Transition Catskills is hosting a pair of public screenings of ‘In Transition 1.0’, a documentary about the worldwide Transition movement. The screenings will be accompanied by a discussion both of what’s in the film, and what are some of the things we might do in our own region.
The worldwide Transition movement is a flexible, community-led process where people work together to move toward a lower-energy future while maintaining a high quality of life. Transition began in 2006 in Totnes, England as a grassroots response to the big challenges of our time: energy resource depletion, environmental degradation, and economic uncertainty. The goal is to build community self-reliance and resilience, which is the ability to respond and adapt to unexpected economic and environmental changes. There are currently over 1,100 official Transition initiatives in 43 countries, and a thousand more “mulling” groups are just getting started.
Transition is not an ideology. It is a replicable, flexible methodology that empowers communities to work toward the future they want. Each Transition group is different from every other because each community focuses on its unique needs. Transition builds on the wisdom of the past and harnesses the creativity of the local citizenry to envision the future. It thrives because it enables and supports people to do what they are passionate about, what they feel called to do.
‘In Transition 1.0’, directed by Emma Goude, is the first detailed film about the Transition movement– filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. The Transition movement is about communities around the world responding to peak oil, climate change, and economic decline with creativity, imagination and humor as they set about rebuilding their local economies and communities. It is positive, solutions focused, viral and fun.
In the film you’ll see stories of communities creating their own local currencies, setting up their own pubs, planting trees, growing food, celebrating localness, caring, sharing. You’ll see neighbors sharing their land with neighbors that have none, local authorities getting behind their local Transition initiatives, schoolchildren making news in 2030, and you’ll get a sense of the scale of this emerging movement.
‘In Transition 1.0’ is a story of hope, and it is a call to action, and we think you will like it very much. It is also quite funny in places.
Whatever one’s political beliefs, building a closer and more self-reliant community is a cause everyone can rally around.
Transition Catskills is just beginning to brainstorm some ideas about how to become more self-reliant in our local food, energy and transportation systems and is seeking the involvement of and input from members of our community who believe that responsible use of resources and stewardship of the environment will lead to positive, permanent economic development.
This is an opportunity to learn more about what we are trying to do, and to voice your own thoughts on how to develop a more resilient local economy and an enlivened sense of connection and community.
We make no claim to have all the answers, but by building on the wisdom of the past and accessing the pool of ingenuity, skills and determination in our communities, the solutions can readily emerge. Now is the time for us to take stock and start re-creating our future.
Admission is free, and refreshments will be served!
Come join us on:
Wednesday, July 23 ~ 7pm at the Open Eye Theater, 960 Main Street, Margaretville
or
Saturday, July 26 ~ 4pm at the Roxbury Arts Center, 5025 Vega Mountain Road, Roxbury
Supported by:
