A group of realists or pessimists, depending on your point of view, are preparing themselves to cope with the time when fossil fuels runs out — and for even more severe climate change.
A NUMBER of Balingup locals are embracing a global movement that aims to prepare at a community level for climate change, economic contraction and peak oil.
Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline.
In 100 countries people are working towards making their communities Transition Towns, and the movement is strong throughout the south-west.
Jesse Humphries, one involved Balingup local, said the movement recognised fossil fuels were not going to last forever, and the economic system was volatile and could simply collapse.
“We recognise these things are real, and we can either allow it to happen and for there to be a big crash, or we can start to do things now, positively, so the fall is not as harsh on the community – that’s what we mean when we talk about resilience,” she said.
“Transition Towns also works on creating resilience in communities towards climate change.”
The Transition Towns movement first came to Balingup locals’ attention when speakers including a, Edith Cowan University sustainability lecturer, who was also a part of the Bunbury Transition Towns group, spoke to a meeting of 20 people at the Origins Centre.
The group has since held public screenings of Transition Town movies around Balingup.
“Since then we’ve noticed we’ve been doing more networking, and we’ve realised there’s quite a movement in the south-west – although it’s in the early stages compared to over east, where it’s thriving,” Jesse said.
“Now we’re networking as far as Denmark and Fremantle.”
A conference to discuss the future of Transition Towns in the south-west is now in planning stages.
“We’re hoping for more sustainability workshops to branch out of that,” Jesse said.
The movement could be a little bit controversial, because some people didn’t believe climate change was real – but it did offer different things to different people, Jesse said.
“There are many ways a community can go about being more resilient,” she said.
“There’s a huge potential for localising food, cutting down travel times, energy saving and reskilling individuals in the community.
“If it kicks off, even people who aren’t actively involved with Transition Towns will see the benefits – there will be things in the town offered to the general public.”
These could include local markets, community gardens and education for everyone.
“Transition deals with the key areas of peak oil, economic contraction and climate change on a community and individual level, creating opportunities for implementing solutions on a community-wide basis and re-skilling individuals to be resilient to any shock from the outside,” Jesse said.
“It’s about creating things in the community that create community, such as the production of local food, so people don’t have to drive their cars as far to obtain food, which in turn means less reliance on fossil fuels.
“It builds up the strength of the town.”
There are currently 15 active Transition Towns enthusiasts in Balingup.
The next screening of the Transition Towns movie will be tonight, Tuesday, August 16, from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Balingup Community Centre.
If people are not able to come to the screening, they can see it on YouTube at http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz /node/2238 or come to a later screening and meet other people, Jesse said.
More screenings are planned for the future.
Jesse said she was also hoping to have regular movie nights.
“Kids’ movie nights would be a Transition Towns initiative, because it would be creating something in the community that builds community,” she said.
“We want to appeal to all people, businesses, everyone to be involved. If people are interested, then they are able to put their ideas forth.
“I would encourage people to find out what Transition Towns is and talk about it, as it’s available for people to be involved.
“Come along, have some fun, meet people who care about the community and environmental changes.”
o Anybody who is interested in finding out more about Transition Towns can contact Jesse on
9764 1361.
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