History And Introduction
The premise of this project is that our current resource hungry life style is unsustainable and that fossil fuel supplies cannot maintain us forever. In addition, it is our hunger and over consumption of such fuel that has led to the global warming crisis which we now face. The other factor driving this process is the growing belief that we have passed the all time global oil production peak ‘Peak Oil’ and are entering an unprecedented period where our demand for natural resources exceeds supply. This creates an urgent need for communities to increase their local capacity to meet their own needs and become more resilient: lower our carbon footprint to tackle climate change and face the reality of Peak Oil.
The idea grew out of the work of permaculture students in Kinsale in Ireland. They looked at how the community could make the transition to a more local, sustainable way of life that brought people together, met needs and enhanced lifestyles, while reducing total reliance on resources and solutions from 'out there.'
It is also about using alternative technology and renewable energy supplies; not just a return to some supposed pre-industrial 'idyllic' way of life. It is also about taking responsibility now, to address the issues we face and to look at ways we can make this journey as a community. We are basing our activities on the Transition Town concept as developed in Totnes. http://www.transitiontowns.org/
Our steering group is up to about 12 people and we have had several film showings (An Inconvenient Truth, The End of Suburbia, The Power of Community), a Family Green Day, successfully lobbied the local council to back the Feniton to Sidmouth cycle way, have attended meetings and given talks and generated as much publicity as we can. In short we have had an incredible and dynamic year and have achieved an overwhelming amount. We have a web site hosted by the Transition Town movement and have developed our own. http://www.sustainableottery.org.uk/
We have several subgroups looking at: energy (examining setting up a local energy services company); Transport (looking at low carbon commuting and the cycle way); Resources (helping to make Ottery plastic bag free); Food (looking at local food production and distribution); Art and Creativity (raising awareness with creative and cultural responses) and Heart and Soul (looking at the psychology of change).
It is likely that some of the values and principles underlying the concept of permaculture will become important in this journey. For more on this see The Permaculture Association (Britain) http://www.permaculture.org.uk
We welcome whatever energy you can contribute. We need people to join the steering group; help organise talks and awareness raising activities; disseminate publicity materials; planning the launch event; finding speakers. We need networking skills, facilitating skills, IT skills and of course any skill or expertise in the myriad of practical, sustainable, low carbon, skills for living and thriving as a community beyond fossil fuels. Above all we need people with open hearts and enthusiasm for beginning this journey. As a community we have all the skills we need to make it happen.
The Steering Group Meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm at the URC church hall in Ottery. Green Drinks – a chance to chat and get to know people are on the first Thursday of the month at Ottery Indian Cuisine at 8pm.
Contacts: 01404 812683
http://www.sustainableottery.org.uk/
http://www.richardheinberg.com/
