Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Suburbs: Not Necessarily Death Traps

tifraser — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:52:43 -0800

Not a real blog of my own, but a link to something good. Enjoy!
A Resilient Suburbia? 3: Weighing the Potential for Self-Sufficiency

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

The End of Apathy

tifraser — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:33:12 -0800

I founded this group over two years ago.

That was, until now, the end of my involvement.

While I am not here to share my catharsis, we as a society have moved into a do or die phase, and I do not intend to die. With the major national stage events that have taken place, I have decided to move in the direction of positive action, or at least occasionally stir from my couch.

Central Florida needs a coordinated effort toward relocalization. Orlando in particular is a city whose addiction to imported everything is choking it and threatening to take it apart.

But we know the drama. Here's what I intend to do:

My first goal is to establish Central Florida Relocalization - Orlando as a network for locavores and locafacturers and locaphiles. I will seek out the groups who have already begun much of the work (they are legion here) and facilitate their efforts by connecting disparate organizations to each other. I will communities who are currently unaware of the problem and of the work being done to mitigate it and involve them. I will meet regularly with community leaders and thinkers to develop new plans of implementation and spread the word on all upcoming activity.

My first overriding mission in all this is to establish a commuter/cargo rail system in Orlando and the I-4 corridor. Such a system must be more thorough in its coverage than the proposed (and now deceased) CSX plan. The plan should not be to provide for the occasional ride to the beach, but to replace commutes on S.R. 50 for UCF students working downtown; to make Winter Park, Sanford, Ocoee and South Orlando accessible to each other, broadening our economic base and thus creating more options in our quest to "shop locally"; to clear the air and remove stress and provide the time to read, communicate and relax enjoyed by the people of even modest European towns. To this end, the political arm of my mission shall be known as Vote for Trains until this goal is met.

Beyond these two far-reaching endeavors, I want to make my own life sustainable and spread that knowledge to whoever I can. (Anyone who wants to come over and show me how/where to start a garden, I'll make the cocoa.) I want to work in impoverished neighborhoods to start community gardens and get people making and spending their own money.

Okay, that's all a little far reaching, too. All of this will take planning. Each step must be practical, each milestone attainable. I welcome ideas on how/where to start.

And I want to apologize to those who have reached out to me who went unanswered. If you try me again, I promise I will be receptive and attentive.

Stay on my ass about this, people. I am not here to lead or save (largely because I can't, but also because even in the imaginary land of my ego, that still isn't what this is about). Our fight is not against the resources running out nor the ecological challenges that lie ahead, but with our (read: my) lethargy and inaction. We cannot enable that any longer.

Thank you all. I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck and take care!

Central Florida Relocalization- Orlando

First Mass Presentation

Jim Peterson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:39:16 -0700

Dear Post Carbies,
We would like to announce that the Tampa Bay Council will give its first public power point and discussion event on our subject on Saturday, April 5th at 2 pm at the Clearwater East Library - 2251 Drew St. in Clearwater Florida. This is being hosted by the Humanist Society of the Suncoast. But everyone is invited to attend.
Other information can be found on our new website at:
www.tampabaypostcarbon.com
Or, contact us at: jamestp@tampabaypostcarbon.com

Jim Peterson

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Regular meetings for the Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council

Jim Peterson — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:11:53 -0700

We are pleased to anounce that our group has started to meet regularly at 6:00 on the first Tuesday of every month at the Unitarian Universalist social hall in Clearwater. It is located at 2470 Nursery Road Clearwater, FL 33764. Please join us for our continuing education and planning meetings. You too can be on the ground floor of change that nakes a difference in how we will live.
We also have our own local website at:
http://www.tampabaypostcarbon.com

Please join us.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

The Tampa Bay Council is reorganizing itself in propect of renewed activity.

Jim Peterson — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:13:40 -0700

Stay tuned to this space for more information and meeting times as they arise. JP.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

CFI Conference

Jim Peterson — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:56:47 -0700

Start: 2007-04-20 16:00

End: 2007-04-22 11:00

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Post Carbon Issues to be discussed at 2007 CFI conference

Jim Peterson — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:27:26 -0700

"The Impact on Society of Global Habitat Change"

will be the subject of discussion at the Center for Inquiry's annual conference on April 20th to 22, 2007.
The presentation, which will deal with issues of oil depeletion, and Climate change, with a particular emphasis on how positive social change can prepare humanity to meet it's self produced crises, will be presented on Sunday April 22nd at 10 AM.

Details about the conference can be found in this PDF:
http://www.cfiflorida.org/events/florida-conference-speaking-2007.pdf
This particular conferrence has a professional orientation, and is a little pricey, especially when you consider that our section will be just one hour of it. Consequently, we will be looking for no to low price venues to deliver the same talk later. Stay tuned.

Jim Peterson,
Tampa

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Peak Oil Presentation to National Engineering Firm

MightyZum — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:24:08 -0700

I recently gave a one hour presentation to the Board of Directors at a 4000+ employee engineering firm (headquarters in Tampa, FL) on Peak Oil. Not only were they blown away by the idea of Peak Oil becoming reality, but they also started brainstorming ideas about how to turn Peak Oil into business opportunities.

In many circumstances, people would tend to frown on people making money from a bad situation, however many of the people that sit on this board of directors are very well connected and have influence in the political process at the state and local levels (and therefore can make things happen).

I believe that in our world today, major change must come from the top down but unfortunately it is business leaders that drive our markets and therefore shape our country's legislation. I believe that unless the corporate world embraces Peak Oil as a truth instead of an elephant in the room, the world will be much better off in the long run.

Anyhow, the feedback I received from my presentation seems to be "OK - we understand there is a problem, now how is YOUR generation going to solve it?" You see, I am 26 years old and I was giving a presentation to men and women of retirement age. It would have been easy for me to point the finger back at them and say "Hey - your generation created this mess," but instead I started talking about all of the different grassroots groups that are advocates of energy independence and relocalization. I even was able to bring up this and many other websites during the presentation. They were amazed at how many people are talking about Peak Oil and how unnoticed it was in Corporate America.

Just thought I would share that experience.

Bryan

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

What's happening, Tampa Bay?

widespace — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:02:51 -0700

Hello. I have been registered here in the Tampa group for some months now and continue to get bulletins from Post Carbon. No activity since the the radio show on WMNF last year, and that gathering at UU in Clearwater.

Who is checking in here?
Where are folks at? Anyone interested in developing conversation and network? I continue to experiment with a garden at home, and scale back my use of automobile and grid electric. I think these little steps are integral to moving foward.
Anyone see 'An Inconvenient Truth'? It is still playing here in Lakeland. I talk it up every chance I can.

Well, just checking in to see if people registered here are interested in collaboration, on any level, or extent.

Tom

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Peak Oil

Stephen Jepson — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:01:03 -0800

I gave my first presentation on Peak Oil on Tuesday, March 21 2006 to the Winter Park University club.The talk lasted approximately an hour. I felt it went very well and I was especially pleased with the fact that the attendees stood around and talked about the issues for several minutes after I finished. Almost nobody that I talked to has a clue what "Peak Oil" is about. So they are totally ignorant of the potential consequences of this event. I feel as though I am on a mission to let as many know about this impending event as I am able. Perhaps I will be able to make a small contribution.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Peak oil on NPR

Stephen Jepson — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 11:22:41 -0800

since becoming aware of the concept of Peak oil about six months ago I am constantly on the lookout for news of the impending calamity (that is what I think it is going to be -- a calamity of monstrous proportions) and this morning I heard "Peak Oil" mentioned for the first time in a piece on the examination of the major oil companies with regard to "price gouging". I highly recommend the book "The Long Emergency" by kunstler. I have also watched the video "The End of Suburbia" -- riveting.Stephen@Jepson.com

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Welcome to group and to next meeting

ralicea — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 08:47:04 -0700

The all-day symposium on Peak Oil is set for November 19 at the Octogon Center of the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater. We will screen "The End of Suburbia", conduct a panel discussion with audience participation, and hold break-out sessions on specific topics i.e. relocalization and distribution of food, conservation of energy, essential transportation, and the possible threat of an authoritarian response to economic collapse and social chaos.

Anyone interested in further details regarding this sympsium and our next regular meeting please contact Robert Alicea through this site.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Trip to Los Angeles and Santa Maria

Robert Schmidt — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 14:05:47 -0700

I will be making a trip to Los Angeles and Santa Maria next month (Sept 13 thru 22) to visit family. I will have some spare time on my hands and would be interested in contacting or visiting any Post Carbon Outpost meetings.

Does anyone know of any groups in those areas? That would be LA, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, Santa Barbara on up to Santa Maria. I do not see any groups listed in those areas on the website. Los Angeles--Suburbia Maximus-- and no PC Outpost? I must be doing something wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Official Peak Oil Announcement

Robert Schmidt — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 07:04:35 -0700

Wow. Official Peak Oil Announcement June 14th, 2005, Flag Day no less! On that date OPEC announced that they were pumping at full capacity and could do no more. When the group of major oil producing countries says they cannot pump any faster, that is Peak Oil. Period.

I have been reading about this problem for over 6 months now. 6 books, hours at various websites, paying close attention to any petroleum related news stories, watching the actions of the current administration.

Still a believer in Peak Oil. It may well be a civilization destroying issue. No where to hide from this one.

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Tampa Bay Post Carbon Council (Florida)

Robert Schmidt — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 15:05:07 -0700

Organized in April 2005 to be of use prior to and during the imminent upheaval we rationally believe looms before us all, the group set out initially to promote awareness of Peak Oil in and around the Tampa Bay area. Currently, we are working to screen important documentaries at community based venues. We are also networking with other community activists and elected leaders with an eye to preparing for the impending crisis; in particular, the necessary relocalization of agricultural production and the distribution of its produce through farmers markets to avert a food shortage. Over time, we see ourselves growing into a trusted resource to other groups and organizations willing to prepare for the transition to a post carbon society.