Transition Town Lewes

A couple of years ago I saw a film about Peak Oil, screened by the Green Party here in Lewes, followed by a discussion. I was not impressed. I said it was preaching to the converted. I cited the Jevons Paradox in explaining that individual efficiencies could make the problem worse rather than better. I concluded that the only solution was to lobby for government action.

Tomorrow Transition Town Lewes is unleashed.

Transition Town Lewes Unleashed

I only heard about transition towns on the Welsh local news at Easter when Lampeter held its first meeting. Once again the focus is on individual collective action, but this time the focus is on preparing for the peak – essentially being ready to live without oil. Promoting the local economy, communal allotments and solar panels are amongst the first projects; and seem worthwhile in their own right. Totnes, another transition town, has its own currency to promote the local economy. I don’t know how effective any of this will actually be to wean us off our oil dependency, but if the pessimists are right about the oil peak, being it a bit prepared will surely be better than not being prepared at all.

So here’s another film, screening right here at Little Storping, and it’s very Lewes. Where else could you wear a woolly orange hat and still hope to be taken seriously?

About Simon Wood

Lecturer in medical education, lapsed mathematician, Doctor Who fan and garden railway builder. See simonwood.info for more...

7 thoughts on “Transition Town Lewes

  1. Yes. Not to be confused with historic Lewes, Delaware.

    http://www.lewes.com/tour.html

    Lewes is old and unspoiled but due to its proximity to Brighton (large and very alternative) and the two Universities (Brighton and Sussex) it is full of liberal middle class lecturers and ex-hippies as well as the county set. There’s a strong sense of community and an interest in environmental causes. This can mean some eccentric, extreme and/or idealistic individuals and groups, which you have to accept as part of the charm, but also some quite practical (if radical) initiatives like the above.

  2. Yes. Not to be confused with historic Lewes, Delaware.

    http://www.lewes.com/tour.html

    Lewes is old and unspoiled but due to its proximity to Brighton (large and very alternative) and the two Universities (Brighton and Sussex) it is full of liberal middle class lecturers and ex-hippies as well as the county set. There’s a strong sense of community and an interest in environmental causes. This can mean some eccentric, extreme and/or idealistic individuals and groups, which you have to accept as part of the charm, but also some quite practical (if radical) initiatives like the above.

  3. Yes. Not to be confused with historic Lewes, Delaware.

    http://www.lewes.com/tour.html

    Lewes is old and unspoiled but due to its proximity to Brighton (large and very alternative) and the two Universities (Brighton and Sussex) it is full of liberal middle class lecturers and ex-hippies as well as the county set. There’s a strong sense of community and an interest in environmental causes. This can mean some eccentric, extreme and/or idealistic individuals and groups, which you have to accept as part of the charm, but also some quite practical (if radical) initiatives like the above.

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