Living Locally
by Katherine Blume

News From Transition Charlotte

Transition Charlotte, a group working to prepare Charlotte for the challenges of climate change and life in a post-oil economy, had its latest meeting on Monday, May 18 before breaking for the summer so that individual members could work on their gardens.
Infused with a growing sense of urgency around climate change and peak oil and the gathering momentum of the Transition Movement both internationally and in Vermont, the group decided to accelerate its study of The Transition Handbook – the primary guide for helping communities move from oil dependency to local food and energy independence.
Transition Charlotte members will finish reading the handbook over the summer and then regroup in the fall to begin working actively on building public awareness of climate change, peak oil and the transition process. They’ll start creating what’s called an Energy Descent Action Plan for the town and collaborate with Transition Shelburne on a number of events, including a film series and sustainable living workshops.
Transition Charlotte will begin running an ongoing Transition Handbook study group for newcomers to the transition process, and for those unfamiliar with climate change and peak oil -the moment in time when the maximum rate of global oil extraction has been reached. Current scientific consensus estimates that the world has reached peak oil, or will reach it by as soon as 2020.
Transition Charlotte members will also be participating in an international day of climate action on October 24 organized by the group 350.org.
For more information on Transition Towns, you can visit transitiontowns.org. There is also a local online networking group transitionvermont.ning.com where transitioners can communicate with each other to share ideas, information and events. The Transition Handbook costs $13. If you’d like to join the study group, or purchase a handbook, contact Ruah Swennerfelt at 425-3377 or email ruahswennerfelt@gmail.com.