Living through the transition from the Petroleum Age to a Sustainable Future.
Wholistic Workshops, Evening events, Peak Oil talks, and Web portal supporting your transition.
“ Living on the Cusp unmasks the twin sleeping dragons – energy and ecology- that are shaping our world.” George Monbiot
The Pachmama Alliance and Living on the Cusp Present: Living in a Changing World In this one day workshop we will be addressing three essential questions: Where on Earth are we going? How did we get here? How can we respond to the challenges of our times? The workshop explores the link between three of humanity ' s most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment. Using video clips from some of the worlds most respected ecologists, along with inspiring short films, leading edge information and dynamic group interactions, the workshop allows participants to gain new insight into the very nature of our time and the opportunity we have to shape and impact the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions. We warmly invite you to attend the Living in a Changing World workshop and take this opportunity to be informed about the extraordinary changes that are happening on the planet now, be inspired and moved to action, and meet others who want to awaken from the ‘ dream ' of our modern industrial culture . The workshop will take place at Plymouth University , Drake Road on 2 June from 9.30 – 5.30. Refreshments will be provided, The cost is £30.00 in advance (£40.00 on the door). If you would like to book a place (numbers are limited), please email: Naresh: georgegiangrande@yahoo.co.uk tel 07812 998047 Janey: janeyfr@yahoo.co.uk tel 01803 863315
Living on the Cusp Workshop
Good questions! I had these same questions. And while I cannot pretend to all have the answers, I have taken a good hard look at all the pros and cons, all the arguments for and against global warming, peak oil, resource depletion, in short all the effects of our industrial culture. Living on the Cusp presents you with clear, no nonsense, practical ways of: Finding good information
Understanding that information Reaching your own personal understanding. Acting on that understanding. Finding others who can support your in your vision This workshop supports your transition from a world of cheap and easily accessible energy to a world where energy is expensive and increasingly produced from non fossil fuels. We are transitioning, (right now!), from a world of unsustainable economic growth, to a worldgoverned by environmental constraints that were not apparent in the previous social, economic, and political landscape- but are becoming increasingly clear. Creating a sustainable culture is our most important challenge. Rising to that challenge- or not- will determine the shape of the next phase of human life on earth.
Why waste your time and risk your personal well being trying to maintain a dying system - trying to live in a world that no longer exists? Most of us are currently blind to this transition- certainly the way we 'see' our world - through economic eyes will not see the ecological and environmental trends shaping and determining our world. We have been trained to see using economics- and the physics of energy and environmental ecology are virtually not counted in our present economic system. Living on the Cusp will give you the basic understanding you need to see how and why we are entering a new paradigm defined by ecology and energy. You will get the basic tools to understand what is happening today; and more importantly, tomorrow as our world changes in unimaginable and unpredictable ways. Living on the Cusp designed to assist you with your own transitions; emotionally, practically, and most importantly spiritually. We use a range of structures including visualisations, guided imagery, and rituals that will enable you to create your vision of a sustainable future.
Living on the Cusp will stimulate and 'kick start' your emotional, spiritual, and practical preparation. Even for those who have been aware of the environmental issues facing us, like me, will find it startling how rapidly 'business as usual' is no longer possible in our rapidly changing world. Don't be taken by surprise- a sustainable post industrial, post carbon world is transforming the way we do business and live. This transition will reach a critical mass sooner than you might think. When rapid change takes place most of us will be unprepared and overwhelmed by how fast events can unfold. We can create positive, life affirming futures by acting now .
This seminar will empower you to engage with and face these world changing events by: • Giving you a working knowledge of the science of energy and ecology in plain, non-technical language illuminating the future we are creating. • Enabling you to critically assess statements by experts, journalists, and politicians. • Directing you to interesting and stimulating sources of information and forums. • Creating a clear understanding of the fundamental social and political changes that may be necessary. • Outlining maps for the transition to a post-carbon, post-industrial world leading visionaries have put forward. • Showing how you can facilitate the transition in practical every day ways.
The task ahead appears by no means easy, and we will examine what directions are likely to be fruitful and which are not. It is vital that all of us are informed and able to think and act clearly and decisively. ‘Living on the Cusp' will give you the tools and understanding to do that.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE The workshop is essentially divided into two parts. The first part is technical; how to see from a ecological and physics prospective. Basic but powerful tools will enable you to engage in a different way of seeing and understanding everyday issues from the price of petrol to the role of conservation, and geo political events like the war in Iraq. The second section is an opportunity to work through your issues around living sustainably, and practical help in developing what might be possible for you day to day; and how, as our world changes, what are your best choices for living and working. UNDERSTANDING THE CUSP – Techno speak made easy Energy
“… the hydrocarbon society will still be with us, but it can't be with us to the extent it is today.” President George Bush in a recent interview with CNBC's Ron Insana.
Why is energy so important? -Exploding the myths and misinformation around the ‘fundamental resource'. What is so special about oil? Energy Returned on Energy Invested – why this is so important. Two viewpoints on energy – the chemist and the economist. The concept of Peak Oil, described as the most important event in human history, will be presented and analysed. What alternative energy sources are available and how can you measure how useful are they? Can renewable energy supply as much energy as we currently use? Can we re-create our social and economic structures to run on lower energy? Carrying Capacity – Ecologically Speaking
Are we living beyond the Carrying Capacity of the earth, and why is this possible? What is ‘ghost' acreage? What are ecological footprints, overshoot, and 'limiting factors'? Topsoil levels, food production, available hectares of agricultural land per person, fish stocks, water, global warming, and other biosphere resources are decreasing. Is this decrease permanent? What is the importance of climate change, and how does this fit into the peak oil? What is the best available evidence concerning global warming, and is it true the the recent weather patterns are the result of global warming? How and why modern agriculture is so dependent on oil? How many people and at what level of consumption can the earth sustain? The Tragedy of the Commons. LIVING IN THE CUSP -Transitioning from a growth to a sustainable economy Developing a sustainable culture – current visions. Consumer to producer; voting democracy to community consensus; worker to stake holder; nation to bio-region. Morphic resonance in action - it's happening already! How and why. What are the likely responses to ecological and economic crisis from governments, business, and political parties? Richard Heinberg's four choices. Cuba makes the transition to a low carbon society.
ENABLING THE CUSP – Personal Positive Choices “..all the available evidence, from physics to psychology to common sense, tells us that our actions now, today, at this moment as you read this book, are influencing everything and everyone in creation.” Thom Hartman – The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight. Finding and supporting good sources of information. Adapting ‘old culture, pre industrial' attitudes and maps in a modern world- the way of the future. Important choices - money; job; life style; housing. How you can be the crest of a wave. The seminar is wholistic in its methodology and in how it is taught. Although there is so much material to be presented, opportunity will be made for discussion and sharing. Process time will also be scheduled in, to engage us emotionally andspiritually. Meditations and ritual will increase the scope of our awareness and understanding. Extensive course material will be given to each participant. A bundle of documents and detailed source notes on CD will be mailed to each participant on booking. All the main arguments and background materials will be available for your own research, investigation and corroboration.
There are no other workshops like this currently available, this workshop is unique . It is my goal that no one leaves this workshop without a renewed feeling of both urgency and hope.
01803 840763 Naresh.....................Spring 2007
|
|
Living through the transition from the Petroleum Age to a Sustainable Future. Copyright© 2005 Living on the Cusp, all rights reserved. Articles may be copied and reproduced freely provided the authorship is acknowledged, the article is reproduced in full, and a link provided to Living on the Cusp.
Wholistic Workshops, Evening events, and Web portal supporting your transition through Information, Education, and Understanding. Our workshops and events in the UK,and this web site will tell you all you need to know, in simple, non-technical language, about, energy, ecology, ‘Peak oil', climate change, food supplies, the politics of oil and energy, economics, renewable energy, bio-fuels, population growth, sustainable economics, no growth economies, energy conservation, wind power, solar power, permaculture, and more.
