When I first got into green issues I read somewhere that the Chinese have a word that means both “crisis” and “opportunity”. I found this empowering then – and even more so now – more than 20 years on.
Below is my latest encapsulation of the crisis/opportunity we face;
How to move mindfully from our present state of unsustainable affluence
To new patterns of consumption based on self-restraint and seasonal abundance achieved through ecological design of settlements/landscapes and the rebuilding of local communities..
Thereby avoiding ecosystem and societal collapse
Permaculturists focus on the middle bit: the nuts and bolts of positive change (we talka lot about “toolkits”). As designers used to being on the edge we are now being assisted by the Transition Movement which addresses all three bits particularly the psychological issues facing us as the true nature of the crisis sinks in. Personally I feel empowered by the heart and soul work of the Transitioners: it’s important to me as well as to the folk I work with.
In Tarbert we are also benefiting from the Big Green Challenge, having reached the second stage of a prize fund set up by a UK agency called NESTA. We are one of 100 communities across the UK spending the next couple of months designing an action plan to reduce our carbon footprint by up to 60 per cent.
I was in two minds about entering as I’m not into competitions but in the end went for it. Those who have got through to this stage are getting support to develop their ideas further so it will have been worth it even if they don’t get any further, but the 250 groups who didn’t succeed are likely to feel let down. Hopefully they will consider joining the growing Transition Movement which could provide the necessary umbrella to work up their schemes further.
I’d like to end with a summary of the three steps outlined above: with an extra step added for good measure!
From affluence to individual mindful awakening to local resilience to world mindfulness
