Post Carbon Newsletter #21 November 2006

1. Relocalization Network Update
2. Annual Fund Donor Profile: Patricia DeWitt
3. Energy Farms Update
4. Translation volunteers wanted
5. Global Public Media update and A call for programming
6. Featured Post Carbon Group
7. Calendar of Events
8. Next Newsletter Preview

1. Relocalization Network Update

Relocalize.net reached an all time high in traffic with over half a million unique guests to the site in November.

Tim Whiteway has joined the Relocalization Network Team as Web Support Coordinator. Tim has a varied background in computer services. Along with desktop support, network services, and server administration he has taught introductory courses on using computers at the post secondary level. He will be helping us develop www.relocalize.net and will be the go-to person for web and technical support. If you have questions or would like to welcome Tim to the Network, click here to contact him.

We have added A Guide to Relocalizing our Communities to our growing library of resources on Relocalize.net. Based on excerpts from the upcoming book Relocalize Now! Getting Ready for Climate Change and the End of Cheap Oil, the Guide to Relocalizing our Communities comprises a compilation of project guides on topics such as film screenings, gardening gleaning projects, car-sharing, and running for municipal office. They have been made available to assist communities and individuals in their efforts to Relocalize and adapt to an energy constrained world.

We have also developed a short 10 question survey on the Relocalization Network. If you have a couple minutes, please take the time to give us your feedback.

2. Annual Fund Donor Profile: Patricia DeWitt

"I believe in the work that Post Carbon is doing. Helping communities to become more sustainable. Your new website has a lot of information about sustainability, the importance of community; it is a place to go for answers in this era of diminishing oil. The information also gives me hope, showing that there is a different way to live and people all over the world are beginning to do so. I am excited about the changes that are taking place in the world." -Post Carbon Institute Annual Donor Patricia DeWitt, member of Milagro Cohousing

Thank you to Patricia Dewitt and to all our donors whose generosity helps us deliver information and programs throughout the world. To make your own secure online donation please go to donate now!

3. Energy Farms Update

Brookside Energy Farm, Willits, CA

Crucial farm infrastructure is being built this winter in order to allow farmers to hit the ground running in the spring with the planting of crops. Overturning the soil for cover crops of winter rye, fava bean, barley, vetch and clover began in early November. Seeds were sown soon afterwards and are already sprouting. Construction of the perimeter fence is the main project at hand. Click here to read more!

Vancouver Energy Farm, Vancouver, BC

November provided a good example of "extreme weather" at the Vancouver energy farm. We started the month with an early frost and freeze, finished with an unseasonably early snow storm, and in the middle of it all recorded over 300mm (12 inches) of rainfall. We've had unexpected floods, freezes, large trees knocked down, power outages, and an unrepentant plague of geese, but are still continuing to make progress and are looking forward to the opportunities of the next growing season. Click here to read more!

4. Translation volunteers wanted

Through its many initiatives, Post Carbon Institute helps its members around the world implement responses to energy decline and climate change. We can be even more effective in these efforts with the translation of Post Carbon materials into other languages. Recently a volunteer kindly translated the September issue of the Post Carbon Newsletter into Spanish, and October will soon be online in Spanish too. Post Carbon newsletters can reach even further with your help. If you would like to volunteer to translate for Post Carbon, please contact us.

5. New Stories on Global Public Media and A call for programming

This month on GPM, ASPO USA responded to CERA's claim that the "peak oil theory is garbage". We featured Sir Nick Stern's presentation to the London School of Economics, discussing his climate change review for the UK. Guests on Jason Bradford's "Reality Report" included Bart Anderson of Energy Bulletin, Richard Douthwaite of FEASTA, and Sebastopol City Council member Sam Pierce. We also posted a number of clips from CBC Radio in Canada relating to global warming and peak oil, as well as agriculture and genetically modified foods. And finally, Richard Heinberg's presentation at the First US Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions in 2004 was translated into Spanish.

Global Public Media is the leading online public broadcasting source for media relating to oil depletion, climate change and associated issues. Programs like The Reality Report radio show and Peak Moment TV are aired on public broadcasting stations in their local area, but GPM gives this well produced and important programming an opportunity for a global audience. If you are involved with or know of a high quality, pertinent broadcast program that deserves worldwide exposure, please contact us to be considered for inclusion on Global Public Media.

6. Featured Post Carbon Group: Green Thumb Kids, Sydney Post-Carbon Group, Canada

“Green Thumb Kids” is a project of the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market in
collaboration with the Sydney Post-Carbon Group in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The goal of this project was to get children into growing tomatoes and beans for their own consumption or for sale at the Farmers’ Market. Excellent cooperation was received from teachers in the Cape Breton Victoria District School Board. Notices were sent to homes of all grade three students inviting them to join the project. Approximately 50 students registered; they came to the Market with a parent/guardian who signed consent for the child’s participation. Each child received two heritage tomato plants as well as a dozen Romano beans.

Click here to read more!

7. Calendar of Events:

Addressing Climate Change Day School

Sat. Dec. 2, 2006, 10am, University of Bristol, UK

For more information contact Barbara Perks on 0117 954 5438 or visit The University of Bristol.

Towards a Low Carbon Society: Friends of Earth Public Forum

Tue. Dec 5, 2006, 6pm, Ahimsa House, Brisbane, Australia

For more information contact Friends of the Earth Brisbane on (07) 3846 5793 or visit Friends of Earth Brisbane.

‘For the common good’: keynote address by Jeff McMullen

Tue. Dec 5, 2006, 10:30am, Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus, Australia

For more information contact Diana Cooper on (02) 6620 3354 or click here.

"One Ear to the Tracks": A Symposium on Potential Rail and Trail Systems for Santa Cruz County

Thu. Dec 14, 6:30pm, Jade Street Park Community Center, Capitola, CA

Visit People Power for more information.

8. Next Newsletter Preview

• Next month we'll feature a video interview with geologist and new Post Carbon Institute Fellow Dave Hughes and a profile of Energy Bulletin.