Haliburton in Transition

Environment Haliburton! is investigating the Transition Initative and its application locally. This is a grassroots movement that started in Ireland and England several years ago. It has since spread around the world. The Transition movement is about communities responding to the challenges of:
1. Peak Oil….with the profound implications of the inevitable contraction of oil-based energy;
2. Climate Change …which is destabilising the planetary biosphere with implications for habitation, agriculture and food supplies;
and now
3. Economic Instability… which is reflected in rising food and transportation costs, unemployment, and the contraction of credit.

The Transition movement arose to confront these challenges and seeks to re-examine core values and essential functions of commuity life with creativity, imagination and humour . It is positive, solutions-focused, viral and fun. It provides an opportunity to improve the health and resilience of the community during the transition that awaits us.

At a meeting held on January 29th, members of Environment Haliburton! watched the video, ‘In Transition 1.0’ (http://vimeo.com/8029815). ‘In Transition 1.0’ is the first detailed film about the Transition movement filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. We then discussed its relevance to the citizens of Haliburton County.

It was noted that there are already organisations in Haliburton County engaged in aspects of what Transition addresses. Local food, improved public transportation, the farmer’s market, community gardens, Healthy Communities are all aspects of Transition. Co-operation and mutual support with a positive attitude to transition is the aim.

It was agreed that we would invite a representative of an existing Transition group to describe how the Transition movement started in their community and how it might work here. We also agreed that we would invite individuals and representatives of existing organizations in Haliburton County who might be interested in learning about the Transition movement.

Environment Haliburton has invited David and Bonnie Collacut of Transition Barrie to speak and dialogue with those who come, on Saturday February 26, 10am in Room 12 at the Haliburton campus of Sir Sandford Fleming College.

Call 705-754 -9873 if you plan to attend or if you cannot, but would like to be kept informed. We are asking that you watch the video referred to above, if you can, prior to the meeting. Searching on Transition Town or Transition culture will also provide information on the the global Transition movement.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius power and magic in it! (Goethe)