Transition Island Blog

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…)

Market prices for wheat have doubled in the last year. Market speculation is partly to blame.

Spreading fears of a recession make food commodities seem a safe bet because they will always be needed. But when they are needed most, this speculation makes them most expensive.

Global stocks of wheat have fallen to their lowest point in thirty years because of poor harvests caused by drought or flooding, population growth and increased wealth in developing countries and to ensure food supplies, rising transport costs because of fuel costs, and farmers are switching to growing bio-fuels. Many governments have placed restrictions on wheat exports.

(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…)

Allotment gardening is growing more popular.

Geoff Stokes, from the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners, said the problem of waiting lists for plots was becoming a trend across the UK.

He added: “The demand for allotments is increasing and interest is currently blossoming at the moment right across the country.

It has 60 people on a waiting list for a plot in the area. The national average is 59, but Berkshire people will have to wait up to ten years because plots are given up so rarely.

The Government says it “recognises the unique role of allotments as places which bring all sections of the community together. They provide opportunities for people to grow their own produce as part of the long term promotion of sustainability and healthy living.”

Improvements attract tenents

In Leicester, the number of people in renting allotments increased 14%.

(more…)

Twelve Things You CAN Do Right Now

01) Use Low Energy Light Bulbs
02) Monitor Your Use Of Electricity
03) Banish Standby
04) Super Insulate Your Home
05) Reduce Your Heating
06) Heat Your Water With The Sun
07) Switch to Green Energy
08) Change Your Transport Priorities
09) Shop Locally
10) Grow Your Own Food
11) Save Water
12) Subscribe To Permaculture Magazine 

[Details at ReverseClimateChange.co.uk]

Even as it enriches Arab rulers, the recent oil-price boom is helping to propel an extraordinary rise in the cost of food and other basic goods that is squeezing this region’s middle class and setting off strikes, demonstrations and occasional riots from Morocco to the Gulf.

In Jordan, the soaring price of oil led the government to remove almost all its costly fuel subsidies this month, pushing the price of some fuels up 76 percent overnight. In a devastating domino effect, the cost of basic foods like eggs, potatoes and cucumbers doubled or more.

In Saudi Arabia, where the inflation rate had been virtually zero for a decade, it has reached an official level of 6.5 percent, though unofficial estimates put it much higher. Public protests and boycotts have followed, and 19 prominent clerics posted an unusual statement on the Internet in December warning of a crisis that would cause “theft, cheating, armed robbery and resentment between rich and poor.”

A sneaky peek at our own future?
Read more on “High oil prices take a toll on the Gulf’s middle class“

The world’s largest tropical glacier is in danger of disappearing within five years.

Glaciologist Lonnie Thompson and a team of scientists said this time last year in San Francisco they have found evidence the Qori Kalis glacier in the Peruvian Andes could lose half its mass in 12 months and could be gone five years from now.

The rate of retreat has increased tenfold over the last 15 years. Artic retreat is also of concern, and recently Antarctic retreat has been found to have increased 75% in the last ten years.

(more…)

Two Isle of Wight schools may show a lead to others across the South East.

Gurnard and Cowes Primary schools introducing more local produce and are making their meals healthier. They also encourage pupils and the community to engage in cooking activities.

This is harder than it seems, as modern timetabling prevents most practical cooking by ringing the bell just as it’s getting interesting. There just isn’t time to finish within a period.

The Soil Association promotes organic food growing in the UK. Their ‘Food for Life Campaign’ helps pupils learn about seasonal foods and understand the ‘food miles’ issue.

A team from the Soil Association visited the schools on 25 February where they sampled the food, met teachers and students including the school cooks and othos involved in the project.

The schools hope to be recognised as one of the nine Flagship Schools by the end of March.

Opinion:
We are really pleased at this project -
it will help parents as much as children.

Growing your own will help families become more independent when food prices start to spiral. This will be due to the cost of oil increasing as we hit Peak Oil, and causing fertiliser, pesticide, and transport costs to rise. 

The world is only ten weeks away from running out of wheat supplies

The crisis has pushed prices to an all-time high.

It could lead to further increases in the price of bread, beer, biscuits and other basic foods.

Two successive years of disastrous wheat harvests have lead to this. Even though production has fallen by only 6.25%, this is significant, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation.

(more…)