Tony Juniper

I am most pleased to announce that on Wednesday 20 January, at 6pm UK/1pm EST, I will be hosting campaigner, writer, sustainability adviser and one of the UK’s best known environmentalists, Tony Juniper, on the special 1st anniversary edition of my radio show, my radio show Lynn Serafinn’s Garden of the Soul

A dynamic and inspiring speaker, and often referred to as an “Eco Hero”, Tony has worked for the last 25 years for change toward a more sustainable society at local, national and international levels. Amongst his almost endless list of personal and professional experiences, he has served as Vice-Chair of Friends of the Earth International, and is currently Special Adviser to the Prince of Wales Rainforests Project, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic’s new Green Magazine supplement, and is the Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge, England.

On this very special anniversary edition, Tony and I will discuss his thesis of “Harmony” as taken from the upcoming book of the same name he is currently writing with Prince Charles and Ian Skelly, and is scheduled for publication by Harper Collins in autumn 2010. Tony will tell us about the present state of environmentalism, what we’ve achieved and not achieved, and what’s next for humanity at this time in history, and explain how the solutions to the ecological and economic problems we now face at a planetary level are not due so much to our political, technological or corporate systems, but rather to the fundamental fact that we as a culture have become disconnected from the Earth, and are illiterate as to how nature works and how we as humans fit into the natural order on a cosmological and spiritual level.

On the air, Tony will offer us some easy, joyful and practical ways to re-engage and reconnect with our planet and re-establish the true, holistic harmony that is meant to sing within every human soul.

You absolutely will NOT want to miss this most important and truly inspiring show.

Listeners can listen LIVE or “on demand” any time at http://ow.ly/UvBM

Another upcoming guest of interest to Transition Town followers and other “green” folks is Dr Leo Sharashkin, translator/editor of the “Ringing Cedars” (aka Anastasia)  book  series that is creating a wide-spread “return to the Earth” movement in Europe. That show is coming Wednesday 24 February.

To be sure you don’t miss either of these broadcasts, subscribe to the show either via iTunes, or mark it as a favourite on Blog Talk Radio.

Just look for “Lynn Serafinn’s Garden of the Soul”
http://blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn

GWC was started in May 2008 as a means to support local holistic wellness businesses, and to provide a forum where people can join together to learn about each others’ values and beliefs, and form friendships and partnerships. The focus from the onset has been to build an inclusive, holistically-minded community and to provide information to the public about health, environment, and overall wellbeing of mind, body, spirit, society and world.

Now 18 months old, the Global Wellness Circle is going through some exciting changes.  Originally a small business, GWC are now in the process of applying for CIC status (Community Interest Company/Social Enterprise), and the Bedford chapter have established a firm link to our Transition Bedford initiative. That means, whereas GWC used to have a policy of drawing only from its paid membership for its speaker rota, they now are inviting (and encouraging) volunteer speakers from Transition Bedford OR other Transition Towns to speak as a representative of their initiative and the Transition Town movement in general, to share whatever valuable skills or information they have with the group.*

GWC have active chapters in Bedford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge and Hemel Hempstead, and should be getting Northampton and Dunstable up and running by February 2010. They welcome anyone and everyone to attend their events (membership is NOT required to attend), and hope that with the addition of Transition Town members, they will become an even more vibrant and exciting group, working together for a better future.

To see the kind of events GWC help to promote, check out their November 2009 events listings at http://www.global-wellness-circle.com/events/events_listings/2009/GWC_events_1109.html The listings include a wide range of events such as GWC evenings, local workshops, training, speakers, community events, exhibitions, radio shows, parties and more, all in the central UK area. All events focus on health, wellbeing and natural lifestyle, and include activities for children, families and adults.

For more information about GWC, or to enquire about becoming a speaker, kindly contact Lynn at lynn@global-wellness-circle.com. You are also invited to subscribe to the GWC mailing list at http://www.global-wellness-circle.com, so you can receive both their events listings and their newsletter, “All is Well”, every month.

Wishing you WELL,
Lynn Serafinn
Founder, Global Wellness Circle
Chair, Transition Bedford

* If you are a member of a Transition Town group and would like to speak at a GWC meeting, it is expected that you will come as a representative of your TT initiative, as opposed to representing your private business. If you do wish to promote your private enterprise (e.g., a green or holistic business you own), you are most welcome to consider becoming a practitioner member of GWC.

Dear Quaker Meeting House hirers and friends,

I would like to invite you to a public meeting organised by Bedford Quakers entitled “Climate Change, Copenhagen and Us”, at the Harpur Suite, Bedford on November 20th at 7.15 pm. Please see attachment with details of the event and the supporting organisations to date (TTBedford admin note: sorry, this attachment did not come with the email we received). We are delighted that Tony Juniper, a leading environmentalist, and Patrick Hall MP are our main speakers.

Please circulate notice of this meeting widely if possible.  If you would like to use our printed posters and/or fliers, reply to us ASAP and we can arrange a convenient collection point.

We would like to retain email addresses for communication purposes until a week after the Copenhagen Summit . If you prefer otherwise please tell us.

With your permission, we would also like to share your email address with the supporting organizations listed above who may wish to contact you regarding similar events. If you are happy for us to do so, please let us know.

Please reply to bedfordquakerevents@googlemail.com

Why is this important?
After 30+ years of uncertainty, reputable scientists and world leaders now agree that man-made Climate Change is a proven fact. The World Health Organisation claims that annually 150,000 people in the poorest countries die because of it. Increasingly lavish use of fossil fuel energy and heat is the cause. Man-made climate change can be prevented from getting worse, but it requires big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions world-wide in the next ten years, and even bigger changes before 2050. How is this to be done?

The UK government has led the way with a Climate Change Act which promises to cut UK emissions by 80 % by 2050. Other countries need to agree similar promises at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.  Sceptics argue that the speed of change in history is slow and the changes required are unlikely to be made before 2050. But hope replies, “Consider the many unforeseen changes that have successfully occurred in our lifetimes.”   Concerned people throughout the country, of all political parties and faiths, are beginning to rally to the challenge.  It is hoped that this public meeting will gather a wide range of groups together.

Many thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Heather Mitchell
Lettings Officer
Bedford Quaker Meeting
November 2nd 2009

( Buses run from Bedford bus st and will drop off outside on request, train also from St Johns into Stewartby). Please wear outdoor clothing and bring a packed lunch. Booking is essential and you must be over 18, for further information please contact Ruth Brockett Education and Community Officer on 01234 768542 or email ruth.brockett@wildlifebcnp.org. We look forward to seeing you.

So the question arises.   Did Bedford deserve its Age of Stupid award?   Why not see the film and make up your own mind?   The film will be showing as part of a double bill with the controversial film “The Great Global Warming Swindle” at the Bedford Film Society on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November at Bedford High School Sports and Performing Arts Complex, Bromham Road, Bedford,   MK40 2BS.  Shows start at 7.30 PM and non-members can attend as a guest for a cost of £3 at the door.

For the alternative view, there is an article on the Bedford Today Website, dated 8th June 2007, which makes the case against the wind farm.   The article was entitled: Protestors welcome wind farm report.

Richard Gillard

And here is the paradox: that feeling of vulnerability is one of the things that make us tolerate all these sociological changes, even if we intuitively know these changes are ultimately making us feel more and disconnected, and ultimately more vulnerable.

Amidst the storm of these external changes, there are many internal whirlwinds as well. We frequently find ourselves inundated by media messages that paint a negative portrait about our world and our future, driving our anxieties even more deeply into our minds, bodies and emotions. Media advertisements also frequently deliver us pictures of idealised forms of beauty, happiness or success which are unattainable and unnatural, causing many people to feel small and inadequate. The modern communication systems of our “information age” are sending us data at an alarming rate (just watch the flurry of constant status updates on the online social networks and you’ll know what I mean), and we find it sometimes difficult to prioritise our time and activities. And finally, our traditional gender roles and models of familial relationships are also in a state of flux, leaving many people confused as to who they are in their relationships, what they want from them, and why they want it.

Clearly, we are in a state of global change, both inside and out.

The good news is this: our minds and bodies are designed to respond to change. Our “evolution” is occurring at every moment in the form of us learning how to adapt, whether consciously or not, to new information and environmental circumstances. Just as a healthy body will develop immunities to illnesses by developing anti-bodies, our minds, hearts and societies also respond to change by developing “antibodies” in the form of new neural pathways in the brain, new emotional responses and new social structures.

But there is a catch. When change is continually coming at us from every angle, and our minds, hearts, bodies and culture are being asked to respond to too much, too quickly, the result is that we can go into overload, both individually and as a culture. Just as your PC will crash when you try to process too many applications at one time, the human brain can also go into “meltdown” when faced with too much new information, uncertainty or change coming at it all at once. That meltdown can manifest in the form of stress and feelings of overwhelm. Over time it can adversely affect both our emotional and physical wellbeing. It is small wonder that stress and stress-related illnesses and conditions are on the rise. When intense, widespread change is occurring at a societal (or indeed a global) level, society itself can also experience meltdown. What does a social meltdown look like? It looks exactly like what we are seeing in the world today— instability, anxiety and confusion at an environmental, economic and cultural level.

In short, we as a culture are going through an “identity crisis”.

But that’s not really “bad news”. I frequently joke that I am a big fan of “mid-life crises” because I know that every one I have had (there have been about 3 at last count) has brought me to a better place, and a deeper understanding of both myself and the world. To me, it feels as though our technological culture is going through a mid-life crisis (or maybe it’s only an adolescent reaction!) because, in spite of our societal identity crisis—or perhaps more likely because of it—we are currently seeing more and more people moving away from old ways of thinking, and shifting towards a more holistic and spiritual approach to life, embracing the values of personal growth and self-awareness. Curiosity about the mind-body-spirit connection is more alive than ever, and is no longer just in the domain of non-mainstream or “alternative” culture. Scientists, businesses and people in all walks of professional life are turning towards a new way of thinking. Some call it new thought, new science, positive thinking, conscious evolution, alternative lifestyle, quantum brain, holistic wellbeing, and so many other descriptors. Many people talk about the “Shift”, “Ascension 2012”, the “Great Turning” and many other terms to describe the underlying transformation we intuitively sense happening, both as individuals and as a society. Somehow we know we are on the threshold of moving from one paradigm of thinking and living to another. But although there are many theories, prophecies and beliefs, it is clear that none of us can say with absolute certainty what that new paradigm will look like.

Clearly, both we and the world at large at the dawn of the 21^st century are “in transition”.

Transition brings change, and change brings regeneration—a chance for new beginnings. And while the prospect of change can be exciting, and even thrilling, stepping into the process of change can also be daunting for many, if not most, people. Change brings uncertainty, and many of us prefer to stick with the familiar rather than be asked to face our fears of the unknown, even if that unknown territory has the possibility of bringing us greater joy. It is this “better the hell you know than the one you don’t” anxiety that can keep many of us stuck in one place. But it is my personal belief that learning how to deal with change, and stepping into our own “inner transition” is quite possibly the most important—and socially responsible—thing we can do not only for ourselves and our families, but also for the rest of the world.

That may sound like a big statement to make, but I’d like you to try it on for size. Let’s do a little visualisation.

Imagine you are about to step into an unknown journey called the “inner transition”. To do this, you are being asked to step into a transporter similar to the one you have seen on TV/films aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. As you step into the transporter, what do you feel? You probably feel a bit of apprehension about the fact that every molecule in your body is going to be taken apart, shaken up, and spat out somewhere into the Universe. And what is going to happen at the other end? Or will you even make it to the other side? Scary? Of course it is. But if you have ever watched Star Trek or other sci-fi classics, you know that their allure lies in the heart-pumping thrill of moving from the fear of the unknown, to going “boldly where no man has gone before.” Even if the thought of being disintegrated and then reintegrated at an unknown destination is terrifying, it’s also actually exciting.

Now imagine that you are stepping into that transporter, allowing yourself to feel whatever fear you might have, knowing that this particular transporter is not simply going to drop you onto another planet and let you deal with whatever monsters you might find there, but that it will transform you into a wise, reflective, fulfilled human being who is able to see yourself with clarity and to feel deeply connected to the rest of the Universe. What would that be like? Yes, you might still be afraid, but wouldn’t that be a thrilling and beautiful journey to make? And what if at the other end of that journey, you found you were not only able to face your fears and stand powerfully amidst the changes of your current and future life, but you were also able to discover your life’s calling, know the impact you have in the world, and claim a lasting legacy that says “I was here”? What would that be like?

This is the journey of Personal Transformation. And our “inner transition” is the transporter on that takes us on that journey.

In my more than half a century on the planet, I have gone through so many transitions and personal transformations that I truly understand their importance and embrace their presence in my life. In my work as a coach and workshop leader I meet so many people ready to make the journey, but who are understandably fearful and confused as to how to go about it. Because I know that too much information can cause information meltdown, I like to make the idea of transformation less daunting by breaking the process down into three stages:

1. Weeding
2. Seeding
3. Feeding

Basically, the “weeding” stage is where we examine and shift the old ways of thinking and behaving that no longer serve us and limit our joy. These might include self-sabotaging beliefs or habits, unconscious stories and rules we have made up about how we are supposed to live and behave, and fears and other emotions that have not been fully voiced. Once these are understood and shifted, it makes room for the next stage of our transformation, the “seeding” stage.

“Seeding” means to discover all the things that will allow the transformation to take place, such as our core values, our life purpose, and our greater impact on the world. It is also the stage where we take on the responsibility and glory of becoming the hero of our own life, in service of our life purpose.

The final stage is “Feeding”, where we master a range of strategies to keep us on the path of our life purpose, even when life throws us a wall of change and upheaval. This is what those of us in the Transition Town movement* call “resilience”. Understanding ourselves and knowing our purpose are essential, but mastery of our inner resilience is what will help us to regain our balance when we feel knocked out of orbit.

Taken together, the three stages of “weed, seed and feed” allow us to move from feeling stuck, overwhelmed and powerless, to feeling valuable, passionate and capable of facing whatever comes our way. Ask yourself now, where are you on your Transformation journey? What stage are you currently working through? Or perhaps, you are at different stages in different areas of your life. It is important that you reflect upon this, so you can understand where you are in the process of change, and how you are currently dealing with it.

It is my personal opinion that it is vital to the future of our planet that each of us embarks on this journey of Transformation in our lifetime, especially in these “transitional” times. The coming decade is going to require that we not only survive tremendous change, but that we actually create the change. You might be thinking, How can my life be vital to the future of the planet? I’m just one tiny cog in the big machine.

To that I would reply, “You are part of the Universe. You are not outside looking in, or inside looking out. You are connected both systemically and spiritually to the World and all who share it with you. Everything you do has an impact on the rest of the World, even if you do not see it clearly right now.”

Your life has a purpose. Your actions have an impact. Your life is essential to the rest of the world, just as the world is essential to your life. You have the power not only to withstand tremendous change, but also to use that change to create powerful solutions in the world around you. And what is wonderful, is that the more you master your own resilience, and learn how enjoy riding the waves of change, the more capable you are of holding the fears and resistance of others around you, and help them step into the transporter to take the journey of their own personal transformation.

And that’s when the REAL shift in the world happens. And that is also why taking ownership of your own inner transition is so important for the rest of the world at this time in history. And even if you do not fully believe this now, try to take it on faith as you begin your journey of transformation. Just as you stepped into the transporter, not knowing where you would end up, trust that the unrest that both you and the rest of the world may be feeling right now is actually a call to action—a call to step into your own inner transition, and to come out the other side transformed into a more wonderful state of being.

Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC
Transformation Coach and Author

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I would like to invite you to join me on 17 October on a journey of transformation…

I have made it my own life purpose to guide others through their own personal transformation, so as to help our planet make the great transition we are now facing at a global level. To do that, I have designed a very special workshop series called the “Transformation Trilogy”. Transformation takes time to process, so I have spread this series of 3 weekend workshops across 3 months:

• Series 1: Bedford, Bedfordshire on 17/18 Oct, 14/15 Nov and 12/13 Dec
• Series 2: Totnes, Devon on 7/8 Nov, 5/6 Dec and 9/10 Jan

The purpose of the Transformation Trilogy is to take you through the 3 stages of transformation at a personal level AND to empower you to help others proceed through their own inner transition. This is especially valuable if you are a member of a Transition Town work group, a social worker/reformer, teacher, coach, healer, manager or anyone who works with people and wishes to guide them to a higher state of understanding.

Bookings are being taken NOW. To eliminate all anxiety around money, I have devised a very special “Gratitude System” for payment, so as to enable everyone to attend who wishes to. To find out more about this very unique series that addresses the Inner Transition of self and society, and to book your place for a nominal registration fee of only £45, go to www.lynnserafinn.com/transformation-trilogy-2009.html

Let’s transform the world together!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* The Transition Town movement is a network of community initiatives that are addressing the issues of climate change and peak oil at a holistic level. The “inner transition”, including our connection to the Earth and each other, and the way we deal with change, is one of their primary focuses, as they embrace the understanding that no external changes can have a lasting effect within inner change underpinning them. For information about Transition Bedford, visit www.transitionbedford.org. For information about the greater Transition Network, and to find out if there is an initiative in your area, visit www.transitionnetwork.org

To illustrate Bedford’s intelligence and to increase public awareness on these important issues, Transition Bedford will be hosting a free viewing of the film “In Transition” at the Ent Shed on Castle Road, MK40 3QY, on Wednesday 9 Sept 2009 at 7.30pm. Special guest at the event will be Chris Keene, a member of the “Zero Carbon Caravan”, a troop that is currently cycling and sailing from Wales to the UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen.

BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE – 1 September 2009 – Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott thinks Bedford is “stupid.”

At least that is what he was quoted as having said in a recent article published by Business Green and The Evening Standard. According to the article, Mr Prescott said the planning committee in Bedford, whose wider borough is estimated to have a population of more than 150,000 people, should be given a “Stupid Award” (named after the recently released environmental film “The Age of Stupid”), calling the committee, “stupid nimbys” and saying “I hope they get upset about it.”

But a group of local Bedfordians, who are members of the recently formed initiative Transition Bedford, invite Mr Prescott to look a little bit deeper, beyond the surface of local planning committees, to see the real Bedford.

“And if he does,” says current Chair of Transition Bedford initiating group, Lynn Serafinn, “he would see an informed, passionate and proactive side to Bedford, where people are at the cutting edge on the issue of climate change.”

Transition Bedford is a part of the larger Transition Town Network, founded in 2006, which is now comprised of thousands of other towns, villages and urban neighbourhoods who are taking definitive, community driven, grass-roots action in response to climate change and the impending impact of peak oil upon our lifestyle. They describe themselves as a “social experiment on a massive scale” saying, “if we wait for the governments, it’ll be too little, too late; if we act as individuals, it’ll be too little; but if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.” Their ultimate aim is to move from oil dependency to a “low energy, highly vibrant and fulfilling future.”

“Although Transition Bedford is a newly formed initiative,” says Ms Serafinn, “Bedford has been acting on these issues for some time now. Over the past few years, local groups like Zero Carbon Castle (founded in 2006) have really raised awareness and made great changes in the area of local carbon emissions, and various local permaculture experts and food growers have helped residents understand how and why it is vital we know about growing and harvesting local food sources.”

Ms Serafinn, a Bedford-based life coach, personal development trainer and bestselling author, also speaks about what the Transition Network refers to as “the inner transition.”

“What is important to understand,” she explains, “is that no one is going to agree to make changes to their current lifestyle unless they have a compelling reason to do so. Feeding people scary statistics about climate change may motivate some, but it is more likely to turn off others and make them apathetic or perhaps even hopeless. And while government action is certainly very important, truly lasting social change cannot occur simply via planning initiatives. The most effective means to lasting, positive change is to raise public awareness and to help re-establish people’s emotional connection to the planet on which we live, so they will want to make the transition out of a genuine sense of desire and purpose, rather than from a feeling of panic and need. The issue of climate change is an opportunity for all of us to educate, re-skill and reconnect our communities, and create a more meaningful and harmonious world.”

When asked how she will personally be involved in Transition Bedford, Lynn says that her primary focus will be on the “inner” side of this initiative, dealing with people, beliefs and wellbeing. Many others in the network are experts in the “outer” transition, being highly skilled experts in skills such as developing new energy sources, transport, conservation, food production, permaculture and other key areas.

One such expert on the Transition Bedford panel is Shane Hughes of Carbon Accounting Systems, and one of the initiators of Zero Carbon Castle. About the current and future state of local awareness in Bedford Mr Hughes says, “One of the smartest things that the Bedford Borough Council is currently proposing is a renewable hydro-electric energy project, which, if successful, could benefit the town in diverse ways. It would not only create a massive carbon saving for the town, but it would also be of great educational value as an exemplar for people around the country to appreciate and imitate. But in addition to that, we hope to turn the project into a truly innovative investment fund in which people of the town can become share-holders, creating a flowing and renewable fund of money that can be re-invested in other zero-carbon energy projects. This is the kind of community-driven creativity that the Transition Town Network, and Transition Bedford, is all about.”

Mr Hughes continues, “Something I would like people to realise is that Transition Bedford will not just be looking at ways to become carbon-neutral. We will also looking at how our local economies can become more sound and self-reliant. A recent study done down in Totnes, Devon (the original Transition Town), has revealed that if we made the shift of ensuring that even a small percentage of our building materials for new housing projects came from local sources, millions of pounds would go into our local economies, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. Again, it is this kind of win-win scenario that Transition Bedford hopes to create here in the town of Bedford in every aspect of life.”

Ms Serafinn adds to this, “And the ultimate irony of Mr Prescott’s comment is that Shane’s Bedford-based company Carbon Accounting provided the makers of the film “The Age of Stupid” with their carbon auditing services. If you go to the bottom of their web page on their 14 March entry, you will see Shane’s company name right there. In fact, their whole media angle of the UK premier being a 1% carbon event is based upon Shane’s audit.

“So the bottom line is, people really should take the time to look a little deeper, and you’ll always find that there is more to any story—or to a town.”

Transition Bedford, whose official launch will be announced early in the New Year, will be working closely together with groups like Zero Carbon Castle, Sustainable Oakley, Goldington Golden Gardens, the Global Wellness Circle, Mile End Allotments and many others, as well as with Bedford College through their Education for Sustainable Development programme. The long-term goal will be to develop educational programmes, skills training and community projects that will not only raise public awareness, but will also help the town make the transition towards a more vibrant and self-reliant community in such areas of food and energy production, natural health, economy and environment.

Transition Bedford invite any and all members of the greater Bedford community, whether individuals, groups or businesses, to contact Shane Hughes at shane@carbon-accounting.com and get involved. You can also visit their blog at www.transitionbedford.wordpress.com.

To show just how “smart” Bedford is on the issue of climate change, Transition Bedford is hosting a viewing of the film “In Transition”, which is an uplifting rebuttal to the sense of hopelessness and helplessness many feel when they think about the challenges of climate change. The film offers a healthy dose of inspiration about what communities of people, just like the people in Transition Bedford, are doing all across the globe to make the transition towards a sustainable, resilient and vibrant society, to restore our balance and harmony with the Earth.

“In Transition” will be shown at the Ent Shed (next to the Gordon Arms) on Castle Road, MK40 3QY on 9 Sept 2009. Doors open at 730 PM, and discussions and drinks will follow at end of programme. While this programme is free and open to the public, donations will be gratefully accepted to help cover the cost of room hire.

In addition to the film, special guest at this event will be Chris Keene, a member of the “Zero Carbon Caravan”, a troop that is currently cycling and sailing from Wales to the UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen. Mr Keene says, “We are making our way to Copenhagen without using fossil fuel transportation. Along the route we’ll connect with local groups to establish an itinerary of ‘zero carbon conferences’ to build momentum for zero carbon awareness.” Bedford is one of those local groups.

That’s very smart of you, Bedford.

###

ARTICLE REFERENCES
Charlsworth, Andrew. 26 August 2009. “Prescott proposes stupidity awards for wind farm ‘nimbys’”. Accessed from Business Green website at http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2248512/prescott-proposes-stupidity

Evening Standard. 26 August 2009. ‘Prescott Slams “Nimby” Councils’ Accessed from Evening Standard website at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23736980-details/John+Prescott+slams+%27nimby%27+councils/article.do

TRANSITION BEDFORD CONTACT INFO:
Contact: Click here
Forum: http://groups.google.com/group/transition-bedford

TRANSITION TOWN NETWORK:
Web: http://www.transitionnetwork.org

FILM “IN TRANSITION”
Web: http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/film-in-transition-online-preview/

BEDFORD VIEWING OF “IN TRANSITION”
Web: http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/

FILM “THE AGE OF STUPID”
Web: http://www.ageofstupid.net/

SHANE HUGHES CONTACT INFO (Carbon Accounting)
Web: http://www.carbon-accounting.com

LYNN SERAFINN CONTACT INFO (AUTHOR, SPEAKER, TRAINING):
Web: http://www.lynnserafinn.com

LYNN SERAFINN COACHING AND TRAINING ENQUIRIES:
Web: http://www.create-a-life.co.uk

- END –

(09.09.09… a call to action)
Ent. Shed, Castle Rd (Next to Gordon Arms pub),
Bedford, MK40 3QY
doors open at 7.30pm

To download the FLYER for this event CLICK HERE
(please post it in your community)

DON’T LIVE IN OR NEAR BEDFORD?
This film “In Transition” is being shown in numerous Transition Towns throughout the world on 09.09.09. Visit www.transitionnetwork.org to locate the community nearest you.

About the film “In Transition”…
The issue of climate change can no longer be ignored. But with so much of our media portraying what lies ahead as a bleak, depressing “doomsday” filled with global chaos, it is all too easy for us to become overwhelmed, depressed and passive, at the very point in history the Earth needs us more than ever.

“In Transition” is an uplifting rebuttal to the sense of hopelessness and helplessness many feel when they think about the challenges of climate change. The film offers a healthy dose of inspiration about what communities of people just like you are doing all across the globe to make the transition towards a sustainable, resilient and vibrant society, to restore our balance and harmony with the Earth.

Discussions and drinks to follow at end of programme

Event is FREE and open to all, but we welcome your donations
to help cover the cost of the room hire. Thanks!

What is the “Transition Network”?
The challenges of climate change and peak oil demand local action on a truly planetary scale.
Residents, business people and politicians from across the globe are joining together in thousands of community groups, creating positive change and transforming their neighbourhoods, respecting local food, local crafts and history. Come and find out about some inspirational examples and help answer the most pressing question of our time.

Can Bedford make the transition to a
sustainable and vibrant community?

Invite your mum, call up your long lost friend, email your address book, send out the memo at work; we’re all meeting at the park for a bite to eat…. it’ll be great to meet you!! I’ll make sure i bring a little extra grub to share.

Sunday, 19th July – Russell Park, at 1pm on Sunday – Transition Bedford will be hosting our Big Lunch.  Come join us and find out about community action in your areas. You can go to the following link, locate the icon which is placed in Russel Park and register if your going to attend.

How Sharing Lunch Spreads the word on Sustainability

Local community members; directors, artists, gardeners, parents, activists, teachers etc….. have decided to spread the word on how to live a more green lifestyle by taking part in an Eden Project initiative called “The Big Lunch”. The plan is for as many people as possible across the UK to sit down to lunch with their friends and neighbours, on one day – Sunday, 19th July.

The emphasis being on local and preferably organic, home-produced food, this seemed like a good opportunity for the newly formed Transition Bedford to organise something. Zero Carbon Castle and other community groups are part of the newly-formed umbrella organisation called Transition Bedford, a group set up to support those community members who want to work together to respond to Climate Change and Peak Oil (literally the point at which world oil production peaks before permanently declining) by finding ways to live more sustainably and without such reliance on oil. “Food is an important way in which we can all lessen our Carbon Footprint,” said a Zero Carbon spokesperson. “More and more of us care about the quality of our food and this includes the quality, the miles it has travelled, the pesticides used, the packaging as well as how sustainably it is produced.

We hope that as many people as possible will rise to the challenge of bringing something locally- sourced – but if not, of bringing any food to share.” For those interested the lunch party will be in Russell Park, at 1pm on Sunday 19th July, in the grassy area behind the Eat Fish restaurant. For more info on that, other Transition Bedford activities or Transition Bedford go to http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/ To find out more about Zero Carbon Castle – http://zerocarboncastle.org/ Watch this short video to find out more about the Transition Network http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/about/ Or go to www.transitiontowns.org

"Transition Bedford?" event 22nd on June 2009

The Transition Bedford Steering Group Meeting will be on the 7th of July (i.e. next Tuesday) 7.30 to 9pm at the Bunyan Museum on Mill Street, Bedford Town Centre.

While this is a steering group meeting, all interested parties are invited. We plan to have a roundtable discussion dedicated to the steering group, plus a second open table discussing issues related to Transition Bedford (local response to climate change and peak oil). There will be ways in which the non-steering group members can feed into the steering group discussions and decision-making, creating an open and inclusive environment. Please, if you’ve indicated you’re interested in being in the steering group, your presence is essential. Momentum is a resource, don’t lose it!!

Evening’s agenda

Steering group meeting;
1. Report back and debrief from June 22nd “Transition Bedford?” event.
2. Action planning and review of decisions taken on the 22nd (for decisions made see below).
3. Definition of the steering group members functions and commitments, terms of reference etc

Open table discussions;
4. Proposals regarding decisions taken (+support/action people are willing to take)
5. Proposal regarding objectives of TB

If you have any items you’d like to add to this agenda please reply to this mail. In future we’ll have a formal process for setting the agenda.

Ana Rosales has kindly volunteered to write up the details given by attendees on the connection forms of the “Transition Bedford?” event. So a report will follow shortly. If you don’t want to receive the report or any further TB updates, please do reply to this email. Katherine Law, also kindly volunteered but Ana got their first. Just proves volunteering is a cut throat business and you’ve got to be quick off the mark

Below is some quick feedback from the previous event. Some of you will have received this already.

Feedback from June 22nd “Transition Bedford?” event

A big thank you to all those who brought food, put up posters and contributed your experience, your ideas and your time to the event on the 22nd.

There was no guarantee that Transition Bedford concept had a future Through the event we wanted to see if the TB seed would fall on fertile ground and so we set some goals to gauge if Bedford is fertile enough for this type of initiative. According to the goals below, the answer is a resounding YES!!!

Measurable goals;

1. The event delivers concrete ideas of our next steps and how we can work together to create a vibrant and sustainable Bedford.
- Over 20 suggested routes forward were given in the “where next” sessions. It was decided through “dot democracy” that the following routes forward should be prioritised;
*Events and activities to increase momentum
*Involve young people

Also receiving considerable support was;
*Spread the word (articles in village mags and local papers)
*Coordinated action with input from borough, college and schools etc
*Website to coordinate efforts / list contact names
*Re-skilling / skills bank

2. A steering group is formed to deliver some/all of these ideas.
- 15 people signed up to the steering group
- a further 5 or 6 people were interested but wanted to know the level of commitment needed. ( it’s important that these people attend the Steering group discussion to define what commitment they think should be required)

3. A second date is agreed upon for a follow up/maintain momentum.
- Booked in for Tue 7th of July, 7.30pm, Bunyan Museum – Ampthill room. all are invited especially steering group(SG)
Format -  Split into two groups; SG and non SG. The SG Involves those willing to put in time and action. Non SG are those people who don’t have time/don’t want to put in action, just ideas.
The SG and non SG reviews and discusses how to deliver the “concrete ideas” listed above in item 2. This gives non SG an opportunity to add ideas and influence SG. The groups then splits as the SG puts together action plan.  Non SG may discuss further and feedback at end or network.

4. Emails address are collected of people who would like to be added to this email list
-28 emails collected to add to list. If traffic increases you may want to change your settings so that you only receive a email digest. Go to googlegroups>my groups>transition- bedford>edit my mebmbership. This “edit my membership” tab can be found on the right hand side of the control panel.

5. A report is written up and sent to attendees that supports groups/ orgs working together
-will be done soon as possible, we have a volunteer doing the data entry from the connection forms

6. 30 – 60 people attend, with a high percentage of “key contributors”
-well attended (I’ve had counts from 65 to 75 people)

Not so measurable goals;

7. Good opportunities for networking, connections are made and cross pollination between individuals and community, religious, political, charity, resident and affinity groups.
-as well as connection on the day, 38 “connection forms” were completed with a  wealth of information that will help connect residents and groups.
- 31 people said they’d like to be part of a community group in their area, with some multiples in places like Goldington, Newnham, Carlton, Presidents, Cualdwell etc

8. Some people are motivated to start a new group or move forward an existing group.
-we’ll find out soon enough.

9. Start down the route of creating an Energy Decent Action Plan
(EDAP) for Bedford and parishes
- Some of Bedford’s most important “green” minds contributed to a first “community mapping” and creating vision of Bedford in 2030
- 32 people indicated areas that they’re active in (such as food, education, arts etc) this information will help develop core groups from across Bedford that can work on different sections of the EDAP
- map will be placed in public places, perhaps with further interaction.

Momentum is a resource. don’t lose it!!!