Last year, we talked to Katherine Watt and Bill Sharp of the State College Transition Town movement. They discussed the intertwining problems of climate change and peak oil in an oil-dependent society and economy. For some people, this is frightening and paralyzing. For others, it opens up new possibilities.
Enter Rob Hopkins, the founder of the Transition Towns movement who sees a new design to society and economy and culture based on moving past oil and living with climate change. Essentially, it's a new and positive vision that is transitional, adaptive, cooperative, and most importantly resilient. He does not think that high technology is going to save us. There is no techno-messiah. Essentially, he thinks that these are "solutions where they are" that is sensitive "to place, where they are" and "a process that is joyful."
Below is his TEDTalk.
Showing posts with label Transition Initiatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transition Initiatives. Show all posts
18.2.11
Electricity Deregulation and You
On Sustainability Now we've been talking a great deal about energy. On almost every show we discuss energy "needs," sources, problems, solutions, and approaches. From photovoltaic solar panels to wind energy to coal and the problems and possibilities in the way that communities face energy and power issues, we have explored a lot.
The Transition Town movement in the Centre Region has been one of the foremost community groups in our area considering some of the problems and community possibilities with electricity deregulation. We've hosted Katherine Watt and Bill Sharpe of the local movement on the show and they are looking beyond the diagnosis of the problems. They are looking to solutions and community actions.
Next Tuesday, February 22nd, they are holding a panel on deregulation hosted by Sustainability Now's Peter Buckland. This would be a great way to cap off your day following the incredible work of students at Penn State to Focus the Nation on climate change and renewable energy.
Over the last two years, the Pennsylvania electricity market has gone from regulation to deregulation. Proponents say increased competition affords people with better and cheaper options. Opponents say removing price caps and other regulations pave the way for excessive corporate profits. On one hand, you might buy "green energy." On the other, prices have risen unevenly around the state. For many, the Enron and California deregulation debacles are fresh in mind.
Join the Centre Region Transition Town for a panel presentation and discussion to learn more about energy deregulation.
7 pm on February 22 in Schlow Memorial Library in State College, in the back conference room, Transition Town will bring together a panel for presentations and to answer questions. Presenters include Erik Foley-DeFiore of Penn State's Office of Sustainability and Shaun Pardi of Envinity, a local "green" business.
The Transition Town movement in the Centre Region has been one of the foremost community groups in our area considering some of the problems and community possibilities with electricity deregulation. We've hosted Katherine Watt and Bill Sharpe of the local movement on the show and they are looking beyond the diagnosis of the problems. They are looking to solutions and community actions.
Next Tuesday, February 22nd, they are holding a panel on deregulation hosted by Sustainability Now's Peter Buckland. This would be a great way to cap off your day following the incredible work of students at Penn State to Focus the Nation on climate change and renewable energy.
Over the last two years, the Pennsylvania electricity market has gone from regulation to deregulation. Proponents say increased competition affords people with better and cheaper options. Opponents say removing price caps and other regulations pave the way for excessive corporate profits. On one hand, you might buy "green energy." On the other, prices have risen unevenly around the state. For many, the Enron and California deregulation debacles are fresh in mind.
Join the Centre Region Transition Town for a panel presentation and discussion to learn more about energy deregulation.
7 pm on February 22 in Schlow Memorial Library in State College, in the back conference room, Transition Town will bring together a panel for presentations and to answer questions. Presenters include Erik Foley-DeFiore of Penn State's Office of Sustainability and Shaun Pardi of Envinity, a local "green" business.
27.11.10
World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day
This coming Friday, December 3rd, marks World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day.
What is being developed and what is being sustained? So far, much of sustainable development seems to have been a global corporate-governmental collusion that has served the advantage of the already wealthy and powerful. Looking at just water issues in India, Bolivia, and Africa, the idea and practice of sustainable development might seem an oxymoron. There is no doubt we have a conundrum on our hands if we hope to bring health and material prosperity to ~6.8 billion people and counting.
Follow Paul Ehrlich's equation:
The United States has over 300 million people living here, <5% href="http://www.jameslovelock.org/">James Lovelock, father of the "Gaia theory" has called a "sustainable retraction." Maybe it's time to get in on the Transitions Initiatives. Maybe we all just need lifeboats for a coming dog-eat-dog world. Or maybe there is not really much to worry about and the Earth's carrying capacity will hold all of these developed people.
As part of the media we have a significant role to play. What do we hope to sustain? Who do we develop? What and whose purpose does all of this serve? In a world of uncertain futures, how and for whom do we conceive of our teaching?
What should sustainable development look like right here in Central Pennsylvania?
Sustainable development is an issue all countries in the world are currently looking at. The degree of emphasis and the level investing resources invested however varies from one country to another; but regardless of whether we are talking about industrialized or developing countries, the quest for environmentally sound, socially just, economically viable and ethically acceptable development needs to be regarded as a priority by all nations of the world.As a show committed to sustainability, this marks a great opportunity for us to talk about this thing called "sustainable development."
For many years now, a large number of initiatives have been carried out throughout the world to attempt to stoke up awareness about sustainable development and promote initiatives to achieve it.
The 1987 Report "Our Common Future" produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), "Agenda 21" produced by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the "Johannesburg Declaration" produced following the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 are examples of the type of initiatives being worked on internationally. These have been complemented by the various "National Sustainable Development Strategies" produced prior to UNCED and after Johannesburg.
What is being developed and what is being sustained? So far, much of sustainable development seems to have been a global corporate-governmental collusion that has served the advantage of the already wealthy and powerful. Looking at just water issues in India, Bolivia, and Africa, the idea and practice of sustainable development might seem an oxymoron. There is no doubt we have a conundrum on our hands if we hope to bring health and material prosperity to ~6.8 billion people and counting.
Follow Paul Ehrlich's equation:
I = PAT
Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology
As part of the media we have a significant role to play. What do we hope to sustain? Who do we develop? What and whose purpose does all of this serve? In a world of uncertain futures, how and for whom do we conceive of our teaching?
What should sustainable development look like right here in Central Pennsylvania?
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