What is Transition Whatcom?

Bellingham IONS meeting with guests Cindi Landreth and Rick Dubrow.

Thursday, March 19, 2009
7-9 PM, doors open at 6:30
Wise Awakening, Orca Room
314 E. Holly St. - Bellingham
Suggested Donation $5

Transition Whatcom (TW) is a group in Whatcom County developing a 20-year local "Energy Descent Action Plan."

TW promotes greater community resilience in the face of climate change and economic instability, "reskilling" residents to learn practical skills that will be useful in a powered-down, less energy-intensive future.

Cindi and Rick invite us to discuss how we as a local community can define and meet most of our essential needs, to be better prepared to withstand economic shocks. Transition Whatcom outlines how Whatcom County can meet the basic needs of all its residents in terms of food, housing, transportation and security. TW engages residents from all walks of life; honors the wisdom and experience of the elders who have much to teach about self-reliance and living simply; and honors and learns from the First Nation peoples who hold in their hearts the value of, and reverence for, the gifts of the earth.

Transition Whatcom is driven by great affection for this place we call "home", and by our concern for future generations.

Rob Hopkins, who helped launch the Transition Town movement in the U.K., says "The Transition Towns movement has grown so fast because it is positive in a time where it is hard to find positivity, solutions-based in a time when the problems are so glaringly obvious, and fun, in a time where we're not supposed to have time for that any more."

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 found ourselves on today.

Cindi Landreth grew up in Whatcom County. She is Vice President of A-1 Builders, Adaptations' Manager and Designer, a green building consultant and a founding member of Sustainable Connections, Bellingham .

Rick Dubrow, an M.I.T. graduate, is a board member of RE Sources, www.re-sources. org, a local environmental education nonprofit organization that manages the RE Store in Bellingham .

Come and contribute your ideas about creating the future that we want! Hope to see you there!

On the web: https://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/

Contact: Wise Awakening, 360 756-8075, www.wiseawakening.com

Cindi Landreth, cl@adaptations.ws