Tracey’s Blog

Watching Transition Chester’s screening of The End of Suburbia on Wednesday I was surprised by how many of the questions and comments following the film related to a “technical fix” to the combined challenges we face due to climate change and peak oil. There are similarities here with Ashton Hayes, where the Parish Council’s aim to be the first carbon neutral village in England seems to be about innovative solutions to energy production rather than about helping residents to adapt to a more localised, low carbon lifestyle. There is a view among some residents that “offsetting will save us” and so the opportunity to empower people to take more control over their lives is overlooked as once again there seems to be the promise of a technological fix to our energy problems.

For me, transition seems to be about an inclusive and integrated approach to these challenges and presents an opportunity for us all to become more involved in choosing how we live our lives. Technology has to play a part of course and working with planners and councillors will be essential, but there must also be the opportunity for individuals to see how they can make a difference in their own community, living and connecting with our locality on a more emotional level.

I was heartened to see representatives from so many different groups at Alexanders this week and I am sure the next screening on 23rd April of The Power of Community will be equally well attended. Here is agreat opportunity for all the low carbon / transition / carbon neutral initiatives in the area to work together and share skills and resources.

You can find out more about Transition Towns by clicking on the links on the right or by emailing transitionchester@yahoo.co.uk

There are also links to several low carbon community initiatives too – try Youlgrave for starters to find out what a small community can do.