The film night on Thursday was a very successful event. Approximately 20 people turned up, mainly members of the mailing list, but also a good-sized handful of enthusiastic newcomers.

(By the way, if you missed the event, but would still like to see the film, contact me. You are not alone. We may be able to arrange a smaller living-room viewing.)

After the film there was a friendly hubbub as we milled about getting cups of tea and coffee (and bikkies), and engaging with random discussion groups...it was almost like a party! Everyone seemed to find the film quite inspiring; it seems to suggest that while Peak Oil is a crisis, it might also provide wonderful opportunities.

The main thing that struck me however, is that Cuba is an island nation, with a strong central government, able to make sweeping and radical changes (such as import thousands of bicycles from China, or set up food distribution centres to ensure a minimal supply of food to every person). In Australia we are spread thinly over a massive continent, aligned around corporations, governed by free market enthusiasts. Adapting to the changes that Peak Oil will bring may not be so easy for us -- not that it was easy for the Cubans! I think that we'll need to be ready BEFORE the crisis.

We then formed a big circle and brainstormed. It seems that there is no lack of ideas. I'd like to see us form into sub-groups and pursue these various projects. In fact...what are you waiting for?

Some ideas that emerged:
* Reclaiming unused, underused, or misused land for food trees or gardens ("guerilla gardening")
* Start a garden working bee / hands-on-education club
* Contact other groups (eg Permaculture Noosa, Maroochydore, etc) to explore and/or adopt systems which are already successful
* Set up a car pool website for the Range and surrounds
* Contact other organisations to form partnerships
* Tour local permaculture gardens
* Form partnership with Genesis Foundation
* Contact Rob Burse (?) the biodynamicist
* Start a seed-savers group
* Get Shawn to show us how to convert our cars to veggie oil
* Step up our efforts to publicise the relocalisation movement
* Explore the use of bamboo
* etc, etc...my notes are sketchy and our discussions were wide-ranging!

It was generally agreed to meet again soon, preferably in a couple of weeks. If so, perhaps this time we could show one of the shorter films, or even leave out the film and simply try to come up with one or two projects to focus on while we wait for the sea change to kick in!

What think yous? Any thoughts on the next meeting? Any thoughts on a project to pursue? Click reply and free-associate; let's get some online discussion happening.