From oil dependence to local resilience

All Blog Posts (55)

Reformation

I spent the first years of my live apart of something I didn't understand. Even though in my innocence,
I was considered a sinner, bound to the mortal realm doomed to spend the rest of my life repenting for others mistakes and eventually I would burn in hell. This was a hard concept to understand because I was also taught that god loved everyone, gave us absolute freedom of choice and judged nothing. 12 years is a long time to live within contradictory absolutes but I'm glad it happened beca… Continue

Added by michael hope on February 23, 2010 at 1:49pm — 1 Comment

Understanding the money system and understanding the changes needed

Again and again I'm surprised about how little people care about the money system. Money is something so essential and central to our civilisation, yet almost nobody ever makes the effort to find out how it really works. When talking about the money system, I don't mean to talk about budgeting or investments or what we use money for. Of course money can be used for good, and often is. What I mean is the understanding of the money system as the central engine of our economy. Money is (mostly) cr… Continue

Added by Christoph Hensch on January 4, 2010 at 5:24pm — No Comments

commuting no more

I would be interested to see how the trend of working at home is coming along in New Zealand. Companies are finding that working from home over a Satellite Internet connection can save computing expenses, auto emissions, heating and cooling office buildings. Employers can put saved money into benefits like Medical Insurance or ret… Continue

Added by Cindy Fallsen on January 4, 2010 at 1:33pm — No Comments

Why I won't be going to church this Christmas

Last Christmas I was in Christchurch staying with my well off son and his family. They have everything, big house, great jobs, five lovely healthy kids, bulging pantry and fridges and toys that pile up in corners. We all went to their Catholic church on Christmas Day. On the way in I noticed a little box which said I think "For the Poor". As the happy almost swinging service began I started to think of the gap between rich and poor and how it is widening all the time because of the destructive m… Continue

Added by Deirdre Kent on December 21, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Washing Away the Pollution

Pollution is one of the worst threats faced by the world today. The growing volume of harmful gases in the atmosphere is slowly eroding the earth and causing widespread climatic changes. It has also resulted in various health hazards. It has become necessary to make some radical changes in the usage of fossil fuels for energy. The government of various countries is trying to promote this cause by encouraging the usage of renewable sources of energy. Among the renewable sources of energy, the oc… Continue

Added by OsmondJohn on November 17, 2009 at 11:06pm — No Comments

Mobilising The Real Wealth of Community - An Article by Alana Tobin

People around the world are increasingly concerned and even fearful about the present state of our economy and the real possibility of a recession turning into a depression. Having grown dependent upon an economic system which has increasingly failed us now our economy is in a rapid state of decline. As a growing number of people are losing their jobs and homes, many are finding themselves in rather precarious and even dire circumstances. Should the economy significantly worsen none of us likes… Continue

Added by Alana Tobin on September 15, 2009 at 1:20pm — No Comments

Time Banks in New Zealand and Around the Globe

I am in the process of gathering information of all the timebanks which are currently established in New Zealand and those which are in the process of initital startup - with Representatives Contact names and details. I would appreciate any information, contact names and details or links anyone has of NZ groups not noted below which are in start up or have established a time bank and/or alternative currency system. Thank you. Here is a start of that list (live links to east listing below is av… Continue

Added by Alana Tobin on August 27, 2009 at 6:30am — 2 Comments

How do You Know When it is Time to Find a Tutor?

With the way we communicate today it is often difficult to read between the lines that your child is in trouble with a subject at school. The phrases “Sarah can do better” or “Johnny can apply himself a bit more” is often used and can apply to anyone. I mean, if we are totally honest, most kids can do better. Perhaps you started noticing your child coming home with lower grades. Or perhaps the report card is so tactfully worded that you can’t tell that the teacher is saying there is a problem.… Continue

Added by Hannah on August 2, 2009 at 5:07pm — No Comments

The Open Road Beckons.........

Heading off to Dunedin on the flimsiest of excuses......really it's just time to break the monotony of winter and kindle the hearth of deep friendships in the deep south. Planning to do some networking for www.felt.co.nz - maybe organise a meetup once we get there. I have a clue that there might be someone with similar business ideas to myself down in Dunedin....... Want to stay a night in Oamaru and wanter the Arts precinct. And take the time to visit every little craft shop along the way...… Continue

Added by Briar Cook on June 29, 2009 at 11:43am — No Comments

Gricklegrass Farm

Since I moved my bus here a month or so ago, I've been out to stay a couple of times. it is so darn refreshing to just get in the car and leave the city - it never fails to lift my spirits. Owned by Heartwood Inc., the farm is managed by those folk that have a real commitment to community and sustainability. There is an old farmhouse undergoing refurbishment (it looks amazing) and some 29? acres of regenerating pasture. The farm itself is going through some changes. The vanguard of people that… Continue

Added by Briar Cook on June 24, 2009 at 3:23pm — 1 Comment

Long but good read from Dimitri Orlov

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2009/06/definancialisation-deglobalisation.html Continue

Added by Jeff Santa Barbara on June 21, 2009 at 1:18am — No Comments

In Your Face-book!!!

I just added this as a discussion. Curious to see if there is any response: **************************************************************************************************** OK - So I have been cordially invited to join Facebook. And, because I like the people who have invited me I am tempted to just do it. But it seems a shame, when there is a perfectly fine networking site set up here, locally - to not be using it as a first port of call. Especially as another well informed friend has al… Continue

Added by Briar Cook on June 3, 2009 at 8:54am — 4 Comments

This paper was written for Bryan Gould's think tank yesterday.

Giving Birth to a New Economy by a Managed Contraction by Deirdre Kent, Laurence Boomert and Helen Dew. 27 May, 2009 Global economic recovery is not possible because economic growth has been fuelled by a cheap abundant energy supply, and this energy is now reaching the limits imposed by nature. The world as a whole is either at or just past peak oil, the time when global oil production can no longer increase. Oil is a finite resource, half of it has gone, and we use six barrels of oi… Continue

Added by Deirdre Kent on May 28, 2009 at 9:56am — No Comments

Urban Transition Ho!!!!!!

OK the dust has settled and here we are back in town. As before, I maintain that there is more community on the other side of "community", which has a lexicon that seems to carry it's own baggage of personal wants and needs that can eclipse the wellbeing of any robust group........ahem! Enough of that, and all power to my friends and relations attempting to live the collective dream. Here now, back in town, my daughter and I, we do it covertly, that is - we apply our long history of learning to… Continue

Added by Briar Cook on May 12, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

UN Agriculture Handbook

Free book. contains useful information although specific to refugee situations. Level 2 Agriculture Handbook Continue

Added by barf on April 15, 2009 at 1:42pm — No Comments

Pakeha kete

“Pakeha Kete” My tomatoes are finished for the year, so I made this kete from the mesh I used to prop the plants up.I found the shoulder strap in the inorganic collection in Freeman’s Bay, as well as the catch. The binding is cord from a mobile phone charger found in the trash. Recycled-Reseen www.martinadlington.webs.com

… Continue

Added by Martin Adlington on April 6, 2009 at 9:06am — No Comments

Greening our Community with Niki Harre - Grey Lynn 2030, Wednesday April 8th

We are very pleased to announce that Niki Harré will be speaking at our next Grey Lynn 2030 meeting. She is a Pt Chev resident and key member of Transition Pt Chevalier. Niki Harré is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland where she has taught social and community psychology for ten years. She is co-editor of the book, Carbon Neutral by 2020: How New Zealanders can Tackle Climate Change. Niki’s research interests include environmentally sustainable schools, grass-roots activism and ps… Continue

Added by Suzanne Kendrick on March 31, 2009 at 5:59am — No Comments

Intuition - The Language of Fertile Field

We are living in interesting times. Intuition, coincidence, synchronicity grandmother mystery, little voice or whatever you use to describe this language is happening. Accelerating. Growing stronger. As we work with the soil, our hands become receivers of messages. The earth sends messages. Our feelings get stronger. Our inner voice gets louder. No more do we remain mute. Or dismissive. Our hearts are expanding. Our brains are evolving. Our minds are connecting. We are evolving into something. N… Continue

Added by Hirini R on March 28, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Day 1 at the Ooooby Store

"What is an Ooooby Store?" I hear you ask. Well the vision is growing and evolving day by day, but let me attempt to paint it for you.

Imagine a place where you feel welcome and also at home because you have a sense of ownership of this space and drop in on a whim, to grab a cup of tea and see who is around and what conversations are being had. Imagine being able to choose from a selection of seating places dotted about the gardens. More seats and tables are clustered in the shade of t

… Continue

Added by James Samuel on January 3, 2009 at 12:45am — No Comments

Hello

Hi, I'm new to this site today, and look forward to being in touch with you all. Merry Christmas, Jay Continue

Added by Jay Robinson on December 25, 2008 at 2:20pm — 1 Comment

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