite confusing, use this diagramme to show that different bits happen at different times
Some people launch project first
This is how it worked in totness, others have followed it in some shape or form
Usually started by one person, gather together an initiating group
Job to do priming, awareness raising to gather enough people and energy and breadth so that it doesn’t become a single-issue group
In totness initiating group was rob & naresh, many initiatives have issues of having local groups,
They got all the way to setting up subgroups with just the two of them
Totnes still doing awareness raising 2.5 years on, still showing end of suburbia & power of community
Launch sept 06 and by jan 07 had 7 working groups and set up new structure, core group meets to guide whole strategy of project
Networking, partnerships
Awareness raising events, gather s, widen participation
Reskilling events and workshops
Open space / form working groups
Projects

7. Form an Initiating Group and Design Its Evolution from the Outset
Sophy added evolution, not demise
People like the sense that the people who start it don’t control and hold it for ever

8. Awareness Raising…
First awareness raising that happened in totnes

9. Visiting Speakers… Totnes Sept – Dec ’06
Chris Johnstone
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Guy Watson
Paul Mobbs
Bob Flowerdew
David Fleming
Peter Russell
Aubrey Meyer
Tony Juniper
Molly Scott Cato
Jerry Mander
Richard Heinberg
Penny Livingstone-Stark
Chris Skrebowski
Jeremy Leggett
Patrick Holden
Vandana Shiva
Wolfgang Sachs
Herbert Girardet
Peter Lipman
Bill Dunster
Bob Tomlinson
Andrew Simms
Launch, lots of speakers, partly cos have Schumaker college up the road and can use them for free and make money
Some came cos they were invited

10. Lay the Foundations Collaborate where possible
Co-operation, not competition.
Building collaborations
When designing programme of events actively looking for people/organisations we can partner with
Series about climate change put on with FoE so went through those networks
Had max at those events
Population of 7k and maybe 20k in surroundings

11. Working with Local Landowners
An early event to network with locals in partnership with dartington estate
To ask what they are doing about peak oil and transition
Both have moved on a lot
Estates in Transition conference.
June 11th 2007.

12. The Official Unleashing
Pics of launch
Chris johnston from bristol talked about psychological models
Encourage people to talk to their neighbours
Chris played harmonica and sang song too and had some fun
“Maybe they will tell stories about what happened in Totnes. Maybe this evening will be something that is the beginning of one of those stories”.
Dr Chris Johnstone – TTT Unleashing Sept ’06.

13. Form Working Groups Up and Running In formation;
Arts / Food / Energy / Economics / Liaison with Local Government / Heart and Soul – the psychology of change / Medicine and Health /
Housing /Education / Transport
In formation;
Youth,
In totnes decided to form working groups/theme groups
Person who is interested in subject holds that group
3 ways these groups form
- one person starts it cos enthusiastic
- deliberately seeded groups on local govt, food,
- hold talk on wed then on Saturday hold open space event
- coopted existed group
- transport, can be cultural issues

14. Use Open Space Technology
Fantastic way of bringing people together who are intersed in an idea and letting it go where it wants to go
Used in conference, lets people use their ideas and share control of the process
Fluid and free structure for all to be included
Suggested to get people who know how to do it
Need to learn how to do it, bring in someone who can teach you to do it and build local resilience

15. Develop Visible Manifestations of the Project
Nice to have early in project to see visible things happening in community
Mayor and coordinator planting fruit trees with Rob in totnes
Got press and photos in paper
If people who come when you are doing awareness raising then this is something for people to do
Counters the argument that we are just talkers
“Totnes, the Nut Tree Capital of Britain”. Tree Planting, January 2007.

16. Example: Local Food Directory
Got small grant to do this

17. Example: The Totnes Pound
Another project, made famous cos if decide going to print own money, makes people interested
Makes people think about ‘ooh where does my moneoy go?’
Accepted in 80 businesses and shops

18. Example: Transition Tales
Rob working in schools
Now got 3 week project going in schools
His way of doing it is to tell stories of 2030 and how this is going to be the best time to live ever
Story, jeremy clarkson, new form of transport, hope on back, how was suspension?

19. Facilitate the Great Reskilling
Skilling Up for Powerdown.
Peak Oil / Climate Change, Permaculture Principles, Food, Energy, Building and Housing, Woodlands, Water, Waste, Economics, The Psychology of Change, Energy Descent Planning…
Another project is this
Relearn skills that people know about fixing, perserving things, one of my favourites darning socks, found out what mushroom is for
Now looking in training area as getting that as something that could be rolled out

20. Example: Using You Tube to Communicate Transition

21. Great Reskilling courses
Wild Foods, natural building, seed saving, hand made paints, stove building, forest gardening, food growing, bread making...

22. Build a Bridge to Local Government
World Cafe on Peak Oil and Climate Change with Local Councillors
Endorsed by Totnes Town Council
Contributions to Local Development Framework.
Had world café event that invited all local councillors
Got endorsement from town council

23. Honour the Elders More of a principle, Includes helpful themes;
We’ve lost our sense of eldership, that they have a lot to teach us
In transition process there are lots of people who have seen a lot of change, useful to speak to people who have seen lots of change, now lots more coming
They remember how thigns worked before oil, powerful message that it was ok to live like that
Especially for young people, very powerful from hearing it from someone’s mouth, here’s how we used to do things, have holidays, heat the house etc.

24. Energy Descent Pathways
Engage the community!!
Start with a vision and then backcast
Use scenario planning to work with uncertainty
Incorporate creative activities – Transition Tales
Integrate with LA planning?
Two energies, one embodied by energy descent pathways, this is about getting a strategic vision
Don’t have a lot of time, need to think about where going and how going to get there
Have changed it from plan to pathways- uncertainty of future, plan x resilient, cf many possible pathways more flexible & resilient, x know which one we will do or what it will turn out like

25. Let It Go Where It Wants to Go
Solar Water Heater Challenge.
The Totnes Renewable Energy Supply Company (TRESCO)
Lending Library
Earth widsom council
Greenhouse Britain Arts project
Nut tree planting
Car Share Club
TTT International Youth Music Festival…
Second energy- part of the nature of working in transition that there are things which appear transition
Need to work with what there is and plan and also be open to new changes
Transition about weaving these things together so that there is room for both together
Alternative way to SMART targets, more about aspirations