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It is our goal to work collaboratively with initiatives mostly throughout Wisconsin and to a degree throughout the world, to be a resource for those projects that would benefit from utilizing our non-profit status.

In an effort to learn from one another, we are interested in finding out about your area’s efforts to transition. Whether you are simply a couple of people brainstorming or a larger set of people with dedicated smaller focus groups, we want to hear from you. What projects have you started? How do you get the word out? What works? What doesn’t work? We intend to build on our networking and hope to help Transition initiatives avoid doing everything from scratch.

Please contact us with your comments at info@transitionwisconsin.org
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On October 29, 2010 (effective April 9, 2010) the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) granted our application for Federal Tax Exemption. This defines us as a charity with the ability to receive and provide grants for the purpose of educating the public about the Transition movement. As a result, the ability to donate to Transition Wisconsin is now available. Merely click on the Donation menu item at the top of the page or scroll to the bottom of the home page to see the Transition Wisconsin Donation area. The donations will be used for educational purposes.

Before starting, please take a half hour and view our latest video from the Post Carbon Institute entitled "YOU ARE HERE: The Oil Journey".   It is well worth your time and please share it with your friends.  It is that important.

Ok, now to our story:

This is a compelling read. One way or the other it will change your life and the life of every other person on this planet. Sounds bizarre, we know, but please read on. Before beginning, please promise to continue to the end of this article. While the beginning appears to be doom and gloom, the end has the promise of great opportunity. It could well be the greatest transition in human history. We hope you will join us after reading this.

One thing we ask is a belief that petroleum (oil) is not a renewable resource. Second, that Climate Change is real. And last, that these two things will be bad for our economy. Why? Read on. But as you read please remember it is wiser to plan for change than to be forced to react to it.

Our Vision is to help create and support State of Wisconsin wide vibrant communities to inspire, encourage, network, support and train communities as they consider, adopt, adapt and implement the transition model in order to establish a Transition Initiative. The Transition model emboldens communities to look peak oil and climate change squarely in the eye and unleash the collective genius of their own people to find the ways to become communities which are resilience and self-reliant in the face of unstable economic and resource origins including the naturally constant but terminal decline of petroleum.

 

This is the basis for the Transition Movement. Scroll past our mission graphic for the details:

 

 

 

Here are the details:  "Peak Oil" is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. The United States production of oil peaked in the early 1970's. Ever since then, the United States has been importing petroleum. Now, however, it is the entire world which has been predicted to peak in oil production. This world peak has already just occurred or will do so within a few years. There is no certainty until after the fact.

Peak Oil is not about “running out of oil”; it’s about “running out of cheap oil”. There will always be oil left in the ground because it's either too hard to reach, or it takes too much energy to extract. Regardless of how much money can be made selling oil, once it takes more than an oil barrel's worth of energy to extract a barrel of oil, the exploration, the drilling and the pumping will grind to a halt. The key elements of industrial societies - transportation, manufacturing, food production, medical equipment and drugs, home heating, construction - are all reliant on oil. Because thousands of these products are made from or use petroleum in their manufacturing, their prices will also go up or the product(s) may become scarce.

 

BREAKING NEWS World Oil Production begins terminal decline. Prices sure to increase. Stay tuned.

 

Source

The graph above is a display of World Peak Oil.

Notice when it is occurring.

 

Likewise, the effects of Climate Change could also have diverse negative effects on our towns and cities if left unchecked. For example, there may be more frequent droughts or more severe storms. These, in turn, make it more difficult for farmers to grow the food we eat. The Transition movement helps neighborhoods and communities share resources so that they are better able to bounce back from whatever Mother Nature throws at them.

Evidence what causes Climate Change:

;

(If you're using Firefox then right click on picture

and select "View Image" for larger graph.)

The above chart describes the level of CO2 currently in our atmosphere. Using trapped air in polar ice, scientists have been able to measure CO2 levels back 650,000 years. These levels have never been as high as they exist today. A consensus of world-wide scientists says that CO2 acts like a blanket around planet Earth. Over time this will increase world temperatures to dangerous levels, unless it is prevented. We need the political will to make the required changes to prevent these predicted high temperatures.


Look around you. People are experiencing unemployment the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression. People are losing their homes, our roads need repair, bridges need replacing. Everyone can see this.  This appears to be the beginning phases of our collective Transition.

So, why are we so optimistic in a sea of potential doom and gloom?

We are in the beginning stages of GLOBAL resource reduction. GLOBAL resources will need to be replaced by LOCAL resources. This is the secret blueprint of the Transition Movement. It holds the promise of allowing us to plan together, in each of our own communities. It allows us the chance to unleash as much creativity during the energy down-slope as was used in the years during the energy upslope. This is a huge and exciting opportunity. Remember, it is far better to plan for change than to suddenly react to it.

Just being able to come together, to know your neighbors in ways which will build awareness as well as trust will allow each of us to support each other during the challenging times ahead. Imagine the richness of experiences that could be yours if you knew your neighbors and shared rides, or meals, or tools, or childcare or music with them - - if you could just pop next door to ask for a favor or to make something together.

Your neighbor might grow potatoes and you might have chickens which provide fresh eggs. Multiply these and thousands of other various options and you get the picture that we will soon be able to rely on each other rather than the national chain grocery store for food. We end up with fresher food and we won't be caught without food during times food deliveries can not be made to the local grocery store because of high fuel prices or even unavailable fuel. In other words, we will become LOCALLY productive. We do not have to wait either. We can start now. Grow a garden, Get pet chickens.  It will all help.

 

An interesting factoid:  According to instructors at Gateway Technical Institute, only 2% of our food is grown where we live.  In addition, the average distance our food travels to our plates is 1300 miles.  So, if there is less energy to get our food to our plates, where is our food going to come from?  Again, better to plan for this than be taken by surprise.

These are the difficult reasons for the Transition grass roots movement. If we do not plan for both Peak Oil and Climate Change simultaneously the alternative will be to merely react. Which is better? We believe planning is the best and most positive route.

The Transition Movement was born of a desire to envision a future with fewer resources, but a future the way we want to live it. To create places to live which are resilient (capable of withstanding shock without permanent damage.) This grass roots movement has continued to evolve, community by community, through out the world on all six continents. Each person's participation is essential because each community has needs which are unique.

There is no one to blame for these issues. We all do what is in our best interest until such time as we know better. Hopefully, we can begin now because we know better.

The originator of the movement, Rob Hopkins has said, "Transition is a social experiment on a grand scale, and we don't know if it will work. But we do know that if we wait for government it will be too little, too late, and if we rely on individuals, it will be too little. But if we come together as communities, it might be just enough, just in time." Getting to know your neighbors has never been more important.

So, why should you join us?

Once a member you will have the the following resources available to you (and more):

 

• Transition Wisconsin is now integrated with Twitter.
  
• Take a poll and view results.  (Look under Members (next to Internet) and select Poll)
• Explore impact of climate change on Google Earth. (Look under Get Started for Google Earth)
• Looking for a new vehicle? How many gallons of fuel per passenger does it take to cover a distance of 350 miles? This may surprise you. (NEW) A Cruise liner is actually better than the average SUV.(Listed as Fuel per Passenger under Getting Started Menu)
• Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast is a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of global warming: Video Lecture by David Archer from a core class for non-science majors, Fall Quarter, 2009, University of Chicago. (NEW) (Find it under the Media Menu at the top of the home page)
• Climate 1 Stop, researchers attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen unveiled a unique web site that gathers and organizes climate data for decision makers, professional scientists and lay people. (NEW) located in the Media Menu.
• A news feed from "The Oil Drum" (NEW) located on the Left column.
• An Economics Addition to ‘The Transition Handbook' (NEW) (under getting started)
• Middle East Business Intelligence Link (NEW) (Free Subscription)
• Extensive info on Peak Oil and Climate Change
• How to think "Locally" including the need for local currency and monetary change.
• Learn about Permaculture.
• View Global Warming Art, a collection of figures and images that accurately highlight and describe key issues necessary to understanding our world's changing climate.
• 100 specific things you can do during Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
• Learn about Reskilling. The re-acquiring of skills we will need to manage the energy decline transition we face.
• How you can create your own Transition community.
• Ways people can have choices for living in an urban lifestyle in sustainable, convenient and enjoyable places while providing solutions to Peak Oil and Climate Change.
• Share your own pictures/videos and experiences.
• View many informative videos. Currently 23 available.
• Advertise your own events for free.
• Get to know others in your area.
• Wisconsin transition resources on the Internet.

In summary, Transition Wisconsin is a networking site for those interested in exploring or implementing the Transition framework in Wisconsin communities. This site is being created through grassroots participation, and is continually evolving. It is intended to connect interested "transitioners" with each other and to support the development of local Transition Initiatives.

The following video is probably the best description

of the Transition movement and why it has been organized.

Thanks for taking the time to review our concerns as well as our positive approach to those concerns. We would enjoy having you join us. By signing-up you will have much more information about Peak Oil, Climate Change as well as the Transition Movement.

• Written by Rees Roberts and Judy Skog