Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

You have to crawl before you can walk

Davage — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:52:52 -0700

It's been a while since anyone posted here, and I'm guessing that if the Maui group is still together, it is probably still small.

Ben, you spoke of legislation. Not to be rude, but I don't think your there yet. A small group simply does not have the resources or man-hours to gain sweeping legislation. But that does not mean all is lost; you can network.

Instead of screenings, make up a presentation (30-40 minutes with 20 minutes at the end for questions is pretty standard). Make a slide show, be ready to take your audence from clueless to basic understanding. When you've practiced, forget lawmakers (for now) and present your call to other local interest groups. Sierra Club, Habitat for Humanity, local college organizations, as diverse a population of community go-getters as you can find. Well established groups can become useful allies for when you are ready to present legislation, and the act of getting them will draw more talent into your own relocalization organization.

If you put your heart into it and make enough friends, you may soon find yourself giving your presentation to neiborhood boards, college campuses, and buisnesses...even without directly affecting legislation you may have a positive impact on Maui and all the islands.

-Nick on Oahu

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Relocalization discussion group - ongoing

Ben on Maui — Thu, 04 May 2006 22:04:05 -0700

Start: 2006-05-04 15:00

End: 2006-06-05 15:00

Teaser:

In the middle of the Pacific, with a long, skinny supply line.

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Model resolutions or legislation?

Ben on Maui — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:33:08 -0700

Perhaps we can compile model language for bills / resolutions for submission to local governmental bodies and agencies, or political parties. Many exist [San Francisco's renewable energy initiative comes to mind] but I have not been able to find a compilation to peruse. Anyone interested in helping on such an effort to bring some of these together in one resource?

Ben on Maui
maui_relocalized@mac.com

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Maui - Post [cheap] petrole discussion - May 1 - Wailuku

Ben on Maui — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:06:43 -0700

Last meeting we touched on some interesting issues. This month we hope to continue, with some more facts to chew on.

Should acreage be dedicated to producing fuel for transportation? How many acres would be needed? How clean and sustainable would the process be? Does the Brazilian model provide guidance?

How much acreage would be needed to feed the population of Maui in a sustainable manner? Or, what population can the acreage of Maui be expected to feed in a sustainable manner? How much acreage should be dedicated to food? What protein sources work best, and can be sustainably used? As petroleum prices rise, what impact on nitrogen fertilizers? How will this effect productivity, and the acreage needed for food or fuel production?

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Model resolutions or legislation?

Ben on Maui — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:10:42 -0700

Suppose for a moment that a city, county, or state legislative body was open to considering a bill or resolution that could move us toward effective, sustainable relocalized economies and communities. What would be the most important aspects of that legislation?

Support or subsidies for local sustainable agriculture?
Subsidies, rebates, and effective rate structures to encourage renewable energy installation?
Support for public transit, bike trails, and centralized pedestrian-friendly communities?

What would such statutes look like?

Does anyone have sample legislation? It would be a shame to reinvent the wheel if some have already been developed. Is there a collection of them somewhere where we could tap into them? How about a forum to develop some?

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Changes

Ben on Maui — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 01:44:46 -0800

If gas prices rose to $4.00 per gallon, what changes would occur on Maui? $5.00? $6.00?

If gas shortages occurred, and you were not sure you would be able to purchase gas for a few days, how would your life change?

What 5 steps could you take in the next week to significantly reduce your overall energy consumption? What 5 steps could our community take in the next 6 months to cut its overall energy use by 10%? By 30%?

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Come talk story about relocalization - April 3

Ben on Maui — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 19:57:17 -0800

> When: April 3, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
>> Where: Maui Booksellers, 105 N. Market St., Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i
>> What: This is a follow-up discussion after last month's screening of End of Suburbia. We had a wonderful group of about 15 people for the screening, including high school students, teachers, people experienced at living off the grid, and other concerned citizens.

This next meeting will be a great time to talk about some specific ideas and concerns. I hope attendees will have read an article or two about peak oil and the ramifications of this eventual milestone. [See attached bibliography for some ideas - there are many more!] Sooner or later the expectation of cheap energy will be an anachronism. In the interim, supplies will vary, and the prices of staple items will fluxuate. During this time of uncertainty, there is no doubt in my mind that economies that have 'relocalized' will weather the waves better than those that steadfastly rely on distant resources and support.

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Discussion Group - Maui - April 3, 2006

Ben on Maui — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:21:18 -0800

Start: 2006-04-03 19:00

End: 2006-04-03 21:00

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Maui Post [cheap] Petrole (Hawaii)

Ben on Maui — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 17:58:30 -0800

Maui has reliable and abundant resources of solar and wind energy. We have considerable but limited arable land and fresh water resources. This magical place is capable of supporting a significant population, but its carrying capacity is not boundless. We rely, to a huge degree, on distant energy sources. Most of our fuels are imported; most of our food is imported; most of our transportation infrastructure is imported; most of our construction materials are imported; a large percent of our daily population is imported, and most of our trash is imported. These imported products are grown or manufactured, and/or transported to Maui, using distant and mostly non-renewable energy sources. And now, the energy bubble is changing. As cheap energy becomes a memory, these supply chains are likely to become less reliable, and much more expensive.

But even though Maui is rich in energy resources, rather than approaching sustainability, we are on a trajectory where our population is outpacing the resources we use. What type of balance can we reach, where is the zone of balance, and how do we move to that balance from the conditions under which we currently operate?

Basically, how do we establish a human footprint that respects and sustains the natural environment? And how do we adjust to the challenges of increasing limits to cheap and readily available imported energy? How do we maintain the aloha of this wonderful island as competition increases over diminishing global resources? How do we learn to live within our means, and move toward that goal with a stronger sense of ohana?

That is what this group is about. This is a forum in which we will explore questions of community, adaptation, and existence in our changing world, where our life-long assumptions can no longer be trusted. It will be a fluid forum which will include education, research, discussion, dreams, plans, and change. Much of the change, I expect, will be in our personal perspectives.

What an adventure!

For more information about Maui Post Petrole, please contact the Coordinator of the group, Ben Pittenger, by email at maui_relocalized@mac.com