Byron Shire NSW Transition Culture - Building Resilient Communities
Transition Byron Shire
Kellie Gough and Liane Simons are spearheading the Transition Byron Shire movement, starting with awareness raising film nights as follows:
- Wednesday 24 March 6:00 - 8:30pm – Byron Community Centre
- Monday 29 March 6:00 - 8:30pm – Mullumbimby Council Chambers
- Thursday 1 April 6:00 - 8:30pm – South Golden Beach Community Centre
The film to be shown will be the Transition Movie; there will be guest speakers and discussions. Entry via gold coin donation.
For more info call: 6680 2905 or 0424 650 396 or email
What is a Transition Town?
The Transition movement is described as a positive, solution-based approach to coping with peak oil and climate change on a community level. It is based on the premise that our current communities are not yet resilient enough to successfully deal with any crisis resulting from the lack of cheap oil availability or climate change issues. There is an emphasis placed on drawing the entire community together in a creative and proactive way to work together on a plan for reducing local dependence on fossil fuels (energy decent). It aims to empower people to take action now by going through the process of reduced energy dependence slowly rather than dealing with a shock change.
The Transition model also recognises two crucial points:
- We used immense amounts of creativity, ingenuity and adaptability on the way up the energy upslope, and that there's no reason for us not to do the same on the downslope.
- If we collectively plan and act early enough there's every likelihood that we can create a way of living that's significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill that we find ourselves on today.’
The movement has its roots in Permaculture principles and ethics and encourages the use of ‘heads, hands and heart’ in creating solutions. Due to its popularity with cities and other areas larger than towns, the term ‘Transition Initiative’ is also commonly used.
Transition for the Byron Shire?
There are already many individuals, groups and organisations working under similar principles here. So, unlike some areas, the Transition model is not an entirely new concept for our Shire. But, like Cuba, how will we cope as a Shire if we have to deal with shortages and restrictions in cheap oil? Or if we are challenged with an environmental crisis? Are we prepared?
How will these possible events impact our food, transport, energy, waste, health and wellbeing, business and trade, building, housing, employment, arts and culture, social justice and equity etc?
What else can we put in place to create opportunities to sustain ourselves and potentially thrive in a post-oil dependant world?
These are some of the questions posed by the Transition movement, and the areas identified as needing alternate provisions in order to implement a long term community led energy descent action plan to address them.
For more info call: 6680 2905 or 0424 650 396 or to email click here
Door prize for each night kindly donated by MUNCH CRUNCH ORGANICS.