Dear ,
Have you given up hope about the climate? I must admit that sometimes I doubt whether we, as a species, will pull out of our collision course with the atmosphere's limits.
But earlier this week, as I was wasting another perfectly good hour watching
The Daily Show, I "met" a person who humbled me with his resolute decision to live with hope.
His name is Mohamed Nasheed, democratically elected president (until January 2012) of the Maldives, a nation of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean. His story includes years of protest against the dictatorship, many arrests, and torture, yet he still holds out for democracy in the Maldives and the fight to keep his country from going underwater.
In a more dramatic version of our recent "Underwater Tour of Downtown," Nasheed presided over the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting, in October 2009, with the meeting participants underwater in scuba diving gear. Imagine if Obama did that!
I recommend watching his interview with John Stewart, online here. Despite the hard knocks Nasheed has been through, he remains humble, smiling, and amazingly, hopeful.
We should never let our concerns about the climate, or peak oil, and so on, take away from our enjoyment of our good lives. Neither should we give up and retreat into denial or passivity. Like Nasheed, we get to keep our smiles as we do what we can.
—Michael Levy |
Member Dinner May 10:
Save the date! |
If you are a member of Transition Santa Cruz, or would like to be, save the evening of Thursday, May 10 for a fabulous evening of good food and connection.
The "members" of Transition Santa Cruz are some of the most committed Transition-minded people around, and darn good company. We hope you will join us for this very special evening, our first Member Dinner. We will share ideas in a World Cafe format, enjoy food and music, and play together.
If you are not yet a member, you can join right now on our website, or anytime in the next month or so. (We will need to know who's coming, so we can plan for the food.) We will be contacting all members with details in May.
Can't wait!
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| A healing story |
Last month in the newsletter, I asked for stories that illustrate how people can choose to heal what could be enmity, and work in solidarity. The question was spurred by our community's growing dispute over desalination and the need to come together to meet our future water needs.
This inspiring story, sent by TSC supporter Christine King, shows that we can indeed rise above, even in the worst circumstances.
I can think of no better story of enemies into allies than the one of Lynn and Lisa whose lives intersected on one fatal day in September 2001 when Lisa's car plummeted into Lynn's van, seriously injuring Lynn and her husband Dan and killing their two teenage daughters....(Continued on the website)
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| Celebrating our Resilience Partners |
As much as being a creator of projects that build local resilience, Transition Santa Cruz aims to be a connector and spotlighter of worthy projects with the same goal.
That's why we have created a new set of relationships we are calling "Resilience Partners." These are local groups doing exemplary work for resilience, who have agreed to a mutually supportive relationship with us as we all slowly but surely assemble the resilience puzzle.
Our Resilience Partners are now linked on the front page of our website (left column). Though the list will grow, it's already great:
We will let you know when there are special opportunities to participate in or support these great projects.
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| Also worthy of attention... |
♦ Talk on The Precautionary Principle
Forum Room 450, Cabrillo College
Free parking
The Precautionary Principle says something must be proven safe before it can be used - whether we're talking about cleaning or landscaping products, or pesticides, or fish ladders, or fracking. Learn about it with WILPF. More info here.
♦ New Earth Exchange (Local business trade exchange)
Monday, April 23, 6 pm
Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
We gather monthly for pot luck, auction for fundraising, prizes, networking, sharing information and community building. Please bring a dish to share for the Potluck or show up between 6:45 and 7:00 for the meeting. Read more here.
♦ Neighbors saving money together
Not an event, but a great story to read about how Trout Gulch neighbors saved lots of money by joining together. Read here. |
| Become a member of Transition Santa Cruz |
Help support our important work of building local resilience! Go to http://transitionsc.org/donate and join at the $25, $50, $100 or $200 level, or join as a volunteer. Your participation matters!
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Contact Details
831-427-9916
http://transitionsc.org
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Potluck with a Purpose
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Tuesday, April 24
6-8:30 pm
Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
Free/by donation
Family friendly!
How to invest your money locally!
with Slow Money's
Marco Vangelisti
♦ What would the world be like if we invested 50% of our assets within 50 miles of where we live?
♦ What if there were a new generation of companies that gave away 50% of their profits?
♦ What if there were 50% more organic matter in our soil 50 years from now?
Marco Vangelisti worked for 20 years in the finance and investment management industry. Now he is working full time for the Great Turning, focusing on "Slow Money" and how we can invest locally instead of in distant, large corporations.
Bring your curiosity and questions for Marco, and learn how you can bring your money home.
Potluck 6:00, Program 7:00
Feel free to come for either or both!
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