Transition Island Blog

I found a wonderful idea that brings the global problems home to each of us.   

Climate Change seems almost to be a global Act of God - a natural event, not preventable by any human action - even though we know we have caused some global warming and have in place the Kyoto Agreement, etc.

Peak Oil describes the oil-based lifestyle as addictive - this idea goes beyond that. It’s more like we’ve all caught a psychiatric illness.

(more…)

The Conference is a great success! Well-designed, well-attended and well-addressed by relevant speakers.

Organised by the Island Strategic Partnership (ISP) to launch the Eco-Isle Vision, their many speakers repeatedly brought the message home - we WILL get there.

journey planning

Setting the scene were David Pugh, speaking as leader of the Isle of Wight Council, and John Owen, Chair of the ISP. They reminded us that we have to commit to our destination before we plan the journey. And what an ambitious destination!

(more…)

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, has begun a rapid tour of Asian capitals to help break the deadlock over climate change.

[read more from the BBC]

He says it is ‘urgent‘ that action is taken to cut global carbon emissions by 50 per cent.

It would be easy to be cynical about his one-man mission to save the planet…

(more…)

Between   8pm-9pm on 29 March, millions of people around the world will take part in Earth Hour 2008

This is a WWF initiative asking people to turn their lights off for one hour.

It started with a question:
how could WWF inspire people to take action on climate change?

  (more…)

Civilisation aims to protect us from the extremes of nature through a system of cooperation, mostly invisible (taken for granted) these days. Research indicates that the more ‘civilised’ we are, the less worried we are.

Civilisation is designed to reduce our need to worry about our environment.
We can worry about entertainment rather than food.
We can concern ourselves with philosophy instead of shelter.

warnings ignored

“For decades, scientists in the US had pointed out that New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen.

The city lies in an area that is prone to annual hurricanes, half the city is below sea level, and a force 5 hurricane was bound to hit the city, so drastic measures had to be implemented immediately to avoid disaster.

(more…)

Food security and the rapid rise in food prices are the urgent issue that politicians must face up to quickly.

Global grain stores are currently at the lowest levels ever, just 40 days from running out.

Famine will get us before climate change.

(more…)

Reports in the County Press, the Isle of Wight’s independent newspaper, show the effect of just one storm.

Thousands lost electricity supply, a flood arrived in the capital town Newport, a tanker ship ran aground and the ferries were battered into paralysis.

(more…)

U.S. investors have filed a record 54 shareholder resolutions, asking companies act to reduce risks of climate change on the bottom line.

The number of resolutions was nearly double the amount filed in 2006.

Investors clearly feel that companies in every industry, especially energy sectors, should be acting now to assess and reduce climate change risks.

Shareholder resolutions on climate are most often voted down. But they do raise awareness of potential business impacts of emissions of gases scientists blame for warming the planet.

Fourteen of the 54 resolutions were withdrawn by investors after the companies agreed to disclose potential impacts from emerging climate regulations and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

(more…)

The UK’s first Energy Saving Day achieved no noticeable decrease in UK electricity use.

E-Day asked people to switch off electrical appliances they did not need over a period of 24 hours, with the National Grid monitoring consumption. It found that electricity usage was almost exactly what would have been expected without E-Day.

Colder weather than forecast in some regions may have led to higher use of heating, masking any small savings.

The event also received very little publicity, despite having backing from campaign groups such as Greenpeace, Christian Aid and the RSPB, and from major energy companies such as EDF, E.On and Scottish Power.

(more…)

Empty shelves in Caracas. Food riots in West Bengal and Mexico.

Warnings of hunger in Jamaica, Nepal, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa.

Soaring prices for basic foods are beginning to lead to political instability, with governments being forced to step in to artificially control the cost of bread, maize, rice and dairy products.

Record world prices for most staple foods have led to 18% food price inflation in China, 13% in Indonesia and Pakistan, and 10% or more in Latin America, Russia and India, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

Wheat has doubled in price, maize is nearly 50% higher than a year ago and rice is 20% more expensive, says the UN.

These are caused by climate change and peak oil. Read more at the Guardian .

(more…)