• Climate Cafes: Conducting a Home Energy Audit
• 2nd Annual SPIN Farming Workshop

Relocalization Network News:

Relocalization resource bundles for groups

As mentioned last month, the Relocalization Network has put together special complimentary resource bundles for local groups to use for education and action in the coming year, courtesy of Post Carbon Books. We are still accepting requests for bundles - if you're interested, contact Shelby.

Also, check out online community videos by StreetFilms, a NYC Streets Renaissance Campaign initiative produced by The Open Planning Project. Visit www.streetfilms.org to browse their videos on all aspects of urban transportation, including physically separated bike lanes, parking policy, and bus rapid transit.

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Live a New Ideal…Become an Urban Farmer

Thinking about growing food locally? Here's a message from Roxanne Christensen, co-founder and president of the Institute for Innovations in Local Farming, about an upcoming opportunity to learn more about SPIN farming (S-mall P-lot IN-tensive):

"A society not only must have its ideals; they must, from time to time, be re-constituted in a way that sparks our imaginations and guides our strivings. That is what is happening now. Across several countries, at countless sustainability forums, eco-expos and green gatherings, people are coming together to think things through again, get closer to the source of things, make certain re-appropriations, live a new ideal. For many, especially those in cities, this new ideal includes farming. And if you, too, are wondering, "How can I fit farming into my life and make money tending cropland amid concrete?," join us at the SPIN Cities Farming Where We Live workshop and find out. There’ll you get the know-how to farm commercially without having to own much, if any land, and without having to make a large financial investment."
(see upcoming events)

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Members of Let's Live Local group in California publish new book

Paul & Sarah Edwards, Relocalization Network members and leaders in the Let's Live Local effort in their community in Pine Mountain, California, have written a new book, Middle-Class Lifeboat: Careers and Choices for Navigating a Changing Economy. This 576-page book emphasizes the strategy of relocalization and includes practical options for those interested in changing their careers to address climate change and resource depletion. Among the options they explore are profiles of viable local community-based careers, examples and advice for living off-the-grid, and various currency alternatives. For more info, download the first chapter or visit www.middleclasslifeboat.com.

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Post Carbon Toronto in the News

Post Carbon Toronto was established in 2004 and has promoted the relocalization strategy in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). The group holds monthly public meetings to discuss the implications of peak oil and energy issues, and what the city can do to start addressing climate change and energy uncertainty. The group is diverse, including retired academics, former city politicians, engineers, scientists and business owners. They were recently featured in the Toronto Star - read the article. Visit their website at www.postcarbontoronto.org.

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Post Carbon Cities: Berkeley peak oil resolution

It's always good news to hear that another city is starting a peak oil task force! This month Berkeley (California) City Council passed a resolution recognizing the importance of peak oil and the important work of Oil Independent Berkeley (a Relocalization Network member), and creating a peak oil task force. Read an article by journalist and Oil Independent Berkeley coordinator Erica Etelson on planning for energy uncertainty from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Post Carbon Cities continues to spread the message of urban and municipal preparation for energy and climate uncertainty. We've provided copies of the Post Carbon Cities guidebook to new task forces in Austin (TX), Brattleboro (VT), and San Francisco (CA). And in the next few months, Program Manager Daniel Lerch will be traveling to places as far-flung as Ireland, Las Vegas and Minneapolis to participate in conferences and meet with local and state officials and staff.

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New on Global Public Media

Global Public Media, a program of Post Carbon Institute, is an internet broadcasting station that streams long format audio and video interviews with world experts. Click on the links below for the latest additions on GPM.

     Richard Heinberg on The Reality Report
     Dr. Albert Bartlett: In Depth - transcript now online
     Jason Bradford's Reality Report: evolution, addiction and economic demand
     NASA research scientist on peak oil and climate change
     Former BP Chief Petroleum Engineer on limits to reserves growth
     Peak Moment: How Much Food Can I Grow Around My House?

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Upcoming Events

Have an event you would like to share with the Network? Please send an email to Shelby by the last week of the month and we will include it in the next issue of Relocalize.

Climate Cafes: Conducting a Home Energy Audit

January 15, 2007, Vancouver, BC, Canada
The Cafe will focus on how to do an energy audit on your home, and how to improve the energy use and efficiency of your house. Visit the website for details and registration.

2nd Annual SPIN Farming Workshop

February 28-29, 2008, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Wally Satzewich, veteran urban farmer and developer of SPIN, will teach this non-technical, easy to-learn and inexpensive-to-implement farming system. For course outline and registration visit www.spinfarming.com or contact Roxanne Christensen at 610-505-9189 or rchristensen@infocommercegroup.com.

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If you have any comments about this Newsletter or suggestions for the next, please contact us.

Best,

The Relocalization Network Team

Post Carbon Institute
Tel. +1 707 827 3221
+1 800 590 7745 (toll-free)
Email Us
6971 Sebastopol Avenue
Sebastopol, California, 95472, USA
www.relocalize.net
www.postcarbon.org