1. Democracy in Action
 On a local community level, democracy manifests itself through participatory action, as citizens demonstrate their interest in issues that matter. People contribute to democracy in many ways, not limited to casting a ballot. Democracy is aided through open communication where participants have the opportunity to explore different views and are able to gather information to make informed decisions.
In representative democratic systems, officials are elected by their constituents. As a member of the community or local group, there are several ways that you can aid the democratic process.
Read more.
2. Getting Involved in Local Government
 Getting involved in local democracy is one of the ways in which some of our Relocalize members are making change in their community. In a blog post, Deborah Lindsay in California shares her experience and advice for getting involved. Deborah is known for her work initiating the local groups, Sustainable Monterey County and Sustainable Pacific Grove, and most recently as the co-host (along with her husband, Spencer Lindsay) of Tomorrow Matters Talk Radio Show.
"Anyone reading the relocalization, power down or transition town manuals knows a clear action for getting our communities back on the path to sustainable and regenerative living is to run for elected office with these concepts as our platforms. It’s for this reason I’m running for City Council of Pacific Grove in the central coast area of California."
Read Deborah's post.
3. Vote for Relocalization
 In Portland, Oregon there is an urban farm dedicated to growing produce for neighborhood residents, seasonally, sustainably and locally. The 47th Avenue Farm is based on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, meaning that they grow for a set number of harvest shareholders who join at the beginning of the season. These households and families then share in the bounty of the harvest throughout the growing season. This provides financial support for the farmers early in the spring when it is most needed, and the farm and families form a network of mutual support.
"47th Avenue Farm is more than just a CSA, it's a laboratory for how to relocalize our food supply. We've grown slowly, very organically over the years to the point that we now have 100 shares, we employ six people in addition to myself, and we have three or four full-time restaurant accounts. So, we're not only feeding community members with fresh, local food, we're proving that small, sustainable farming is economically viable. We're always testing ways to relocalize further -- for instance, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by using draft horses for some of our plowing and tilling," says Laura Masterson, founder and owner of 47th Avenue Farm.
This month, Laura has been chosen as finalist in a contest called "Dreamers Into Doers," sponsored by Martha Stewart, of home and garden fame.
"I love farming, but that doesn't mean there aren't some days when it's really hard. Relocalizing even a small part of our food system is not by any means easy. But on pickup days, when our shareholders come to get their produce and we see how much it means to people to get locally, sustainably-grown food from their own friends and neighbors, we remember why we're doing it and why it's so important," says Laura.
We're calling on Relocalize.net members to cast your votes online and show your support for this fantastic relocalization initiative!
Read more.
4. Titanic Lifeboat Campaign: the Local Quotient
 Your persistent Lifeboat Crew is at it again! This month, Caren Black and Christopher Padden planned their second annual Green Fest in Astoria, Oregon, and challenged others to join them.
"October is usually one of the easier months here on the Northwest Coast with the weather still fine, the days still longer than the nights, everyone settled back into school year routines and no holiday interruptions. It’s the perfect time to test our Local Quotient: how well can we do living on just what’s here in our local environment.
Last year we pledged to spend the entire month off the grid, with only 1 tank of gas, and no purchases, and challenged others to take on a similar pledge. Our efforts were recorded in the local press, and spread to KGW TV and the internet. People from Portland to Adams Center, NY took up the challenge, avoiding everything from plastic packaging to purchases to gasoline to wasted paper. Instead, they went for bulk items, local purchases, local foods and local transportation, biking or walking -- and had fun doing it!"
And this year, they were even more determined. Stay tuned for the November issue of the newsletter to see how they did!
5. Online Resources
 Government actions in response to peak oil
An updated map and table listing of all known sub-federal government actions in the U.S. and Canada made specifically in response to peak oil, courtesy of Post Carbon Cities.- Encourage your local government officials to prepare for climate change and energy uncertainty
Send them a copy of the Post Carbon Cities guidebook. Download the abridged version (PDF).
- Have your local government pass a peak oil resolution
Download the Relocalize.net Project Guide.
- Living in Canada and interested in getting active?
Download the Adopt an MP Campaign Guide, courtesy of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.
- UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security report
A group of leading British companies launched a report this month: The Oil Crunch: Securing the UK’s energy future. For this report, they asked, "How big is the risk from peak oil? How big is the alternative-energy opportunity? How do the two conflate?"
- Oil Depletion Analysis Centre report for local governments
The U.K. based non-profit Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) recently released a new booklet, Preparing for Peak Oil: Local Authorities and the Energy Crisis. The booklet report was created to serve a purpose parallel to the Post Carbon Cities guidebook, but for a U.K. audience. Preparing for Peak Oil is available for download on their website and does a good job of describing the U.K. situation with regard to declining energy supplies.
6. New on Global Public Media
Reality Report: Michael Klare and the geopolitics of resource consumption
The rate of evolution: an interview with Dr. Craig Stockwell
Deconstructing Dinner: The Local Grain Revolution II Fireside Chat with Julian Darley
Peak Moment: Making Financial Sense of the Coming Energy Crisis
Sustainability and Resource Depletion: Survival Challenge for the 21st Century
Peak Moment: Finding Opportunity in Peak Oil
7. Upcoming Events
Post Carbon Institute Speakers Schedule
 Plan C: Individual and Community Survival Strategies for the Energy Crisis
October 31 - November 2, 2008 | Rochester, MI
Richard Heinberg, Post Carbon Institute Senior Fellow, will present at the Fifth US Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions. The Conference will explore strategies for reducing energy use in the areas of housing, food and transportation, including both theory and practice.
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 American Planning Association, Fall Conference
November 7, 2008 | Salt Lake City, UT
Daniel Lerch, Post Carbon Cities Program Manager, will present at the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association, Fall Conference. The meeting will be held at University of Utah. |
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 The Conference on Michigan's Future - Energy, Economy & Environment
November 14-16, 2008 | Thompsonville, MI
Richard Heinberg, Post Carbon Institute Senior Fellow, will speak at the Conference on Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy and Environment, which will look at how rising oil and energy costs are crippling Michigan's economy and proposes solutions to prepare Michigan for the economy of tomorrow. |
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 3rd Biennial Organic Connections Conference
November 16-18, 2008 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Richard Heinberg will present at this three-day conference about the implications of peak oil on agriculture. |
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Featured Events
 2nd Annual Climate All Stars Conference
November 6, 2008 | San Francisco, CA
Bay Area Leaders Present: Real Solutions for Speed and Scale, a one-day conference where Bay Area Leaders will present programs to achieve bold green house gas reductions regionally.
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If you have any comments about this Newsletter or suggestions for the next, please contact us.
Shelby, Simone, Daniel and Asher
Relocalize.net team
Post Carbon Institute
Tel. +1 707 823 8700
Email Us
6971 Sebastopol Avenue
Sebastopol, California, 95472, USA
www.relocalize.net
www.postcarbon.org
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