NELA Transition News | April 8, 2011

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North East Los Angeles Transition News April 8th, 2011 NELA Transition is a community group working on positive changes in our community as we face global warming, peak oil and economic decline. We share our skills working on projects which increase our local resilience and strengthen community connections. Our members are located in the Los Angeles neighborhoods including Pasadena, Altadena, Highland Park and Eagle Rock. nelatransition.org Help Needed for Transition 2.0 Documentary In Transition1.0 was a huge success. Shown thousands of times around the world, the film has done a huge amount to support initiatives and give them a good “so this is what Transition is” resource. Things have moved on a lot since then, so we are going to make a second one… provisionally titled (imaginatively) “In Transition 2.0″. Emma Goude's directed In Transition 1.0 and is also heading up In Transition 2.0. Below is an excerpt from her blog: " We are looking for stories that will SHOW not just TELL typical scenarios that arise at each stage. We want failures, conflicts, difficulties, frustrations and how these are overcome or why they are insurmountable. This film needs to do more than inspire. It needs to show what it’s like to tackle global problems at the local level. We need: Talented film makers Engaging character who’s only just starting Powerful stories that move us – particularly from outside the UK…" Find out more   Transition Sebastopol's Metamorphosis The time had arrived for Transition Sebastopol to go through its metamorphosis - the stage at which a new governance form emerges. Not such an easy process but one through it's inherent labor emerges as a much stronger expression of the whole. Although there had been an active cluster of Working Groups (12 of them!) there was no clear pathway to the inner circle or Core Group. Nothing mysterious here, just a bunch of committed hard working folks who by this time were used to working together and could get an amazing amount of logistics covered with ease and elegance. As can happen in group process, if decision-making and governance structure is not crystal clear some folks can begin to perceive (rightly or wrongly) that they don't have equal voice or power. On the other hand, the Core Group was under appreciated (they were really handling a lot of admin tasks like setting up and cleaning up after events, ordering/showing films, responding to inquiries and keeping the website and database maintained...etc.). With those kinds of rumblings in the wings and our favorite facilitator commissioned (Adam Wolpert), the day of metamorphosis began. Read more     Volunteers Needed NELA Transition is looking for volunteers who can help with tabling for 1 or 2 hours at the Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call 626-794-2587 if you can help. We also need volunteers for setup and take-down at events, to teach reskilling workshops, and to table at other upcoming events. If you are interested in volunteering, contact people@nelatransition.org     The Transition Handbook “There is no more important book than this one for any community seeking to change toward ecological sustainability” – Jerry Mander, founder/director of the International Forum on Globalization Transition Handbook, download Transition Handbook, order   Transition Los Angeles is a "city hub," in the L.A. basin which helps facilitates the sharing of information and resources between local Transition Groups. There are monthly leadership meetings which are open to the leadership of any of the local groups. www.transitionla.org   350 Home and Garden Challenge Organizing a 350 Home & Garden Challenge in your town (or city, village, county, parish, island) not only helps raise awareness and continue to build local resiliency, it offers an opportunity for your citizens to be a part of something much larger. And we are going to help make it as easy as possible for YOU to bring this incredible challenge to your community. This is the perfect opportunity for Transition communities across the country to come together on a single weekend and show their solidarity. Take Action   GOOD LA April 9th, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Head to the GOOD LA Launch Weekend for urban adventures, DIY workshops, hack-a-thons, civic engagements, artist interventions, resource sharing, literary readings, film screenings, book club meetings, neighborhood walks, and locally-made goods, all at an exciting new creative space in Atwater Village. Atwater Crossing (ATX), 3229 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Event website: http://www.good.is/post/save-the-date-good-la-s-launch-weekend-is-april-8-9-and-10/ Awakening the Dreamer April 9th, 12:30 to 6:00 PM Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium at Pasadena City College The Associated Students of Pasadena City College, in cooperation with the Academic Commission cordially invite you to please join us: Saturday, April 9th (12:30-6:00pm) in the Creveling Lounge for the Awakening the Dreamer symposium. Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Program was developed to help people from all walks of life work to make an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on the planet the guiding principle of our time. Today, the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium is supporting the shift in humanity, from a dream rooted in consumption and competition, to one of sustainability and mutuality. Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia, participants of this half-day event are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a difference! Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future. NELA Transition will have a presence at this event, and David Cutter will speak briefly about Transition sometime between 5 and 6 PM. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoXJZ_3-J9w http://awakeningthedreamer.org/   Shift your Consciousness, Shift the World Dr. Ling O'Connor, professor of Environmental Science at Pasadena City College April 9th, 6:00 Potluck, 7:00 Talk Presented by: NELA Transition Dr. Ling O'Connor, professor of Environmental Science at Pasadena City College Presented by NELA Transition Free Event Why: Despite decades of environmental movement and government regulations, the integrity of the ecological systems that support our lives continue to decline. What: Come and explore the possibility that it is a new consciousness that is required for the building of a sustainable society. How: The discussion will begin with a presentation on reality from the perspective of modern science and how this new view of the world can birth a new consciousness that will lead to a sustainable future. 6:00 PM - Potluck - bring enough for six servings 7:00 PM - Talk by Ling O'Connor 8:00 PM - Discussion Throop Church 300 S Los Robles Ave Pasadena, CA 91101 printable flyer   Home by Yann Arthus-Bertrand April 10th, 10:30 AM Presented by: Neighborhood Church This visually dramatic special illustrates the planet's fragile state entirely from a birds-eye view in stunning high definition. With spectacular aerial views from more than 50 countries, viewers will see the extent of human impact on our landscapes. And not a moment too soon: In the past 50 years --a single lifetime -- the Earth has been more radically changed than by all previous generations of humanity. Ross Chapel Neighborhood Church 301 North Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena, CA   Time Bank 101 & Potluck Sunday, April 10th, 10am – 2pm Resilience & Re-Skilling Workshops The Madison Casita, 805 N Madison, Pasadena, CA 91104 The Arroyo Time Bank is partnering with The Armory Center for the Arts, NELA Transition, and the Echo Park Time Bank on a series of workshops, discussions, and other collective efforts to grow a more resilient community.     The Economics of Happiness Friday, April 15th, 7:00 PM The Conscientious Projector screens The Economics of Happiness outside at Memorial Park in Pasadena. NELA Transition will have a table at this event - we'd love to have you stop by and visit our table if you come. The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, all around the world people are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm – an economics of localization. www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org   City of Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival Saturday, April 16th, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM NELA Transition will have a table at the Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival in Pasadena. Your welcome to drop by and visit us. We still need more volunteers who can help with tabling for 1 or 2 hours during this event. Contact people@nelatransition.org, or 626-794-2587 if you can help. http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/earthday/default.asp   Reskilling: Intro to Seeds April 17th, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM This is part of the weekly Neighborhood Resilience Project To help create a more resilient community, we are re-introducing our neighbors to the skills and practices that make the places we live safer, healthier, and more sustainable through a series of workshops, discussions, and projects. The Arroyo Time Bank is partnering with The Armory Center for the Arts, NELA Transition, and the Echo Park Time Bank on a series of workshops, discussions, and other collective efforts to grow a more resilient community. The Madison Casita, 805 N Madison, Pasadena, CA 91104 NELA Transition Meeting April 17th, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM The NELA Transition meeting will be taking place on N Mar Vista in Pasadena. RSVP to people@nelatransition.org to get the address and directions.   NELA Transition Permaculture Reskilling: Compost 101 April 23rd, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Part of transition is to identify and utilize resources appropriately. One of our biggest resources comes daily from our kitchens: vegetable scraps. Composting is a way to turn refuse into soil. Composting is for everyone. It is as viable an alternative for apartment dwellers with balcony gardens as for urban farmers with 1/2 acre plots. Composting is a simple way to restore vitality to soil and add vibrancy to plants. It is easy to make, and practically free. It can substantially reduce the amount of waste generated by a household. Come to a Highland Park backyard to explore several different ways to make compost: 1) we will explore examples of different types of compost bins & piles 2) we will construct a series of bins for a backyard garden 3) we will construct individual worm compost bins for participants to use at home. ***Participants wanting to construct a worm bin may either bring specific supplies or purchase materials from us for a cost of $30, payable on day of reskilling. The reskilling takes place Saturday April 23 from 1-4pm in Highland Park. Limit 10 participants. Address, directions, and other information will be sent when you RSVP with your name, email, and a phone where you can be reached. Please indicate if you would like to construct a worm compost bin, and if you need a materials list or will want to use our materials. RSVP to jnordman2@earthlink.net by 5pm 4/18   In Conversation with Julia Butterfly-Hill And Daryl Hannah April 21st, 7:00 PM Presented by Pasadena City College Environmental activists Julia Butterfly Hill and Daryl Hannah will be speaking about the importance of personal participation in shaping a sustainable future on April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Sexson Auditorium of Pasadena City College. The event is sponsored by the Associated Students and the Natural Sciences Division of PCC. This event is free and open to the public. All donations will benefit local non-profit organizations, including the Arroyo Seco Foundation and Arroyo Food Co-Op. Parking is available in all PCC lots for $2. For more information, call Hanna Israel at (949) 280-7522.   Southern California Permaculture Convergence April 29th to May 1st The Los Angeles Permaculture Guild is excited to be hosting this year's convergence at Camp Hess Kramer, located in the Santa Monica Mountains along the ocean near the LA/Ventura border. This year's convergence is centered around the theme of Reconnect, Reskill, Regenerate. During the convergence, we will recreate a village of people who believe in transforming our Mother Earth. This village will be made up of people both young and old, from all different backgrounds. Each one of us will bring our unique gifts to share with the other people in our village. There will be hands-on workshops, lectures, group sessions, nature walks & beach treks, kids corner and delicious meals. Mission: Our Mission for the 2011 So Cal Permaculture Convergence is to reconnect our local network by sharing resources and to define the structure, function, and organization of the group as we move forward into the future. We intend to create a village-like atmosphere that is a well-balanced experience of interactive presentation, roundtable discussion, and skill sharing mixed with healthy local food, music, and ample social time. Find our more: http://www.socalconvergence.org/   End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream Saturday, May 7th and Friday, May 13th Presented by: NELA Transition Join us for a community potluck, screening of "End of Suburbia", and discussion at one of the two screenings. Saturday, May 7th at 6:30 PM Throop Church 300 S Los Robles Ave Pasadena, CA 91101 Friday, May 13th, 6:30 PM All Saints Episcopal Church 5619 Monte Vista St. Los Angeles, CA 90042 6:30 PM - Potluck 7:00 PM - End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream 8:20 PM - Discussion THE END OF SUBURBIA: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream "We're literally stuck up a cul-de-sac in a cement SUV without a fill-up" - James Howard Kunstler Since World War II North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too has the suburban way of life become embedded in the American consciousness. Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream. But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today's suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia ? Hosted by Barrie Zwicker. Featuring James Howard Kunstler, Peter Calthorpe, Michael Klare, Richard Heinberg, Matthew Simmons, Michael C. Ruppert, Julian Darley, Colin Campbell, Kenneth Deffeyes, Ali Samsam Bakhtiari and Steve Andrews. Directed by Gregory Greene. Produced by Barry Silverthorn. Duration: 78 minutes If you would like to help out with setup or cleanup or would like to have a table at either of these events, contact people@nelatransition.org or call 626-388-0046