12-09-20 Is the South Eastman Transition Initiative Needed?

We all know that if we continue to consume the Earth’s resources at our current rate, we will ultimately exhaust these resources. We may disagree as to when that will occur, but we need to agree: current trends are not sustainable. Some fundamental changes are necessary if we are not to implode.

So we have this concern, so what? What can we do, or indeed, what are we doing about it? An individual action will have little effect. If we wait for government action, it is likely to be too late. But if we act as a group, we may be able to make a difference. The South Eastman Transition Initiative is such a group.

There are, of course, other groups that speak to our concern. We are all familiar with some names: Greenpeace International, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Al Gore’s Climate Crisis initiative quickly come to mind. My favorites are The Post Carbon Institute, the Center for the Advancement of Steady State Economy, the Carbon Tax Center and the New Economics Institute.

These groups, and many more, are making a contribution to the conversation we need to have about responsible living and necessary government policy. I may not agree with everything these groups do, say or advocate, but I think we need the conversation. We need much more dialogue and knowledge about the ideas these groups are putting forth. And at some point we, the humans who occupy this planet, will need to use our God given ability to anticipate the future!

There are several communities in the Southeast that intentionally focus on responsible living. In the southeast, I am aware of the Northern Sun Farm, the Prairie’s Edge Eco Village, and the Ploughshares Community Farm. Each of these communities is made up of people very committed to responsible living. They have concluded that responsible living can best be done in a community. I find their logic quite convincing and their gentle way of living commendable, but personally, I am simply not ready to commit to that lifestyle. I think there are many others are like me.

This means that we need a group that brings together residents of southeastern Manitoba who share a concern about the way we live: a group that facilitates conversations and allows for the possibility of group action that will have a greater impact on our community than each of us acting individually. The South Eastman Transition Initiative tries to be such a group.

Currently the South Eastman Transition Initiative is lead by a small steering committee. We do not have a membership. However, the initiative needs direction from a broader base. There is a need for people of like mind to come together, to evaluate what has been done, and consider what ought to be done and what can be done.

Such an evaluation/planning event, open to everyone, is scheduled for September 27, 6:30 PM at the Jake Epp Public Library. Please join us.

By Eric Rempel