What will you do when there's less oil? How will you or your children live? How will your community cope? Life won't just stop when the price of oil reaches a certain point, and that figure, that 'line in the sand' won't be the most expensive this raw material will be. Expect oil to keep getting more expensive, and everything which uses it or the energy it provides. Factor in climate change, and the uncertainties in these scenarios, and the future is looking somewhat tough, for some: bleak.
But for some people, it looks like a challenge, a series of opportunities for humanity to evolve and progress. A grassroots movement is underway called Transition Towns, and as many of these aren't actually towns, they're districts, cities, islands and even forests, the label may be better known as 'Transition Initiatives'. These communities are preparing for the double whammy of post-peak oil and climate chaos by going local, 'powering down', generating renewable energy and strengthening community links.
There are already many activities, groups and initiatives which are in their own way working towards a transition towards a post-oil world. Groups as diverse as cycling campaigns, allotment societies, 'breast is best' groups, ban plastic bag activists and those brave climate camp people all know that we cannot go on with 'business as usual'. We have to prepare, to start building resiliance to cope with what's coming.
York has just started developing a 'York in Transition' process. I couldn't get to the first meeting as I was talking to members of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health about the same issues of too much carbon dioxide being emitted and some of the solutions, but I attended the second meeting this week. I am one of the optomists who sees the opportunities and challenges we have to rise to, I'm not the 'it's too big to deal with, I'll be dead soon, let's go down the pub to seek oblivion' type!
If you are an optomistic type who can see that humanity needs to deal with the situation our forefathers have left us with, you could get involved with a Transition Initiative, or even start your own, in your street, village, suburb or city. Download this to see how to do it.
If your area already has a TT movement, I would like to know how you are involved, and I'm sure other readers would too. Do let us know. Exciting times ahead!