(From Edna)
Prior to the “Living on Earth” public evening, five members met with Mike Nickerson to give him a picture of
AVTTS’s beginnings and its focus groups (Food, Housing, Energy, Education so far), our intiatives to date and coming events.
News: 26 people attended the Permaculture 101 evening, organized by Rob Powelson.
: “Food Forestry: Gardening for 1000 Years”, an evening with Richard Walker is possible mid-September. Cost $200. A minimum of 15 participants is needed. Contact Rob Powelson.
: A session on Winter Cropping with Connie Kuramoto is also a possibility.
: AVTTS has a spot in the Canada Day Parade. We will hand out kale seed packets. Shaw Cable will film the seed-packing bee this weekend to air prior to the parade.
: AVTTS Food Group will have a booth at the Fall Fair. Everyone is welcome to help. Last year was fun.
: Next film “The Economics of Happiness” will be shown Wednesday, July 20th, 7 p.m., at Char’s Landing.
Admission by donation to cover costs. Our regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. that evening.

Mike Nickerson then shared his inspiring and wide-ranging insights, humour, stories and research on the challenges of the present, the need for a change in society’s goals and attitudes, and the ways in which human creativity and community can meet the future positively. 17 people took part in the conversation. Among the themes discussed were green investments, co-housing, forming a local land trust, permaculture, the dilemmas of pension fund investment, alternative investment, local currency and barter, how to ensure that everyone in the community can contribute….
Mike’s book “Money, Life and Illusion” will be available later at our next meeting. His website is www.SustainWellBeing.net

We are in a time of great change. Economically, environmentally and socially the 21st century will without doubt overtake any other in terms of humanity’s effect on itself and the planet we live on. What’s more, this decade from 2010 to 2020 could become the decade that shapes our whole way forward.

The Transition Town movement is all about making the best of those changes and challenges in a local, cooperative, and constructive way. Peak oil and climate change may be daunting things to consider but thousands of people around the world including a bunch right here in the Alberni Valley are making real, positive progress towards addressing them head on.

Sometimes though it does seem like it’s all too much, it’s all too complicated and it’s just too hard. However, there is one act that is so simple, so fundamental, that it can make all the difference in the world, voting.

By voting, you truly shape the world you live in. By voting, you can affect not only what goes on in Port Alberni, or in our riding of Nanaimo-Alberni, but also in Canada and the World. By voting you are choosing and expressing your values, your convictions, your needs and wants to all. Voting is the single most powerful act we as citizens can perform.

We all yearn for change in some form. We all wish for things to be better than they are in some way.

So on May 2nd, whether you want to change the world, or only a very small part of it please vote.