People power in a changing climate

Throughout history some of the most sweeping changes in society have been driven not by governments, scientists or self-interest groups, but from a great number of like-minded people deciding that enough is enough, something must be done.

Despotic governments, unfair taxes and corporate greed have all faced the might of people power, but now it seems that the stealthily creeping erosion of our planet has begun to motivate and mobilise an increasing number of concerned citizens.

Evidence of this movement comes with the emergence in the UK of Transition Towns.

Transition Towns is the name given to communities that have decided to adopt a range of practices in response to the challenge of climate change and related ecological threats, including peak oil and the excessive exploitation of natural resources. These communities have accepted that peak oil will happen and have started to take steps to ensure that when it does start to impact, they're ready for it.

The central theme for all these communities is that the activities are being undertaken and driven at a grass roots level – by ordinary, everyday people. These are not a result of the diktats of government or the ambitions of profit focused corporations, but individuals prioritising sustainable and ecologically viable initiatives over commerce and consumption. They are doing so largely from a view that too little is being done by those bodies and organisations that are supposed to take a lead, but lack the long-term outlook and motivation to do so.

Nor are these merely the ad hoc efforts of well meaning enthusiasts without a clue. Already a formal ‘Transition Model’ has been defined to provide structure around the concept of being a Transition Town. This has an extensive set of criteria to follow for a community joining the movement; core to this is an understanding of the challenges of climate change and peak oil. From that fundamental starting point follows all the activities designed to reduce energy and commodity usage.

Banish the bags

One of the highest profile examples of a spontaneous ‘transition initiative’ has been Modbury, in Devon, which finally stood up against the tyranny of endless free plastic bags that has hung as a spectre over the act of shopping for more than a quarter of a century.

Last spring, led by one determined wildlife camerawoman, Rebecca Hosking, the town banished all plastic carrier bags from its shops. All households were given reusable cotton bags to use instead.

Other than the occasional errant outsider, the only sight of plastic bags now is as they are stuffed into the amnesty bins left around town to be reused elsewhere or even recycled.

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