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Local Future Middleville ONGOING INITIATIVES Middleville Energy & Climate Uncertainty Task Force Local Future is leading an effort to form an "Energy & Climate Uncertainty Task Force" for Middleville, Thornapple Township, Thornapple Kellogg Schools, and the surrounding area. Community members David Perkins and Aaron Wissner have presented on peak oil, climate change, and the goal to form a task force to a committee of the Village of Middleville (in March 2008), as well as the Thornapple Township Council (in June 2008). David Perkins focused his efforts on designing a visually pleasing and welcoming multimedia presentation, as well as doing research on similar task force efforts in other towns and cities. Wissner spent over 20 hours editing down a professional peak oil film, from 90 minutes to only eight minutes, in order to share the essential aspects of peak oil with the council. Wissner secured permission from the UK copyright holder to use these clips in these local presentations. The presentation is structured in three parts: first describing the uncertainties of peak oil and climate change, then the video clips from peak oil experts, and finally an invitation to form the local task force. Also, on Sunday, January 13th, 2008 Perkins and Wissner gave an early version of the talk, including the finalized video, to reporter Neil King Jr. of the Wall Street Journal. King was in town interviewing Aaron Wissner for a front page WSJ story on peak oil and local peak oil education efforts.
In addition, Wissner prepared a DVD of compact high quality video clips that illustrate the uncertainties of peak oil. This DVD is not available for distribution due to copyright restrictions. Wissner does have a DVD of his peak oil presentation, including his online YouTube video clips, and this is available for purchase at cost. Contact aaron@localfuture.org for more information.
PAST EVENTS Creating Jobs by Protecting Earth - Please RSVP Former Rep. Kathleen Law and renewable energy installer Mark Bauer come to Middleville on May 6 to explain the job creation potential of the new renewable energy payment or feed-in tariff (FIT) bill in Lansing. A similar bill in Germany helped to create over five hundred thousand new jobs.
The house bill 4137 specifies the rate of payment per kilowatt-hour, and the minimum number of years for the contract. For example, electricity generated from rooftop projects would be purchased by the utility at 65 cents per kilowatt-hour for a minimum contract of 20 years. A typical two kilowatt rooftop solar electric system costs about $20,000 to have installed. Each year, it generates about 2,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Under the FIT plan, the system owner would be paid $1,625 per year by the electric utility, for a total of $32,500 over the duration of the 20 year contract. The job creation would come in three areas: installers, manufacturers, and spin-off. With a sudden demand for renewable energy systems, thousands of people would need to be hired and trained as installers. Renewable energy manufacturers, recognizing that Michigan has a FIT system, would preferentially choose Michigan as a site for manufacturing, creating a second wave of thousands of jobs. Finally, all of these newly employed would spend their money for goods and services in Michigan, improving the economy, creating jobs, and improving the tax base for public services. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited, and arriving early is recommended. Please RSVP here: Creating Jobs with Green Renewable Energy Payments The free event is sponsored by Local Future, a nonprofit education organization located in Middleville.Additional Information on Feed-in Tariff Video on Potential for Solar PV Energy in Michigan Michigan Governor Granholm Advocates for Feed-in Tariff World Future Council on Feed-in Tariff Michigan House Bill 4137 of 2009
The Reinvention of the Local Economy How can communities build strong, resilient, local economies? Filmmaker Chris Bedford provides one solution in a brand new documentary film "Coming Home: E.F. Schumaker and the Reinvention of the Local Economy". The film highlights how the community of New Barrington, Massachusetts, has been revitalized by a number of clever innovations such as community land trusts, community supported agriculture, community radio, micro lending, small business script, and a local currency, the BerkShare. The BerkShare is one of hundreds of different local currencies printed in small communities all around the world. There are currently over two million BerkShares in circulation in the New Barrington community. Each BerkShare is worth one US dollar. Local currency advocates claim that BerkShares increase sales at local businesses, help encourage local shopping, and strengthen community pride. Filmmaker Bedford will be on hand to answer questions about his film and to participate in a conversation on how to improve the local economy. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited, and arriving early is recommended. LocalHarvest.org - Summary and sales of "Coming Home"
Permaculture Gardening for Increased
Self-Sufficiency Debrief Middleville On Tuesday, June 24, join with other concerned citizens to discuss how to move towards a local future. Half of the evening will be devoted to efforts of Local Future groups, the second half devoted to brainstorming for future conferences and events. The event takes place at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Donations are optional but are accepted to cover costs.
Premiere of A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
People ask: Are we running out of oil? The simple answer is: Yes, we started doing that when we produced the first barrel. But Running Out is not the main issue as the resource will not be finally exhausted for very many years. The much more relevant question is: When will production reach a peak and begin to decline? Find out at a free screening of A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash, a 90 minute documentary on the planet's dwindling oil resources. Oil Crash produced and directed by award-winning European journalists and filmmakers Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack, tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, but logical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled. The film includes in-depth, thought-provoking interviews with Colin Campbell, Matt Simmons, Roscoe Bartlett, David Goodstein, Matt Savinar, Terry Lynn Karl, Fadhil Chalabi, Robert Ebel and many others. Shot on location at oil fields in Azerbaijan, Venezuela, the Middle East and Texas, with original music by Daniel Schnyder and Philip Glass, the film provides not only questions, but possible solutions to the most perplexing and important economic, environmental and public policy issue of our time. The film plays on the big screen on Saturday, April 19th at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the event begins at 6:30 p.m. An in-depth community discussion follows the film. Capacity is limited to 60. Reservations are highly recommended and will hold seats until 6:15 p.m. The event is sponsored by Local Future, a nonprofit education organization dedicated to helping individuals and communities transition to a sustainable local future.
Peak Oil, Climate Change, and the Future
The DVD plays on the big screen at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. An in-depth community discussion follows the film. Walk-ins are welcome.
WHAT EVERY ENVIRONMENTALIST SHOULD KNOW... Kurt Cobb, publisher of Resource Insights, travels to Middleville to deliver a live multimedia talk of his groundbreaking presentation “What Every Environmentalist Should Know (but probably doesn’t). Cobb is a freelance writer who speaks and writes frequently on energy and the environment. He is a columnist for the Paris-based science news site Scitizen and his work has also been featured on Energy Bulletin, 321energy, Le Monde Diplomatique, EV World, The Wall Street Journal Online and many other sites. "The environmental movement is so splintered because most in it don't understand what trouble we are in," said Cobb. "Neither do they understand the connections between the various environmental problems." The Local Future sponsored event begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at the Thornapple Township Hall on Main Street in Middleville. This is just up the street from the river, on the south side of the road. This is one of the "Sustainability Series" which continues on Tuesdays. On March 25, a DVD presentation of Michael Shuman explores ways to improve the local economy despite inflation and rising gas prices. On April 1, a DVD presentation of professor and environmental writer David Orr looks into climate change, peak oil, and the future. These two events will be held at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Sustainability Series events are free and open to the public. RSVP's are appreciated but not required to organizer Aaron Wissner at aaron@localfuture.org
The Power of Community & Greening of Cuba
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. The film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." "The Power of Community" opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for when world oil production will reaches its all-time peak and begins to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope. NEW -- In addition, we have the pleasure of a live phone conversation with Faith Morgan, director, producer and writer of the film! BONUS -- We will also have on the line producer Pat Murphy!
"The Power of Community" (53 min.) and "The Greening of Cuba" (38 min.) play on the big screen at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., pre-screening activities begins at 6:30 p.m. An in depth community discussion on agriculture, local food systems, and reducing oil dependence follows the films. This unique event is sponsored by Local Future, a nonprofit education organization dedicated to helping individuals and communities transition to a sustainable local future. Capacity is limited to 60. Reservations are highly recommended and will hold seats until 6:15 p.m. Contact Aaron Wissner at aaron@localfuture.org for a reservation. Note: This very successful event included a live phone conference with writer Faith Morgan and producer Pat Murphy. Using a simple cell phone set to speaker phone, and an amplification system, this was a highlight of the evening.
Deep Home Energy (Money Saving) Retrofits The event is one of a series which continues every Tuesday with speakers including Judy Wicks, Richard Heinberg, Vicki Robin, Julian Darley, David Orr, and Peter Bane. Presentations focus on topics such as saving money, creating jobs, reducing oil dependence, improving the local economy, local food systems, water and zoning issues, and combating climate change. All Sustainability Series events are free and include in-depth community discussion and networking time. Sustainability Series events begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville and conclude before 9:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and RSVP's are appreciated to Aaron Wissner: aaron@localfuture.org Note: We did a double-feature this evening, with both Linda Wigington's talk and Larry Halpern's talk (see below).
Peak Everything: The Coming Century of Decline Heinberg, a professor from California, has published four books on the various aspects of peak oil, energy, and the future. In this film presentation from the U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions, Heinberg goes into detail on the peaking of oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, and other natural resources. The event is one of a series which continues every Tuesday with speakers including Judy Wicks, Richard Heinberg, Vicki Robin, Julian Darley, David Orr, and Peter Bane. Presentations focus on topics such as saving money, creating jobs, reducing oil dependence, improving the local economy, local food systems, water and zoning issues, and combating climate change. All Sustainability Series events are free and include in-depth community discussion and networking time. Sustainability Series events begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville and conclude before 9:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and RSVP's are appreciated to Aaron Wissner: aaron@localfuture.org Note: Participants decided to watch Heinberg's peak oil talk from the 2005 Community Solutions conference.
Saving Money with Low-Tech Home Energy
Retrofits The event is one of a series which continues every Tuesday with speakers including Judy Wicks, Richard Heinberg, Vicki Robin, Julian Darley, David Orr, and Peter Bane. Presentations focus on topics such as saving money, creating jobs, reducing oil dependence, improving the local economy, local food systems, water and zoning issues, and combating climate change. All Sustainability Series events are free and include in-depth community discussion and networking time. The Tuesday, February 26th event features Richard Heinberg's excellent talk "Peak Everything: The Coming Century of Decline". Heinberg, a professor from California, has published four books on the various aspects of peak oil, energy, and the future. Sustainability Series events begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville and conclude before 9:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and RSVP's are appreciated to Aaron Wissner: aaron@localfuture.org
David Korten Kicks Off Tuesday Sustainability Series The series will continue every Tuesday with high powered
national speakers including Julian Darley, Richard Heinberg, David Orr, Vicki Robin, Peter Bane, Judy Wicks
and more, each focusing on multiple aspects of
local sustainability. Each presentation will be followed by an in-depth
community discussion, focusing on ways in which individuals and communities can work towards
sustainability at the local level. Contact Aaron Wissner at aaron@localfuture.org to RSVP for this event. Event organizer planning document: David Korten: The Great Turning (Word Document) Update: On a Tuesday nigh, during a winter weather advisory when evening events were being cancelled left and right, this event attracted a dozen area residents. The participants asked to watch the entire presentation, including the 30 minute question and answer section. A casual discussion followed, which included selecting the next several Tuesday events. The evening wrapped up just before 9 p.m.
The End of Suburbia Comes to Middleville
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with introductions starting at 6:30 p.m. and the film
playing at 7:00 p.m. sharp. The film runs 83 minutes. It will be followed by
an in depth discussion of peak oil and oil depletion, connections to
sustainability and climate change, and ways to prepare for the energy and
climate uncertainties of the future. The film is sponsored by Local Future Middleville, a local non-profit education outreach organization dedicated to help develop individual and community sustainability at the local level. Contact Aaron Wissner at aaron@localfuture.org to reserve a seat for "The End of Suburbia". Update: During a winter weather advisory, forecast to bring blizzard-like conditions, this event attracted twenty-two participants from as far away as Jenison, Grant, Kalamazoo, Adrian, and Flint. The one-hour follow-on discussion was excellent, with four passes around the room for thoughts on the problem of peak oil and the solutions. The event was followed by a 45-minute video interview with Ford battery science expert Phil Rairigh about peak oil and advanced automotive technology.
What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire
The film examines our present global predicament; as oil depletion, climate change, species extinction and population overshoot converge in a “perfect storm” of cataclysmic dimensions. Described by Jan Lundberg at www.CultureChange.org as “perhaps the most important media message of our time”, What a Way to Go, features interviews with Daniel Quinn, Derrick Jensen, Jerry Mander, Richard Heinberg, William Catton, Paul Roberts, Chellis Glendinning, Thomas Berry, Richard Manning and Ran Prieur. The film plays on the big screen at the Thornapple Township Emergency Services Building at 128 High Street in Middleville. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., pre-screening activities begins at 6:30 p.m. A moderated community discussion on climate change, peak oil, population growth, and species extinction will follow the film at 9 p.m. Capacity is limited to 50 people, so arrive early to guarantee a seat. The film is sponsored by Local Future Middleville, a local non-profit education outreach organization. Contact organizer@localfuture.org for more details. Update: This film attracted a capacity crowd of 58 with standing room only. It set the perfect stage to the follow on events of Local Future Middleville.
Events Calendar Local Future Middleville is the first group of Local Future, a Michigan based nonprofit which works with communities to save money, create jobs, and move towards sustainability. The events of Local Future Middleville include the Sustainability Series, the Saturday Feature Events, and the International Conference. The Middleville group is the pilot Local Future group, on which all other groups will be based. Local Future has published its full Event Calendar for the Spring 2008.
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Under
a FIT system, anyone who had renewable electricity systems installed on their
home or business would be able to contract with the electric utility who would
buy all of the energy.
Local
Future features David Orr's DVD talk on peak oil, climate change, and the future
on Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 p.m., Middleville
What
is it that causes environmental groups to find themselves working against one
another? What is the secret underlying element that binds them all?
On
Saturday, March 8, Local Future hosts the free double feature West Michigan premiere
of "
The Tuesday, February 26th,
Local Future's Sustainability Series event features Richard Heinberg's excellent talk "
On Tuesday, February 19th,
Local Future nonprofit hosts a free event on how to save money with affordable,
do-it-yourself, home energy retrofits. Featured will be a 25-minute video
presentation by
On Tuesday, February 12th, activist David Korten, author of "The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community" and "When
Corporations Rule the World", kicks off the free Local Future sustainability series
with his high powered talk "The Great Turning".
Since World War II North Americans have invested
much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space,
affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban
sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too has the suburban way of life
become embedded in the American consciousness.
Local
Future Middleville will host a free viewing of the new documentary movie, "