Chris's Forester Column: December 2009
No need for Candles, Caves or Hairshirts
In the confusion and disappointment that followed the final hours of the
Copenhagen summit on climate change and with the Christmas season on its tail it might seem that the Transition movement have little to celebrate but this, as I'll go on to explain, would be far from the truth. The world's media will now be full of comment and opinion, blaming certain nations and exonerating its own negotiators. One thing was clear: that a global problem as potentially devastating as climate change taxed the particular and varied interests and structures of the nation state. ........( read more) ........
Although a binding global agreement on carbon emissions must be thrashed out and very soon, movements like Transition will continue to offer their own models for successful, local and sustainable living without resorting to candles, caves and hair shirts. In this spirit, Transition Newent, held a Christmas party last Saturday, tucking in to an array of dishes prepared and brought by the guests and raising their glasses, filled of course with locally produced wine and fruit juices, to 'the community'. Entertainment was home grown as well with storytellers re-inventing myths and legends for our own time and place.
In the short period that Transition Newent has existed we have established a large network of like-minded individuals, developed friendships and initiated projects that, repeated in appropriate ways over the globe can help re-localize economies and give communities resilience when facing not only climate change but the far more life-changing threat coming from the end of cheap and plentiful oil.
What do I want for Christmas? Some nice warm socks and a bit of a thaw so I can get to my parsnips.
Am I making any New Year resolutions? Would I tell you?
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