Articles and Books of Interest - Transition Whatcom2024-03-28T13:12:33Zhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/articles-and-books-of-interest?commentId=2723460%3AComment%3A3964&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=no-- I've begun reading 'Find Y…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-07-13:2723460:Comment:39642009-07-13T05:54:45.748ZKeith Foeckehttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KeithFoecke
-- I've begun reading 'Find Your Power' by Chris Johnstone. I understand that a good deal of the 'Heart" section of the Transition Handbook is based on Johnstone's work about the heart and psychology of how change happens inside us. The ideas are clearly articulated and something I can put to use.<br />
<br />
Speaking of the psychology of change, I have found the book "<i>Seven Habits of Highly Successful People"</i> to hit the proverbial nail on the head. Using the work of Victor Frankl (from his book…
-- I've begun reading 'Find Your Power' by Chris Johnstone. I understand that a good deal of the 'Heart" section of the Transition Handbook is based on Johnstone's work about the heart and psychology of how change happens inside us. The ideas are clearly articulated and something I can put to use.<br />
<br />
Speaking of the psychology of change, I have found the book "<i>Seven Habits of Highly Successful People"</i> to hit the proverbial nail on the head. Using the work of Victor Frankl (from his book "<i>Mans Search for Meaning</i>) as the cornerstone of the first habit "Be Proactive", it teaches how any individual can examine his/her paradigms and change them based or principles.<br />
<br />
Regarding community, I have found "<i>Deep Economy</i>" to be a gem.<br />
<br />
I also enjoyed <i>"Affleuenza", "Animal Vegetable Miracle", Voluntary Simplicity", and "Your money or your Life"</i> Eat What You Grow, Grow What…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-07-13:2723460:Comment:39632009-07-13T04:09:20.296ZDavid MacLeodhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<b><a href="http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/06/eat-what-you-grow-grow-what-you-eat/" target="_blank">Eat What You Grow, Grow What You Eat?</a></b> <i>by Sharon Astyk, Causabon's Book</i><br />
...Why is all of this so important? Well, it comes down the question of why I include “eat the food” in my Independence Days project. It seems like so minor a thing - ”Of course we’re eating the food, we’re growing it, right?” But I think all of us have yet to fully grasp the magnitude of the food question from…
<b><a href="http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/06/eat-what-you-grow-grow-what-you-eat/" target="_blank">Eat What You Grow, Grow What You Eat?</a></b> <i>by Sharon Astyk, Causabon's Book</i><br />
...Why is all of this so important? Well, it comes down the question of why I include “eat the food” in my Independence Days project. It seems like so minor a thing - ”Of course we’re eating the food, we’re growing it, right?” But I think all of us have yet to fully grasp the magnitude of the food question from a eater’s perspective. Right now, the vast majority of our calories are coming from grain production, mostly not very sustainable grain production. Those of us most aware of the issue are at least buying our grains direct from sustainable farmers - this is excellent. A few people are eating mostly what is available in their regions. All of us are eating more out of our gardens. But it remains the fact that only 5% of US cropland is growing vegetables, nuts and unusual small grains - the vast majority of our agricultural land is growing either meat, dairy, grains or soybeans...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.energybulletin.net/node/49495" target="_blank">Grains and How We Get Them</a></b>, <i>by Energy Bulletin Staff</i><br />
This article highlights several important issues. One is that local fruit and veg isn't going to save us. Most of our calories come from grains. Therefore we have to figure out how to grow, process, and transport grains more sustainably. Growing wheat organically and reviving the local supply chain infrastructure in Oregon looks to be a good start. KS You began this section with t…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-07-02:2723460:Comment:35212009-07-02T20:55:19.417ZAngela MacLeodhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AngelaMacLeod
You began this section with this invitation:<br />
<br />
"Here's a place to share what you're reading - whether online or from a book or magazine. Let's try to keep this related in some way to the general issues we're facing in Transition work."<br />
<br />
I've begun reading 'Find Your Power' by Chris Johnstone. I understand that a good deal of the 'Heart" section of the Transition Handbook is based on Johnstone's work about the heart and psychology of how change happens inside us. The ideas are clearly articulated…
You began this section with this invitation:<br />
<br />
"Here's a place to share what you're reading - whether online or from a book or magazine. Let's try to keep this related in some way to the general issues we're facing in Transition work."<br />
<br />
I've begun reading 'Find Your Power' by Chris Johnstone. I understand that a good deal of the 'Heart" section of the Transition Handbook is based on Johnstone's work about the heart and psychology of how change happens inside us. The ideas are clearly articulated and something I can put to use. I haven't read much of the book because I'm out in the garden a lot.<br />
<br />
In the garden I'm 'reading' the plants or at least observing them. especially the weeds. I'm fascinated at how they seem to grow in their own guilds. I understand that many weeds have superior nutritional value and medicinal properties. Much more to learn here.<br />
<br />
Lots of info on wild weeds and herbal medicine at Susun Weed's website: susunweed.com The Gristle: TDR FUBAR by Tim…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-06-29:2723460:Comment:33432009-06-29T20:39:33.436ZDavid MacLeodhttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<a href="http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw?/content/columns/tdr_fubar/" target="_blank">The Gristle: TDR FUBAR</a> by Tim Johnson, Cascadia Weekly<br />
Bellingham faces two challenges related to growth. The first is an unprotected drinking water supply for 91,000 residents, an uncommon condition in the Pacific Northwest where most municipal water supplies are fenced and sealed off from the public, with increasing levels of urbanization (and lack of political will…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is really good:…
<a href="http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/cw?/content/columns/tdr_fubar/" target="_blank">The Gristle: TDR FUBAR</a> by Tim Johnson, Cascadia Weekly<br />
Bellingham faces two challenges related to growth. The first is an unprotected drinking water supply for 91,000 residents, an uncommon condition in the Pacific Northwest where most municipal water supplies are fenced and sealed off from the public, with increasing levels of urbanization (and lack of political will…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is really good:<br />
<b><a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/4792" target="_blank">The Transition Initiative</a></b> by Jay Griffiths, Orion<br />
The core purpose of the Transition Initiative is to address, at the community level, the twin issues of climate change and peak oil—the declining availability of “ancient sunlight,” as fossil fuels have been called. The initiative is set up to enable towns or neighborhoods to plan for, and move toward, a post-oil and low-carbon future: what Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Initiative, has termed “the great transition of our time, away from fossil fuels.”<br />
<br />
Part of the genius of the movement rests in its acute and kind psychology. It acknowledges the emotional effect of these issues, from that thirteen-year-old’s sense of fear and despair, to common feelings of anger, impotence, and denial, and it uses insights from the psychology of addiction to address some reasons why it is hard for people to detoxify themselves from an addiction to (or dependence on) oil. It acknowledges that healthy psychological functioning depends on a belief that one’s needs will be met in the future; for an entire generation, that belief is now corroded by anxiety over climate change.<br />
<br />
... The Transition Initiative describes itself as a catalyst, with no fixed answers, unlike traditional environmentalism, which is more prescriptive, advocating certain responses. Again unlike conventional environmentalism, it emphasizes the role of hope and proactiveness, rather than guilt and fear as motivators. Whether intentionally or not, environmentalism can seem exclusive, and the Transition Initiative is whole-heartedly inclusive.<br />
<br />
...In a sense the Transition Initiative places itself as a social tipping point, with dramatic and positive consequences where the sudden wisdom of communities breaks through the stolid unwisdom of national government.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://transitionculture.org/2009/06/23/a-look-at-peak-oil-preparation-plans-from-around-the-world/" target="_blank">A Look at Peak Oil Preparation Plans from Around the World</a></b> by Rob Hopkins, Transition Culture<br />
As part of the Totnes research, I have had a good rummage around, helped by the excellent Post Carbon Cities website, at peak oil plans developed thus far around the world. It has been a fascinating process, seeing what’s out there, so I thought I would share it with you. Here is the round up of the plans I have managed to find, whether developed by community groups, local authorities or national government.