OUR October activity at Foster attracted 17 people drawn from Welshpool through to Walkerville plus 3 South Gippsland Shire Council staff.
The film How Cuba Survived Peak Oil was very interesting and made me rather keen to have a holiday in Cuba when it’s a South Gippy winter & to go dancing to their music…:
Ahem! The film illustrated aspects of change to Cuban society when a number of factors relating to world politics contributed to a scarce oil supply.
Positives that arose from the situation were:
• The ability of people to find solutions to problems, often starting in small ways and taking small steps before building to bigger things.
• Although technology could be used to advantage, human relationships were the most valuable input in making successful adjustments to change.
• Simple technology could often be applied cheaply and effectively.
• Basic health, fitness and nutrition improved.
• Good design for new uses of old spaces could bring multiple benefits at a low cost.
• Greater decentralization of education, employment and health facilities and of planning, economic and political power occurred.
• People became actively connected with others in their community.
• A greatly increased use of organic and permaculture agricultural methods had positive benefits for the environment.
Negative outcomes – which tended to be glossed over in the film - included health casualties among those who were most vulnerable – such as babies, the aged and people with chronic health conditions.
There was clearly significant discomfort, social dislocation and economic turmoil.
Disbelief and lack of preparation caused the situation to become a national crisis that took several years before relative stability was again reached.
Going by the number of babies in the film, it also looked like the population consoled and entertained themselves with acts of procreation, coupled {!} with a lack of electricity for TV, lack of medicines including contraceptives, and a lack of condoms which are after all made of plastic …which needs oil to make it…which was scarce…plus all that music and dancing they’re into….you get my drift and if not well never mind.
After a discussion of issues raised by the film, the budding Corner Inlet Transition group then took turns to individually list relevant interests /skills and to briefly outline aspirations for transition in the area.
Five pages of butchers’ paper were filled while recording a précis of each person’s ideas.
The ideas covered a wide range of concepts with a number overlapping what someone else had said.
Blog team Lloyd & Fiona collated the ideas into related categories ready for the NEXT STEP…., I.E. attendees and others interested in a process of transition for Corner Inlet will be invited to attend a further meeting in November to brainstorm priorities and decide on achievable actions that people can take responsibility to follow up.
South Gippsland Hospital was thanked for allowing the fledgling group to meet at the Community Health Centre for a one-off free of charge occasion.
The Shire staff were helpful in commenting on ways in which they could help out & were pleased to meet & chat with those who attended. Mutual benefits likely all round by such cooperation.
After the meeting, many people commented that they felt empowered and optimistic about working together on transition issues.
Thanks to Rhonda M, several copies of the film have been burned onto CD.
If you’re after one, please contact Fiona Mottram [me] and ask for one.
Don’t know how to contact me? Come along to Foster’s Community Health Centre in Station Road Foster [at the front of the hospital grounds] next Thursday night Nov 19 at 7.30pm or earlier as we will be starting on time!!!!!!!!!!!
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