We of the 21st century are facing a lot of challenges. The main ones are the end of the age of cheap oil, the major shifts taking place in the Earth's climate, and the realignment of the world's economic system. There are two ways to look at those changes, as a threat - the end of life as we know it - and as an opportunity - a chance to reclaim a simpler, richer, happier life.
There are a lot of people out there screaming about the threats they see in the coming changes; Transition is a way to see the changes as opportunities, and prepare to meet them and gain from them. Here are some resources to help you understand the concept of Transition:
The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local
Resilience
by Rob Hopkins
This is the reference work about the Transition
movement; it presents a way that the inevitable changes
facing us in this century can be greeted as improvements
to our quality of life, instead of feared as forces that
are bringing our life to an end.
It gives a step-by-step process by which communities can
prepare for a graceful, even joyful transition from our
oil-addicted society to a truly sustainable, resilient one.
The Transition Companion: Making Your Community More
Resilient in Uncertain Times
by Rob Hopkins
The Transition Companion continues the story of
The Transition Handbook, drawing on the experience of
one of the most fascinating experiments under way in the world.
It tells inspiring tales of communities working for a future
where local economies are valued and nurtured; where lower
energy use is seen as a benefit; and where enterprise,
creativity, and the building of resilience have become
cornerstones of a new economy.
The Transition Timeline: for a Local, Resilient Future
By Shaun Chamberlin
This book is a a follow-up to The Transition Handbook;
it is a guide on how to best use science and culture to
adapt to our the situation that will be facing us in a
post-oil world.
It sets out an "ideal" future, then offers a map and timeline
for reaching that future, starting here and now.
Transition Initiatives Primer
Two versions of this book are available on-line in PDF format -
a British version and a United States Version:
*
The British version
is by Ben Brangwyn and the author of The Transition
Handbook, Rob Hopkins.
*
The US version
is by Jennifer Gray, Founder & President of Transition US.
It's a sort of implementation manual for The Transition
Handbook, and includes references to other materials
on the concept.
Transition Culture
This is the central web site for the Transition movement.
It contains links to a wealth of web resources on the topic,
and also has continually updated news articles about what's
going on in the worldwide transition culture.
Transition United States
This is the web site for Transition US, a nonprofit organization
that provides inspiration, support, training, and networking for
Transition Initiatives across the United States.
Transition Texas
This is a "social networking" site designed to connect people
working in the Transition movement in Texas and to identify
and nurture the development of useful and necessary local
Transition Initiatives and practices.
Transition Austin
Transition Austin is the web site for the organization in the
Austin area that is working on guiding Austin to a graceful
Transition into a post-oil society.
Their mission is
"To spark a graceful Transition in Austin from an oil-dependent
culture to one of local resilience, characterized by sustainable
lifestyles."