The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience - Softcover

Rob Hopkins

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1900322188 ISBN 13: 9781900322188

Publisher: Green Books (UK), 2008

Synopsis

Move from feeling anxious about the oil crisis to developing a positive visions and taking traction action to create a more self-reliant existence with this ground-breaking book.

We live in an oil-dependent world, and have become reliant in a very short space of time, using vast reserves of oil in the process – and without planning for when the supply is not so plentiful. Most of us avoid thinking about what happens when the oil runs out (or becomes prohibitively expensive), but the reality may not be as bad as we think.

The Transition Handbook shows how the inevitable and profound changes ahead could have a positive effect. Written by permaculture expert Rob Hopkins, he discusses the possibility of a rebirth of local communities, which will generate their own fuel, food and housing. These will encourage the development of local currencies, to keep money in the local area, and unleash a local 'skilling-up', so that people have more control over their lives.

The growth in interest in the Transition model continues to be exponential. There are now more than 35 formal Transition Initiatives in the UK, including towns, cities, islands, villages and peninsulas, with more joining as the idea takes off. With little proactivity at government level, communities are taking matters into their own hands and acting locally. If your community has not yet become a Transition Initiative, this upbeat guide, filled with beautiful black and white photographs, offers you the tools to get started.

The Transition Handbook is the perfect manual to guide communities, as they begin this 'energy descent' journey.

About this title

About the Author

Rob Hopkins has long been aware of the implications of our oil dependent status, and has been energetically campaigning to increase awareness of its impact. Having successfully created an Energy Descent Plan for Kinsale in Ireland which was later adopted as policy by the town council, Rob moved to Totnes in Devon and initiated the Transition Network, which now networks over 450 communities around the world:

From the Back Cover

The Transition Handbook is a ground-breaking book which shows how we can move from feeling anxiety and fear in the face of `peak oil', to developing a positive vision and taking practical action to create a more self-reliant existence.
We live in an oil-dependent world, and have got to this level of dependency in a very short space of time, using vast reserves of oil in the process - without thinking ahead to plan for when the supply is not so plentiful. Most of us avoid thinking about what happens when oil runs out (or becomes prohibitively expensive), but The Transition Handbook shows how the inevitable and profound changes ahead can have a positive outcome. These changes can lead to the rebirth of local communities, which will grow more of their own food, generate their own power, and build their own houses using local materials. They can also encourage the development of local currencies, keeping money in the local area.
There are now over 35 formal Transition Initiatives in the UK, including towns, cities, islands, villages and peninsulas, with over 500 globally at the earlier stages of launching this process. The growth in interest in the Transition model continues to be exponential. With little proactivity at government level, communities are taking matters into their own hands and acting locally. Within peak oil and climate change is the potential for the greatest economic, social and cultural renaissance we have ever seen. And it's fun. In his Foreword, Richard Heinberg describes the Transition approach as being `more like a party than a protest march'. If your community has not yet become a Transition Initiative, this upbeat guide offers you the tools to get started.

Edition details

• Publisher: Green Books (UK)
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1900322188
• ISBN 13: 9781900322188
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240