By Susan Drumheller, North Idaho Associate-
The Gristmill blog reported this week that a recent survey showed most geoscientists see us reaching “peak oil” within 10 years. Peak oil is that point at which our global gluttony and dependence on oil consumption will go on a forced diet, because we’ll essentially start to run the well dry.
What happens then?
Well, at least two communities in Idaho are trying to come up with local rescue plans by joining the global transition initiative movement.
Earlier this year, Sandpoint became the second “Transition Town” in the United States (Boulder, Colo., was the first – no surprise there!), followed soon after by Ketchum.
Transition towns are partaking in a social experiment to create resilient, vibrant and sustainable post-oil communities. Their focus is on protecting and strengthening the environmental, economic and social infrastructure of their towns. One transition project in Totnes, U.K., for example, was to grow walnut trees for food security and wood supply.
Sandpoint Tansition Initiative is planning an “unleashing” event Nov. 14 at the Panida Theater — a fitting location, because the historic local theater was rescued, too, by community activism.
