NELA Transition News | Sept 13, 2011

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North East Los Angeles Transition News Sept 13th, 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 It takes a Village.... On October 2nd, our Inner Transition group will be creating a community art experience in the month of October. The idea is that for all of us that have lived our entire lives as part of an industrialized, infinite growth paradigm, it will require an inner transition for us to truly live sustainably. By inner transition we actually mean some kind of spiritual transformation. We don't mean religious just spiritual. Since art has always been something of a spiritual experience, we thought an art project could be a good entry for many people into a more spiritual plane. The time of this event hasn't been set yet, but should be decided soon. On a nut's and bolts level, we'll come together as a community at Throop Church and build shelters that represent homes. The "homes" will be made out of cardboard and be life sized. Here's the artist speaking about his vision: "I like how these cardboard living structures will reference poverty and homelessness while also referencing commodity and product shipping mechanisms." It will be a great transition message to see this paradox as one drives by the intersection of Los Robles and Del Mar. It's so great that we can do this at such a gothic looking place as Throop. It's a pretty spiritual backdrop. Please plan to participate as much as you would like. Ideally, we'll be looking to build 8 to 10 "homes" and will be looking for people to step forward as project leaders on each home. We will provide all materials, instruction and assistance. You just need to show up, provide inspriation and have fun.   24 Hours of Reality September 14-15th Webcast 24 Presenters. 24 Time Zones. 13 Languages. 1 Message. 24 Hours of Reality is a worldwide event to broadcast the reality of the climate crisis. It will consist of a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, representing every time zone around the globe. Each hour people living with the reality of climate change will connect the dots between recent extreme weather events — including floods, droughts and storms — and the manmade pollution that is changing our climate. We will offer a round-the-clock, round-the-globe snapshot of the climate crisis in real time. The deniers may have millions of dollars to spend, but we have a powerful advantage. We have reality. http://climaterealityproject.org/the-event/   Los Angeles Permaculture Design Course Series Urban Homesteading | Resilient Communities EarthFlow's 11th Permaculture Design Course Series in Los Angeles One weekend a month for six months... Starting weekend: October 8/9, 2011 - Final weekend: March 10/11, 2012 Tuition: $1050.00 (register now and save $150) Permaculture Design offers decision-making protocols, based on nature, for problem-solving, critical thinking and design. This course introduces you to new career directions, home improvement projects and community food, water and energy security. http://earthflow.com Volunteers Needed NELA Transition is looking for volunteers volunteers for setup and take-down at events, to teach reskilling workshops, and to table at other upcoming events. NELA Transition and Throop Church are members of the Arroyo Time Bank and can pay in Time Dollars for volunteer work. If you are interested in volunteering, contact [email protected]     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     Learning Garden Resources Needed The Learning Garden which is a project of NELA Transition and Throop Church is looking for donations of the following for transforming the existing lawn into a beautiful, xeriscaped garden. Cardboard - not waxed, preferable with tape removed. This will be used for sheet-mulching the entire lawn on the South side of the building. Gravel - To help with drainage in key locations. Broken Concrete, flagstone, pavers, or cinder blocks If you can donate any of these items, contact [email protected], or call 626-388-0046 Community Dinner at Historical Monument 157 Tuesday, September 13, 7:30pm – 8:30pm Weekly on Tuesdays Historical Monument 157, 3110 N. Broadway, L.A., CA 90031 Presented by Historical Monument 157 Doers of all persuasions are invited to come network and walk away in cahoots. Gourmet vegan dinner is provided for $5 most weeks. On fundraiser weeks (once a month) the cost is $10 if you rsvp, $20 at the door. To earn time dollars, come work in the kitchen starting around 4pm. Please RSVP on the Arroyo Lowdown (https://www.facebook.com/TheArroyoLowdown) where the menu is posted on Monday nights. BYOB. A description of HM 157: http://www.laweekly.com/locations/historical-monument-157-771838/       NELA Transition Meeting Our monthly NELA Transition Meeting is usally held on 3rd Sundays every month. The location changes each month. RSVP to get the address - [email protected] Sunday, September 18th, 5:00 to 7:00 PM Pasadena, CA     Moving Planet Day walking tour September 24th Concerned about the ongoing assault on the environment & the slow-but-accelerating changes we're seeing in weather patterns? Come join a rally sponsored by 7th P at City Hall on Saturday September 24 to show your support. Like previous events we've held this one is part of a 350.org campaign. It's called Moving Planet Day and is a day to show we can move beyond fossil fuels. We all agree that fossil fuels are convenient, but we (or our children) will pay for them dearly one way or another. So if you want to make a difference, please join us to make your views known. The rally will begin at Raymond St adjacent to Memorial Park and the Gold Line station at 10 am. We will first visit the Armory across the street from Memorial Park to see its sustainable features, and then walk (or bike) four blocks to the plaza in front of City Hall. The estimated time of arrival at City Hall is 11 am. The Chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Committee (and maybe even the Mayor) will meet with us there. Here is the case we will present to them: reduce the city’s carbon footprint by eliminating all coal-fired electricity from its power portfolio as a first step in moving beyond fossil fuels. We want Pasadena to be “coal-free by ‘23”. So to this end we will demand that PWP stop burning coal by 2023. (There are practical ways to do this.) Elimination of coal-burning also removes the largest single source of mercury polluting our land and our water. Hope to see you there! Saturday, Sept 24 10 am, Memorial Park, Pasadena Try taking the Gold-line to Memorial Park or cycle there! If you need to drive you can park (for free) at the Filmore Street Metro parking garage & then ride the Gold-line north (only 2 stops away). (The church parking lot is reserved for another function that day.) www.moving-planet.org/events/us/memorial-park/926   Permaculture Design Course at the L.A. Aboretum 5 Weekends, starting September 24th, 8:30am – 5:30pm September 24 & 25 October 8 & 9 October 22 & 23 November 5 & 6 November 19 & 20 TUITION: $1400 · Includes catered lunch, tea, snacks, and an excellent line-up of instructors · Non-refundable $200 deposit to reserve your place due by August 15 · Full tuition due by Sept. 12 TO REGISTER: Call: (626) 821-4623 or Email: [email protected] DOUBLE BONUS: Students attend ‘Soil & Compost’ 2-Day Workshop with Dr. Elaine Ingham AND 2-Day ‘Garden Like a Forest Workshop’ with award-winning author, Dave Jacke! Permaculture is sustainable land-use design based on ecological principles and ethics. Its aim is harmonizing habitats and inhabitants within sustainable cultural, food, shelter, energy, water, and waste systems. This hands-on course unites theory with practical applications. Our transformative 80-hour curriculum prepares individuals to become pro-active ecological designers, and covers the following topics: • Permaculture Principles and Ethics • Rapid Soil Rehabilitation • Water Harvesting • Food Forests • Renewable Energy Solutions • Animal Systems • Designing with the Patterns of Nature • Natural Building • Aquaculture • Regenerating Resilient Communities   Potluck at the Brummels September 25th, 5:00 PM Presented by The Brummels, NELA Transition and Sustainable World NELA Transitioners are invited to meet Sustainable World, All Saints Church's social justice ministry at a backyard BBQ at the Brummels home. One of Sustainable World's projects are the CONSCIENTIOUS PROJECTOR film series. Come help expand the network of likeminded folks and enjoy some good food together. RSVP [email protected]   Time Banks Conference October 1 & 2 Presented by the California Federation of Time Banks The California Federation of Time Banks is a collaborative network committed to connecting, sharing information, and supporting the expansion of Time Banking in the state. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, we celebrate the many innovative ways time banking can address social issues and creatively fill the gaps by strengthening relationships in our neighborhoods. Based on the fundamental values of respect and reciprocity, we are a creative learning community that shares experiences, trades best practices and empowers each other to work for a healthy, sustainable future. http://cafederationoftimebanks.com/   Carboard Village at the Learning Garden October 2nd Presented by NELA Transtion Community art project Seed exchange Lawn transformation kick-off Take part in an art project led by artist, Ron Sauners, which will involve building shelters out of cardboard on the lawn which is to be transformed into a learning garden. Ron will introduce his work and how is fits with this project, an wil explain of some scale models of the structures to illustrate his vision, and give a small workshop of how to build the cardboard structures. Ron's collaborations focus on creating art experiences where members become involved in the art making process. The following week the learning garden work party will kick-off and will involve the transformation of the lawn into a learnign garden using principles of permaculture. The cardboard from the dwellings will be used as the first layer of mulch. Seed Exchange There will also be a seed swap taking place in the patio at the same time. Bring seeds or small plate to share, and take some seeds home with you.   Lawn Transformation Work Party Two weekends in October 8th, 9th, 22nd and 23rd Presented by NELA Transition This work party will take place over two weekends. This will be the start of the transformation of the lawn at the corner of Los Robles and Del Mar into a permaculture garden. When complete It will include a food garden, drought tolerant area, methods of water harvesting, low terraces built with broken concrete, fruit trees, plants that attract beneficial insects and places to gather or sit. First weekend - We will be cutting out the grass and building terraces with broken concrete. Second weekend - We will be digging out the bermuda grass, and mulching with cardboard, and wood chips. You help is needed for both of these work weekends - contact [email protected] for more information.   Inner Transition Discussion Friday, October 7th, 6:30-8:30 Presented by NELA Transition Pasadena, CA Please read this page for a feel of what we are coming together around: http://www.joannamacy.net/thegreatturning/personal-guidelines-t.html This will be a potluck event. contact [email protected] for the address   Bill McKibbin of 350.org October 27, 27,29, 30 Claremont College Brave New Planet, Imagining Ecological Communities   NELA Transition Fundraiser dinner at HM157 November 14th This will be a great opportunity to meet a unique challenge creatively with an attitude of resilience. We will create a meal for a crowd on a few hours notice of what produce we will have to design the meal around. We will be looking for some cool entertainment ideas as well. Feel like you always wanted to be a party planner? Contact Therese [email protected] More details to be announced.