This is the Most Exciting Time to Be Alive

The title is from In Transition 1.0, a film that provides information about the Transition movement happening in various parts of our world. I'm really interested in connecting with other local people for our own K-W project because, as they say in the film, it can be very isolating trying to make a difference alone.  I've heard rumours that there's a burgeoning group out there, but it's not yet listed on the Ontario website - (ETA I just added it, so go sign up!)....

The movement reminds me of one speech in No Impact Man.  A friend of Colin's remarks, as a bit of a caveat, that big business loves grassroots stuff like this because it takes the focus off of industrial responsibility and focuses on individuals.  But even if it's a case that taking action into our own hands to make small local changes might take the spotlight off multinationals, we have the need to do something. 

It's like that speech that Maxine gives in Being John Malkovich just before her two new friends lunge at her simultaneously:  "The world is divided into those who go after what they want and those who don't. The passionate ones, the ones who go after what they want, may not get what they want, but they remain vital, in touch with themselves, and when they lie on their deathbeds, they have few regrets. The ones who don't go after what they want... well, who gives a shit about them anyway?"  We may not succeed, but we really can't just sit and do nothing - not for the world, but more importantly not for ourselves.

Or, as Malalai Joya said on Allen Gregg in Conversation recently, "Good people who do nothing are far worse than people who do evil."  I paraphrased, but it was something like that.  It's like my dad's insistence that we leave our campsite better than we found it as he had us begrudgingly picking up other people's garbage.  It's a good lesson.

And even if we don't care about others or the world or climate change, we should recognize the long-lasting effects of toxins in all the plastic surrounding our food, and in the pesticides, fertilizers and sludge that sits directly on food and becomes part of the soil and at least care a bit about our own health.  That alone is a good reason to start changing our habits. 

My drives are entirely selfish.  I need to re-charge with like-minded people after spending most of my time with people who think I'm nuts for trying to do anything at all.   

The focus of the movement is different in different areas.  People get together to find new areas to grow food or create local economies or work on transportation or construction issues or lobby governments....   I'm determined to grow my own food this summer and actually eat some!  A re-skill workshop might be necessary to get me going on my 2010 goal to learn how to cook real food, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for that.  And that's just it.  If we can develop small communities of people with a variety of abilities, we can at once become less dependent on a system that's outside our control and sliding fast on a downward spiral, and recognize the necessity of inter-dependence among us all.

Anyway, watch the movie.  It's only 50 minutes long.  And if you want to start something, let me know!

 

In Transition 1.0 from Transition Towns on Vimeo.