About

Firstly, what is Transition? On the Transition Network page, there is a great page that outlines what Transition is all about: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/support/what-transition-initiative

The aims of Transition Llantwit are to, initially, raise awareness in the local community about the twin threats of climate change and Peak Oil, and subsequently to increase the resilience of our town to be able to cope with the effects of these threats.

OK, now what does that mean?

First some definitions:

PEAK OIL: This is NOT the end of oil! It refers to the point at which production of oil is the highest it will ever be. After this point oil production declines and of course the price will go up and up and up……..

CLIMATE CHANGE:Rising global temperatures caused in the main by human action, will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather.

That is the doom and gloom. Transition is the solution!

Transition Llantwit was formally constituted in March 2009. We have grown from 3 people to 15 so far and counting. Several of us had read the Transition Handbook and through a network of friends and acquaintances we got together to form our core committee.

Thus far our members come from a variety of different backgrounds all with different skills, abilities and ideas to offer. We have an artist, musicians, film distributor, development worker, wholefood supplier, lecturer, local government officer and an ex-RAF Wing Commander.

Our first steps have been mainly administrative – drawing up a Constitution and Equal Opportunities Policy, applying for initial funding through the local authority and setting up some IT infrastructure (a webmail address, this blog and a wiki page!)

On 14th May 2009 we became an ‘official’ Transition Town – the first in the Vale of Glamorgan.

So what do we do?

Our first aim is to raise awareness of the issues. Most people have an understanding of climate change and that it is better to recycle than not etc, but when Peak Oil is mentioned one is greeted by a look of total confusion. We aim to change that.

We have been able to put together our first programme of events. These are:

6/6/09: We had a stall at St. Illtyd’s Primary School PTA summer fete. We distributed leaflets and made a start on spreading our message.

20/6/09: Llantwit Major Victorian Fayre. We had a stall booked where again, we promoted our message and looked to increase our membership. We also hosted some children’s acivities, including decorating Fair Trade cotton shopping bags!

23/7/09: At 7pm in the Llantonian Hall we held the Llantwit Major premiere of The Age of Stupid; a film that possibly for the first time, really brings home the impact that Peak Oil will have. After the film we held a discussion on how Llantwit Major can deal with the challenges ahead.

Please get in touch! Transition Llantwit is a grass roots organisation, the people who are involved are ordinary members of the community who love their town and want to see it weather the fundamental challenges that are ahead.

If you have any questions/ ideas/ offers of help etc etc you can contact us thus……

email: transition.llantwit@googlemail.com
blog: transitionllantwit.wordpress.com