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Friends of the Earth St Albans have taken the initiative to organise a Green hustings in the run-up to the general elections, and WDM St Albans (World Development Movement), Transition St Albans and the brand new St Albans Campaign Against Climate Change (SACACC) are all helping out.

Transition initiatives prefer hands-on positive action over politics and campaigning, but in reality it remains important who represents our views in government, on all levels of government. Rob Hopkins has an interesting post on his website on this subject: “Time to Organise Those Transition Hustings!“

As they arrive, members of the public will be invited to take part in a secret ballot, which will be counted during the course of the meeting. They will also be invited to work in groups to consider the environmental and sustainability challenges that the next government will face and to write questions on these themes for the candidates to consider; one question per card.

The supporting organisations get the opportunity to submit two questions in advance. So if anyone reading this has a good suggestion for a question, please email your question(s) to Rick Holland.

Last Tuesday, 19th January 2010, Transition St Albans hosted the first regional gathering of Transition initiatives from Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire.

Some time ago we decided in the Steering Group that it would be a good idea to meet with “neighbouring” transitioners, to swap stories and ideas and, generally, to start building relationships.

So, after several months during which Jacqueline has been busy making contact and promoting the idea, last Tuesday evening over 40 people gathered in The Farmers Boy to do just that. 

The turnout was fabulous with representatives from:  Abbots Langley, Amersham, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Peter, Chesham, Haddenham, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, High Wycombe, Hitchin, Ickenham, Letchworth, Luton, Maidenhead, Marlow, St Albans, Tring, Watford & Welwyn Garden City! 

Some of these are well-established initiatives, others are still young, and a few are “mullers” about to get going, but all of us gained something from each other – taking the time to meet and share experiences definitely helps to recharge the batteries!

It was a very successful evening.  Thanks to Jacqueline for organising the event, and to Ros and Douglas at the Farmers Boy for providing us a place to meet and great food to eat – much appreciated!  And thank you to everyone who came.

On Tuesday 13 October 2009 we showed the film “In Transition” at The Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans. After the film Sally asked people how they would like St Albans to be in the future and recorded what they said on video…

Go and have a look on our YouTube Channel.

Food on the doorstep!

Come and join us for a couple of events dedicated to the delights of local food.  Whether you are allotmenteer of the year or a novice gardener or just someone who would like to be able to buy more locally grown food then come along to our next two events.

On Tuesday 24th November we will be showing The Power of Community – an uplifting film showing how Cuba responded to a sudden energy crisis and shortage of food by redesigning its agricultural and transport systems to make them more efficient and sustainable.  Nowadays many more people in Cuba grow food for themselves and around of 80% of food consumed in Cuba’s cities is grown within the city limits.  We invite you to be inspired and imagine the possibilities for growing more food in St Albans!

The film is being shown at Trinity United Reformed Church on Beaconsfield Road (near the City Station) at 7.30 pm.  Tickets £3 (concessions £1).

Join us on Saturday 28th November to share your ideas and air your views at our Open Space Workshop addressing the question: “How could St Albans source more food locally in the future?”

This event is an opportunity to network with other people interested in growing more food locally and to brainstorm how this can be achieved.  No special knowledge or skills are needed and by coming along you are making no commitment to do anything!  That said, we are already in talks with a number of local bodies about available land and so we expect to be kicking off many local growing projects early next year – so if you want to do something you will certainly be able to!

The Open Space Workshop will run from 10.30 to 2.30 at Marlborough Road Methodist Church Hall.  Nearest parking is in the Maltings Car Park.  Tickets are £4  (Concessions £2).  A basic lunch will be provided but please bring some food to share.

For more information on either of these events or to book tickets please contact: info [at] transitionstalbans.org.

An article in the Guardian newspaper yesterday reported significant doubts about the official global oil reserve figures published by the International Energy Agency.

This will add weight to the views of many independent experts that the world is at or near to Peak Oil.  Read more here.

Join us on Tuesday 3rd November (next Tuesday) for a talk by our very own Tim Burns on the sustainability of our food supply.

For many of us, making choices about food when we go   shopping is fraught with difficulties – Tim will be providing the low down on our agricultural system as well as considering what the future might hold.  He will also provide some practical hints on what we could do to shop more sustainably.

The talk will be held at Trinity United Reformed Church, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans (near the City Station) at 7.30 pm.  Tickets £3 (concessions £1) on the door.

This event launches our Autumn series on food.

The series continues with the showing of The Power of Community on 24th November, also at Trinity URC.  This inspiring film looks at how Cuba survived its own energy crisis and began to grow much of its own food (today 80% of the food consumed within Cuban cities is grown within the city limits).  Tickets £3 (Concessions £1).

Our final event is an Open Space workshop looking at practical ways we can grow more food locally on Saturday 28th November 10.30am -2.30pm.  This will be held at Marlborough Road Methodist Church Hall, St Albans.  Tickets £4 (concessions £2).  A basic lunch will be provided but please bring some food to share.

The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) based at Imperial College London has just released a new report on when the global oil supply will peak.  In line with many other expert views, they expect a peak most likely before 2030 with a high probability that it will be before 2020.

Oil production is already peaking in an increasing number of regions around the world, according to a report by UKERC

Click here to see an Evening Standard article on this and here to go to the UKERC website.