The transition group of Alingsås gathers to make new visions for their city. Photo: Omställning Alingsås.
Ever felt that much needs to be done in order to save the planet, but that the world leaders are taking their time? After going to the climate summit in Copenhagen last year, this was my feeling, and I know I’m not alone. The transition movement is made up of thousands of small initiatives around the world, wanting to start the work of making society less dependant on fossil fuels and more adjusted to the limits of our planet.
In Sweden, the movement was officially launched last autumn and there are already about 70 transition initiatives allover the country, where people gather to discuss what can be done at the local level. But they are not just talking: practical action is an important part of it too. For example I have been in contact with the group of my old hometown Alingsås, where the transition group has organised a food growing training course. In other places, there are workshops about how to make your own electricity, carpools are started and clothes-swap parties are arranged.
Often there these groups also connects with the local politicians, in order to influence how the city or region is structured and planned, and to talk about what could be done at that level. Making it easier for local food producers to sell their products to people living in the area is just one example.
But there are no predetermined answers to how to make this transition, Janne Forsmark who works as a project leader for Omställning Sverige (as the Swedish transition network is called) points out to me.
“We don’t want to tell people how they should do this, we are just offering ideas, thoughts and a lot of enthusiasm. THis is just the start of a big social experiment. A new movement”, he says.
I suppose he is right. Changing our society from one which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels will require lots of imagination and new ideas.