Life After Oil

The Transition Town movement aims to wean us off our fossil fuel addiction — without knowing if it’ll work. How an unproven social experiment is becoming a phenomenon

By Rachel Dowd

In the late 1980s, Joanne Poyourow’s life looked like the American Dream. A certified public accountant in charge of multistate taxation at a boutique practice in Newport Beach, Calif., she had earned the shiny little sports car, three-inch heels, and business class flights to which she had grown accustomed.

Then she left it behind. more

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Training for Transition: Stelle, IL April 18th & 19th, 2009

April 18th & 19th, 2009

Training for Transition: Stelle, IL

Curriculum: The course includes the “fundamentals” for those wishing to know how to set up, run, and maintain a successful Transition Initiative. It is packed with imaginative and inspiring ways to delve into both the theory and practice of Transition, providing training in the basics of Transition for new communities coming on board. More details here.

Who should attend: Transition Initiative leaders, steering group members, working group members, and those considering Transition in their communities.

Instructors: This Training for Transition (T4T) course will be taught by Bill and Becky  Wilson of Stelle, IL, co-creators of Midwest Permaculture.  Over the 30 years they have lived in Stelle they have been involved in the creation of their community center, a community garden cooperative, a tool cooperative, a Monday-night dinner cooperative and a local non-profit organization that teaches sustainable and authentic living practices.

Schedule: 9:00 to  5:00pm each day.

Location: Center for Sustainable Community, 127 Sun Street, Stelle, IL 60919

Organized By: Midwest Permaculture

Cost: $215 per person including lunch each day. Lodging is not included. 

Registration/Information:  Registration is limited to 22 people.  You can register online or can contact Rebecca Wilson at 815-256-2215 or at  becky@midwestpermaculture.com.

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Two Dozen Show to Transition Chicago (TC) Event (1)

Last night the Transition Chicago Event (1) had about 2 dozen people there to see the film The End of Suburbia, a quick presentation on Transition Towns and discuss what is happening in the area. Only about half of the people had heard of the concept of peak oil proir to the meeting, so it was good to get a few more into the awareness mode. 

The ages ranged from 13 to about 50 with a diverse background of professions and life styles. It was great to see people from different backgrounds and interests learning to educate themselves on climate change, peak oil and the financial uncertainties that are all interlinked. 

The next awareness meeting for Transition Chicago is: 

Transition Chicago Community Event (2)

Transition Chicago (TC) invites you to attend an abridged screening of The Crash Course by Chris Martenson followed by a quick presentation on Transition Towns and open discussion. The focus is to learn about future energy, climate change and financial challenges (and opportunities) that we face as a society. The goal is to learn about some of the obstacles we face and how people are planning for a future that provides abundance, a high living standard and is sustainable. This is an opportunity to meet with other like-minded people and learn about what is going on here in Chicago to plan for a low energy future.

Screening Info:
Date: Tuesday May 5^th, 2009 Time: 6:30 to 9:00 (movie starts about 6:45)
Location: Wicker Park Library, 1701 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, (312) 744-6022
Room: It is up stairs in the meeting rooms. Ask at the reference desk.
Cost: Free

Contact: Email: TransitionChicago@gmail.com

Feel free to bring food and drinks. You can eat and drink in the meeting room, just not in the library.