Transition US Newsletter // July 2010

Greetings!

It was with great satisfaction to listeners of our July teleconference with Joanna Macy to be reminded “to see the magnificence of this moment in our Great Turning” and to realize where we are in the context of these times. She suggested forming empathy circles where we are present to each other in deep listening. What gets liberated is not just our concerns but our energy and intellect to act in the world with imagination and fullness. Ah.

As the story of Transition in the US unfolds (74 official Transition Initiatives!) so does the adventure of Transition US. One current quest is meeting our $100,000 challenge grant. We feel some urgency in meeting this challenge as staff are now going without pay to stretch the remaining dollars further. Please give a hand with any size donation, local fundraising schemes or simply good ideas. 

Note: We will be gone much of August taking vacations! We hope you will enjoy time for renewal too.

Transition Initiatives

Transition Initiatives are continuing to emerge in communities around the world. Browse the initiatives map and learn more about becoming an Official Transition Initiative. This month, we welcome two official Transition Initiatives, bringing the total to 74 in the US:

• Transition Madison Area in Wisconsin
• Transition Northampton in Massachusetts

A July Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the country and around the world...(more)

A Path Toward Energy Descent
Members of Transition Milwaukee in Wisconsin decided to challenge themselves and members of their community to reduce their carbon footprints...(more)

Transition Bike Tours
TransitionSF in California, has co-organized a series of bike tours that explore life-enriching food, water and energy projects in the city...(more)

Sustainable Berea Awarded Federal Stimulus Grant
Sustainable Berea will be assessing people’s awareness and knowledge of environmental issues...(more)

Transition Inititatives Get to Work for 10/10/10!

Funding opportunity: microgrants to local climate action projects in North America

350.org is starting out by giving a grant of $1000 in North America—and are doing the same in other regions around the world. Anyone can submit a project (before August 7th), and anyone can vote the most deserving project to the top (beginning on August 9th). The project with the most number of votes at the end of the voting period (which ends August 29th) wins. More info: northamericanfund.350.org

Speakers Bureau

Transition Talks are an excellent and vital way of raising awareness in your communities. We recognize that not every community has that special someone who can speak (in front of a crowd no less) to the complexities surrounding the multi-dimensional crisis, and the hope that the Transition model provides. 

We have a number of accomplished and knowledgeable Transition leaders available for speaking engagements, all of whom have a proven track record of effectiveness. They can speak to a wide variety of audiences, including businesses, local government, community groups and schools. If you would like to invite a Transition US speaker to participate in your event please send us an email and we will be happy to facilitate that happening.    

Want to be added to the growing list of qualified Transition US speakers? If so, please drop us a note and give us an idea of your experience and area(s) of expertise.

See the list! http://transitionus.org/speakers-bureau

Transition Network News

• An Update from Transition Training and Consulting
• A July Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
• A Review of ‘Local Money’ by Peter North
• ‘Transition Towns: Local Networking for Global Sustainability?’: a dissertation
• Some Reflections on ‘The Big Society’…
• What it Looks Like When Transition Meets Climate Activism….
• Transition Network Issues Its First Ever Press Release
• Tooting’s Trashcatchers Carnival a Huge Success

If you're interested in receiving updates from the Transition Network in the UK, where it all began, you can sign up for their newsletter here.

Partner Update: Post Carbon Institute

Visit www.postcarbon.org for more articles, reports and news

July saw the release of two more articles from our forthcoming publication The Post Carbon Reader. Download RESILIENCE: Personal Preparation by Chris Martenson, and SMART DECLINE: The Buffalo Commons Meets Buffalo, New York by Frank and Deborah Popper. Or pre-order the book and receive a 20% discount for ordering early.

Want to see President Obama put solar back on the White House? PCI is partnering with the 350.org PutSolarOn.It! campaign. Join us in signing the letter.

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