Documentary Film Series to Begin in March

January 24th, 2010 by TN

The Initiating Group of Transition Newburyport is launching a monthly film series in March beginning with the films The End of Suburbia, The Power of Community and In Transition. These films were shown once each last year. If you saw any of them at that time, we encourage repeat viewings to absorb more of the important messages. And now you have the opportunity to share the experience with other family members, friends and neighbors. Once again, the screenings will be free and open to the public.

This provocative documentary, a regular on the film-festival circuit, examines the history of suburban life and the wisdom of this distinctly American way of life. A post-World War II concept, suburbia attracted droves of people, giving rise to sprawl and all that comes with it — good and bad. How has the environment been affected by this lifestyle, and is it sustainable?

The documentary, “The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil,” was inspired when Faith Morgan and Pat Murphy took a trip to Cuba through Global Exchange in August, 2003. That year Pat had begun studying and speaking about worldwide peak oil production. In May Pat and Faith attended the second meeting of 
The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, a European group of oil geologists and scientists, which predicted that mankind was perilously close to having used up half of the world’s oil resources. When they learned that Cuba underwent the loss of over half of its oil imports and survived, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, the couple wanted to see for themselves how Cuba had done this.

In Transition is the first detailed film about the Transition movement filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. The Transition movement is about communities around the world responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour, and setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities. It is positive, solutions-focused, viral and fun.

The films will be shown several times during the month for maximum accessibility; each screening will be followed with an open-ended discussion to explore the implications for our community. Any and all are invited to attend more than one screening of the same film, to deepen your personal experience and to enrich the ensuing discussions.

The Future of Wind Power in Newburyport

January 24th, 2010 by TN

The planning board will be meeting in the near future to hear public comment on the proposed changes to the wind ordinance. This will be a crucial meeting in the development of wind energy here in Newburyport. Whether you are concerned about Climate Change, fossil fuel depletion, rising energy costs or the security implications of fossil fuels, ‘green energy’ such as from wind turbines is a great alternative energy resource.

Passing the modified ordinance as it stands will essentially bring the development of wind power in Newburyport to a halt at a time when forces at the local, state, national and international levels are indicating we should start to develop clean, renewable energy sources in the face of climate change and fossil fuel depletion. It will create a blockade to the exploration of further local wind power sites and will hamstring our community’s development of local power sources.

Show your support for renewable energy and a fair ordinance by sending a letter to your city councilors and the Mayor and attending the public meeting when it is scheduled. A sample letter, copy of the proposed wind ordinance and the Energy Advisory Committee’s recommendations on the ordinance are available here.

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