Time to transition

land to work with the grassroots to battle climate destruction and economic instability.

I first heard that Transition Towns were percolating on the South Shore. There is a group up and running in St. Margaret’s Bay, but concept has spread to over 50 countries around the globe.

The movement, which now includes 15 Canadian towns, labours quietly to foster a new economy. In England, that might include urban orchards, community-supported agriculture, energy projects and cooperatives.

Tool sharing, seed swaps and maker spaces lead to a sharing economy. For example, the Restart Project in London hosts parties to help folks with broken electronic items from toasters to iPads. It is fantastic to see communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world.

An outgrowth of the Cinema Politique group that uses film to kick start discussion, the Wolfville Area Transition Initiative held its first event last April. The group is holding an evening workshop Feb. 15, about finding balance today. It’s called Head, Heart & Hands and will be facilitated by Heidi Kalyani and Bruce Dienes. Check the website for details.

I’m told that the world’s troubles feel more manageable if one engages on the local level. People are struggling to stay positive these days. I know a woman who stays off social media one day a week since the American election to try and lighten her psychic load.

Martin Luther King’s daughter, Bernice King, offered some good advice last week when it comes to the new U.S. leader. She said use his name as little as possible.

“While we are so focused on him we are prone to neglect the questionable policies that threaten freedom, justice and fairness advanced by the administration.”

Her other advice included suggestions to “Remember this is a regime and he’s not acting alone,” as well as “Focus on his policies, not his appearance and mental state,” and finally: “Resist!”

Shiva also offers some advice for getting through the next stage in history.

“I do not allow myself to be overcome by hopelessness, no matter how tough the situation,” she said. “I believe that if you just do your little bit without thinking of the bigness of what you stand against, if you turn to the enlargement of your own capacities, just that itself creates new potential.”

Go online: http:// wolfvilleareatransitioninitiative.ca/