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how a movement of communities is coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world 21 stories of transition harvested by rob hopkins
“What the Transition movement does incredibly well is small-scale experiments which are practical, which resonate with local people, which look as if they’re doable, and that can engage people at a practical and meaningful level. It connects up the big issues and the local issues and shows you that change can happen at a local level”. Julian Dobson, author of ‘How to Save Town Centres’ “I was deeply disturbed and sad about the state of the natural world and society. Getting involved with Transition Pasadena has meant going from despair to community and being able to follow a passion and get help with it. It changed my relationship to the problems”. Laurel Beck, Transition Pasadena “We don’t need governments to show us how to make the changes we need, but we do need governments to work with us to create the conditions within which change can flourish, scale and be embedded at a societal level”. Peter Capener, Bath & West Community Energy
“ We produced this book as the Transition movement’s contribution to COP21 (the 21st ‘Conference of the Parties’), the United Nations’ climate change negotiations in Paris in December 2015. We invited Transition groups to send us the stories they’d like us to share. From those, we selected the stories that make up this book. They represent the experiences of people from all around the world who have stepped up. We offer these 21 stories in the hope that regardless of decisions taken by world leaders, at COP21 and subsequently, they will inspire you to step up too. We hope also that this powerful and heady taste of what is bubbling up from the ground will enthuse decision-makers with new courage, new ideas and new possibilities. Something brilliant and historic is already underway, and our message to the Obamas, Camerons and Merkels of this world is that it’s already happening without them, and they need to support and enable it, but even if they do nothing, it will continue to grow, because it’s the future. The future is being written now, and these stories offer inspiration and clear direction, whether you’re reading this before, during or after the talks in Paris. Rob Hopkins, Transition Network October, 2015
21 Stories of Transition How a movement of communities is coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world. First published in Great Britain in 2015 by Transition Network 43 Fore Street Totnes Devon TQ9 5HN 00 44 (0) 1803 865669 info@transitionnetwork.org www.transitionnetwork.org Designed by Jane Brady www.emergencydesign.com Printed by Cambrian Printers With thanks to Pocheco for providing mailing envelopes www.pocheco.com ©Transition Network 2015 4 21 Stories of Transition
Contents
A Transition Manifesto 7
When history calls us to step up... 9
An Invitation 9
It’s not just about carbon 10
10 threads that run through our stories 12
Map showing locations of the 21 Transition stories 15
1. The Million Miles Project 16
2. The Rise of Community Energy 18
3. REconomy in Luxembourg 22
4. EcoCrew Environmental Awareness Programme 28
5. The Rise of Transition Currencies 31
6. Pasadena Repair Cafe 37
7. The Surplus Food Cafe 40
8. The Casau Community Garden 42
9. Caring Town Totnes 44
10. Zarzalejo Futuro: future scenarios 48
11. The Lambeth Local Entrepreneur Forum 52
12. Transition Town Media’s Free Store 56
13. Aardehuis (Earth House) Project Olst 59
14. Greenslate Community Farm 64
15. Potager Alhambra 67
16. Les Compagnons de la Terre 70
17. Harvesting Rainwater in São Paulo 76
18. Crystal Palace Food Market 80
19. Transition Streets 86
20. Scaling up Transition in Peterborough 90
21. Ungersheim, Village in Transition 93
21 Stories of Transition 5
thank you In many ways, the real authors of this book are all the people who made its stories possible: Catriona Ross, Wendy Price, Peter Elbourne, Marion MacDonald, Richard Robinson, Martin Sherring and all at Million Miles project and Transition Black Isle Scotland. Agamemnon Otero, Peter Andrews, Peter Capener, Chris Rowland, Howard Johns, Andrew Collenette Community Energy. Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure for supporting the Transition movement, Katy Fox for her catalyst support to all our initiatives in the Transition platform, Norry Schneider, Marko, Pit, Sophie and Alex from TERRA, Abbes, Eric, Luis, Patrick, Mireille, Martina and Frenz from TM EnerCoop, Karine, Gary, Eric, Caroline, Stephan, David and Steve from Kilominett zero, the City of Esch for their support to the first REconomy Centre in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Nicola Vernon and Marshall Rinquest of Greyton Transition Town South Africa. Ciaran Mundy, Tom Shakhli, Charlie Waterhouse, John Elford, Melanie Shaw, Michael Lloyd- Jones, Mark Simmons, Eric Luyckx, Michèle Vander Syp, Marianne Lambrechts Local Currencies. Scoops Adamczyk, Sherine Adeli, Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Banks, Laurel Beck, Bob Brummel, Therese Brummel, Maelane Chan, Qrys Cunningham, David Cutter, Eric Einem, Mimi Fitzgerald, Mary Gothard, Rob Haw, Laura Henne, Sylvia Holmes, Peter Kalmus, Michael Kelly, Ginko Lee, Tera Little, Greg Marquez, Adelaide Nalley, January Nordman, Throop UU Church U.S. The volunteers, staff and all the businesses and people who donate food, time and money to the Transition Café Fishguard and Transition Bro Gwaun’s other projects Wales. Dominique, Johanne Christian, Sylvie, Marie Hélène, Melanie, Kitty, Maryse of Salies en Transition France. Frances Northrop, Fiona Ward, Carole Whitty (Caring Town Totnes), Bob Alford (Totnes Caring), Phil Norrey (Devon County Council) England. Andrea Ortiz, Jose Manuel Fenollar, Vero Hernandez-Jimenez and everyone at the Future Scenarios initiative, the Oasis experience, the CSA and Zarzalejo en Transición Spain. Duncan Law, Colin Crooks, Hannah Lewis, Emma Shaw, Jay Tompt and everyone who attended and made Lambeth Local Entrepreneur Forum happen England. Julie DiRemigio, Rhonda Fabian, Ellen Morfei, Emma Medina-Castrejon, Sari Steuber, Marie Goodwin, and all the wonderful Free Store volunteers! U.S. Paul Hendriksen, Aardehuisproject Olst Netherlands. Mandy Wellens-Bray and all at Greenslate Community Farm England. Sébastien Mathieu, Julien Bernard and all at 1000bxl en Transition Belgium. Christian Jonet and all at Liège en Transition Belgium. Isabela Menezes, Monica Picavea, Dimas Gonçalvez Reis, Katerina Elias and Edison Urbano of Transitions Brasilândia and Granja Viana Brazil. The founders and managers, Karen Jones and Laura Marchant-Short, and all the many stall holders at Crystal Palace Food Market England. Aaron Hodgson, Alicia Martin, Allan Evans, Ben Ewald, Cathy Stuart, Christine Bruderlin, Emily Grace, Gillian Harris, George Stuart, Graeme Stuart, John Merory, Julie French, Karen Toikens, Lesley Edwards, Liza Pezzano, Mary Stringer, Maureen Beckett, Max Wright, Phoebe Coyne, Rebecca Tyndall, Tony Proust, Will Vorobioff, Banyule City Council, The City of Newcastle, Hunter Water, Kingston City Council, all the Transition Streets contacts and participants and members of Transition Newcastle, Transition Banyule and Transition Streets Kingston who supported Transition Streets Australia. To the many dedicated, hard-working Transition Town Peterborough Volunteers who inspire our community and live transition daily, with gratitude especially to Fred Irwin and Joan Michaels Canada. La Comune d’Ungersheim, Jean-Claude Mensch, Marc Grodwohl, Roger Wintherhalter and the MCM, Jean-Sébastien Cuisnier, Xavier Baumgartner, Marie-Monique Robin France. All the Transition initiatives who sent in stories that didn’t make the final 21, Michelle Colussi, Carolyne Stayton, Anna Guyer, Angie Greenham and Trenna Cormack. The whole Transition Network team, in particular Sarah McAdam, Sophy Banks, Amber Ponton, Ainslie Beattie, Sam Rossiter and Filipa Pimentel. Special thanks to Peter Yeo and Roger Ross. 6 21 Stories of Transition
21 Stories of Transition 7
Transition is
sometimes referred
to as “hope with its
sleeves rolled up”.
“Hope” caravan in Place Louis Morichar,
Brussels (part of a project by Karin Vincke).
8Photo:
21 Stories of Transition
Jane Brady
When history calls
us to step up...
What an extraordinary time to be alive this is. The systems that are
meant to support and provide for us, and to enable us to flourish and
thrive, are failing us spectacularly. This is increasingly self-evident to
people, wherever they are within those systems. Yet all over the world,
in creative, passionate and brave ways, and motivated by a tangible
sense of what’s possible, people are coming together and creating
something else. Something so much better.
There is a global movement, driven not by think tanks or political
parties, but by communities. It signposts a global movement towards
resilience at a local level. This book will dazzle you with tales of personal
responsibility and cooperation, and the idea that the changes required
to re-imagine a positive future are not only top-down but also bottom-
up. Grassroots movements are literally growing the foundations
for a more positive, fairer, inclusive future that begins within the
local context.
This book contains inspirational stories from around the world of
people who stepped up. We present it in the hope that regardless of
decisions taken by world leaders, it will inspire you to step up too. We
hope also that this powerful and heady taste of what is bubbling up
from the ground will enthuse decision-makers with new courage, new
ideas and new possibilities. The future is being written now.
AN INVITATION
We invite you while reading, to seek out the familiar in these stories.
The people in them aren’t superhuman, or heroes. They are just people
like you, who stepped up because these are times that demand that
we do so.
This movement is almost certainly already underway somewhere near
where you are, and if it isn’t, perhaps you might gather a few people and
get it started.
As a citizen, we’d like to invite you, if you are inspired by the
possibilities this booklet has placed into your hands, to have 10
conversations with neighbours, with work colleagues, or with friends.
Tell them what it was in these stories that moved you, that you found
interesting, and see how, together, you might support more of this stuff
to happen.
As a decision-maker, we’d like to invite you to consider what positive
steps you might take to reimagine your role as being a community
enabler, clearing the path for more initiatives such as these, supporting
them in whatever ways you can.
21 Stories of Transition 9
IT’s not just about carbon
It is vital that our leaders cut carbon at the scale demanded by
climate scientists. But while the Transition movement started as an
experiment in how to cut carbon, it has evolved into so much more.
In our 21 stories you will read of 39 communities in 15 countries who
have achieved the following in just a few years. These figures barely
scratch the surface of the actual impacts, nor do they capture the deeper
shift from despair about the future to hope that runs beneath them.
As you read these stories, consider some of the less tangible aspects of
building community resilience. What figures might we have put here
for the number of relationships built, the increased sense of belonging
people feel to the place and people around them, or the number of
new skills learned?
Between them, our 21 stories have...
raised £5,435
inspired in pledges to
18,527 put £1,032,051 created 43
support new worth of
hours of emergent new social
volunteer complementary enterprises
enterprises currency into
input
circulation
Harvest time
at Terra CSA,
Luxembourg.
see page 22.
Photo: Transition Luxembourg
10 21 Stories of Transitionsupported
19 farms
harvested
over 500kg saved 21
saved of fruit AS tonnes
WELL AS
1,352,277 led to 74,196 vegetables of food
miles more miles from
for over 550
of car being walked households landfill
travel per year
run 13 Seed per week
Raised over
£13,155,104.88 produced Exchange Fairs
for investment a year Worked with 350
17,800 MWh school children
in renewable of renewable begun work leading to
energy electricity a on building improvements
led to 131,049 year, saving projects with in schoolwork
more miles 7,450 tonnes of a value of and health
being cycled CO2 annually £5,150,371
21 Stories of Transition 1110 threads
that run
through
our
stories
As you read through our 21
Stories, a small sample of what
thousands of Transition groups,
and a far greater number of other
community activism groups
are doing around the world,
you may notice certain threads
or common themes running
through them. Given that similar
stories can be found in towns,
cities, villages, organisations,
universities, schools, faith groups
and businesses around the world,
what might some of those threads
be? While all our stories tell of the
journeys towards personal and
community resilience, here are
10 other threads that we’ve also
noticed. The changemakers in
these stories are:
Reclaiming the economy
Around the world communities
and movements are building a
new economy, rooted in fairness,
A Transition equality, inclusion, a recognition
workshop with that we live in a world of limits.
As communities we can set about
architects and bringing assets into community
planners at ownership, inviting community
investment, supporting local
Luxembourg currencies, playing our role in
Institute of Science creating a vibrant economy that
works for everyone.
and TECHNOLOGY.
Photo: Rob Hopkins
12 21 Stories of TransitionStarting local doesn’t someone do something Whole new career paths can
Place matters in each of our about this?” The expectation is open up for people, who find
stories. Local is the scale where often that change is something themselves doing things that they
tackling the huge challenges that starts somewhere else, would never have dreamt of.
we face becomes possible. generally initiated by those we
It’s the scale where we can elect. But as you’re about to see Nurturing a caring culture
feel involved, and can make a in our 21 stories, people and their Why do people do this? For all
difference. These stories show communities are stepping up, the groups featured in these
communities starting where coming together to take a more stories, the motivation for getting
they are: celebrating their place’s active role in shaping their own involved, for taking action, is
distinctiveness, its quirkiness, its future. rooted in caring. Care for their
culture, and building the future friends, family and neighbours,
from those foundations. It’s a Crowd-sourcing solutions for their community, their place,
shift we can already see underway All of these stories tell of solutions for the wider world around them.
in the explosion of local food, and activities that were only It’s there in creating dignified
community energy and possible because people came work with a Living Wage, it’s there
cooperatives. It’s the future. together to create them. in voluntary projects and new
They could not have emerged businesses, in projects to help
Sparking entrepreneurship from one person working alone. nature, old people and children.
Where are the best places to By coming together, finding ways It’s there in how we take care of
look to for the creativity, the of working together, inviting ideas, the living world. People bring that
innovation, the flavour, the taste, being emergent and flexible, the desire to care to every one of these
the community, the future of the solutions emerge clearly. projects, as you are about to see.
new economy? Our stories tell
of new enterprises being born, Supporting each other Telling sticky stories
being imaginatively supported None of the stories you are about Few of the stories here tell of
by local people, offering new to read happened by magic. They people doing what’s expected of
opportunities for local investment, emerged from people working them. As changemakers, they have
and thinking ambitiously about together in groups, usually as all paid some thought to creating
their role in reimagining the local volunteers, in their spare time. a story that people will tell each
economy. How might you apply As you will see, this is not without other, that become infectious.
entrepreneurial thinking to the its challenges. Each group finds its The town that prints its own
challenges your community faces? own strategies and approaches for money. The village that uses seed
looking after each other, for giving diversity to rekindle its indigenous
Reimagining work each person the support they language. The food market that
Including qualities like enjoyment, need. Paying attention to this is reconnects the producer to the
self development, a sense of a key aspect of success. buyer in a way that enables new
belonging and dignity in the work conversations and relationships.
we create are essential to making Reskilling The stories you’ll read here are so
life meaningful and fun. What we Another strong thread running sticky, you’ll soon be sharing them
see in Transition are people and through these stories is an with your friends...
projects that deliberately meet openness to re-skilling, to noting
material needs while also creating that people and groups may not
a positive experience, one where have all the skills they need to
how we do things is as, if not achieve what they want, but are
more, important than the things open to learning them. You will
themselves. read about people who never ran
a business before learning how
Stepping up to do it, groups realising they
As our communities unravel and need help in resolving conflicts,
our economies serve the interests communities recognising that
of fewer and fewer people, we they need to understand how the
often hear people say “why planning system works.
21 Stories of Transition 1340Kw solar
installation on
Lycée Théorore Deck,
the first Lycée en
Transition in France,
Ungersheim.
Photo: La Comune d’Ungersheim
heading to a
swop shop at
the local school,
greyton, south
africa.
Photo: Candice Mostert
jam-making
workshop run
by transition
kensal To kilburn,
london, uk.
Photo: Jonathan Goldberg
transition workshop
in luxembourg.
Photo: Transition Luxembourg
14 21 Stories of Transition21 stories
of transition
1. The Million Miles Project
2. The rise of community energy
3. REconomy in Luxembourg
4. EcoCrew Environmental Awareness Programme
5. The rise of local currencies
6. The Pasadena Repair Cafe
7. Fishguard’s Surplus Food Cafe
8. The Casau Community Garden
9. Caring Town Totnes
10. Zarzalejo Futuro
11. Lambeth Local Entrepreneur Forum 1
12. Transition Town Media’s Free Store
13. Aardehuis Project Olst 2
14. Greenslate Farm 5
15. Potager Alhambra 14
16. Compagnons de la Terre 7 18 13
17. Harvesting Rainwater in São Paulo 11 16
18. Crystal Palace Food Market 9 15
19. Transition Streets in Australia 3
20. Scaling up Transition in Peterborough 21
21. Ungersheim, Village in Transition
8
10
20
12
6
19
17 4
21 Stories of Transition 151.
The Million Miles
Photo: Julian Paren
Group: Transition Black Isle,
Scotland.
Local population: c. 13,000
Project
Group started: 2009
Other projects: Two
community gardens (Loch
na Mhoid and Culbokie), an
Is it possible that a annual Potato Day, practical
gardening skills sessions,
bottom-up, citizen-led
a bicycle hire enterprise,
Black Isle Active Travel Map,
approach could actually
community wind energy
project, 3 food markets at
different locations.
make a substantial impact
on levels of car use among Project aim
The aim of the Million Miles
a mostly rural population? project was simple: to cut car
travel by a million miles (1% of the
Transition Black Isle set current total) through promoting
greener alternatives. This was
out to find out. done through 3 main approaches:
1) Active travel (walking and
cycling), 2) Greener car travel and
3) Public transport.
16 21 Stories of Transition“
Background
The Black Isle is a peninsula in
the Scottish Highlands bound by
the Cromarty Firth and the Moray
and Beauly Firths. Many of its Message for COP21
residents work in the nearby city
of Inverness, resulting in high Local groups are best placed to devise and
levels of car use, and the resultant
levels of carbon emissions. run campaigns to change behaviour, cut
When it was announced that the carbon emissions and create community
Kessock Bridge, the peninsula’s cohesion. To do this most effectively they need
main connection to Inverness,
needed repairs which would halve improved national and regional transport policies.
its capacity for cars, Transition Marion McDonald, Million Miles Project Manager
Black Isle decided to use it as
the opportunity to try and do
something about the levels of
car use.
About the project Greener Car Travel: Energy have new bike racks, the highland.
The project was funded through efficient driving training courses, liftshare.com website continues
the Scottish Government’s highland.liftshare.com liftsharing to be used, the volunteer cycle
Climate Challenge Fund, and website, journey-matching. trainers are still busy, Transition
co-ordinated by Peter Elbourne Black Isle continue working with
and Marion McDonald. It was Public transport: Bus other groups to try to improve
launched on 28 August 2012 and vouchers, out-and-about events, the infrastructure for cyclists, and
began with a baseline survey to bus bike racks. Black Isle Bicycles now exists as
get a clear picture of the current a social enterprise, renting out
levels of transport use before work Achievements and legacy
In the end, the project led to a bicycles and promoting cycling.
began. Over the next 3 years it
ran a wide range of events and reduction of 1,352,277 miles, Challenges
workshops with the support of saving 718 tonnes of carbon a One of the key challenges the team
the local authority and a wide year, but it achieved much more faced was how to measure the less
range of other organisations and besides. tangible impacts of the project, for
authorities. Outcomes example the harder-to-measure
• 5,369 people attended 471 benefits of an active lifestyle,
The project was intentionally and the many positive changes
designed to last 3 years, in events over 30 months
people experienced other than
recognition of the degree of • 600 people attended a Black just carbon reduction. Anecdotal
sustained consciousness- Isle BikeFest evidence shows that during and
raising required to shift travel • led to 74,196 more miles after the scheme, a deeper cultural
habits, possibly one of our most being walked shift in attitudes towards lift
entrenched behaviours. sharing took place.
• 44% of respondents stated they
Activities included: were now cycling more
Active Travel: Community cycle • 131,049 more miles cycled as a
trainers, 471 cycling events such result of the project
as Bike Buses to get children to • Black Isle Travel Map delivered
school and Dr Bike sessions, to 8,300 households
loans of folding bikes, supporting • Lift Share scheme now has 726
applications for cycle paths, members, 23% of people now
Black Isle Bike Fest, a cycling lift share more.
conference, downloadable route
cards and a travel map. As well as the impacts of the work
A ‘slow cycle club’ in Cromarty, itself, there was also a longer
aimed at improving health lasting legacy. The active travel
and led by a retired GP, proved map and route guides are still
particularly popular. widely available, many villages
21 Stories of Transition 17the rise of
2.
community energy
Energy generation is something done by huge energy
companies, right? Wrong. Community energy is one
of the key ways communities can start to take back
control of their economy, and their energy supply.
18 21 Stories of Transitionthe community which can, in “Not many years ago we
Community Energy turn, lead to infrastructure and were a few enthusiasts from
Groups: Over 5,000 in the cultural change2. Decarbonising Transition Bath sitting
UK, many more elsewhere. our energy system requires round a table with a
Amount raised from decentralised renewables, great idea. Now only four
community share offers which leads us to far greater years later we have been
plus commercial finance: opportunities for community recognised as one of the
£13,155,104.88 investment and involvement. leading community energy
Amount of electricity And it brings people together, companies in the country”.
generated: 17,800 GWh, and creates opportunities for BWCE’s Peter Capener on
enough for 4,000 homes conversation, for parties, for receiving ‘Community Energy
Amount of CO2 saved: 7,450 relationships. And it’s change Organisation of the Year at the
tonnes of CO2. people can see happening around Community Energy Awards
them, which means the changes
we need to make don’t seem so far
Brixton Energy, which grew out
off and impossible.
Context of Transition Town Brixton, has:
Around the world, the idea that Some UK examples: • installed 134.24 kW of solar
communities install, own, and Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, energy across 3 schemes
enjoy some of the benefits of Keymer, Ditchling Transition • raised a total investment of
renewable energy is growing started HKD Energy. They have: £182,000 from local people
fast. In Germany over 50% of • installed 307 solar panels through three share offers
renewable energy being installed on Downloads School
• Saved around 1275 tons of CO2
is in community ownership. In the Sports Centre
UK alone, over 5,000 community • Benefitted from 290 hours of
• generated 80,000 kWh of
groups have set up community volunteer input.
electricity per year, saving
energy schemes since 20081. 42 tonnes of carbon per year They are currently planning
Many of these have been Brixton Energy 4, bringing the
• raised £100,500 in shares from
Transition groups, and the electricity (solar-generated!) back
local people, with 83% of the
schemes they have come up with to Electric Avenue, one of the
investors living within a 4 mile
have varied widely in terms of size. area’s best-known streets.
radius of the school.
Community energy “This project means a lot
around the world Bath and West Community to us and our residents as
In Japan, the Fujino Electric Energy, which emerged from it brings with it valuable
Company has inspired another Transition Bath and Transition work experience for some
40 communities to start their Corsham: of our youth as well as an
own energy companies, and in investment opportunity
• have installed 3MW of solar PV
Belgium, many Transition groups for residents and local
in their own community
are involved with community investors alike”.
energy projects
energy to varying degrees. For Mary Simpson, who has lived
example while Champs d’énergie • have supported the installation
in Brixton Hill for 26 years
originated mostly from Gelbressée of 3MW of other community
en Transition, Ferréole pre-dates energy groups solar PV
Liège en Transition, but now • are in process of supporting the
has many connections to the development of a further 10MW
group. Our next story includes a of other community energy
community energy co-operative groups solar PV
in Luxembourg. • have raised and helped raise
Why it matters £10 million through community
This surge in community energy shares for their and their
projects is a powerful story. partners projects
The offer the potential for • have re-distributed £65,000 of
greater democratic control, profits back into local carbon
for shared benefits and for reduction and fuel poverty
greater active participation of projects over the last 2 years.
Photos: (Top) Jonathan Goldberg, (Bottom) Peter Andrews 21 Stories of Transition 19West Solent Energy Once the loans from local people “This just makes sense.
Co-operative, started by that made it possible have been I learned about solar panels
members of New Forest paid off, revenue will go into a Low and wind turbines twenty
Transition, have: Carbon Local Development Fund years ago so I’ve always
• raised £2 million in shares which will support a range of had an awareness for clean
from local people local projects. energy and the benefits it
can bring. So it’s fantastic
• installed a solar farm that will The Ouse Valley Energy to see it happening on my
generate approximately Services Company (OVESCO) doorstep, and to be able to
2.5 GWh each year will save was formed in 2007 by members be a part of it”.
approximately 1,000 tonnes of of Transition Town Lewes. It’s Fay Gordon, resident of
CO2 each year. first project was installing 545 Loughborough Estate, Brixton
solar panels on the roof of the and Brixton Energy investor
Transition Malvern Hills’ local Harveys Brewery. Since
Malvern Energy Co-operative’s then, with the support of over 250
first project was installing solar shareholders, they have:
panels on the Malvern Cube (the
• put up 5 solar installations with
town’s youth centre). A 30kW
a capacity of 191 kWp, with an
solar array was installed, and
annual output of 185MWh
most of the energy generated is
sold to the Malvern Cube at a • saved 110 tonnes of CO2
reduced rate. per year
• raised £441,000 of community
Transition Bro Gwaun
investment.
(see p. 40) are part of a 50:50 joint
venture with a local farmer for a They are currently working on a
225kW wind turbine which will: 5MW solar farm, and through the
• produce around 528,000 kWh UK Government’s Peer Mentoring
per year Scheme have supported 20
“
neighbouring communities to
• save around 290 tonnes of CO2
replicate their model.
per year.
Message for COP21
Validate and nurture
local action through
the policies, rhetoric
and personal action
you take, start by
looking to your own
community(ies) and
get involved in change,
to whatever level or in
whatever way is feasible.
Peter Capener, Bath & West
Community Energy
Members of Totnes Renewable Energy Society. Photo: Jane Brady
1
Department of Energy and Climate Change 2
Capener, P. (2014) What is Community
(2014) Community Energy Strategy, full Energy & Why Does it Matter? Community
report: http://tinyurl.com/nw6ecba Energy England. http://tinyurl.com/p4d7sc8
20 21 Stories of TransitionBath and West Community Energy’s installation on Lewis House in Bath. Photo: GB Sol Installing one of Brixton Energy’s solar schemes. Photo: Jonathan Goldberg 21 Stories of Transition 21
22 21 Stories of Transition
REconomy in Group: Transition
Luxembourg (National Hub).
Luxembourg
Local population: 543,202
Year Started: 2014
In the country with Background
the world’s second
Transition is a relatively new
arrival in Luxembourg (it started
highest per capita gross
in 2011). Initially emerging from,
and supported by, Centre for
Ecological Learning Luxembourg
domestic product and (CELL), the groups are founded
on the idea that collective
among the highest per action induces concrete and
significant systemic change.
capita GHG emissions, Transition Luxembourg, the
recently established national
a new collaborative hub organisation, now receives
funding from the Ministry of
economic model is Sustainable Development and
Infrastructure to support its rolling
emerging based out of the Transition approach
across the country.
3.
on the REconomy The Cooperatives
So far, three new co-operatives
approach and have emerged through the work of
Transition Luxembourg:
co-operative values. EnerCoop: Founded in 2013,
And it works.
through Transition Minett (South
of Luxembourg), it has so far
installed a solar project of 26,000
kWh/year – a second one of
similar size is in development.
These projects are funded
through share launches, raising
€50,000 for each project through
shares costing €100 each. For
the first project, they all sold
out in a matter of weeks. Under
Luxembourg’s laws, these are the
largest individual installations
for which you can get a
guaranteed feed-in fee (which
is vital for such projects). They
are committed to being “100%
green, citizen-led and local”, and
working with local enterprises
to obtain services and source
equipment that is produced and
assembled as local as possible
(such as sourcing their solar
panels from Germany rather
than China).
Photos on previous page: (top left) Transition Luxembourg /EnerCoop
(Bottom right) Peace Advocate Photography, others: Terra CSA. This page: Terra CSA 21 Stories of Transition 23A solar project
installed by
EnerCoop.
Photo: Transition Luxembourg
Terra: In early 2014, three The role of Transition
friends who wanted to start According to Norry, if Transition
a Community Supported hadn’t taken root in Luxembourg,
Agriculture scheme close probably none of the above would
to Luxembourg city were have got started: “It is the positivity
struggling to find land. They and positive storytelling that
put out a call to see if anyone Transition brings which inspires
had land, and were offered a people to take action, and which
beautiful site overlooking the creates the willingness of people
city, and two months later they to share and to network”.
started growing, a sequence of
events described by Transition The three co-operatives very much
Luxembourg co-ordinator Norry share a sense of having the same
Schneider as “miraculous”. A roots, seeing themselves as part of
year later, and Terra have 153 the same family, each giving the
members who received a weekly other profile and publicity.
box of vegetables, as well as 84
‘co-operators’, who support
the group.
KiloMinett0: Began in 2015
and promotes local production
through a Transition house that
will open soon, with a shop,
restaurant and bar that will also
be serving as a meeting point
and support space for Transition
initiatives, and as an incubator
for local food enterprises in
the area.
One of Terra’s
co-founders,
Marko
Anyfandakis
harvesting
tomatoes.
Photo: Peace Advocate Photography
24 21 Stories of Transition“
Message for COP21
Trust the citizens. Usually our leaders don’t do it; they buy services
from large enterprises because those are serious guys and they know
how to do things, and they don’t look locally for resources, knowledge
or networks. Trust and empower citizens to undertake sustainable
local projects, and give some power back to them.
Norry Schneider, Transition Luxembourg
21 Stories of Transition 2526 21 Stories of Transition
what is
REconomy?
Like Transition, REconomy is about building community cohesion,
ecological sustainability, and resilience by transforming local
economics. How? By creating the conditions for new economic
actors and relationships to emerge –local entrepreneurs, cooperatives,
investors, supporters of all kinds, community ownership and
accountability, complementary currencies, gift circles, sharing libraries.
Everyone is included.
www.reconomy.org
Photo: Peace Advocate Photography
21 Stories of Transition 27Chesadeck
Rinquest, aged
5, insisted on
planting his
own fruit tree
with Charity
GreenPop.org.
4.
Photo: Candice Mostert
EcoCrew
Environmental
Awareness
Programme
What kind of a role
could Transition
play in communities
building an
outdoor
recovering from
classroom the past impacts of
at Green Park, apartheid, a present
reclaimed from where its young people
being the municipal
dump by Greyton need support, and
Transition town
and EcoCrew.
the future demands
Photo: Marshall Rinquest of climate change?
28 21 Stories of TransitionAbout the project the plight of African penguins
Group: Greyton Transition Their EcoCrew environmental and Greenpop, a national tree
Town, South Africa. awareness programme, planting charity to support
Local population: 2,780. co-ordinated by Marshall their work in South Africa
Year Started: 2012 Rinquest, offers children between (replanting an ancient
Other projects: South 8 and 18 years outdoor activities milkwood forest on the south
Africa’s first plastic bag- both during and after school. coast) and in Zambia (to help
free town, Incredible reforest part of the country
Edible Greyton, Air Miles Activities include: devastated by illegal tree
Forest (local carbon/flights • Claiming back and felling).
offsetting), a Community rehabilitating a large section • Setting up a trial humane
Natural Building Programme, of the municipal dumpsite, education programme aimed
River Bank Clear-ups, turning it into a Green Park, at inspiring empathy in
Bartering system, planting 500 trees as part of children for themselves, their
Trash to Treasure Festival the Greyton Fruit Forest, and friends, parents, teachers and
(at the town dump). building an outdoor classroom the environment.
using ‘Ecobricks’ (plastic
bottles packed with non As well as the schools, Greyton
recyclable plastic waste). Transition Town is able to do
Background • Learning about permaculture what it does due to a wide range
Greyton Transition Town is the and creating organic food of partnerships such as with
first official Transition group in gardens in all six local schools, Greyton Conservation Society,
Africa, initiated in December 2012 the produce enabling the Greenpop (a national tree planting
by Nicola Vernon, who said “as schools to give good meals to charity), local council and regional
a driver for social integration it’s their poorest students. government.
the best I’ve encountered in 30
• Setting up ‘Swap Shops’ in local “I was always more
years of working in social welfare”.
schools: spaces where children conscious about these
Greyton is a beautiful town, visited
and their parents can bring issues than my peers, and
by many tourists, but like many
clean, dry, recyclable waste and I wanted to pass that on.
places in South Africa, one that
receive vouchers, which they The kids we work with
still bears the scars of apartheid.
can exchange at an on-site respond in the same way.
As Nicola says: shop, to purchase essentials They now think twice about
“The Group Areas Act of the 1950s such as clothes, toiletries, what they eat and what they
declared some of the town’s blankets and school clothing. throw away”.
people, those with a darker skin • Collaborating with other Marshall Rinquest
than the others, to be ‘coloured’ organisations such as The Two
and therefore to be removed to the Oceans Aquarium in Cape
outskirts of the town where they Town to participate in a
were placed cheek by jowl in mean ‘penguin waddle’ along the
little houses on a rocky slope with coast to raise awareness about
little soil”.
“
The division this caused is still
visible today. Many residents
suffer from poverty, poor
education, unemployment
and deprivation. Greyton
Transition Town is unusual in Message for COP21
being resourced by some of the
profits of two businesses it has Anything is possible if you just put your mind
established, an EcoLodge, offering to it. We are always persistent in what we do.
affordable accommodation, and
a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Whoever you are, as an individual, you can
While the GTT team run projects make a change, people will see, people will
with universal appeal, much follow, because it’s about the way you do
of the focus of their work is on
environmental and humane
these things.
education in local schools. Marshall Rinquest, Greyton Transition Town
21 Stories of Transition 29Riaan Strydon,
Greyton
Transition
Town volunteer,
teaching
EcoCrew
youth about
permaculture.
Photo: Nicola Vernon
Achievements and legacy their students can actually by the end of this year
Like many Transition groups, they become leaders and motivators • Funding has been found for
could always do with more people, for a better, more humane and two full time and one part time
more manpower, but still what the environmentally conscious member of staff.
group has achieved is remarkable. society.
As Marshall Rinquest puts it: Future plans include an eco-
“People on low incomes come “Most problems with village within the town, with
to our fresh local produce barter historically disadvantaged natural building approaches,
table and they can connect with children in South Africa renewable energy and an
people and see how we can assist stem from their lack of integrated community at the
each other as people, not saying hope. They are not heart of its design.
“I’m black and you are white”, motivated to study when
or “I am rich and you are poor”, there is so little opportunity
but seeing beyond that line as – only unemployment or
humans. It’s not just a place a low paid job as a waiter,
where you can barter, it’s a space gardener or domestic help.
where you can see what we have All our children now have
in common”. the EcoCrew to aspire to,
it gives them hope and has
Teachers report better grades, lifted the whole school”.
improved behaviour, less bullying, Rodney Cupido, Head of Emil
truancy and detention amongst Weder High School
not only the eco-crew members
but the whole school. Parents Outcomes
report healthier, happier, more
respectful children. The children • In two years the number of
feel motivated, hopeful and children participating in the
more confident. The school and eco-crew programme has
teachers have started looking grown from 70 to 200
beyond matric to a point where • This is expected to reach 350
30 21 Stories of Transition5.
The Rise of
Photo: Jane Brady
Transition Currencies
How Transition currencies are
reimagining money as “wonderful
invites to us all to step into a
better future”.
21 Stories of Transition 31The Bristol Pound, launched
Number of Transition in September 2012, represented
currencies: 11 in 5 countries, a major leap forward for the
many more in development. concept. It generated massive
Amount of Transition media interest, and was hugely
currencies currently in supported by Bristol City Council,
circulation: £1,032,051 with the new Mayor of the city,
George Ferguson, announcing he
would be taking his full salary in
Bristol Pounds. Since then it was
Background also announced that local people
Local currencies aren’t a new idea. can pay their Council Tax in Bristol
They have been a feature of life Pounds and can use them on
back through the centuries, and the city’s buses. Thanks to a deal
around 2,500 such schemes, in a with Good Energy, customers can
variety of forms, exist throughout also now pay their energy bills with
the world today. Although they Bristol Pounds, and will soon also be
take a variety of forms, the basic able to use them to buy train tickets.
idea is to enhance the ‘Multiplier Launch t-shirts. Photo: Brixton Pound
Effect’, the observation that money
spent with local businesses
circulates more times and leads
to greater benefits for the local
economy. The Brixton Pound
calls itself “money that sticks to
Brixton”. They are ‘complementary
currencies’, running in parallel to
national currencies, rather than
a replacement.
‘Transition Currencies’
in the UK
What are increasingly referred to
as ‘Transition currencies’ began
with the Totnes Pound in 2007,
initially modelled on an 1810
Totnes Pound banknote. That,
in turn, drew its inspiration from
previous alternative currencies
such as the Wir and the Worgl
from the 1930s, and Ithaca Hours
and Berkshares (both from the
US), more recent manifestations
of the idea.
The Totnes Pound, in turn,
inspired the launch of the Lewes
Pound, initially as a One Pound
note, and then in a full set of
denominations which included
a £21 note. This was followed by
the Stroud Pound, and then by
the Brixton Pound in London. “People ask why we have “We have the seminal Brixton
The Brixton Pound was the first to a £21 note in Totnes. My Pound £10 note featuring
also feature a Pay-by-Text system, response to that question David Bowie. It’s possibly
enabling people to use Brixton is ‘why not?’”. the world’s most famous
Pounds on their mobile phones. Rob Hopkins local currency note”.
Michael Lloyd-Jones at the
Bristol Pound
32 21 Stories of TransitionJeremy Deller,
winner of the
2004 Turner
Prize, designed
this £5 note to
celebrate the
Brixton Pound’s
fifth birthday,
described
by Charlie
Waterhouse of
the Brixton
Pound as “the
most amazing
currency
notes ever
produced. No
exaggeration”.
Photo: Brixton Pound
Ex-banker
turned activist
Mehul Damani
describing
the design of
the Brixton
Pound AS a
reflection of
the diversity
and vibrancy
of Brixton.
Photo: Brixton Pound
21 Stories of Transition 33The launch
of Grez en
Transition’s
local currency
‘Les Bles’,
April 2015.
Photos: Michèle Vander Syp
34 21 Stories of Transition“
Message for COP21
We believe the evidence is clear; achieving a
low or carbon negative society requires localized,
more transparent economies based on local
ownership. The Bristol Pound is a powerful systemic
driver that shortens supply chains, reducing
dependence on the fossil fuel intensive transport
infrastructure. It also sends a message about what
the economy is there to serve. It’s empowering,
democratic and delivering change here in Bristol.
Transició in Querétaro’s ‘Kuni’ currency.
Photo: Transició in Querétaro Ciaran Mundy, Bristol Pound
The level of media coverage by Turner Prize-winning artist The Bristol Pound issued a new
generated by the launch of the Jeremy Deller to celebrate the 5th suite of notes in July 2015, and
Bristol Pound led the Bank of anniversary of its launch (p.33). on tiny writing on them it read
England to publish a statement “Keeping money out the Cayman
clarifying its legal understanding The global spread of Islands (a well-known British tax
of local currencies. It also led Transition currencies haven) since 2012”. The story of the
to the formation of a Guild of The idea is spreading rise of local currencies is a story
Independent Currencies to internationally too. Liege that is only just beginning.
support the increase in interest en Transition in Belgium
from elsewhere. The Exeter launched ‘Le Valheureux’. Grez Outcomes
Pound, created through a coming enTransition, also in Belgium, Amount of local currency in
together of Transition Exeter and launched Les BLÉS, and Transició circulation (where data
Exeter City Council (for who the in Querétaro in Mexico launched is available):
successful launch of an Exeter the Kuni (Kuni means “to knit” • Bristol Pound, £800,000
Pound is their second highest in Otomí indigenous language),
a local currency whose notes • Totnes Pound, £13,800
economic priority), launched in • Brixton Pounds, £150,000
September 2015. As well as the are circular, and very colourful!
usual suite of notes featuring well- Montreuil en Transition near • Lewes Pound, £20,000
known local characters, they also Paris called theirs the ‘Peche’ • Stroud Pound, £7,000
launched a £15 note to celebrate (named after the peaches which
the town is famous for growing), • Les BLÉS, £2,500
the coming to Exeter of the Rugby
World Cup. and Vilanova en Transició in Spain • Le Radis, Ungersheim
launched a Transition currency (p. 86) £6,600
More are in the pipeline as called La Turuta. There are no • Number of businesses in
the idea becomes increasingly doubt many others we haven’t yet Bristol accepting the Bristol
mainstream. The Kingston Pound heard about too. Pound, 850.
is coming soon, with schemes
also emerging in Plymouth, Why Transition
Hull, Oxford, Liverpool, Cardiff currencies matter
and Southampton, although The rise of local currencies is a
interestingly, few of those of formal powerful story. In a time where
links to local Transition groups. money feels out of control,
something done to us by others,
At the time of writing, the something that shuts down
Brixton Pound just released an possibilities rather than opening
extraordinary £5 note designed them up, local currencies are ours.
21 Stories of Transition 35The 2015 new issue of Bristol Pound notes from an exhibition poster: PAPER Arts “The pounds Sterling in our “It’s easy to imagine such pockets are monochrome, notes being fetishized as dull and in thrall to history audiophiles do vinyl”. and hierarchy - designed Dan Crane, New York Times, to remind us that ‘our’ August 9th, 2015 money isn’t really ours at all. Brixton Pounds are the exact opposite. Joyous and empowering, they remind us that we can all make positive decisions about our spending, and make a real difference to the community around us. They’re wonderful invites to us all to step into a better future”. Charlie Waterhouse, Brixton Pound designer 36 21 Stories of Transition
Photo: Sylvia Holmes
Pasadena Repair Cafe
“I can’t believe the guy who built the
6.
Mars Rover just fixed my electric shaver!”
21 Stories of Transition 37Group: Transition Pasadena,
Los Angeles, USA.
Local population: 139,731
Year Started: 2010
Other projects: Throop
Church Learning Garden
(winner of the Mayor’s Green
City Award for Urban Nature
2013), Free Food Garden,
‘Low Energy Living is Fun’
workshops, ‘Mulch for
the People’, The Work That
Reconnects’ workshops, Fruit
Trees in Public Places, Cool
Roofs, ‘Just Doing Stuff
Town Fair’.
Repair cafe
during pasadena
Background earth and
In 2010, Therese Brummel,
cofounder of Transition Pasadena,
arts festival.
Photo: Sylvia Holmes
heard about a Repair Cafe in the
Netherlands and thought it was
something that could work well in
Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles. isn’t the repair of things, it’s the the group: “You feel part of a
In June of that year, Transition creation of community. community that is getting on
Pasadena ran its first Repair Cafe. and doing things, and recycling.
According to Greg: There’s a sense of welcome. A
Transition Pasadena works on a “I announce to those waiting for
“build it and they will come” basis, different sense. No-one wants
tools to be sharpened that they anything from you. People just
with members with ideas for good are sitting in the story telling
projects finding that the interest, come together and help each
chair, which in most cases is all other. There’s a welcome. We’re
support and enthusiasm generally that is needed. People launch into
comes in behind their ideas. glad to see people when they turn
personal stories that draw smiles up with their broken stuff”.
and much needed empathy from
“I was deeply disturbed and those nearby, making the fulfilling Outcomes
sad about the state of the of this often neglected area of our Since inception in late 2010: 4676
natural world and society. lives as important as a sharpened volunteer hours in the gardens,
Getting involved with pair of scissors”. 500 kilos of fruits and vegetables
Transition Pasadena has harvested, 2670 volunteer hours
meant going from despair How does a Repair Cafe find its for Repair Cafe 831, volunteers
to community and being repairers? According to Sylvia (major projects only), 2638 public
able to follow a passion and Holmes, “we just ask. There’s attendees, 20 projects (mostly
get help with it. It changed the San Gabriel Valley Hackers, ongoing), 32 planned workshops,
my relationship to people who work at the nearby 30 ad hoc workshops, 9 film
the problems”. CalTech (California Institute of screenings, 65 steering meetings,
Laurel Beck Technology) … they come. People 400 subscribers to newsletter, 360
just know people. We make it fun”. Facebook Likes and Followers,
Repairing tools … or Wider connections 2 retreats and 3 study groups.
community? The Repair Cafe also has a close
The Repair Cafes are generally run relationship with the local Time “Our planet needs help,
at a different venue each time, and Bank. People earn Time Dollars and Repair Cafe is a small
there are between 9 and 10 each while repairing things, and event. Yet much can be
year, and the number of items someone from the Time Bank accomplished in many
being brought for repair increases sits with a laptop and records localities by as few as
each time. Greg Marquez from transactions during the day. two people; repairer and
the group talks of how the most According to Laurel Beck from repairee. Energizing the
important function of the Cafes
38 21 Stories of Transitionsense of belonging and
becoming more fully one’s
self within the community
is crucial to mobilizing our
individual energies”.
Greg Marquez, Transition
Pasadena
Group culture
As Sylvia Holmes from the group
told me, “We’ve learned to be
careful about how many ideas we
have because they’re a lot of work”.
Transition Pasadena periodically
consider whether a more formal
approach to governance would
help with conflict resolution and
the management of their wide
variety of projects, but so far the
group embraces a horizontal
structure with no leaders or
followers – everyone’s ideas have
equal weight. “Our strong bond
gives us the strength to pursue
projects we’re passionate about”, REuseable
says Sylvia, adding “It can be a
bumpy road, though we seem to
signage –
make it”. chalk on
blackboards.
Photo: Sylvia Holmes
“
Message for COP21
It can transform a relationship to serious
problems to something empowering that
actually enriches your own life. That’s reason
alone to get involved. You get permission
to do meaningful work, with support, and
it’s fun!
Laurel Beck, Transition Pasadena
21 Stories of Transition 39The
Surplus
Food Cafe
The cafe that
sees going out
of business as a
sign of success,
and whose
7.
daily menu is
determined
by what local
businesses
throw away. Photo: Transition Bro Gwaun
to feed pigs, and realised how a questionnaire afterwards. The
Group: Transition Bro much perfectly good food was overwhelming feedback was “we’d
Gwaun (Fishguard), Wales being thrown away, and that that like a cafe please, with low cost
Local population: 3,419 presented a huge opportunity. meals”.
Year Started: 2008
Other projects: The The seeds of an idea “This project is more than
TBG shopping bag, bike TBG’s Ann Bushell began thinking just a way of reducing food
maintenance, new allotments, that there was a potential business waste. It’s an experiment –
a 225kW community wind opportunity in looking at this an attempt to put carbon
turbine, regular stall at local ‘waste’ in a different way, and the reduction, sustainability
farmers market. idea of the Transition Community and community resilience
Cafe/Surplus Food Project was at the heart of a social
born. The local Co-operative enterprise and to make it a
supermarket manageress pointed viable business suitable for
Background out an empty building opposite, a low growth, sustainable
Every year the UK throws away 15 owned by the Co-op, which had society. It depends as much
million tonnes of food and drink, become a local eyesore, and on non-monetized ‘income’
half of which was perfectly edible suggested the group apply to e.g. from gifting, community
when thrown away. Over a million take it on. Their first question exchange, reusing and
people now rely on food handouts was whether a cafe serving food recycling, and volunteering
and Food Banks. harvested from local surplus as it does on financial
was something the community income”.
Two members of Transition Bro wanted. So in a local pub, they ran Transition Bro Gwaun
Gwaun (TBG) were visiting local two meals, invited the community
shops looking for food waste and then asked them to fill out
40 21 Stories of Transition“
Work then began to turn the
derelict old budget off licence
into a thriving community cafe.
The community rallied around to
help, a local builders’ merchant Message for COP21
donated thousands of pounds
worth of supplies and many local If world leaders came to the cafe for a visit,
volunteers offered their time. The
idea of a cafe serving surplus food we’d show them all the entries in our Visitors’
hit a nerve, and the group started Book which tell how excited people get about
attracting lots of press coverage. what we’re doing – how a simple, small, community
They presented the idea at Hay
Festival’s Future Green Dragons project can be so effective in changing attitudes,
event and won, bringing a prize of modelling a new approach and enthusing people
£10,000 home with them. to do something similar – and that people think
About the project
there should be lots more initiatives like ours.
The cafe opened in June 2013, Chris Samra, Transition Bro Gwaun
staffed by a mixture of 25
volunteers and a small number
of paid staff. Perfectly good food
is collected from local shops and They have to deal with people’s function anymore. That would be
businesses and used in the cafe. expectations of what ‘surplus a success”.
Any that can’t be used is sent to food’ will look like on a plate. Also,
a biodigester or used for animal if they are donated 40 bottles of Outcomes
feed. The cafe’s chefs need to be sugared fizzy drinks, do they serve The Cafe strengthens the local
flexible and to think on their toes. them because they are a high- economy and improves social
One week they might get a mass of carbon food that it’s a shame to capital by providing training,
leeks, and on the week they were waste, or bin them because they employment and work experience
interviewed for this book, they had are unhealthy? Their commitment opportunities for local people,
just been given 160kg of bananas! to serving healthy food means particularly the young, the
that they don’t serve burgers and disabled and the long-term
As well as providing quality and chips, which excludes some of unemployed. It also:
affordable meals, the cafe plays their potential audience.
an important role in providing • prevents an average of 600 kilos
training opportunities for local of food going to landfill
Achievements and legacy each month
young people. Many of their The cafe offers affordable meals
volunteers have gone on to get for everyone in Fishguard, but • makes carbon savings of 21
jobs afterwards in an area where it also produces food parcels for tonnes per year.
opportunities for work experience people in actual food poverty
can be hard to come by. through the local food bank “For me, the key learning has
scheme, and also through the been the range of people
Challenges local Credit Union. Unlike most you can involve in a project
It’s not a project without its new enterprise models emerging that is visible and which
challenges. Some local cafes through the Transition movement makes common sense to
have expressed the concern that however, the Surplus Cafe is one people. You can have all the
the Surplus Food Cafe might that is happy to design for its own awareness-raising meetings
undercut them. As Chris Samra, demise. As Trustee Tom Latter in the world, and you just
one of the TBG’s Trustees puts it: puts it: get all the same people
“what we are trying to get across turning up. But the people
is the idea that we need to change “Already we are seeing local who come and work here
agendas, and that means everyone businesses giving us less food, as as volunteers come from a
re-evaluating how they operate they become more aware through huge range of interests and
in the context of climate change, working with us, they produce backgrounds – many just
which can be challenging. What less waste. We like that idea of enjoy the social interaction”.
we serve is so different to most working our way out of business, Chris Samra
cafes anyway that we’re not really that the ultimate sign of success
a threat”. for us would be that we can’t
21 Stories of Transition 41You can also read
