Freeconomy Blog
Tue
25 Aug
Making the collective transition to going off-grid
| 17 comments |
I've just cycled back from a fantastic festival in Somerset, south-west England, called 'Sunrise Off-grid', which was billed as a Transition festival. For those of you who are unaware of the Transition Network, it's a movement of people, the world over, who are collectively looking for solutions to the massive problem peak oil is imminently about to present to us.
Peak oil - so what the hell is that then? This is a huge subject in itself, but it basically comes down to this simple fact - we have based our entire civilisation around a resource called oil. If you don't believe me just take a look at every single thing in the room where you are now, and try to find one thing that didn't use oil in some form getting to your room (remember plastic is oil too). Which is a bit foolish, really, given that oil is a finite resource and therefore by definition has to run out. When it actually runs out is up for discussion, but the fact that it will run out is not. But it's not only the running out that is the problem - there is also the fact that once production reaches its peak it becomes increasingly unaffordable for people, meaning that for many it will effectively run out long before it actually does. At the moment we are using 4 barrels of oil for every one we discover, meaning that we have already moved well beyond that point. And just to highlight how critical oil is in our lives at present, the oil we use today is the equivalent of having 22 billion slaves hard at work each day for us. It is the sole reason that we in the west can live the modern lives we have today, which are, to be frank, completely unsustainable in every sense of the word.
So what Transition is about is coming up with solutions to how we intelligently design society for a time when oil is not only completely depleted, as it inevitably will be, but also for a time when it becomes unaffordable for most people and most industries. As I am sure you understand, it is better to do this now, in advance, than wait for the humanure to hit the fan.
Back to the point though. This festival was powered completely by energy produced on-site. It consisted of four days of workshops on every aspect of society, from economy to ecology, from education to energy, from food to friendship and from politics to pottery. Well, that was during the day anyway, in the evenings there was music and song and dance - if the (r)evolution isn't fun, afterall, then I don't want to be part of it. In fact, no generation has ever had more crime, mental health problems, higher rates of suicide and depression and all the other indicators of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, as this generation I have found myself in. And no generation has had more energy. At least frying the planet would have some justification if it was at least making us happy.
Festivals such as this often get criticised sometimes because they attract the usual suspects (i.e the green movement and the alternative thinkers but very little of the rest of the population). But I disagree - this is a tough world to deal with sometimes, given the levels of suffering and destruction humanity causes every single second and which we all have to witness, and many activists can feel alone and small whilst fighting symptoms that seem to get increasingly large. What festivals such as this offer is a safe place where activists can go and re-energise for the battles ahead, and a place to channel the inevitable anger that naturally arises when one witnesses oppression and injustice. Well organised events such as this can help turn that justifiable anger into powerful and positive action.
I certainly left today feeling completely inspired and ready to give the world my all again; it's kind of like plugging yourself into a socket (solar of course) and having a recharge. And it is also just really inspiring knowing there are so many great people out there working hard for so much positive change.
I've had the complete fortune also, over the last few days, of getting to hang out and talk with heroes of mine, people who have really inspired me over the years. None moreso than Theo Simon, the lead singer of a fantastic band called Seize the Day. Theo has spent the last 20 years not only writing and performing the songs that have inspired the vast majority of activists in the UK and beyond, he is constantly on the frontline himself whenever he sees suffering or destruction, whether it be against fellow humans, fellow animals or the planet. His latest campaign is with the workers of the Vesta Wind Turbine factory on the Isle of Wight, who recently lost their jobs because their bosses, who made £76 million in the last three months, realised they could make an extra 0.5% of profit if they moved their operations to the US. Many workers were taken on only months earlier and adviced that these jobs were safe and that they could take out mortgages, only to be given barely any notice and a £200 redundancy package. Those who occupied themselves in the factory lost all their redundancy, and it was those who had spent the best part of their working lifes there. Thats green capitalism for you. A system dependent on competition, and not cooperation, will always result in this.
I went to a workshop with Theo on Friday morning called Conscious Activism or something to that effect. Over the years this guy has seen a lot of brutality, mostly from the police as they defended the interests of those with the financial clout to pay for this state protection, both here and in the US. As anyone who has been on a direct action to stop an incredible injustice knows, the police can be particularly brutal. He described many of the incidents he has had whilst non-violently demonstrating, and it was not pretty listening. But what touched every single person in that workshop to their core was how he talked about the police despite all of this.
It basically goes like this - if we are really serious about affecting real change, and not just boosting our egos, then we really need to engage with the police in a really positive way. The police defend the interests of the wealthy over the interests of the masses in many instances, and always will. So if we do not try to get them on-side, we haven't got a hope in hell of making real lasting change. If you accept this, you must accept we need to win their hearts and minds and have the patience to do so.
Theo gave many examples over the years, both of when he reacted with anger and when we acted with compassion for the police who one may say 'he was up against'. You can guess which approach he got the best results with. In Seattle in 1999 when police were acting extremely brutal, as US police do, he put his neck firmly on the line when trying to protect an injured police officer, and every police officer defending the line suddenly backed down when they seen what he done and the police realised that the protestors were no longer the enemy. With the Vesta's case recently, security guards were initially doing everything possible to stop food getting to the workers who occupied the factory. After Theo spoke to them and told them he knew they were only doing the job they were paid to do, and that he didn't blame them at all as they could have just as easily been sent off to do security at a festival, again the guards were won over and they started to turn a blind eye to the food runs, which meant the workers could eat. He said the moment you see yourself as more righteous than them, then walls go up and the police almost inevitably win, given their size and legalised force.
He did add though that although he didn't see the police as the enemy anymore, it wouldn't stop him standing up when he seen oppression occurring. And he also mentioned that once you've told the officer you know he or she is only doing their job on this occasion, that you should add that they should form a union so that in the future whenever any officer feels that she or he is being morally compromised, they can refuse to work, and to remind them of the 1918 police strike to show them that it is possible for them to also stand up for true justice, and not lose their jobs or the respect of their colleagues.
He spoke completely from the heart the entire workshop and most people left saying they almost cried during it, myself included, and there were many hardened activists in there.
This is not easy, and I am not under the illusion it is. In fact it is highly challenging. But it is necessary if we are serious about affecting change. If anyone other than Theo had got up and said this, no one would have listened; but because he is held in the highest respect by almost every activist in the land, you'd be a fool not to listen. I just wish there were more people there to hear it, including some of my dear friends. I also got to hang out with him later on in the day and a more humble, gentle yet unbelievably powerful and compassionate human being I have never met. A true hero.
Another legend I got to meet for the first time was Patrick Whitefield, the author of the Earth Care Manual and the UK's leading permaculturalist. He was in the crowd for a talk I was giving, and seeing someone in the crowd who knows infinitely more about almost everything than you adds a bit of pressure to the occasion I can tell you. Again he was an absolute gentleman to meet and the talk went really well, with a packed barn asking tonnes of questions about both the rationale and practicalities of my year without money and the philosophy behind the Freeconomy Community.
Any Transition event is graced when Rob Hopkins, its founder, comes along to it. Rob is a fantastic speaker and a spearhead for the movement, and someone who works tirelessly for the health of the planet. What I found great about his talk was that he had to limit his powerpoint presentation to 1hr as if he went any longer the band that were playing on that stage later that evening wouldn't have had enough electricity to play! Taking responsibility for producing your own needs, and not expecting someone else to carry the ecological cost for you, is a beautiful thing, and Rob is a beautiful expression of the universe.
On top of getting to meet these great people, I also hooked up with my friend Fergus Drennan, forager extraordinaire and star of BBC series Roadkill Chef, who started a year eating nothing but wild food about seven weeks ago. Fergus brought small armies of festival goers on wild food walks around the site and you couldn't imagine how much food was available in what looked like just a grassy field. He had just come from Pembrokeshire in Wales on a seaweed foraging mission, and came to the festival in part to dry out his seaweed, before disaster struck in the form of a downpour, turning the seaweed mouldy and writing off three days of hard labour.
(Fergus digging himself a wild yam at Sunrise Off-grid, some of which he did with a spoon - I kid you not.)
I also spoke a lot with Martin Simon, director of Timebanks UK, and despite differences in our philosophies - timebanks being based on exchange whilst freeconomy is based on 'pay-it-forward' principles - we agreed on 95% of things. In a capitalist political system, they'd be the competition. In the arena of trying to make the world a better place to live, we don't just cooperate, we actively support each others projects. Competition is really not the way forward.
But I think aside from all these amazing people I have had the complete privilege to meet, probably my best experiences were with all the new friends I've made over the last few days - people like Jon Cousins, who is one of the most beautiful souls I've met in the longest time, the lovely Alex from Buddhafield Cafe and Nina and Justine to name just the first few that come to my head, not to mention all those who came to the talks. Each one of them inspired me in different ways.
Couple of question for you all - do you ever get down by the amount of suffering and destruction you are exposed to each day? And if so, who inspires you to keep going (feel free to add links in the comments section)? And what have you found gives you a new lease of life when you find yourself without hope? Let us know, the more tools and sources of inspiration we all have to keep going and doing the best we feel we can, the more effective we are going to be. Great to be sharing the planet with you all.
THE FREECONOMY BLOG is written by Mark Boyle, Founder of The Freeconomy Community.
Comment on this Post:
elusive butterfly comments ...
Yesterday I was at the supermarket with my son.At one point I knelt down to speak to him about something and happened to look by the side of me.Stareing at me was a shelf of dead animals packed ready for the consumer.My stomache really turned over and I felt naeuseus(cant spell it) Since turning Vegeterian there seems to be meat everywhere.Its strange to think that I never used to bat an eyelid at these `products`
but now the sight of them turns my stomache! :(
Yes of course it gets me down.But I just try my best to switch off... I often feel like going up to everyone in the supermarket and yelling at them not to eat meat and the reasons why!!! :( My son doesnt eat meat at home.But eats it at my moms and his dads... They both have a view that he needs the protein from meat to grow properly.Its frustrating but they are not willing to listen and its still early days yet... Im hopeing the more Information my son knows the more likely he`ll decide for himself when the time is right to give up meat of his own accord.
Who Inspires me to keep going? My son for starters and his future.At the moment this website also inspires me.... I also feel inspired at the thought of all the people who are doing as much as poss throughout the world to make it a better place.What gives me a new lease of life?... I do!! I have to no-one else who will.:) Plus sitting in the garden or going for a walk and enjoying the nature all around me usually gives me a lift.:)
Ive got a `Proviso` on my wall that helps me a lot.Its basically highlighting the power of the mind and saying we`re capable of anything if we put our mind to it... I always try to think positive.:)
Not always easy,but considering all the information Ive taken in these past few months and my current frame of mind.I`d say Im thinking quite positively and trying to be more postive in the company of negative people.:) I smiled at loads more people than usual today when I was out and about.I just thought sod it, I dont care if they think Im mad coz I know Im def not.Im just enlightened sumwhat more thats all.:)
comments ...
The problem with the oil is our complete dependency on it. It's a lesson we have to learn not to depend only in one product, and try to find different ones to replace oil, the same goes for not to see only one way of living, and accept the diversity as we accept different paths (spiritual practices) to reach the same sources.
fergus comments ...
Like yams, from dirt and dust we arise; to dirt and dust we will return - oil or not. What a cheery thought, that nature, the world, reality will be as it will be whether we, collectively, are here or not. While we are here let's try to love one another and be more compassionate. It's so difficult but as the Sunrise festival showed there are like minded people to support and be encouraged by. Let's grasp such opportunities or be condemned to dig toxic yams with a spoon. x
Lyssa comments ...
Sounds like you had a great time at the festival! Wish I was there too. And I absolutely love that photo (and caption) now THERE is a guy having fun, lol.
With regards the oil... we had that question on the forum a little while ago "find something in the room you're in that didn't involve oil at some stage".. it was blinking impossible! I'd find something that SEEMS not to involve oil and then remember some little link in the chain that did... usually transporting it here in the first place!! I think one person found something... and that was a seasonal table display she had collected pieces from the forest herself!! My only example at the time was the milk I had that had come straight from the cow that walked it's way over to us, lol. But you're absolutely right.... reflecting on it, it does seem absolutely absurd to be so absolutely dependant on one product or source, doesn't it? when it finally runs out for good the majority of the world is gonna be kinda screwed, isn't it? To be perfectly honest I kinda hope that moment comes sooner rather than later so that the world can then get on with living without oil! And the wars over oil can then stop too.
And now to answer your questions... do I ever get down by the amount of suffering and destruction.... well of course I do... You'd have to be a heartless person not to! And who keeps me going? well my daughters of course! Tho I do sometimes feel that little question of is it the right thing to bring children into a world such as this but then I think no... the more of us that feel this way that bring the children into this world... the better... as we can then teach those children the way the world should be, and hopefully give them the skills and inspiration to CHANGE things!! And who inspires me? Well you of course!! and alot of the others on here!!
Mark comments ...
elusive butterfly - keep smiling and breaking down people's fears, peace is something that will only ever come if we all start interacting more peacefully on a daily basis so never stop. Thank you for all you do. Person without a name - fully agree, diversity is critical. Fergus - beautiful words softly spoken; that yam has done you a lot of good, it seems! LyssaM - lovely thoughts as always, great to be sharing the planet with you.
Ana comments ...
I am resentful with the whole money system and after the financial crisis I feel badly cheated because even it's not been our fault (we've never lived on credit), it's affected us equally and for low income people is even worse (prices, bills, taxes, etc. are rising totally out of control). In fact I never trust on it, and somehow I've always try to minimaze the dependency on money, my dilema still is if would it be possible for a family live without money ??. Person without a name : )
LyssaM comments ...
Ana - Having two children myself, I know how expensive they are (just now remembered the eldest is need of new school shoes... great, another £40, ontop of the £100 I had to spend on uniform) and I have to say... alone, then no... you would never manage it, not at all.... not with all the things they need in school and the expectations around. But in an environment where everyone was doing the same thing, where the support and the help was available, then yes, I see no reason why not.... there are areas in the world where people still live moneyless, and they have children and families so it CAN be done.
Ana comments ...
Our similar? transition path; Once I have a dream (it has never materialized fully) about 15 years ago, that we should aim to live self-sufficient in our own still limited possibilities, my partner then (now my husband) was on/off work intermittently. I used to bake our bread then, and decided to start growing our own veggies in the garden of our rented private home) and got a local allotment later. With the amount of waste that we produce in this society, we decided that we didn't need anything new, until today most of our modest possessions are coming from friends, recycling, DIY (my husband is very skillful in transforming useless stuff into useful workable ones) and the "art of Availability" so much mentioned on Suelo's blog, if you deeply honestly believe that you need something (not only material) it will come your way without a doubt, clothing included. Of course sometimes, it's a time consuming exercise (that are the Grey areas). Still happily on our slow transition though.
Ana comments ...
I forgot to tell you Lyssa, that for first time I have to buy the first NEW uniform in approx. 10 years to my teen daughter, the deluded new headteacher has decide that moving to a more posh blazier uniforms might improve the achievement standard at school.
Meera comments ...
Mark, have you heard about the Non-Cooperation Movement of India? I see your green movement as the "Non-cooperation Movement" of the World. And I also see that its shortcomings are just like the one in India. The Non-cooperation movement failed because there were no alternatives for the people following Gandhiji or at least they were slow to come up. Of course, it was a great initiation which ultimately lead to Indian sovereign, but nonethless the struggle had to be continued by more efficient movements. What I mean is, everyone knows that oil is going to come to an end, and almost everyone (at least deep in heart) condemns the monetary system. But what people need are new ideas for the ideal world. e.g. if there would be no exploitation of resources or at least minimal, then how will criminals be kept away without handcuffs and chains and all?? What will those do who are not good at agriculture or basket weaving, etc.? How will children be educated without the books made from wood pulp? I think problems will be there in every field, because we are talking about a completely different life. And without ideas solving these problems most will be reluctant to join you. You know, I'm not against you (did I make it sound like that?), but just asking the common question!
Lyssa M comments ...
Meera, By following Marks lead... it doesn't mean that we'll suddenly be launched into the past and not have anything we have now... because alot of what we have now will still be around... jails will still be there, schools will still be there, our homes will still be here. text books, from when I remember at school get reprinted but still exactly the same.. e.g. I remember there not being enough science text books to go around so my teacher had to get out the old ones... they were a slightly different size so it was sometimes a pain to figure out which page we were supposed to be on, when everyone else was on page 52, we might be on page 57 or something... but the text, the images they were all exactly the same. so for text books, as long as they are well kept we should be ok and for exercise books there are alternatives to woodpulp, recycled paper... fergus the forager's mushroom paper, lol...
Ana comments ...
The way I see it, specially for families, we're well trapped in the whole financial system and it has been created intentionally for govt., institutions and businesses in power, they have made sure you can not survive with your salary so topping it up with the credit system, you see we're completely to the mercy of this capitalist system.
Meera comments ...
Lyssa, thanks for the alternatives to woodpulp and the suggestion of reuse of books! I know, we won't loose everything we have already. Perhaps they are enough for some good long years, but what about the time when buildings start to fall off and the pages of the books become too rotten to be reused? We are in such a critical stage where even a little exploitation can be hazardous for the climate and our Mother Earth. Hence, if we decide to prevent that it will mean no mining and no building of institutions for manufacture. This takes us back to the dark ages (I mean the situation will be similar) where everything has to be made by your own hands.....which won't work for making chains and such things as far as I can understand! By the way, I solved the question of employment myself only by giving it a little thought...ha! Of course, if the industrial revolution decreased employment, avoiding industrial manufacturing will increase employment! Why didn't I think of that before? Ana, yes, we are trapped but we must always try to reduce it to whatever extent we can - for own good!
Ana comments ...
Agree Meera, to reduce consumption according to our personal needs. And perhaps it's not such a doom & gloom, according to Julian Lincoln Simon, 'The Ultimate Resource' is a criticism of the conventional wisdom on population growth, raw-material scarcity and resource consumption. Read more in wikipedia.
Meera comments ...
Hey, everyone, now this is something which flushed me with hope and ecstasy! I knew Ayurveda would be very effective in our ideal world, but never knew it was so advanced.....read it here: http://www.thisismyindia.com/ancient_india/ancient-india-medicine.html
Freida Mai comments ...
Hi Saorsie - good to see you again at Sunrise off the Grid - Rock on Bro x
tracey dunn comments ...
I was at sunrise...it was a really uplifting experience.
I visited Penzance in Cornwall for a holiday in October and there was a heatwave all week. I visited lots of megalithic sites.Now that was completely healing after all the struggles an activist goes thru.keep up the good work
