Two London meetings in December emphasising community resilience

TTT members took part in two recent London meetings:
London Transition Groups Gathering

On Dec 1^st, 100 participants from over 25 London Transition groups - and beyond - met at City Hall, by Tower Bridge on the Thames.

As well as meeting new people and following up links and ideas, we heard quick updates from 4 speakers:  on the London Low Carbon Communities Network, from two of London’s funded Low Carbon Zones, and from the founder of Project Dirt. All these talks mixed humour, honesty about mistakes and celebration of successes with encouragement for the rest of us in our diverse community projects.

The main part of the evening was led by Rob Hopkins, who founded the Transition Movement seven years ago. His new book ‘The Transition Companion’ has just been launched: developed over 2 years of listening to and collecting stories about many Transition groups. (Yes, there is a lot in the book about Transition Tooting…have a look!).
 
Rob facilitated the ‘audience’ to participate by exploring a new

Transition tool – a set of cards illustrating the 40-plus ‘Ingredients of Transition’ which groups are using to support their projects and communities – and which he describes in the new book.

Photo: Rob looks on as TTT's ingedients are mapped by many hands using the picture cards

City University Food Symposium
On December 13^th, City University hosted its second Food Symposium, bringing together over 150 people from community and consumer groups, farmers and food producers, wholesalers and retail chains, unions, universities, the NHS, local authorities, and the government.
The overall topic was the direction, roles and challenges facing UK food policy - influenced of course by change across the globe.
The day was convened by Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University, who has supported several Transition Tooting events and lives locally.

After a morning of talks from a wide range of experts, the group divided into three (‘Civil Society’; the ‘Food Supply Chain’; the ‘State’) and addressed these questions: “what are the current challenges facing the UK food system from your perspective?”, and “what can be done about those challenges, and who will do it?”

Footfall on our High Streets (plus some webbed feet too.....)

It's a fact: a local economy needs to take account of Peak Oil and Climate Change. We cannot 'grow' our economy without recognising we live on a finite planet. Our fiscal 'crisis' is tagged to these two reality-checked 'barriers to growth.'  How exciting to see the new government Mary Portas report on bringing life back onto our High Streets talk of community well-being and sustainability  -  though she explains it in terms of building social and cultural capital to build economic capital - bringing human footfall back onto our High Streets to create vibrant centres.

To join the dots between what Transition's been exploring for 4 years and what Portas herself is saying,  do look at this recent Transition Culture blog by  Rob Hopkins. 'Another world is not only possible..she's opening a bakery around the corner'.

Festive Making & Social II

An interesting evening learning new craft ideas and chatting was had by all on Tuesday evening. Wreath making from Community Garden unwanted ivy (great idea Maddie) and wrapping paper printed from polystyrene sheets (thanks Gillian) were particular hits alongside Mal's poms-poms! Is Hilary still knitting that pink thing? What will it be?

Festive Making & Social

Tuesday sees the return of the TTT Festive Making & Social event which last year saw many of you unleash your creative skills making greeting cards, wallets from juice cartons, paper and even mincemeat!

This year, we have a plethora of talented creative types taking part with decorative pom-poms, origami and recycling of unwanted gifts already on the agenda.

Why not come along on the 6th December and get involved? Perhaps you would like to teach others a new skill or simply join in and learn something new yourself? Or both!

Things You Might Bring:

• An unwanted gift to swap
• Colourful wool for pom-poms
• Any old wrapping paper, junk mail or magazines to recycle into something artistic

It's suitable for all the family. There will be a (non-alcoholic) fruit punch and something to eat, but do bring any food you can to share. The event runs from 6pm till 9pm at Mushkil Aasaan 222 Upper Tooting Rd