Our Plan
"The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals, the tragedy lies in not having any goals to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream, it is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideals, but it is a disaster to have no ideals to capture, it is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach."
~ Dr. Benjamin Mays
Goals are dreams set to paper and so we have placed our dreams in the hands of each other to bring our goals to a reality we can all share. This Transition Plan is created for the express purpose of transitioning from our current failing economic system and civilization to a new, more evolved Global Egalitarian System and civilization.
So, what is our overall goal you ask? Simply put: To replace a system whose priorities are power and profit with meeting the needs of all beings by establishing a system that puts people and the environment over profits.
To do it we have Strategic Action Goals to attain that:
1. Raise awareness of the need to work together to build resilience in the face of the current challenges we deal today like:
- Degradation of the biosphere
- Malaise of the Economic System
- Decline in Human Health
- Growth in Global Poverty and often Subsequent Inequality
2. Support the emergence and growth of Transition initiatives and leaders in all regions of the world.
3. Support the continued development and delivery of high quality education, training and consulting in support of the advancement of The Transition.
4. Mirror the diversity of our world in Transition Missions by supporting BUDs efforts to include all major cultural and demographic segments of their local communities.
5. Achieve financial sustainability for The Transition and the individuals and organizations that align themselves with The Transition by joining The Transition Inter-Community Network.
All of our phases work towards the ideals laid out in this compass depiction above.
Phase 0 -“Seed Phase”
Phase I - Building Community/"Soil Phase"
Phase II – “Weeding” (Community)
Phase III – “Harvesting” (Community)
Phase IV – “Pollination” (Community)
(Additional phases will be developed when a critical mass is hit in the latter phases.)
ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF "HOW DOES THIS IMPACT ME"?
A transition plan that is fully functional and lucid reduces everything down to processes that we can do individually, but that when done simultaneously with others creates a huge impact on the world around us. The Transition Team has drafted such a plan (with the help of many consultants and experts in their own individual fields) that gives us a list of things to do, and creates a space in which to do that work by getting us all to get along and work together to achieve our mutual goal. Integral to Our Plan is a “peace from within” empowerment model based on Gandhi’s famous concept of svadeshi, or ‘localism’: we work on ourselves, work with colleagues, and then use that energy to work against oppressing systems (but not the persons operating them!).
"The Transition...is dedicated to showing why a transition needs to happen. What the new world [we co-create] looks like, detailed. How to transition each section of society, how to prepare us mentally for how to react according to the new guidelines and confirmation of the resources we will no longer have to fight for like before. It's getting everyone on the same page [both literally and figuratively]...Imagine if you had it at the beginning of your journey!"
These following pages are "living" in that they are continually edited and updated as new information becomes available; they are emergent in their design.
Begin YOUR action plan today!
Sources: Metta Center: What is a Road-map, Roadmap Compass, Transition Primer: A Guide to Becoming a Transition Town, US Version
Contributors: Metta Center, Transition US
Recommended Books: Metta Center: What is a Road-map, Transition Primer: A Guide to Becoming a Transition Town, US Version
Our Values
"The only hope for developing a new civilization is to accept responsibility for improving our lives through knowledge, understanding, and a deeper comprehension of humanity’s relationship to natural processes of evolution. Our future is determined by effort we put forth to achieve this transition."
~ Jacque Fresco
The Transition wants to accelerate the integration of belief systems. This will facilitate the global revelation that the only difference between us is our belief systems and bring forth the individual insight that beliefs can be created or destroyed with ease as they are of our own design. When we arrive at this paradigm collectively, the "right" and "wrong" mentality will dissolve and give way to a proactive co-creative society with world peace as the outcome. To begin that process, we advocate to our Contributors that they embody these four core values.
See Also:
Principles From Which We Are Based
Are these things you value as well?
BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR TODAY!
Inspired By: Scopio
Contributor: Cayetana Saiz
Our Charter
We hold these truths to be self evident:
- We can provide protection for this planet and its inhabitants, both present and future.
- We can provide the necessities of a healthy, happy life to all people.
- Freedom from dangerous pollutants
- Secure, comfortable housing
- Healthy, nutritious, abundant food
- Liberty for self-fulfillment, barring unfair abuse of others
- We can provide social equality to all people.
- The finite resources of earth (land, air, water, etc.) must be held in common, and not owned for any private interest.
- All use of finite resources must be kept in balance with nature, favoring a restorative approach so that the resources will be available for all future generations.
- Community development must prioritize the provision of secure, local access to goods and services so that no person or community becomes dependent on another for basic necessities.
If you live your life by this same moral compass
BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR TODAY!
Inspired by: A Photo of a Woman Posing
Contributor: German Matviuk
Our Vision
Our vision is of a world where people live in peace, consciousness of their common humanity and their shared responsibilities for each other, for the planet and for future generations.
The Transition is comprised of vibrant BUD Teams, Intentional Communities, Co-op Businesses and grassroots community initiatives and events that seek to build community resilience in the face of the challenging times we are now experiencing.
- Degradation of the biosphere
- Malaise of the Economic System
- Decline in Human Health
- Growth in Global Poverty and often Subsequent Inequality
These issues are real problems we now face. It is through our programming targeted at our overall vision that we seek to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging our communities on the local level, with citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self reliance and resilience that creates global impact. Every community across the globe is capable of engaging its collective creativity to unleash an extraordinary and historic transition to a future beyond:
- Fossil fuels
- Technological Unemployment
- Factory Farming
- Inequality
Together we can create a future that is more vibrant, abundant and resilient; one that is ultimately preferable to the present.
Inspired By: Lone Tree In Middle of Still Lake, Transition Primer: A Guide to Becoming a Transition Town, US Version
Contributors: Jean-Ernst Voigt, Transition US
Recommended Reading: Transition Primer: A Guide to Becoming a Transition Town, US Version
Nicole Bienfang's TOCC Trip Report 2013
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New notebooks purchased for notes for workshops
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Neon index cards purchased to give fellow attendees my contact info
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White index cards purchased to get contact info from attendees (and survey data if they had the time)
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Url purchased- www.thetransition.info (used for survey to make it easy to remember)
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Online survey created
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Our online survey was printed out to run people through it if they had time availability
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Finished Reading Philanthrocapitalism book on train ride to event
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Purchased used book at random gas station read in its entirety: Transitions- Making Sense of Life’s Changes, Strategies for Coping with the Difficult Painful, and Confusing Times in Your Life (which really applies to our group and how it is hard for people to transition from one thing lifestyle, job, relationship etc to another even if it is more beneficial)
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Saw first hand how work shifts were divvied out to members and how work was accomplished as a community
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Participated in Twin Oaks Community 2 hr. Tour
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Participated in Acorn Community Tour (not sure of length of time)
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Learned Transparency Tools (Unsaids and Withholds)
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Learned About 22 Reasons to Share Housing (http://www.sharinghousing.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/08/22-Reasons_TwinOaks.pdf)
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Learned Icebreakers/games to get groups of strangers to build relationships and create intimacy
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Gave an introduction to all attendees about The Transition: who we are,what we do, and what our end vision is (and got a lot of “Oh you are The Transition girl” "Someone told me I should talk to you" because of it, throughout the whole conference).
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Talked with various community representatives about our group
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Participated in the Community Development “Track” of workshops which covered:
-Starting a Community
-Online Storytelling: Modern Tools to Build Your Community
-Alphabet Soup: Legal Structures for Communities
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Donated items to FIC Benefit Auction and bid on items as well. The following items were won:
- 5 back copies of Communities Magazine with topics covering:
*Health & Well Being
* Community in Hard Times
*Festivals and Gatherings
*Politics in Community
*Scarcity and Abundance
- DVD The End of Suburbia-Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream
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Purchased from FIC pop up bookstore book title: The New Social Learning A Guide to Transforming Organizations Through Social Media (only a few pages in so far too much work to do!)
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Was a co-lecturer/speaker at an Open Session (workshops presented by attendees) on the topic of transitional concepts and the “in between” here and now and where we want to be. (This is when what we are dong started to click for people).
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Attended New Economics Symposium which addressed alternative currencies being used by people attending the conference and learned about Plenties in particular (see: http://theplenty.org/).
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Acquired multiple takeaways such as detailed sheets about workshop material, flyers, brochures etc. of various communities, organizations.
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At a restroom stop purchased a blueprint book at a big box hardware store. The designs focus on entertaining, organized, de-stressing and flexible use spaces. These are perfect for co-housing concepts as well as main community buildings for intentional communities. This book will serve as inspiration for our organization to form blueprints of our own for our site to be used by our online virtual community.
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125 mass e-mails sent out to everyone who shared their contact info and attended the event with information of our Facebook group as well as our online survey.
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1 survey done in person other personal contacts committed to doing it online)
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21 personal contacts made (including notables and key influencers in this field- I will be following up with all of them via e-mail, phone and Skype chats in the coming weeks)
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1 attendee was a pre-existing Hybrid member!
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Posted on Twin Oaks Community Conference an invite to this page as well as the link to the survey to help build the website.
As always if you have any questions about anything feel free to contact me directly. :)
Take Action
"Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely daydreaming, but vision with action can change the world."
~ Nelson Mandela
People often ask us "What Can I Do?"
To achieve our mission, we believe in combining online and offline activism.
Of course, there are many ways to effect change in the world: political campaigns or lobbying, direct action protests and rallies, consciousness raising groups, etc. We see the need in our world to work primarily outside the system to define and demonstrate new cultures, sometimes radically different from the mainstream. Below is a list of various suggested activities our supporters have put together that they find to be most effective. You can do these on your own time to learn more about The Transition and help promote it to spread awareness!
We welcome your suggestions (via our Suggestion Box) to improve this list so we can be an example of positive, intentional social change!
Start completing the steps outlined in Your Action Plan
Things you can do:
Share:
Print and Distribute
- The official The Transition Brochure. (Under Development- We are looking for a Graphic Designer)
- A Vindication of Human Dignity Brochure
- 6 Principles of Non-Violence Flyer
- Our official informational flyers during other cultural and social fairs in your area. ( Under Development- We are looking for a Graphic Designer)
- Our official posters in schools, colleges, and universities. We've discovered bathroom/lavatory stalls are one of the most effective places you can put them in these types of venues. (Under Development- We are looking for a Graphic Designer)
-Asking people in your community to sign up for our e-mail (on our Home page) list to show their support for the work we are doing is one of the best and easiest ways to raise awareness locally, and to bring more voices to our cause. It's easy to get started, too—you can work as a group with friends and neighbors, or you can take action on your own. Below are a few tips and tricks for successfully asking others to get involved.
- Make an “I'm Part of The Transition!” Video like this one and send directly to us via our Contact Form.
- Distribute copies of the DVD versions of the films found in our Movie Vault. They are great as gifts, rewards or take-aways at large fairs, festivals, and events.
Get Social
You can help us grow our network of people willing to take action for the environment. Tweet, blog, and feature our content on Facebook and other social network platforms.
- Join our Facebook Community and Help Spread the Word (Looking for Facebook Page Manager)
- Any time you see a fellow Transition Supporter or Contributor sharing content about The Transition on their Facebook profile give it a Love so others see they are not alone. It also inspires the person who shared that content to share more!
- Share viral images from our Meme Portal on your Facebook, Pinterest, and other social networks to raise awareness of what we are doing.
- Research new technologies and share your discoveries with the Tech Research / Facebook Teams via our Contact Us page.
- List yourself as a Supporter/Contributor/Volunteer/Seed/ BUD Team Member/Translator on your Facebook personal profile. Be sure NOT to imply or state that you work for The Transition.
Example:
- Share the videos we call The Basics on your profile.
- Change your Political Views to Global Egalitarian System.
- Change your cover image to one of The Transition designs.
- Share content off our Facebook page by following the guidelines given in the “Long Description” section.
- Follow us on Twitter (Looking for Twitter Manager)
- Subscribe to our Youtube channel and share our videos (Looking for YouTube Channel Manager)
- Share memes from our Meme Portal.
Volunteer:
Once you have reached Phase II and are properly educated about what The Transition is about you can volunteer and take a more active role in all the positive things our organization is doing.
- Since we are a young organization we need lots of help with getting more people involved. You can help us by using your referral link found on the Spread the Word page.
- Review the roles for Volunteering and see if there are any roles you can fulfill.
- Register your Skills so we know who to turn to when someone needs help with something you specialize in.
- Once you are a Contributor you can learn more about the specific needs of others in The Transition Inter-Community Network and help them out by contacting them about their Classified ads.
Sign
Watch
Write
Attend
Build Support
Connect
Get Trained
Donate
How Are You Helping?
Sources: Metta Center: What is a Road-map, A Vindication of Human Dignity Brochure, Pixabay
Contributors: geralt, Metta Center, Tumisu
Recommended Reading: Metta Center: What is a Road-map, A Vindication of Human Dignity Brochure