September 09
September 09
[Editor's note: The September newsletter was first published as a hard copy and is only now going out online, and as such advertises events that have now passed - but watch for the October newsletter in the next few days, which will include information about our events coming up in November!]
Welcome!
Ah, finally! Spring is upon us. Time to pack away those woollies, throw open those windows, and let the Spring warmth in!
Come to think of it, it is warm...if you think so, you're not alone - Sydney has recorded its warmest Spring in 144 years of record, more than 2 deg above the long term average. At the same time, we know that easy oil is running out - now's the time to read below to find out the exciting initiatives our very own peak-oil-resilience/climate change-prevention community is taking on this month - come along and be part of it.
In this issue
Meet some of TTN... Tricia and Family
Transition Trivia of the Month
Transitioning at Lambton Public School
Transition Towns, Get Involved!
What is TTN?
Transition Town Newcastle are people working across Newcastle to make Newcastle climate friendly and resilient to life after easy oil (peak oil). Officially launched in March 2009, TTN's reason for being is to respond to the growing awareness in the community and recognition by government of these fundamentally important, future-defining issues, and grow Newcastle as a greener, carbon-friendly, peak oil resilient city
What's all this about oil?
The general gist of peak oil is this:
Since oil was first discovered,
humanity has used up half the supply.
Since 1990, we've been using oil at a much greater rate than we've been finding new oil. Demand is always increasing and we've reached maximum production. And the remaining oil is much more difficult (more expensive, more energy-intensive) to get out.
The last 150 years can be seen as a "blip" in the history of humanity, when we had access to more energy than we ever had before, and likely will ever have again.
Now, under pressure of exponentially increasing population and the dire need - and moral imperative - to prevent dangerous climate change, as a people we need to find alternatives to oil - and make a considered, just transition to sustainable fuels and a sustainable lifestyle that is ready for Life After Oil.
And that's what TTN is all about!
For loads of resources on peak oil and climate change, have a look at our page about peak oil and at www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1515141.htm; and our page about climate change.
Meet some of TTN...
Tricia and her family of three live on a small urban block only four kilometres from the Newcastle CBD. Tricia had thought her family was relatively ‘green’, but last year realised there was room for improvement. “We had done all the easy things to make our life greener,” says Tricia. “We had signed on to green energy, installed solar hot water, put in rainwater tanks, had our chooks and vegie garden, and our home had good passive solar design and insulation so it could make best use of winter warmth and stay cool in summer.”
“But last year, I explored online ecological footprint calculators and realised that even though our home was relatively “green”, the way we lived wasn't! Like many families we were “time poor”, so drove everywhere and bought packaged and processed food from the supermarket, giving little thought to where it came from or its ecological impact. So we decided to make some changes. We've reduced the amount of “stuff” we buy; buy second hand when we can; and favour reusable products over disposables. We’ve reduced the ecological impact of the food we eat by buying mostly local and organic, and choosing meat wisely – opting for sustainably harvested seafood, or wild meat such as kangaroo or goat rather than farmed meat which has a huge environmental impact”
“Now we're onto transport!” says Tricia. “I'm trying to wean myself off the car by riding my bike or catching the bus or train – it's not that easy, but we're getting there! When I know it's going to help make a difference to my daughter's future it feels worth it.”
Keep up with Tricia's blog at littleecofootprints.typepad.com.
Transition Trivia of the Month
| Aspirin is made from oil. So is sticky tape, running shoes, lycra socks, glue, paint, varnish, carpet, nylon, | The world consumes the equivalent of 1 Olympic size swimming pool of oil every 15 seconds. | polyester, CDs, DVDs, plastic bottles,contact lenses, computers, printers, bicycle pumps, credit cards, lipstick. |
And that's just some of the things that are made directly from oil - not things that need oil in their manufacture.
That list includes just about everything.
Juicy Stuff for September
Want to know about growing veggies but
have no idea about where to start?
Check out "Free Food Month" at simplesavings.com.au
It even has a cool comic!
Check out a great and informative article in The Times
"Why We Forgot How To Grow Food"
Did you know that the SES volunteers from the Victorian bushfires have started a run around Australia to draw attention to climate change? Watch their short film at runforasafeclimate.org
Transitioning at Lambton Public School
When my eight year old daughter, Jasmine, started Kindergarten three and a half years ago at Lambton Public School, I knew I wanted to help build links between the school, families and the local community. I'd become involved with TTN and that had given me some ideas.
Inspired by Asset Based Community Development, which I'd learnt about through my work, I started encouraging the P&C to look at the strengths and assets of our families and the local community. We surveyed parents about their skills and interests, and soon got the people who said they were keen in to help. Next thing we knew we'd successfully applied for a $4500 grant from the Lambton Environment Awareness Program (LEAP Frog) for a veggie garden, kid-friendly tools, and energy monitoring and reduction for the school. The garden is getting of the ground, and we're now looking at an "adopt-a-shop" scheme for nearby Lambton Village Shopping Centre - to help people shop locally and support their local businesses (as well as not use plastic bags!), which will be so important in an oil-constrained world.
If you'd like to do something similar at your local school, you can contact Graeme at graeme.stuart@newcastle.edu.au or else check out the TTN website education section.
Watch this space for more of what LPS is up to in next month's TTN newsletter!
TTN's aim is for Newcastle to become a leading international example of community-led and local-government supported solutions to regional energy descent preparedness - community-co-operation, regional planning - and social restructuring for a better world after oil.
Transition Towns
|
TTN's aim is for Newcastle to bcome a leading international example of community-led and local-government supported solutions to regional energy descent preparedness - community-co-operation, regional planning - and social restructuring for a better world after oil. The Transition movement notionally began in the UK in the tiny town of Totnes, and has spread all over the world: for more about its Australian application, see Hopkins, R The Transition Handbook (Finch: Lane Cove, NSW, 2008) in local bookshops. TTN is funded completely by its members, and receives no private funding or sponsorship other than community grants for a couple of specific projects. |
Want to get involved?
- Come along to one of TTN's events in this newsletter - the Sustainable House Day or our Sustainable Transport evening;
- Drop into the "Ideas Cafe" at 2.30pm on the first Saturday of every month at D'mitri's Cafe, Beaumont St, Hamilton (behind Euro Bar);
- Want to start a Transition Initiative in your suburb or community? Check out the TTN website and The Transition Handbook, and come along to our training for setting up Transition Initiatives in October (details TBA). See you there!
Contact info@transitionnewcastle.org.au.
