The Whatcom 2020 Initiative

Comment

Comment by David Waugh on October 17, 2009 at 9:09pm

Instead it looks like they will be cutting bus service and the fares have gone up. In the end, what I really believe we need to do is, instead of changing the way, or the fuel for how we go from point A to point B, we eliminate the need to go from point A to point B (and back). It's all a part of permaculture. However, in the short term during transition, it would be best to fuel buses (and more of them) with the least polluting of fuels.

Comment by Travis Linds on October 17, 2009 at 7:26pm

Kate, I can totally relate. I also have to commute to my job, 35 min north and biking is pretty well out of the question. I wish I could find a more sustainable job closer to home, one that does not take 55+ hours a week of my time and leave me totally mentally and physically drained. I feel trapped; I have started a side business (www.greenconversion.net) but can't see how I can generate enough income from this side business to facilitate me quitting my job, and without being able to spend more time to devote to my side business, it likely will not allow me to escape. I am fueling my truck on waste vegetable oil which makes me feel a little better about the commute, but not much. Am I trapped?

Comment by Kate Clark on October 15, 2009 at 10:55pm

As a member of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Energy REsource Scarcity Peak Oil Task Force (whew!), I can tell you our report will include a pretty comprehensive energy use baseline.

Comment by Heather K on October 14, 2009 at 3:19pm

Hi All, Ok I've clicked to join yet another transition group.....
I have an idea. ... Some of the discussions on this group are so important that I'd like to see them being done on our forum/discussion page outside this 20-20 group box.... so that there is greater access to read & respond from the transition membership, without folks having to join another group...I would especially like to see a transportation thread started.

Comment by Keith Foecke on October 14, 2009 at 10:17am

Has anyone bench marked our carbon output? We need a baseline to determine our progress. Also I feel that our public transportation system needs to be beefed up considerably. Communities will have to be reorganized to be more pedestrian and bike friendly. Local government will be key in this initiative though grass roots changes will also have to be strong. I, would not even object to a steep gas tax to fund programs to support reduction in carbon emissions.

BTW, is there a meeting soon?

Comment by Kate Clark on October 8, 2009 at 10:20am

This is a thorny issue. We are so not set up for biking/walking in this community...plus the jobs problem. I hate having to have a job- I am not work-averse, just "job" averse. I'd rather be working on Transition stuff, instead of travelling to the job I was able to find to do work then travelling back and using my paycheck to pay for the gas to get back and forth. Its crazy. But I work 30 minutes away by car, which is over an hour each way (for me) by bike, and if I wanted to take the bus, even longer (two buses, with a long wait in between). I've sliced and diced it, and as my employer is not flexible about work hours, I feel so stuck.

Anyway, the best solution seems to be to find another job, in Bellingham- and they are few and far between these days. If you hear of one let me know.

Comment by Juliet Thompson on October 7, 2009 at 11:09pm

Hi Tristan,
Just chatting with Mark Huber, my husband and a member of Transition, who says that these trees won't be ready to go until spring. They need serious pruning to be viable fruit trees. They could be transplanted in October, then pruned when dormant this winter - so we're still discussing. Hope to donate 3 apple trees. It's still tentative for now.

Comment by Rob Olason on October 4, 2009 at 1:48pm

This is an intriguing and challenging goal, a sort of pre-power-down power-down. Tristan, do you have any outline as to how we as individuals or as a community could begin inching toward that goal? What steps need to take place for an 80% carbon reduction?

Comment by David Waugh on October 1, 2009 at 12:21am

I always have ideas for things that can be done. Maybe if we got a few more people together we could come up with an ambitious, but possible and practical project to get started on. Are you going to the potluck on Sunday?

Comment by David Waugh on September 29, 2009 at 6:36pm

This is great, and at least what the entire world should be shooting for as a common goal... It will take a lot of changes, but is entirely possible and practical (in my view...).

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