Published on December 5, 2013 by Mike Grenville
in 

The Big Debate: how should Transition initiatives respond to austerity?
November's immersion in austerity has taken us in numerous directions. We've had James Meadway's 'Austerity Basics', which have given us a grounding in the thinking behind the whole approach. We've heard from a Conservative MP on her take as to why austerity is necessary and could be the spark for all manner of community enterprise.  We've heard from food journalist Felicity Lawrence about the impact the austerity cuts are having on the safety and regulation of our food.  We spoke to Jeremy Leggett about the importance of challenging the stranglehold the Big Six energy companies have over our energy supply.  Pam Warhurst of Incredible Edible Todmorden told us how they are seeing urban food production in the context of a response to austerity.  Prof Tim Lang told us about how food policy needs to reevaluated in the light of austerity.  Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall shared her thoughts on what we can learn from the austerity of 1939-1945 that might apply today.  Frances Northrop at Transition Town Totnes about how TTT are seeing their work in the context of austerity.  Our Social Reporters also reflected on the subject (for example here).  We heard how Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition are responding to austerity, and Jason Roberts told us about lessons from the Better Block project.

Austerity Basics
Ever wondered what austerity actually means? Where the idea comes from? Whether it actually works? With the help of James Meadway, Senior Economist at new economics foundation, we have a series of answers to the most commonly-wondered-about aspects of austerity.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/austerity-basics

Dr. Sarah Wollaston MP's 7 Thoughts on Austerity
MP for Totnes shares her thoughts on austerity, why it's happening and how we might respond to it. Plus some some challenging comments from readers.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/dr-sarah-wollaston-mps-7-thoughts-austerity

How Austerity's "Relentless Drive to Deregulate" Impacts the Food on Our Plate
With food writer and Guardian investigative journalist Felicity Lawrence Rob explores how austerity measures are affecting what ends up on our plate. She talks about the re-emergence of slavery in the current food system, the impact of the huge slashing of trading standards budgets, and emerging real social justice problems.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/felicity-lawrence-how-austeritys-relentless-drive-deregulate-impacts-food-

"Make No Mistake, This is An Energy Civil War"
Jeremy Leggett's new book 'The Energy of Nations: risk blindness and the road to renaissance' is an inspirational, page-turning telling of the evolving tale of peak oil, climate change, and economic crisis, and how the three issues intertwine and interweave.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/jeremy-leggett-make-no-mistake-energy-civil-war

Food Banks are “the First Response, Not the Final Response”
Pam Warhurst is a community leader, activist and environment worker who is one of the founders of Incredible Edible Todmorden. She shres her thoughts on urban food production, austerity and food banks.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/pam-warhurst-food-banks-are-first-response-not-final-response

"Dire Times Are One of the Only Moments When Structures Get Laid Bare"
An interview with Dr Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University London. For decades he has been at the forefront of debates around public health and the role that food, and food policy, play in that.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/interview-dr-tim-lang-dire-times-are-one-only-moments-when-structures-get-

What can we learn from the austerity of 1939-1945?
Writer and garden designer Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall wrote a book called 'Thrifty wartime ways to feed your family today'.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/what-can-we-learn-austerity-1939-1945

How Transition Town Totnes are Responding to Austerity
Frances Northrop, TTT Project Manager on what does austerity look like there, and how is Transition Town Totnes responding to it?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/frances-northrop-how-transition-town-totnes-are-responding-austerity

We've heard from all sorts of people, and now we'd like to hear from you. How do you think Transition initiatives should be responding to 'austerity'? What are you doing in your initiative?
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-11/big-debate-how-should-transition-initiatives-respond-austerity-0