Transition News
Happy 5th Birthday, TTL
The fifth anniversary of Transition Town Lewes was a time to reflect, celebrate and look to the future. All with birthday cake and Harveys beer, of course.
Celebrating together at the Linklater Pavilion
In Transition it’s so easy to be focused on what you’re doing next – what NEEDS to be done after that (and what you STILL haven’t gotten around to) – that you can lose sight of what you’ve achieved and just how far you’ve travelled in the process.
Transition Town Lewes’ fifth Birthday held at the Linklater Pavilion was a chance to down tools for a moment, look back and say to each other “Wow – have we really done all that?”
Coming together with transitioners who have been there from the start, those who have joined along the way, and guests from other Transition Towns including Forest Row, Chelmsford, Chichester, Worthing and the Cuckmere Valley, it was two days of laughter, inspiration -- and some heartfelt reflection.
Hoping – actively
On Friday 27 April, it was fitting to welcome back writer and coach Chris Johnstone – who originally helped to unleash Transition Town Lewes in 2007 – to share his and Joanna Macy’s latest teachings in Active Hope.
Guiding us all gently on a two-hour personal odyssey of fear, hope, gratitude and joy, Chris showed how we can draw positively on our concerns and worries to find our power to create change. Most inspiring of all, we were able to envision how people might look back in 500 years’ time and pinpoint our activity as a pivotal moment of transformation in the world.
Chris Johnstone - Active Hope
Seeds of inspiration, roots of change
Buoyed by this sense of legacy, Saturday 28 April presented the story of Transition Town Lewes. Adrienne Campbell, one of TTL’s founders, opened with a moving recollection on the seeds of inspiration for Transition Town Lewes and how a small group of Lewes people in a front room were motivated to act by some devastating data on climate change and news emerging of an exciting movement in Totnes in Devon….
And act they certainly did. One by one, each Transition Town Lewes Group showcased the wealth of ideas, initiatives and projects that have taken shape over the past five years in energy, banking, food, waste, heart & soul, enterprise and the environment. From the Lewes pound to Ovesco and the Harveys solar-powered roof, from the Lewes Food Market to the Lewes & Ouse Valley ECO-nomics group, the transformation of ideas into action (see time graph) has been inspiring.
Thriving Lewes
Finally, we took a moment to look forward, considering how the Transition movement is evolving not only to address climate change and peak oil but to explore economic resilience and our role in creating fair, sustainable livelihoods for ourselves. A core focus for the next five years, these are issues we’ve embraced under the theme ‘Thriving Lewes’.
Adrienne Campbell of TTL
After a final cheer, it was time for birthday cupcakes from Pleasant Bakery, beer from Harveys and a chance for old and new friends to catch up, compare notes and think about the next five years.
From a small group of people in a front room, Transition Town Lewes has become an internationally-known beacon for change. It’s been a great journey – please join us on the next leg. It promises to be quite a ride.
Our thanks to Juliet Oxborrow for writing this review, and to Mike Grenville for capturing the celebrations on camera: 5th Anniversary picture gallery here...
Nick's Energy Bike in action at Lewes Priory Ruins
OVESCO helped raise funds for the Southover Bonfire Society last Saturday (12 May) at the Lewes Priory ruins. Here's Nick's energy bike in action...
Join our Enterprise Resource Bank
TTL Enterprise Group is building an Enterprise Resource Bank - a database of skills and resources across Lewes that could be of value to people setting up or running their own enterprise.
The Enterprise Group is focused on supporting transition enterprises that are meeting local needs for food, goods and energy in a low-carbon, low-impact way.
We want to hear from you if:
- You have any business, coaching, or other professional skills (eg accounting, sales/marketing, internet, business planning) that you are willing to share with young businesses.
- You are seeking to cost-share resources such as premises, land, transport, machinery or bulk-buy materials.
- You want to invest in young transition enterprises in the Lewes area.
Whatever your resources or skills, email us with your details
Please indicate where you are willing to volunteer services and where payment/reciprocity would be preferred.
Film by Positive Money
97% Owned - Positive Money Directors Cut
When money drives almost all activity on the planet, it's essential that we understand it... more here...
The Lewes Pound Spring Cashback
...A way to increase circulation of The Lewes Pound
Here in Lewes we all need to do our bit to help local businesses. From 20th April you can show your support - and be rewarded for your efforts - by taking part in The Lewes Pound Spring Cashback. At selected shops in Lewes you'll be given "free" Lewes Pounds when you spend over a minimum amount.
There's a fantastic range of products to choose from: from basic essentials to books, bags, CDs, and jewellery and accessories. You can pay with card or cash - and you can spend your free Lewes Pounds at any of the independent traders who take them.
The shops taking part in the Cashback are: Lansdown Health Foods on Cliffe High Street, Skylark in the Needlemakers, TwinkleTwinkle (and Twinkle Toes) on Market Street, Laporte’s in Lansdown Place and Shimalinon School Hill. If the trial is a success, there are plans to roll out the scheme to the whole of Lewes.
There has been a wave of publicity this year about local currencies being launched in Bristol and Brixton. Could the tide be turning as people see the need to protect their high streets from invasion by the chain stores? So shop local, get your free Cashback – and help Lewes flourish! More information on the Lewes Pound website...
Why the end of economic growth can bring more happiness
Richard Heinberg, whose latest book describes The End of Growth, isn't looking for when the recession will end and we'll get back to 'normal'. He believes our decades-long era of growth was based on aberrant set of conditions, namely cheap oil, but also cheap minerals, cheap food and so on...and that looking ahead, we need to prepare for a 'new normal'. Read more here...
Important news from NEF
A message from the New Economics Foundation
On 21 March, George Osborne unveiled a Budget for the 1%. Amidst the interest rate spin, tax breaks for the super-rich and anti-green infrastructure policies, the Chancellor committed us to another year of austerity, despite its crippling effects on our economy and society. It’s the economic equivalent of medieval medicine, bleeding a sick, weak patient in the hope of making them better. Download our Budget briefing to find out more about today’s announcements.
But the most damning verdict of all today comes from the Treasury’s own analysis. Hidden away in Annex B is the impact of the Budget on households based on their incomes. Even withoutthe impact of the 50p tax rate (which the government decided not to calculate) the Budget is regressive –it hits those on lower incomes hardest. My colleague Faiza explains more on our blog...
Osborne’s focus on public sector debt (the yellow area) is wholly misplaced. The debt held by the private financial sector dwarfs all other kinds, and is perhaps the biggest single threat to the UK’s continuing economic stability. James Meadway, New Economics Foundation.
About Move Your Money Month
From Ann Link, TTL Better Banking:
March was Move Your Money Month, and Nikki from the Credit Union, and Julia and Ann from the Better Banking Group gave out our lovely leaflet at the Farmers’ Market on 3rd March. Despite the rain we had a really positive response, including at least one person who had read about us in Sussex Express and came along specially.
If you haven’t already moved your money you can still get information from the website and get started. East Sussex Credit Union welcomes new savers and borrowers, including payroll savers if you work for a large local employer such as the county or district councils. There are many other mutual and ethical options on the MYM website.
Here's the leaflet: How to join East Sussex Credit Union
Ann Link,TTL Better Banking, and Nikki Plummer, Credit Union.
Edward Davey speech to Climate Security conference
Edward Davey, Secretary of State, Energy and Climate Change Speech at "Climate & Resource Security Dialogue for the 21st Century" conference, London. 22 March 2012, DECC website
The Secretary of State said,
"...I want to take this opportunity to talk a little bit about what climate security means. Because I think we face a problem of awareness and understanding. For too many people, climate security is about making sure you always have an umbrella with you. The reality, of course, is rather more serious. Climate change is about increased risk: of extreme events, of natural disasters, of changes in weather patterns. As our understanding of the climate grows, so does our understanding of what those risks might mean for our people. Around the world, governments – and militaries – are planning for climate instability. From flood defences to foreign aid, climate security is part of the policy discussion. But it's not yet part of the public discussion. And that's something that we have to change..." Full speech available on the Department of Energy & Climate Change website...
Summary: Local Nature Partnership - Nature & Health
By Elisabeth van de Grift
How can nature make a difference to public health?
Here are some interesting facts...
• Living in the greenest areas significantly reduces the health inequality gap between rich & poor (Lancet, 2008)
• For every 10% increase in green space there can be a reduction in health complaints in communities equivalent to a reduction of 5 years of age (Nature & Health, 2001)
• By 2020 depression will be the second most prevalent cause of ill health (WHO)
News links
Nick's Energy Bike in action at Lewes Priory Ruins
Join our Enterprise Resource Bank
The Lewes Pound Spring Cashback
Why the end of economic growth can bring more happiness
Summary: Local Nature Partnership - Nature & Health
Edward Davey speech to Climate Security conference
Jim Hansen on TED: If you knew what I know
Flower-powered plan to save Britain's hungry bees
New ways of thinking and a new word to match: 'Naturegain'
Enterprise Survey – chance to win a £50 hamper
Do you want to set up your own enterprise? Be your own boss? Create your own livelihood? If so, we want to hear from you!
Complete our Enterprise Survey
and you can enter a Prize Draw to win a delicious hamper of Pleasant
Bakery tarts, cakes and other goodies worth £50. Entries must be
received by 31 March 2012.
Flower-powered plan to save Britain's hungry bees
FlowerScapes Project
Husband-and-wife scientists Steve and Karin Alton are launching a new business to help save Britain’s hungry British bees – with a bit of flower power.
The couple’s company, Sussex Nature, has launched the FlowerScapes range of bee-friendly flower seed mixes for use by parks departments, councils and developers up and down the country that will beautify our towns and cities, while feeding the bees and other insects that pollinate our plants. Read it here....
Jim Hansen on TED: If you knew what I know
Dr. Hansen talks about the urgency of the climate crisis at the TED conference...
MP demands answers as Green Deal support sinks
...And industry leaders and consumer groups are beginning to question if the energy efficiency programme aimed at better insulating the UK's homes will actually deliver value to the consumer. Read it here...
Published by ClickGreen - Sun 11 Mar 2012.
Lewes District Council: Local Development Framework
A timetable to track how the LDF Core Strategy is progressing is available here...
From the Planning Policy Team at Lewes District Council: Lewes District Council, on 20th February, adopted a Local Development Scheme. The Local Development Scheme is required by the Government to set out the timetable for preparing planning documents. The timetable for preparing the 'Core Strategy', which is already underway, is presented in the document. In addition, the Local Development Scheme details the timetable for the 'Site Allocations and Development Management Policies' document. The Local Development Scheme can be found here...
British Gas offers £50 insulation incentive
Anyone who refers a 'vulnerable' person to the energy firm for free loft and cavity wall insulation will receive cash bonus.
British Gas will pay 50 pounds to anyone who refers "vulnerable" family members, friends and neighbours for free loft and cavity wall insulation from the company.
Referrers will receive the sum for every individual on qualifying benefits whose details they pass on, with no limit to the number they can refer. Those who qualify must be on pension credit, certain income-related benefits or receiving child tax credit, and have an income of less than £16,190... Read the whole article by Jill Insley for The Guardian, Tuesday 21 February 2012
Rob Hopkins explains 'engaged optimism' on R4
Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Culture movement, explains 'engaged optimism' on BBC Radio 4 Four Thought - 15 February 2012 (includes references to Ovesco and the Lewes Pound).
Listen now... or read it on Transition Harborough's website...
Monthly tips for sustainable living from Start UK
Take a look at the Start list for February:
Start being inventive with your vegetables...
Start with a little box of seeds...
Start making your home snug & warm...
Power to the people
Read Adrienne Campbell's blog: Power to the people
...Fossil fuels and nuclear power are subsidised by central government at a massively higher rate than are renewables, despite what tabloid press has to say. It’s all about power and who owns it.
But despite the government’s determination to maintain centralized control over provision of our energy supplies, there is much we begin to do, now, as ordinary people, as the story of Ovesco so vibrantly shows.
Fossil fuels and nuclear power are subsidised by central government at a massively higher rate than are renewables, despite what tabloid press has to say. It’s all about power and who owns it.
But despite the government’s determination to maintain centralized control over provision of our energy supplies, there is much we begin to do, now, as ordinary people, as the story of Ovesco so vibrantly shows.
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