Transition Town Tooting

Category: Other stuff

A place to gather things that have no category!

  • Time for New Leaders – Could It Be You?

    Transition Town Tooting is looking for new leaders ready for the AGM in February 2019 as the current leadership team will have completed their two year terms and we will be voting in new role holders. Do you fancy getting involved?

    If you do you could be joining an evolving and collaborative team making change in how we live, where we live, in light of climate change. There’s a spirit of celebration and creativity in everything we do, be it south London’s biggest sustainable food festival, urban growing in the community garden, carbon reduction workshops or neighbourhood planning. We open up spaces for local people to connect with each other, imagine possibilities and make positive changes for the community and the environment.


    We have evolved a system where 2 people share being chair of the group for a two year period and both of these spots are up for grabs in 2019.  We are also interested in hearing from anyone who would like to try their hand at being Treasurer or Secretary and help shape and re-imagine our activities and impact over the next two years.

    You’ll be joining a great team of volunteers and core members who coordinate projects. There are also other ways to volunteer with us from just attending events, leading a specific event or perhaps you would like to try being the newsletter Editor.  

    For more information about these roles click here.  

    We would love to hear from anyone who is interested.  Even if you are not sure but want to find out more do please CONTACT US and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or alternatively come along to the next meeting on Tuesday 13th November at the Antelope in Tooting to find out more about these opportunities.

  • We are POSTPONING our Saturday Oct 20th ‘Local Stories of Sustainability Success’ event

    We’re postponing this community event in Tooting until a later date.

    We’ve had a number of messages that people would like to participate in our event but also wish to join the Brexit vote-related People’s Vote March for the Future on Saturday 20th.

    We want our Local Stories of Sustainability Success speakers to have the largest possible audience, and we’ll get together to find a good date and share that asap. Event info here.

    Thanks everyone for your support and flexibility, especially the fab four speakers!

    Carbon Conversations, due to follow ‘Local Stories..’, will still go ahead starting on November 1st. All the info on this super free series of 6 discussions and action planning on our blog here.
    To sign up or ask questions contact Ben Cuddon by email here.  
    All welcome to join!

  • My Fracking Opinion, What’s Yours?

    Quite amazing in the week where the IPCC tells us we have even less time than we thought to take action to avert the dangers posed by warming of 2°C, that fracking is underway today in Lancashire courtesy of the delightful Cuadrilla Resources.  What planet are these people on?  Thankfully there are some brave people from our own planet out there (including a Transition Network trustee!) taking direct action to try to stop them.

    IPCC Graph

    Fracking involves the high-pressure injection of ‘fracking fluid’ (water, sand and a cocktail of chemicals) into the ground to create cracks in deep rock formations with the goal of extracting fossil fuels that may lie there, in the Lancashire case natural gas. It’s bad enough that fossil fuels lead to climate change and the associated disasters for humanity and the planet, but this special type of extraction can also involve the risk of earthquakes, toxic chemicals, water pollution and poor air quality[3]. 

    Image result for fracking picture
    source: Friends of the Earth

    On the BBC’s Today programme the Chief Executive of this life affirming operation, Francis Egan, was asked whether he would be quite happy to have a house on the site with his children breathing the air there and he replies “yes of course” (podcast here about 5m 55s in). What a great idea!

    Surely this should be a mandatory condition of the granting of any fracking licence? Namely that the chief executive, indeed why not all senior executives of such a company, commit to raise their families beside fracking sites so that they too can benefit from the clean air abounding, discover new unusual chemicals and marvel at the array of visiting industrial vehicles, as well as anticipate the excitement of a potentially rumbling landscape plus aftershocks. I’m all for it but I wonder if Mr Egan and his ilk really would be?!  Methinks not, it is others who must take such risks for the sake of their profits.  But maybe I’m too cynical.  What’s your fracking opinion?

    Resources: 
    1. More on fracking from the Guardian
    2. Anti-fracking with Frack Off 
    3. Fracking facts from Friends of the Earth & Greenpeace. 
    4. In America meanwhile you can even light your own methane laced water

  • Restart Sewstart Reupholster Party!

    The Fixed It List

    This afternoon’s Restart & Sewstart event saw a lot of smiling faces both on the Fixed It List and in the hall.  Thanks to everyone who helped out and attended!

    While fixers battled to fix seemingly broken radios, lamps, toasters and phones, Shaz and her able helpers reupholstered a sofa that had been dumped in the street.  Check out the time lapse video of the work!

    Phew, that’s better!

    At our events we aim to keep electrical or electronic items out of landfil by repairing them, and also mend and alter old clothing to give it a new lease of life. If you are just curious or would like to learn new skills come along to one of our Restart Parties

    Our next Restart Party in Tooting is at Mushkil Aasaan on
    8th December 13.30 – 16.30
    and will include toy-mending as well – watch this space!

    Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!   More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

    Don’t forget more upcoming dates for you diary:
    Local Stories of Sustainability Success is on Saturday October 20th and the start of a new series of Carbon Conversations on November 1st. 

  • TTT’s new series of practical & participative local ‘Carbon Conversations’ is running in November & December – you’re invited to take part!

    Carbon Conversations is back! Our new series of six free meetings in November & December in SW16 – organised by TTT’s Ben Cuddon. 

    The facilitated workshops enable individuals to explore the areas of our lives where we can reduce our own carbon emissions: travel, food, domestic energy, consumption and waste.

    A quote from a past participant:  
    “The beauty of Carbon Conversations is the 
    optimism, creativity and shared ideas” 

    During the six weekly sessions you’ll discuss in a supportive atmosphere all the practicalities of making your own ‘low-carbon lifestyle’ changes. Making these changes is never one size fits all. 

    Exploring your own situation, start point and preferences is so valuable and makes the series personal and practical. 

    The meetings are well structured with a mix of games, conversation, debate, activities and exercises.

    Click here for the flyer and here are the summary details:
    Venue: in SW16 between Mitcham Lane & Streatham Common Station 
    Timings: all meetings run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm 
    Dates: six Thursdays from Nov 1st to Dec 6th, once a week
    Free: there is no fee to take part. The only cost is currently £14 for the workbook and learning materials, which TTT charges at cost. Sessions are led for free by TTT’s trained Carbon Conversations facilitators. 
    To join or ask any questions: contact Ben Cuddon by email here or TTT by mail here

    TTT has run over 12 series of Carbon Conversations since 2011. 
    On average participants are able to identfy how to reduce their own carbon footprints by a third – by over 4 tonnes of carbon.
    Wait a minute! 
    What does ‘four tonnes of carbon’ mean? 
    You may already be worried about shorthand & jargon. The way we facilitate the meetings means that you do not need to be an expert. 
    Although it’s a complex subject, we guarantee that by the end of the sessions you will learn useful new language and concepts and understand the practical elements of household carbon reduction.

    This series is a great place to start if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, meet some friendly and like-minded people and explore the topic as it affects you, rather than being lectured at!

    As a participant said: 

    “At the last session I don’t think anybody wanted to leave!”

     Join us to find out how to reduce heat loss from your home!

  • Reduce Waste in Tooting at our fixing and mending workshop!

    There’s been lots of interest in reducing waste packaging in Tooting in recent months, whether its the new Plastic Free Tooting group on Facebook or BYO the new zero waste shop in Tooting Market. So we’re delighted to be welcoming back our fixing and mending workshop which focuses on reducing electrical and electronic waste, and helping us mend and alter our clothes and household fabrics to extend their life.

    So whether it’s electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away or a sewing machine that is broken or you’re not sure how to us or maybe you have have a favourite piece of clothing that needs mending or altering and you’d like to learn how?

    You might even fancy learning how to upholster a chair in an afternoon?  Or are you simply good at fixing and mending stuff (we’re looking for people to join our growing team of volunteers!)

    Maybe you fancy a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chance to find out more about Transition Tooting and what we get up to?

    If so come along on to Mushkil Aasaan, 220 – 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s) on either …

    13th October 12.00 – 15.00 or 
    8th December 13.30 – 16.30

     

    Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!   More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

  • Inviting you to our series of free local events this autumn exploring sustainability in Tooting!

    We’re thrilled with the fun and buzz at the Tooting Foodival last Saturday! Thanks to all who contributed their time, equipment, skills and produce to make it a success (see the I Grew This 2018 blog post).  Over 600 people took part on a sunny Tooting afternoon!
    Much more to share about it soon on this blog.

    The Tooting Foodival was the first in a series of free local events this autumn, all about exploring, influencing and creating sustainability in Tooting, together.

    All invited to all of them!

    Click here for a copy of the flyer.

    The next event is a Tooting Debate on Weds 19th Sept:

    ‘Local Food is an Expensive Luxury’.

    Yes, we know…..that’s intended to be provocative after the success of the community Foodival based on locally-grown food, local cooking and local eating together. 
    Come along and share what you think! Details to come here on the blog.
    The debate is on Weds 19th Sept from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm at The Selkirk Pub, SW17 0ES

    We’ll promote and share details of all the other events in good time.

  • I Grew This 2018

    Yesterday was another memorable one in the Tooting Foodival annals.  Full reports with myriad pictures will be posted on our blogas in the coming days but firstly thank you to our fabulous growers who donated home grown fruit and vegetables.  Without you the event is not possible.
    We give you I Grew This 2018!

  • Restart-Sewstart Party back for the summer on August 4th

    Join our fixing and mending workshop with August’s Restart and Sewstart! Whether it’s electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away or a sewing machine that is broken or you’re not sure how to use, we can help!

    Have a favourite piece of clothing that needs mending or altering and you’d like to learn how? Or simply good at fixing and mending stuff and want to volunteer?

    Or maybe you fancy a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chance to find out more about Transition Tooting and what we get up to?

    Come along on Sat 4th August – 12.00 – 3.00pm Mushkil Aasaan, 220 – 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s)

    (Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!
    Future dates are 13th October and 8th December.

    More info about Restart          More about Transition Town Tooting,
    email TTT here     TTT on twitter

  • Join us at the London National Park City Fair on 21st July to co-create a Greener, Healthier and Wilder London!

    We’re thrilled to be invited to contribute to the London National Park City Fair on Saturday July 21st 11:00 – 5:00 – all the details here.

    The purpose of the Fair is to celebrate’s London’s potential to be Greener, Healthier and Wilder.
    Two dozen stands & an A-Z of short talks will show how that potential can be an imagined & achieved right now.

    Our stand focuses on our partnership projects and facilitation since 2015 with CARAS the Tooting charity who work with refugees and asylum-seekers: all about social sustainability in the community.

    We’ll be sharing our thoughtful, creative and fun Signs of Welcome making workshop – come and join in: any ages, any languages welcome and you can take your signs home to brighten up your neighbourhood.

    We’ll share 5 short case studies that explore our work in partnership with CARAS beneficiaries, and explore options with stand visitors who are interested to get involved as volunteers.
    You can read the case studies here.

    There’s also a more formal description of the history and impact of the partnership since 2015 – read it here.

    Finally on sharing learning, there’s an article on our Stay With Love pallet-benches on the London National Park City website in the Making a Difference section here.

    We’ll have a prize draw to attract a lucky winner plus family or friends to Tooting for a Taste of Tooting experience! You’ll enjoy our diverse food culture, try recipes from CARAS participants and cook on an open fire on the Tooting Community Garden. Here’s a copy of the prize draw details: you have to come along to the Fair to enter!

    Please join in the fun of the Fair and meet us at the stand – we look forward to seeing you and we’re proud to be contributing alongside so many fascinating London groups.