An Introduction to Transition

Our mission is to be a catalyst for Santa Cruz’ relocalization—the development of local self-reliance in food, energy, transportation, media, systems of care, economy and the arts— through a broadly inclusive community- building process. Transition Santa Cruz

Resilience: Handling hard times and surviving

What are some aspects of our resilience?

natural beauty diversity: ages, cultures, skills, lifestyles... educational resources mountains, forests, ocean tradition of civic involvement tradition of community service and volunteerism many artists many innovators agriculture Santa Cruz, an extraordinary place

Climate change Damaged communities Social inequity War Energy crisis Crumbling economies Ocean acidification Fishery collapse Land degradation Air and water pollution Overpopulation Etc., etc. Worldwide trends...“normal” is getting worse...the list seems too overwhelming to take on.

PEAK OIL CLIMATE CHANGE ECONOMIC INSTABILITY How will these affect us? How can we take a proactive stance toward them?

Climate change in California  More wildfires  More droughts  Loss of ag land and crop yields  Habitats shrink and move north (e.g., oaks)  Coastal erosion and flood risk  Ocean acidification

Is peak oil real? 98 Oil Producing Countries

Is peak oil real? 64 Post-Peak Oil Producing Countries

What do we use oil for?

What about substitutes?

Where are we going? Industrial Ascent Energy use Energy use Resource use Resource use Environmental degradation Environmental degradation Pollution Pollution Peak Energy Techno-Fantasy Green-Tech Stability Earth stewardship Post Mad Max Collapse Great Grand Children Agriculture yrs BP Industrial Revolution Baby Boom Pre- industrial culture Historical TimeFuture Time Creative Descent (Permaculture)‏

“ The real issue of our age is how we make a graceful and ethical descent.” David Holmgren Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability

For all those aspects of life that this community needs to sustain itself and thrive, how do we:  dramatically reduce carbon emissions (in response to climate change);  significantly increase resilience (in response to peak oil);  greatly strengthen our local economy (in response to economic instability)?  do it all with fairness and unity? Key questions:

 Percentage of food produced within a given radius  Ratio of car parking space to productive land use Community Resilience Indicators

 Proportion of the community employed locally  Percentage of essential goods manufactured within a given radius  Number of businesses owned by local people  Percentage of local trade carried out in local currency out in local currency Community Resilience Indicators

We get to rebuild our community Reestablishing our local interdependence and reclaiming power over our lives in our neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces

Dominant myths of today Economic growth is always necessary There’s not enough for all, and... Some people are more deserving than others The “powers that be” always win Technology will solve all our problems Our system isn’t perfect, but all others are worse Humans are selfish and greedy by nature The market will solve it We’re all doomed… What’s stopping us?

“Inherent within the challenges of peak oil and climate change is an extraordinary opportunity to reinvent, rethink and rebuild the world around us.” —Rob Hopkins The Transition Handbook

Transition Ingredient: Awareness raising –outreach –movies –talks –events

Transition Ingredient: Relationship building with: –other groups –existing projects –official bodies –businesses –collaboration

Transition Ingredient: Form working groups –starting new groups –bringing in existing groups –topics: food, water, waste, youth, health, “heart and soul,” energy, and many more

Transition Ingredient: Community visioning –Open Space”Open Space” –World Cafe –Backcasting and visioning

Transition Ingredient: Action projects – it’s not just talk –getting physical helps make sense of things –team building potential –a garden is worth more than a thousand words

Transition Ingredient: The “Great Reskilling” –repairing, cooking, fixing bikes, natural building, loft insulation, dyeing, herbal walks, gardening, basic home energy efficiency, making sour doughs, practical food growing (the list is endless…)‏ – Permaculture courses – Interviewing elders

Transition Ingredient: Produce a Community Resilience Plan –assess current situation –create year vision for all key areas and backcast –identify steps needed to get there –integrate with General Plan if possible –start the work

Working groups so far: Food Transportation and Land Use Neighborhood Community group Heart and Soul Other projects: Monthly gathering Website and newsletter Periodic reskilling events Periodic awareness-raising events Working groups and projects

TransitionSC.org

Transition is a social experiment on a massive scale; we don’t know if this will work. Transition is a social experiment on a massive scale; we don’t know if this will work. If we wait for the governments, it’ll be too little, too late. If we wait for the governments, it’ll be too little, too late. If we act as individuals, it’ll be too little. If we act as individuals, it’ll be too little. But if we act as communities, it might be just enough, just in time. But if we act as communities, it might be just enough, just in time. A bold, hopeful experiment

“When will you guys take on...?” There are no you guys. We are the ones who are going to get this done. Who are Transition Santa Cruz?