Dear ,
Those of us who care about the transition of our societies to a less destructive state often feel that we have too many things to talk about. Where do we start? War, foreclosures, climate change, resource limits, racism?
Fortunately, there is a topic that everyone cares about, that provides natural lead-ins to all these topics. It's the economy, smarty! Everyone wants a working economy because it is the system that is supposed to meet our basic needs.
In his excellent talk at last month's Potluck with a Purpose, Marco Vangelisti of Slow Money pointed out that all sectors of society--political, financial, economic, religious-- work best when they are in balance, and when all are understood as subsets of the ecological system that sustains us. What we have now is a system where the financial and economic systems have become the rulers of the rest. That's a big part of why they, and the rest of the society, is functioning so badly. Maybe this kind of discussion could cut through some of the usual political differences.
It's nice to have some solutions in your back pocket when you start a conversation about what's wrong. Transition Santa Cruz is dedicating increasing energy to looking at the how-to of a locally resilient economy. This month, you can engage in conversation about it at the Member Dinner, learn about it at WILPF's meeting on actions against foreclosures , and even help promote TSC and your local business at the same time . Read on.
—Michael Levy |
| It's not too late to RSVP for our fabulous "member dinner"! |
Thursday (the 10th) at 6 pm, members of Transition Santa Cruz will gather for great food and a "World Cafe"-style evening of delightful conversation about a resilient local economy.
Catered by local food artist Tod Nysether of Simple Pleasures Catering, the food alone will be more than worth the price of admission ($10 for members)...but our hearts and minds will be well fed too.
RSVP by Monday, here at this Evite link so we know to make dinner for you.
Not a member yet? No problem. RSVP "Yes," then join on our website or at the door. Memberships start at $25 or by arrangement as volunteer hours.
Note: if you have some card tables or round tables you can lend for the event, please hit "reply" and let us know. |
| Be a "business supporter" of TSC |
Are you the proprietor of a local small or large business?* Perhaps you'd like to support Transition SC by offering discounts to our members. It's good for business too, as our growing group of members will patronize your business.
If you don't have a business, perhaps you'd like to recommend to a favorite business that they contact us about this.
Contact Ken Foster for more information: ken@terranovalandscaping.com or call 359-5717.
* (See the Think Local First questionnaire to determine if your business is local as they--and we--mean "local.") |
| Support resilience: stop foreclosures |
WILPF Meeting on "Fraudclosures"
Tuesday, May 19, 7 to 9 pm
Quaker Meetinghouse
225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz
Free
• Learn why many foreclosures are actually illegal.
• Hear how Occupy Santa Cruz, WILPF and others are working with the Board of Supervisors to halt foreclosures.
• Find out what we can do as part of a statewide campaign to stop fraudulent foreclosures.
• Learn about AB 26107 & SB 1473, the California Home Owners Bill of Rights.
Also, Free Foreclosure Workshop
(For those threatened with foreclosure)
Sunday May 20, 1-5pm
275 Main St, Watsonville
Call 831-722-2845 for more information |
| What's up with desalination? |
It is a surprising fact that, unlike readers of this newsletter, many residents of Santa Cruz have still not heard about desalination. Even for those of us who know something about it, the complex issues surrounding this proposed water source can be befuddling.
One way or another, City residents will be asked to vote sooner or later on whether to go ahead with this $110 million+ infrastructure project. Here are some places you can go online to read up so you can be an informed voter, or help others to be.
Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives Good source of info on what can be done instead of desalination, and why.
Check the site for an educational walk at Loch Lomond Reservoir on Monday afternoon, May 28.
Right to Vote on Desal Campaign More critique of the desal proposal and petitions supporting the initiative to guarantee the right to vote on the project.
SCWD2 The combined water departments of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek representing the case for the desal plant. |
| Also worthy of attention... |
♦ Reskilling Expo, Sunday May 20, 10:00 to 4:00
♦ Spring of Sustainability
A free online series of events featuring sustainability thinkers like Van Jones, Bill McKibben, Vandana Shiva, John Robbins and many more. Through June.
♦ Spring into Summer Fest
Saturday, June 2, noon to 10 pm
$10/$15/$20
A community showcase of local organic farmers, speakers on health, music featuring Alisa Fineman and Kimball Hurd. Benefit for Community Alliance for Family Farmers.
♦ Bilingual classes on water use
Saturday, June 2 in Watsonville: Irrigation
Saturday, June 9 in Santa Cruz: Laundry to Landscape
9:00 to noon, $10
♦ Transition Santa Cruz and People Power speak
Monday, June 4, 7 pm
Kresge Town Hall, UCSC
Free
Join us and a bunch of highly motivated students at the Education for Sustainable Living Program at UCS as we talk about what inspired these local movements for change. |
| 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, May 22
6-8:30 pm
Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
Free/by donation
Family friendly!
Slow Food, yum!
Take everything that fast food is famous for, and flip it the other way, and that's slow food. Our new Resilience Partners Slow Food Santa Cruz will be in the house for this one.
Bring something you grew up eating (a family recipe or a traditional food from your heritage). If you can, use local, seasonal, and organic ingredients where possible. Write on a little index card what the meal is and any details to share including ingredients, story or recipe (we'll have some blank cards).
There will be a short talk about Slow Food and our Santa Cruz Chapter- our goals, upcoming events, etc. Then, an interactive activity mapping fruit trees in Santa Cruz.
Potluck 6:00, Program 7:00
Feel free to come for either or both!
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