This leads me to suggest that we should think about recording/filming Bedford’s transition journey. Anyone?

I’ve never believed that the “shift” or the “great transformation” would be some divine esoteric shift bestowed upon us. It has to be one created by the collective act of millions, if not billions, that makes us feel connected, empowered, unstoppable and irresistible. Again, the shift isn’t that one day we’ll go to bed in a exploitative and destructive world and wake the next morning in Utopia. The other side of the shift is our very same society BUT it has the foundations of a sustainable and just society/planet and that there will still be lots of work to do but a step change will have been achieved. And not too soon!!! Can you feel it? Nearly there!!!!! Work harder, dedicate more time, be more obsessed about the area you’re working to change, now is the time for oober dedication!! Just out of interest i predict 3 shift changes. The chasm is too large to jump all in one. Something like 2012 for the first shift, 2017 for the second and the final one in the early to mid 2020′s. This three shift idea is largely based on my understanding of Carbon Accounting and how business, communities and organisations could reduce their emissions to zero or near zero negative climate changing emissions. Structurally they’d need several major shifts as the task is too big to complete in one go. You kind of have to make the leap and shift your systems but then wait for all the systems that you are connected to to catch up before you can make another shift. Its perhaps more like a shuffle than a shift. The globe, in my understanding, will go through a similar shuffle over the next 15 to 20 years. It’s going to be a roller coaster.

I put a question to each of the mayoral candidates via the Times & Citizen;  “I see a Local Authority’s approach to renewables as a kind of litmus test to just how seriously you take the issue of climate change, i’m not particularly interested in opinions on climate change, i’d like to know what specific policies you intend to implement to increase renewables in the area?” The Times & Citzen published a written edit of the response in last Thursdays edition. My initial response was one of dismay at how many of the answers seemingly missed the point. However, some of the content is lost in translation which is largely an issue of editing. I’ve since watched the video responses online. I urge you to take a look. The candidates mostly promise significant action. This article is a request that we hold to account who ever gets in.

Due to my personal ideals I’ve never voted in a my life, be it Local Authority of National Government. However, given that we have less than 90 months left before our global atmospheric emissions cross the 450ppm mark, which is widely agreed as being a tipping point, i may put my ideals aside. This next political term needs to be very decisive for Bedford, the nation and the world. Little do most politicians understand the full extent of the challenges and opportunities that will face us in the next four years. No space for floundering, little need for words, it’s action, vision and creativity that is our only true friend.

It’d be interesting to find other video clips that hold a story of unyeilding positivity that’s not told through dreams or fantasies but through real life inspirations.

The tables have flipped, can you feel it? Probably not, it’s not portrayed in the media, nor in our political circles, it’s difficult to see at all in or every day lives but now, today and for the first time the status quo is on the back foot. Those supporting it’s continuation now make up the resistance movement. No longer is the great challenge to change the world, a far greater challenge is resisting the tide of change.

Every hole dug with a shovel, every seemingly boring community meeting, every humble local project started, every personal  commitment made……..we have to gain a sense of it’s place in a sea of diversity of small changes across the globe that are building a new and nourished world, one dig of the shovel at a time.

The Powerdown Show – Transition Towns and Energy Descent Pathways from Rob Carr on Vimeo.