Transition Towns Kapiti is a grassroots group proactively working to build a strong and healthy local community.

We believe that by working with those around us, we can be more resilient to the challenges of a world faced with resource depletion, climate change and a global recession.

Join a community of forward-thinking people interested in bringing about a bright future.

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Check out the New Political Party The New Economics party
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931

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Events

A farewell to arms

cross on a military grave

Photo: robwest.

Read Latest article

A farewell to arms

We had Guy McPherson in Petone on 6th July this year.

Niki Harré Talk & Workshop: Sat 29 Sep 10.30am, Te Ra Hall, Free

wildwoodnz@gmail.com 04 299 1045

Niki Harre Talk

Niki Harre Talk

Community Solutions for Today

Community Development & Future Planning Strategist

Laurence Boomert presents:

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY

A public talk showing how we can revitalise, reconnect & make resilient our community using the best social & economic models available

7:30 p.m., Thurs 20th September

at St Peter’s Hall, Paekakariki

Come find out how we can:

  • use cooperatives & community currencies
  • create employment by answering social needs
  • strengthen and future-proof our local businesses
  • create healthier, happier homes and neighbourhoods
  • prepare and make our communities resilient for harder times.
Laurence Boomert

Laurence Boomert

Laurence Boomert has a long history in contingency planning, green business development and community solutions. In the 1990s he founded the 500 member Environmental Business Network. He currently runs the Bank of Real Solutions an online database of community can-do success stories. He is a co-writer of “Fleeing Vesuvius: Responding to the effects of economic and environmental collapse” published 2011 by Living Economieswith whom he is a board member. He is co-founder of the New Economics Party. Along the way he has done everything from being an organic farmer to a television presenter (on Maggie’s Garden Show) to founding a new political party. He serves on a variety of national and local trusts dedicated to sustainable living.

Folding donation gratefully accepted towards speaker’s travel costs.

Brought to you by Kapiti Timebank, Transition Town Kapiti and The Bank of Real Solutions realsolutions.org.nz

Public talk in Otaki, 19 September 2012

Climate change? Financial crises? Energy shortages?

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY

Laurence Boomert, community development and future planner presents

A public talk on how we can revitalise, reconnect & make resilient our community

Come find out how we can:

  • Create employment by answering social needs
  • Strengthen and future-proof our local businesses
  • Create healthier, happier homes and neighbourhoods
  • Help make our communities resilient for harder times
  • Use cooperatives & community currencies.
Laurence Boomert

Laurence Boomert

Laurence Boomert has a history in contingency planning, green business development and community solutions. In the 1990s he founded the 500 member Environmental Business Network. He runs the Bank of Real Solutions database of community can-do success stories. He is a co-writer of “Fleeing Vesuvius: Responding to the effects of economic and environmental collapse” published 2011 by Living Economieswith whom he is a board member. He is co-founder of the New Economics Party.

7pm Wed 19 September

Rotary Lounge

Aotaki Street, Otaki

$5.00 entry

Brought to you by Transition Town Otaki, transitiontown.otaki.org.nz;

The Bank of Real Solutions realsolutions.org.nz; Living Economies Educational Trust

Guy McPherson in Petone on 6th July

Guy McPherson speaking in Petone, New Zealand, 6th July 2012

I posted a link to a talk by Guy from September 2011 with the Headline “Watch at least the 1st 10 mins!”

Then Said
If after that 10 mins you haven’t gone Oh S**t, you weren’t paying attention, or you are a Climate Septic.

I then went and found as many of the reports that Guy Quotes and they are listed here.

The least the video should make you want to do, is to check out the reports Guy Quotes and see for yourself.

Links:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (late 2007): 1C by 2100

Hadley Centre for Meteorological Research (Late 2008): 2C by 2100
Download Cop14 and Read “The scientific evidence for early action on climate change” (pg7)

United Nations Environment Programme (Mid 2009): 3.5C by 2100 (pg 11)

Hadley Centre for Meteorological Research (Oct 2009): 4C by 2060
Download When could global warming reach 4 deg. C. (PDF, 2 MB)

Global Carbon Project, Copenhagen Diagnosis (Nov 2009) 6 - 7C by 2100 (pg 49)

International Energy Agency (Nov 2010) 3.5C by 2035
Download the World Energy Outlook 2010 Executive Summary (pg 11)

United Nations Environment Programme (Dec 2010): 6.4C by 2050 (Can’t find a link to this)

National Center for Atmospheric Research (Jan 2011) 16C by 2100 (including feedbacks) (Can’t find a link to this)

Proceeding of the National Academy of Science Climate change is irreversible (10 Feb 2009)

United Nations Environment Programme (Nov 2009) During 2008, global carbon emissions increased (Can’t find a link to this)

Climatic Change: Only economic collapse will prevent runaway global climate change (21 Nov 2009)

Talk: From Smoke to Mirrors: Kevin Cudby

Transition Towns Otaki have invited local writer Kevin Cudby to discuss his book From Smoke to Mirrors.

From Smoke to Mirrors describes a master plan for banishing imported liquid fuel from New Zealand’s economy by 2040.
New Zealand does not need battery or hydrogen-powered vehicles, but just in case some people really want them, the plan is designed to accommodate these technologies.

Based on interviews with and reports from New Zealand and overseas engineers and researchers, From Smoke to Mirrors lays out a practical plan for developing a fully renewable supply of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in New Zealand. It is based on solid, well-known technology, not airy-fairy things that might get invented sometime in the future.

It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of all the alternatives, and shows why simple, proven solutions are most likely to work. New Zealand scientists showed how we could do this way back in the 1970s. The technology wasn’t ready back then—but now it’s on the brink of practical reality.

From Smoke to Mirrors: Kevin Cudby

Thursday 19 April
6.30pm for potluck
7.30pm for meeting
Belinda’s home, 47 Te Manuao Road Otaki

Nicole Foss presentation In Otaki On Saturday 7th April 2012

Nicol Foss

Nicol Foss

HOW TO BUILD A LIFEBOAT

Nicole M. Foss

Canadian Energy Industry Consultant and Financial Analyst

Explaining the reasons for vanishing wealth, rising global unemployment and social unrest amid global tensions over resources

“and how families and communities can navigate the choppy seas ahead”

Peak oil and the economy. Senior editor of TheAutomaticEarth.org, which chronicles and interprets the ongoing credit crunch, and former editor of The Oil Drum Canada, where she wrote on peak oil and finance. She is an international speaker on energy and global finance and is currently on a speaking touring in Australia and New Zealand.

Nicole’s academic qualifications include a BSc in Biology from Carleton University in Canada (where she focused primarily on neuroscience and psychology), a post-graduate diploma in air and water pollution control, and the common professional examination in law and an LLM in international law in development from the University of Warwick in the UK. She was granted the University Medal for the top science graduate in 1988 and the law school prize for the top law school graduate in 1997.

Saturday 7th April

1.30-3.30 pm

Clean Technology Centre
47 Miro St Otaki.

Entry is by gold coin donation

Contact Mr. Leigh Ramsey from Blended Fuel Solutions NZ at; leigh@bfsnz.net

Kim Hill interview Nicole on National Radio get a link to the interview Here.


Nicole is also presenting in Wellington

Nicole M. Foss -

BUILDING LOCAL RESILIENCE

in an Era of Economic Turmoil & Resource Depletion

Energy and Industry Consultant, Financial Analyst, international speaker on current issues in finance, energy, environment and resilience

Wellington, Thursday 5th April
Presentation 12 noon to 1pm, workshop 2-3.30pm - entry with koha
Large Gallery 2nd floor, Turnbull House, Bowen Street

Peak oil and the implosion of high-leverage finance schemes around the world are converging into a “perfect storm” that may threaten prosperity and social cohesion. Communities should build local resilience for the challenging times ahead.

http://transitionvoice.com/2010/11/deflated-economy-in-a-talk-with-nicole-foss/
http://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/2010/06/453356.html

Further information: Cr Paul Bruce, Tel 021 02719370, paul.bruce@gw.govt.nz

Nicole M. Foss is co-editor of The Automatic Earth (http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com), where she writes under the name Stoneleigh. Foss runs the Agri-Energy Producers’ Association of Ontario, where she has focused on farm-based biogas projects and grid connections for renewable energy. While living in the UK she was a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, where she specialized in nuclear safety in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, and conducted research into electricity policy at the EU level.

Her academic qualifications include a BSc in biology from Carleton University in Canada (where she focused primarily on neuroscience and psychology), a post-graduate diploma in air and water pollution control, an LLM in international law in development from the University of Warwick in the UK. She was granted the University Medal for the top science graduate in 1988 and the law school prize for the top law school graduate in 1997.

Will New Zealand be the first developed country to evolve a steady-state economy?

Absolutely great article about the possibilities for New Zealand.

http://fleeingvesuvius.org/2012/01/11/will-new-zealand-be-the-first-developed-country-to-evolve-a-steady-state-economy/

As long as we can get the New Zealand politicians to read and understand these concepts.

Food Bill going through Parliament

Did you know that there is currently a New Food Bill going through Parliament right now that could restrict your rights to grow your own food and on-sell or exchange it. The Bill has already passed Select Committee stage, when public submissions are heard.

There is an posting on the Ooooby site and a discussion forum with a lot of differing views. Some people feel this is scare mongering, other feel this is the last straw.

ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action?xg_source=msg_mes_network

There also a online Petition
www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301

Have a read and be informed and if you feel inclined sign the Petition.

A message to Kapiti Transition Towns and other interested parties

Below is a Message that the Lower Hutt Transition Towns has posted on the Transition Towns New Zealand website.

See the original post here http://transitiontowns.org.nz/node/3335

Submitted by seemorerocks on 3 December 2011 - 10:41am

A message to Lower Hutt Transition Towns and other interested parties

At the time of writing this the situation in Europe looks as if it could come to a head quote soon.

There have been warnings of this, including from Muenchau who warned that the Euro could collapse within the next 10 days.

http://www.businessinsider.com/wolfganc-munchau-the-eurozone-has-10-days-at-most-2011-11

This will have immediate consequences in Europe: it would lead to the failure of banks and social unrest and panic, especially in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, although as we know countries like Ireland, Belgium and France are in trouble.

The elected leaders of Greece and Italy have resigned and been replaced by “technocrat” leaders who, without exception are linked with international banking cartels.

All the “solutions” to the crisis involve the loss of sovereignty of affected countries.

The British Home Office has been reported by the Telegraph as putting together plans to evacuate British citizens from affected countries.

http://www.robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2011/11/prepare-for-riots-in-euro-collapse.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8917077/Prepare-for-riots-in-euro-collapse-Foreign-Office-warns.html

There is NO DOUBT that such a break-up of the Eurozone would have immediate and devastating effects on the world economy - and that is why we have seen emergency meetings of US president Obama and his officials with officials of the EU (NOT the political leaders).

The elections in New Zealand have made it perfectly clear that no help is going to come from the government and that it is up to the citizenry to make some preparations.

One of the most relevant comments recently came from Winston Peters who said that New Zealand is in crisis and the citizenry are not being prepared.

It is known that the Reserve Bank in New Zealand has (or is) enacting policies to be introduced in the case of failure of one or more banks that involves “haircuts” for investors, including depositors - so I would not assume that your money is safe in the bank.

http://robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2011/11/important-warning.html

When the crisis in the Eurozone does come to a head it is likely that this will lead to a rapid succession of events that will affect not just Europe but the United States and eventually the whole world economy.

There are already signs that economies EVERYWHERE (Including China and Japan) are in crisis - our guess is some time during the northern winter, perhaps during our Christmas holidays.

It is also possible that these events may be kept at bay by the further injection of debt-based electronic money by the United States. Everyone knows that this situation is unsustainable and is really only buying time.

We do not see this as either doom-and-gloom or a reason to panic.

Rather, it is important that our Transition Town community keep in contact with each other; that we keep in contact with our families, friends and neighbours and be prepared to help each other in what would be difficult times.

We consider it would be prudent to (if you haven’t done so already) make some basic prepartions, which might include the following:

1. Ensure that you have a supply of food in the house as you would in the case of an earthquake. The amount involved, frequently mentioned is about three weeks supply.

2. Make sure that you have a readily-available supply of cash so that you are not dependant on cash machines and EFTPOS in the case of crisis. One suggestion was to have the amount of money you would use over a 5 day period - and double that.

3. Have a quantity of fuel available

4. Have some water stored (as you might for an earthquake) and an alternative form of cooking.

Geoff Burn

Juanita McKenzie

Natalie Hormann

Pam Crisp

Robin Westenra

I add my name to this list

Andrew Rundle-Keswick

Another great site from www.webpagebuilder.co.nz