<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Lynn Serafinn&#039;s [Cosmic] Journey &#187; sustainability</title>
	<atom:link href="http://lynnserafinn.com/tag/sustainability/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://lynnserafinn.com</link>
	<description>the one-stop launchpad to everything I do  ~  click on a picture below to go to the planet of your choice</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:30:32 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>Reconnecting Humanity and Earth with Eco Hero Tony Juniper</title>
		<link>http://lynnserafinn.com/talk-radio-show-book-events-performance-podcast/reconnecting-humanity-and-earth-with-eco-hero-tony-juniper/</link>
		<comments>http://lynnserafinn.com/talk-radio-show-book-events-performance-podcast/reconnecting-humanity-and-earth-with-eco-hero-tony-juniper/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:27:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News from Lynn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spirituality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transition Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[permaculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritual]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lynnserafinn.com/?p=1111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s hard to believe that my radio show Lynn Serafinn&#8217;s Garden of the Soul is coming up to its 1st anniversary this month with episode 49.
I wanted to celebrate the occasion in style, so I had in mind I wanted an extra special guest for that particular broadcast. I am delighted to tell you who [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s hard to believe that my radio show <a href="http://blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn"><strong>Lynn Serafinn&#8217;s Garden of the Soul</strong></a> is coming up to its 1st anniversary this month with episode 49.</p>
<p>I wanted to celebrate the occasion in style, so I had in mind I wanted an extra special guest for that particular broadcast. I am delighted to tell you who he is.</p>
<div id="attachment_1114" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1114  " style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 0px;" title="tjuniper" src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/tjuniper-150x150.jpg" alt="Tony Juniper" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tony Juniper</p></div>
<p>On Wednesday 20 January, at 6pm UK/1pm EST, I will be  hosting campaigner, writer, sustainability adviser and one of the UK&#8217;s best known environmentalists, <strong>Tony Juniper.</strong> A dynamic and inspiring speaker, and often referred to as an “Eco Hero”, Tony has worked for the last 25 years for change toward a more sustainable society at local, national and international levels. Amongst his almost endless list of personal and professional experiences, he has served as Vice-Chair of Friends of the Earth International, and is currently Special Adviser to the Prince of Wales Rainforests Project, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic’s new Green Magazine supplement, and is the Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge, England.</p>
<p>On this very special anniversary edition,<strong> </strong>Tony and I will discuss his thesis of “Harmony” as taken from the upcoming book of the same name he is currently writing with Prince Charles and Ian Skelly, and is scheduled for publication by Harper Collins in autumn 2010. Tony will tell us about the present state of environmentalism, what we’ve achieved and not achieved, and what’s next for humanity at this time in history, and explain how the solutions to the ecological and economic problems we now face at a planetary level are not due so much to our political, technological or corporate systems, but rather to the fundamental fact that we as a culture have become disconnected from the Earth, and are illiterate as to how nature works and how we as humans fit into the natural order on a cosmological and spiritual level.</p>
<p>On the air, Tony will offer us some easy, joyful and practical ways to re-engage and reconnect with our planet and re-establish the true, holistic harmony that is meant to sing within every human soul.</p>
<p>You absolutely will NOT want to miss this most important and truly inspiring show.</p>
<p>In keeping with the theme of the show, I will also read the “Harmony Meditation” from my upcoming book, “The Companion Guide to the Garden of the Soul”.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Listeners can listen LIVE or &#8220;on demand&#8221; any time at</strong><a href="http://ow.ly/UvBM"><br />
<strong>http://ow.ly/UvBM</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>You can also subscribe to the show via iTunes. Just look for Lynn Serafinn&#8217;s Garden of the Soul on BlogTalkRadio<br />
<a href="http://blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn">http://blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn</a></strong><br />
<a href="http://ow.ly/UvBM"></a></p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save"><img src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a> </p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lynnserafinn.com/talk-radio-show-book-events-performance-podcast/reconnecting-humanity-and-earth-with-eco-hero-tony-juniper/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bestselling Author&#8217;s Work with Transition Town Awarded</title>
		<link>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bestselling-authors-work-with-transition-town-awarded/</link>
		<comments>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bestselling-authors-work-with-transition-town-awarded/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:56:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lynn Serafinn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News from Lynn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transition Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bedford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Global Wellness Circle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lynnserafinn.com/?p=998</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
PRESS RELEASE: WOBURN, BEDFORDSHIRE – 18 November 2009 – Today at Woburn Sculpture Gallery, Bedfordshire Businesswomen (BBW), a not-for-profit networking organisation for women who live and/or have business interests in the Bedfordshire area, now in its 21st year, announced their annual business awards for outstanding achievement in various categories. Amongst the six winners for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> </strong><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1003" title="Transition-Network-green" src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/TransitionNetwork-75percent-green.jpg" alt="Transition-Network-green" width="164" height="179" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>PRESS RELEASE</strong>: <strong>WOBURN, BEDFORDSHIRE – 18 November 2009 –</strong> Today at Woburn Sculpture Gallery, <a href="http://www.beds-businesswomen.org/">Bedfordshire Businesswomen</a> (BBW), a not-for-profit networking organisation for women who live and/or have business interests in the Bedfordshire area, now in its 21<sup>st</sup> year, announced their annual business awards for outstanding achievement in various categories. Amongst the six winners for the 2009 awards, which were sponsored by Barclays Bank, was <a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/">Lynn Serafinn</a>, a Bedford-based community leader, transformation coach, personal development trainer, public speaker, radio host and bestselling author of the book <em><a href="http://www.give-receive-become-be.com">The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self</a></em>. Ms Serafinn received the BBW award for “Working within a Community Organisation or Not-for-Profit Organisation” owing to her work as Founder of the <a href="http://www.global-wellness-circle.com/">Global Wellness Circle</a>, and also as the Chair of <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.org/">Transition Bedford</a>, a new initiative that is part of the worldwide Transition Network addressing climate change and fossil fuel dependency.</p>
<p>In spring 2008, Ms Serafinn noticed that there was a large faction of practitioners in the holistic health and wellbeing industry who felt isolated both professionally and socially, having no way to promote their businesses or to educate the public about the benefits of living a more natural, holistic lifestyle. In response to this, she formed <span id="more-998"></span>the <a href="http://www.global-wellness-circle.com" target="_blank">Global Wellness Circle</a> (GWC) in May 2008, first in Bedford, but within a few months it rapidly expanded to other parts of the UK. GWC is a community of independent holistic practitioners and members of the general public, whose primary aims are to provide the public with information, education, support and access to a range of quality services and products in holistic and natural health, as well as to provide a truly inclusive social environment fostering open-mindedness, light-heartedness, fun and overall positivity, thus creating an atmosphere of holistic wellness. Now with five chapters (Bedford, Cambridge, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Hemel Hempstead, with another proposed in Dunstable for 2010), and having grown to a wider community of nearly 500 people in central UK, GWC is currently in the process of applying to become a CIC (Community Interest Company/Social Enterprise), with the aim of expanding their ability to help the wider community lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.</p>
<p>Being truly passionate about helping people feel greater connection to themselves, to each other and to the Earth, Ms Serafinn had the opportunity to expand the parameters of her community work when, in June 2009, she was asked to serve as Chair of the newly formed <a href="http://transitionbedford.org/">Transition Bedford</a>, a volunteer community initiative whose objective is to create a plan for a sustainable Bedford, addressing everything from climate change and energy, to education and community. Transition Bedford is part of the larger <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/">Transition Town Network</a> of over 1500 towns, villages and urban neighbourhoods worldwide, which is a grass-roots initiative addressing the shift away from fossil fuel dependency and towards a sustainable environment by taking definitive, community-driven action in response to climate change and the impending impact of peak oil upon our lifestyle.</p>
<p>As Chair of Transition Bedford, Lynn leads awareness-raising events, community meetings and steering group meetings, and represents the initiative in a variety of public settings. Borrowing from her skills as an online promotion expert and personal development trainer, she also created and maintains their blog, coordinates their online social networking, writes articles and media releases, and offers both free and low-cost training to the public.</p>
<p>She says, “The link between the Global Wellness Circle and Transition Bedford is really pretty seamless. GWC in central UK can easily provide a link between the health and wellbeing sector and the Transition Town initiatives in our local regions, by helping society make the transition to a healthier lifestyle in which we relearn many of the human skills, such as herbal medicine, natural remedies, organic farming and food production, that enable us to be well, rather than compelling us to invent new technologies to fight disease.</p>
<p>Ms Serafinn is no newcomer to community work. Originally from the US, she worked in the 1990s with the Interfaith Action Coalition in Phoenix Arizona, helping to coordinate large-scale events that crossed cultural and religious boundaries and brought together thousands of members of the community who would not otherwise have been connected. In 1997, she was one of the founders of a worldwide non-profit organisation called GOKUL, which sponsored and coordinated world lecture tours of some of India’s leading spiritual teachers. In that capacity, she also created and managed their website, and was the anonymous audio transcriber/editor of several books on eastern mysticism published by that organisation.</p>
<p>Lynn is also no stranger to receiving accolades. Coming from a long history in the music industry, she was the recipient of the National Defence Foreign Language Fellowship in the 1980s, which enabled her to study music and philosophy in India, and she co-wrote and produced a number-1 electronic dance club track in the 1994. In 2005, she received the Microsoft UK Innovative Teacher of the Year Award for her creative use of technology in the Further Education sector. In 2007, her coaching company Create-a-Life won the “Best of Bedford Business Awards” for the best Health and Beauty Company, after only 7 months of practice. And most recently, her self-published book <em><a href="http://www.give-receive-become-be.com/">The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self</a></em> became an Amazon bestseller in both the US and the UK when it was released in April 2009, outselling such prominent authors in the same category as Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle and Neal Donald Walsch. As a result, she is in demand as a speaker and coach on the topic of self-publishing and book marketing, and has also received countless letters from readers, thanking her for the healing her writing has brought them.</p>
<p>In addition to her community work in central UK, Lynn extends her influence to people all over the world via her weekly Internet radio show “<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn">Lynn Serafinn’s Garden of the Soul</a>”. She says her core belief is that every human being is the hero of his or her own life, and that all facets of her work are aimed at helping others unlock their natural-born hero.</p>
<p>Transition Bedford, whose official launch event is being planned for mid-2010, will be working closely together with groups like Zero Carbon Castle, Sustainable Oakley, Goldington Golden Gardens, the <a href="http://www.global-wellness-circle.com/">Global Wellness Circle</a>, Mile End Allotments and many others, as well as with Bedford College through their <a href="http://www.greenbedfordcollege.com/">Education for Sustainable Development</a> programme. The long-term goal will be to develop educational programmes, skills training and community projects that will not only raise public awareness, but will also help the town make the transition towards a more vibrant and self-reliant community in such areas of food and energy production, natural health, economy and environment.</p>
<p>“Our approach to climate change is not all doom and gloom, believe me,” says Ms Serafinn. “The real purpose of Transition Bedford is to help people feel uplifted and connected, and to allow them to see how essential a factor they are in the revitalisation of their town, and the world in general.”</p>
<p>Transition Bedford invite any and all members of the greater Bedford community, whether individuals, groups or businesses, to contact Lynn Serafinn at lynn [at] lynnserafinn [dot] com and get involved. You can also visit their blog at <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.org/">www.transitionbedford.org</a></p>
<p align="center">###</p>
<p><strong>ARTICLE REFERENCES</strong></p>
<p>Bedfordshire Businesswomen website: <a href="http://www.beds-businesswomen.org/">http://www.beds-businesswomen.org/</a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>TRANSITION BEDFORD CONTACT INFO:<br />
Contact: </strong>Lynn Serafinn<strong><br />
Email:</strong> lynn [at] lynnserafinn [dot] com<strong><br />
Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.org/">http://www.transitionbedford.org</a><strong><br />
Forum:</strong> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/transition-bedford">http://groups.google.com/group/transition-bedford</a><strong><br />
Tel: </strong> 44+ (0)845 880 25 28</p>
<p><strong>TRANSITION TOWN NETWORK:<br />
Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/">http://www.transitionnetwork.org</a></p>
<p><strong>LYNN SERAFINN CONTACT INFO (AUTHOR, SPEAKER, TRAINING):<br />
Email:</strong>lynn [at] lynnserafinn [dot] com<strong><br />
Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/">http://www.lynnserafinn.com</a></p>
<p><strong>LYNN SERAFINN COACHING AND TRAINING ENQUIRIES:<br />
Email: </strong>info [at] create-a-life [dot] co [dot] uk<br />
<strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.create-a-life.co.uk/">http://www.create-a-life.co.uk</a></p>
<p align="center">–        END –</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save"><img src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a> </p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bestselling-authors-work-with-transition-town-awarded/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Moving into the Storm &#8211; from enslavement to freedom</title>
		<link>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/moving-into-the-storm-from-enslavement-to-freedom/</link>
		<comments>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/moving-into-the-storm-from-enslavement-to-freedom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:51:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transition Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bedford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reflections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lynnserafinn.com/?p=933</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following blog post was originally written for Transition Bedford site at http://www.transitionbedford.org. I decided to include it here on my own blog because, although it makes references to working within the Transition Network, the key points are relevant to everyone who wants to understand more about what it means to be free at an [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>The following blog post was originally written for Transition Bedford site at <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.org">http://www.transitionbedford.org</a>. I decided to include it here on my own blog because, although it makes references to working within the Transition Network, the key points are relevant to everyone who wants to understand more about what it means to be free at an inner level, and to understand more about why they may not always be creating the impact in the world they desire to create. I welcome your comments and feedback, as I spent  significant amount of time writing it, lol! Hope you enjoy it. &#8211;Lynn</em></strong></p>
<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p><img class="alignleft" title="eye of the storm" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:-BMXn1FUB6y4dM:http://www.allbestwallpapers.com/wallpaper/space/image/eye_of_the_storm,_hurricane_elena,_september_1,_1985.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="113" /></p>
<p>Whether we are aware of it or not, the members of the Initiating Group (IG) at Transition Bedford are now evolving from the “forming” stage into the “storming” stage. Can you feel it? Entering the storm means we are making real progress, even if it seems unclear right now. So, at this important juncture, in hopes of taking us even further into the eye of the storm, I’d like to share some ideas which have been swirling about in my mind ever since my Transition Training in London. It has to do with media, our responsiveness to it, both conscious and unconscious, and our role as leaders in the community. After much reflection, I believe in our work within the Transition network, it is essential that we bear in mind</p>
<p>1. That we as an initiative will need to <strong>understand and address public</strong> <strong>emotions</strong> that may be stirred up by the media in all its forms      (TV, film, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, pop culture, music, advertising,      Internet, social media, etc)</p>
<p>2. That we will also need to become acutely aware of <strong>how WE ourselves are impacted </strong>by      media, whether consciously or unconsciously</p>
<p>3. That we will need to know <strong>how      to protect ourselves</strong> against succumbing to any unconscious unwanted impact,      so we do not become “reactionary machines” instead of creative, resilient      human beings, both individually and collectively.</p>
<p>4. That we will also need to become acutely <strong>aware of our own impact </strong>upon our community as we reach out to      them.</p>
<p>5. That we will also (and most importantly) <strong>understand how to</strong> <strong>avoid</strong> <strong>unintended impact</strong> upon the      community.</p>
<p>It is important to understand that these statements do NOT mean that we, as part of the Transition Network, are not entitled to our emotions. It would be an unreasonable expectation to think that we as humans should never feel angry, overwhelmed, grief-stricken, bitter, hopeless or cynical, especially when we are facing issues of such importance as climate change. Nor is it true that, by being part of a Transition Town initiative, we are expected to become super-humans or non-humans.</p>
<p>In fact, the truth is exactly the opposite.<span id="more-933"></span></p>
<p>We have to <em>become</em> human, pure and simple. And human <em>means</em> to understand emotions and how they impact us, so we can use them for our own expression, rather than feeling used <em>by</em> them. To be human does not mean controlling or suppressing emotions. Rather it means learning how to express them openly so that others also feel safe to express their own emotions in our presence. For in this process, trust is activated. And if our ultimate goal is to create community, trust is the most essential ingredient. Without it, there can be no community. Without community there can be no consensus. And without consensus, there can be no effective transition.</p>
<p>So if trust is the move essential ingredient, what does it mean to “protect ourselves” against unconscious impact? Doesn’t this sound like the opposite of trust? Not at all. Protecting ourselves means to be able to trust our own selves—our instincts, our feelings, our thoughts and our actions. It means knowing with certainty whether our actions are true responses to what is needed, or simply autonomous reactions to our own fears. And when we are able to make this distinction, and be truly confident in our self-trust, we have found the difference between enslavement and freedom.</p>
<p>But that works at an individual level, but what about at a community level? How does a community learn to trust <em>itself</em>? I have spoken with many other TT groups, and the question always comes back to, <em>“How do we convert the unconverted?”</em> In other words, “How do we get one part of the community to <em>trust</em> and believe another part of itself?”</p>
<p>If we ourselves are, consciously or not, enslaved by our own emotional reactions, caught in a web of our own fears, anger and frustrations over the state of the World, we would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would wish to come within 10 paces of our energetic range. And really, why in the world would they? If we flood people only with urgency, they will either swing towards us in a panic, or they will swing away from us in a panic. But if we stand powerfully within our own peacefulness combined with passion, love combined with laughter, optimism combined with sense of ongoing purpose, chances are far greater that people will learn to trust us just enough to listen to the more “urgent” message we might also wish them to hear, so they understand the matter fully. The answer to the question of converting the unconverted therefore is simply this: we will create precisely the energetic reaction in others that we ourselves project. If we wish to bring people into our wonderful vision of the future, we must first and foremost create the energy of that vision within ourselves. But if we are holding only the <em>vision of what we wish to avoid and fear most,</em> it will only drive people away from us. If we TT groups end up frustrated, wondering why we are having so much difficulty expanding their community, the first place to look should be our own emotional state. Within that lies the seeds of the impact we are creating in our community, whether intended or not. Our first responsibility, therefore, is to cultivate our own self-awareness. Without this, no action can take root in any lasting, effective way.</p>
<p>How do we start building this self-awareness? One way to start is simply by observing the energy shifts that media and other influences create both upon the public and upon ourselves. For instance, I notice that since I stopped watching television in Feb 2008, my anxiety about the economy has decreased radically, while many others around me (who watch the news on TV regularly) appear to be more stressed than ever. Of course I am not suggesting that everyone stop watching the News; I am merely noticing the impact. And in this noticing, I have valuable information upon which I can base my decisions for how I wish to communicate with others, and respond to the issues around me.</p>
<p>That is a very simple example, but the deeper we look, the more subtleties we will find and the more aware we will become. And as we become more aware, we become better at standing neutrally within our circumstances without impulsively reacting to them. By observing, we eventually will come to know what needs to be done and when in order to make the system work. With time, we will learn that it is sheer futility to try to nullify negative energy by pushing against it, and that if we do, we are only allowing our own energies to be drained away in the process. For the secret I have learned over the past months is this—the Transition Town movement is not only about creating sustainable energy for our technologies; <em>it is also about creating sustainable energy for our hearts and minds.</em> It is about creating a World and a lifestyle in which we ultimately <em>feel more alive. </em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>And what we might find in our quest for aliveness might surprise us. Falling back on the old “familiar” systems of fund-finding, establishing registered charities and other bureaucratic models may or may not result in breathing life into our community. We may feel these work well for us, or we might choose to toss them out altogether and create entirely new models. In the words of Buckminster Fuller, &#8220;You can never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.&#8221; So the really important question for us now, as we begin to start the process of change together, is this:<em> “How much fear are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">we</span> ourselves holding onto that is preventing us from diving fully into the chaos of true creation?” </em>It is vital that we deeply understand our own self-imposed limitations before we attempt to go out into society and expect it to change.</p>
<p>With regards to taking action, it was emphasised in the TT training, and I agree 100%, that while it is an easy temptation for us in new Initiating Groups to default into &#8220;jumping into action&#8221;, the more important thing is to understand ourselves first. If we jump into action primarily because our anxieties are being triggered, then we are simply reacting as a means to remove or avoid a discomfort. While emotions like anger or fear can stir us into action in the short term<em>, they are not sustainable sources of energy</em>. We risk burnout; and when we do burn out, we will find ourselves at the other extreme of passivity and apathy. When we simply react to stimuli, we get caught in the relentless pendulum swing between passive and aggressive. And we all know that a pendulum just keeps going over the same ground again and again, never really moving anywhere. It’s just like political systems that move continuously between Conservative and Liberal year in and year out. Reaction is not action, because it doesn’t take us anywhere.</p>
<p>To be effective as a Transition Town, we must learn deeply about the inner mechanisms that propel us to act or to react, both as individuals and as a community. It is only via this understanding that we can begin making a real “transition” away from the old paradigm and into the new. Our TT trainers stressed this over and over again and I would be remiss, especially as a life coach, if I didn&#8217;t hold the stake for this vital point.</p>
<p>And while I agree that “talk is cheap” if not backed by action and commitment, it is also not enough for us to jump into action, even if these actions bring about some degree of good. Everything we do inevitably creates an impact both in our local communities and on our Planet. Let us choose our impact carefully and not be satisfied merely with an endless stream of reactions. Let us create a legacy that results in the long-term transformation we envision.</p>
<p>So, as we begin our journey together into the eye of the storm, I encourage us to take time and care to really &#8220;land&#8221; this concept. If we want to make lasting change—and I know we do—we must first learn to operate within a new paradigm wherein we no longer simply react to stimuli, but we understand our own inner workings, and create vibrant solutions to the problems we may face. Ironically, to do that, in the beginning it will actually be necessary to take our focus away from the issues of climate change and peak oil for a little while, and to look first at who we are as human beings and <em>what intrinsically joins us together beyond the “crisis”.</em> This is not merely my own belief. Our trainers Nick Osborne and May East made expressed similar beliefs during our TT training. I don’t think I would be here at Transition Bedford if this were not the underlying ethos of the Transition Network.</p>
<p><img class="alignright" title="storm" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:-JQthyEnrWdYUM:http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/eye-of-tornado-1.jpg" alt="" width="124" height="97" />I know some of my points may sound like “waffle” to some people. I know it might even create impatience, restlessness and irritability. And that is ok. All of that is symptomatic of the “storming” and “chaos” (to use M Scott Peck’s term) in the inevitable evolution of Transition Bedford becoming an actual community. I have faith in the process. I hope you do too.</p>
<p>Earth ~ Humanity ~ Connection</p>
<p>Warm wishes,</p>
<p>Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC<br />
Author, Transformation Coach, Trainer and Speaker<em><br />
&#8220;Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!&#8221;</em></p>
<p><em><strong>Lynn  Serafinn&#8217;s Cosmic Universe (main site)<br />
</strong></em> <a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/"><em>www.lynnserafinn.com</em></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Training for the Inner Transition:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/transition-trilogy-2009.html" target="_blank">www.lynnserafinn.com/transition-trilogy-2009.html </a><br />
</em></p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save"><img src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a> </p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/moving-into-the-storm-from-enslavement-to-freedom/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bedford replies: &#8216;We are NOT stupid, Mr Prescott.&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bedford-replies-we-are-not-stupid-mr-prescott/</link>
		<comments>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bedford-replies-we-are-not-stupid-mr-prescott/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:41:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lynn Serafinn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News from Lynn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transition Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lynnserafinn.com/?p=854</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a recent article, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was quoted to say that the Bedfordshire town of Bedford, should be given a “stupid award” owing to its local planning committee opposing the construction of wind farms on aesthetic grounds. While the implications of this opposition are duly noted, the recently formed community initiative [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>In a recent article, </strong><strong>former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was quoted to say that the Bedfordshire town of Bedford, should be given a “stupid award” owing to its local planning committee opposing the construction of wind farms on aesthetic grounds. While the implications of this opposition are duly noted, the recently formed community initiative </strong><a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/"><strong>Transition Bedford</strong></a><strong>, part of the larger </strong><a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/"><strong>Transition Town Network</strong></a><strong> of over 1500 local initiatives worldwide, replies, “Look deeper, Mr Prescott, and you will find that the people of Bedford are not at all stupid in matters to do with climate change and peak oil.” </strong></p>
<p><strong>To illustrate Bedford’s intelligence and to increase public awareness on these important issues, Transition Bedford will be hosting a free viewing of the film </strong><a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/"><strong>“In Transition”</strong></a><strong> at the Ent Shed on Castle Road, MK40 3QY, on Wednesday 9 Sept 2009 at 7.30pm. Special guest at the event will be Chris Keene, a member of the “Zero Carbon Caravan”, a troop that is currently cycling and sailing from Wales to the </strong><strong>UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen.</strong></p>
<p>BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE – 1 September 2009 – Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott thinks Bedford is “stupid.”</p>
<p>At least that is what he was quoted as having said in a recent article published by <a href="http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2248512/prescott-proposes-stupidity">Business Green</a> and <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23736980-details/John+Prescott+slams+%27nimby%27+councils/article.do">The Evening Standard</a>. According to the article, Mr Prescott said the planning committee in Bedford, whose wider borough is estimated to have a population of more than 150,000 people, should be given a “Stupid Award” (named after the recently released environmental film “<a href="http://www.ageofstupid.net/">The Age of Stupid</a>”), calling the committee, “stupid nimbys” and saying &#8220;I hope they get upset about it.&#8221;</p>
<p>But a group of local Bedfordians, who are members of the recently formed initiative Transition Bedford, invite Mr Prescott to look a little bit deeper, beyond the surface of local planning committees, to see the real Bedford.</p>
<p>“And if he does,” says current Chair of Transition Bedford initiating group, <a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/">Lynn Serafinn</a>, “he would see an informed, passionate and proactive side to Bedford, where people are at the cutting edge on the issue of climate change.”</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/">Transition Bedford</a> is a part of the larger <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/">Transition Town Network</a>, founded in 2006, which is now comprised of thousands of other towns, villages and urban neighbourhoods who are taking definitive, community driven, grass-roots action in response to climate change and<span id="more-854"></span> the impending impact of peak oil upon our lifestyle. They describe themselves as a “social experiment on a massive scale” saying, “if we wait for the governments, it&#8217;ll be too little, too late; if we act as individuals, it&#8217;ll be too little; but if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.” Their ultimate aim is to move from oil dependency to a “low energy, highly vibrant and fulfilling future.”</p>
<p>“Although Transition Bedford is a newly formed initiative,” says Ms Serafinn, “Bedford has been acting on these issues for some time now. Over the past few years, local groups like <a href="http://zerocarboncastle.org/">Zero Carbon Castle</a> (founded in 2006) have really raised awareness and made great changes in the area of local carbon emissions, and various local permaculture experts and food growers have helped residents understand how and why it is vital we know about growing and harvesting local food sources.”</p>
<p>Ms Serafinn, a Bedford-based life coach, personal development trainer and bestselling author, also speaks about what the Transition Network refers to as “the inner transition.&#8221;</p>
<p>“What is important to understand,” she explains, “is that no one is going to agree to make changes to their current lifestyle unless they have a compelling reason to do so. Feeding people scary statistics about climate change may motivate some, but it is more likely to turn off others and make them apathetic or perhaps even hopeless. And while government action is certainly very important, truly lasting social change cannot occur simply via planning initiatives. The most effective means to lasting, positive change is to raise public awareness and to help re-establish people’s emotional connection to the planet on which we live, so they will want to make the transition out of a genuine sense of desire and purpose, rather than from a feeling of panic and need. The issue of climate change is an opportunity for all of us to educate, re-skill and reconnect our communities, and create a more meaningful and harmonious world.”</p>
<p>When asked how she will personally be involved in Transition Bedford, Lynn says that her primary focus will be on the “inner” side of this initiative, dealing with people, beliefs and wellbeing. Many others in the network are experts in the “outer” transition, being highly skilled experts in skills such as developing new energy sources, transport, conservation, food production, permaculture and other key areas.</p>
<p>One such expert on the Transition Bedford panel is <a href="http://www.carbon-accounting.com/">Shane Hughes</a> of Carbon Accounting Systems, and one of the initiators of Zero Carbon Castle. About the current and future state of local awareness in Bedford Mr Hughes says, “One of the smartest things that the Bedford Borough Council is currently proposing is a renewable hydro-electric energy project, which, if successful, could benefit the town in diverse ways. It would not only create a massive carbon saving for the town, but it would also be of great educational value as an exemplar for people around the country to appreciate and imitate. But in addition to that, we hope to turn the project into a truly innovative investment fund in which people of the town can become share-holders, creating a flowing and renewable fund of money that can be re-invested in other zero-carbon energy projects. This is the kind of community-driven creativity that the Transition Town Network, and Transition Bedford, is all about.”</p>
<p>Mr Hughes continues, “Something I would like people to realise is that Transition Bedford will not just be looking at ways to become carbon-neutral. We will also looking at how our local economies can become more sound and self-reliant. A recent study done down in Totnes, Devon (the original Transition Town), has revealed that if we made the shift of ensuring that even a small percentage of our building materials for new housing projects came from local sources, millions of pounds would go into our local economies, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. Again, it is this kind of win-win scenario that Transition Bedford hopes to create here in the town of Bedford in every aspect of life.”</p>
<p>Ms Serafinn adds to this, “And the ultimate irony of Mr Prescott’s comment is that Shane’s Bedford-based company Carbon Accounting provided the makers of the film “The Age of Stupid” with their carbon auditing services. If you go to the <a href="http://www.ageofstupid.net/news/the_1_event">bottom of their web page</a> on their 14 March entry, you will see Shane’s company name right there. In fact, their whole media angle of the UK premier being a 1% carbon event is based upon Shane’s audit.</p>
<p>“So the bottom line is, people really should take the time to look a little deeper, and you’ll always find that there is more to any story—or to a town.”</p>
<p>Transition Bedford, whose official launch will be announced early in the New Year, will be working closely together with groups like Zero Carbon Castle, Sustainable Oakley, Goldington Golden Gardens, the <a href="http://www.global-wellness-circle.com/">Global Wellness Circle</a>, Mile End Allotments and many others, as well as with Bedford College through their <a href="http://www.greenbedfordcollege.com/">Education for Sustainable Development</a> programme. The long-term goal will be to develop educational programmes, skills training and community projects that will not only raise public awareness, but will also help the town make the transition towards a more vibrant and self-reliant community in such areas of food and energy production, natural health, economy and environment.</p>
<p>Transition Bedford invite any and all members of the greater Bedford community, whether individuals, groups or businesses, to contact Shane Hughes at <a href="mailto:shane@carbon-accounting.com">shane@carbon-accounting.com</a> and get involved. You can also visit their blog at <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.wordpress.com/">www.transitionbedford.wordpress.com</a>.</p>
<p>To show just how “smart” Bedford is on the issue of climate change, Transition Bedford is hosting a viewing of the film <a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/">“In Transition”</a>, which is an uplifting rebuttal to the sense of hopelessness and helplessness many feel when they think about the challenges of climate change. The film offers a healthy dose of inspiration about what communities of people, just like the people in Transition Bedford, are doing all across the globe to make the transition towards a sustainable, resilient and vibrant society, to restore our balance and harmony with the Earth.</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/">“In Transition”</a> will be shown at the Ent Shed (next to the Gordon Arms) on Castle Road, MK40 3QY on 9 Sept 2009. Doors open at 730 PM, and discussions and drinks will follow at end of programme. While this programme is free and open to the public, donations will be gratefully accepted to help cover the cost of room hire.</p>
<p>In addition to the film, special guest at this event will be Chris Keene, a member of the “Zero Carbon Caravan”, a troop that is currently cycling and sailing from Wales to the UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen. Mr Keene says, “We are making our way to Copenhagen without using fossil fuel transportation. Along the route we&#8217;ll connect with local groups to establish an itinerary of ‘zero carbon conferences’ to build momentum for zero carbon awareness.” Bedford is one of those local groups.</p>
<p>That’s very smart of you, Bedford.</p>
<p align="center">###</p>
<p><strong>ARTICLE REFERENCES<br />
</strong>Charlsworth, Andrew. 26 August 2009. “Prescott proposes stupidity awards for wind farm &#8216;nimbys&#8217;”. Accessed from Business Green website at <a href="http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2248512/prescott-proposes-stupidity">http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2248512/prescott-proposes-stupidity</a></p>
<p>Evening Standard. 26 August 2009. ‘Prescott Slams “Nimby” Councils’ Accessed from Evening Standard website at<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23736980-details/John+Prescott+slams+%27nimby%27+councils/article.do">http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23736980-details/John+Prescott+slams+%27nimby%27+councils/article.do</a></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>TRANSITION BEDFORD CONTACT INFO:<br />
</strong><strong>Contact: </strong>Shane Hughes or Lynn Serafinn<br />
<strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:shane@carbon-accounting.com">shane@carbon-accounting.com</a> (Shane Hughes)<br />
<strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:lynn@lynnserafinn.com">lynn@lynnserafinn.com</a> (Lynn Serafinn)<br />
<strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.transitionbedford.wordpress.com/">http://www.transitionbedford.wordpress.com</a><br />
<strong>Forum:</strong> <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/transition-bedford">http://groups.google.com/group/transition-bedford</a><br />
<strong>Tel: </strong>44+ (0)7809 882 077 (Shane Hughes)<br />
<strong>Tel: </strong>44+ (0)845 880 25 28 (Lynn Serafinn)</p>
<p><strong>TRANSITION TOWN NETWORK:<br />
</strong><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/">http://www.transitionnetwork.org</a></p>
<p><strong>FILM “IN TRANSITION”<br />
</strong><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/film-in-transition-online-preview/">http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/film-in-transition-online-preview/</a><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>BEDFORD VIEWING OF “IN TRANSITION”<br />
</strong><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/">http://transitionbedford.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/free-film-premier-in-transition/</a></p>
<p><strong>FILM “THE AGE OF STUPID”<br />
</strong><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.ageofstupid.net/">http://www.ageofstupid.net/</a></p>
<p><strong>SHANE HUGHES CONTACT INFO (Carbon Accounting)<br />
</strong><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:shane@carbon-accounting.com">shane@carbon-accounting.com</a><br />
<strong>Tel: </strong>44+ (0)7809 882 077</p>
<p><strong>LYNN SERAFINN CONTACT INFO (AUTHOR, SPEAKER, TRAINING):<br />
</strong><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:lynn@lynnserafinn.com">lynn@lynnserafinn.com</a><br />
<strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.lynnserafinn.com/">http://www.lynnserafinn.com</a><br />
<strong>Phone:</strong> 44+ (0)845 880 25 28 (business)<br />
<strong>Mobile:</strong> 44+ (0)771 84 94 234</p>
<p><strong>LYNN SERAFINN COACHING AND TRAINING ENQUIRIES:<br />
</strong><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:info@create-a-life.co.uk">info@create-a-life.co.uk</a><br />
<strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.create-a-life.co.uk/">http://www.create-a-life.co.uk</a></p>
<p><strong>ZERO CARBON CARAVAN (</strong><strong>Norwich Team)<br />
</strong><strong>Contact:</strong> Lesley Grahame or Chris Keene<br />
<strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://zerocarboncaravan.net/wordpress/">http://zerocarboncaravan.net/wordpress/</a><br />
<strong>Email: </strong><a href="mailto:lesley7railway@yahoo.co.uk">lesley7railway@yahoo.co.uk</a> (Lesley Grahame)<br />
<strong>Email: </strong><a href="mailto:chris.keene@zerocarboncaravan.net">chris.keene@zerocarboncaravan.net</a><br />
<strong>Tel: </strong>01603 920 801<br />
<strong>Mobile: </strong>07711 298 214</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>- END &#8211; </strong></p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save"><img src="http://lynnserafinn.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a> </p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://lynnserafinn.com/world-transition-town-network-climate-change-eco-friendly-community/bedford-replies-we-are-not-stupid-mr-prescott/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
