How can Transition Towns & Common Security Clubs help us navigate a changing economy & environment?

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



Support Groups for Hard Times
How can Transition Towns and Common Security Clubs help us navigate a changing economy and environment?

by Chuck Collins
posted Oct 05, 2010


“It is hard to imagine facing the future without my gang of neighbors,” said Laura Dudley, a member of a common security club in the Detroit area. “The whole media culture is telling us to keep borrowing and consuming, that climate change is still under debate, and that the experts are back in control of the economy. They’re tell us: Don’t worry about a thing. Go back to sleep!”

The good news is a lot of people are refusing to go back to sleep. We know that the next 20 years will be very different than the last 20 years. But to sustain our spirits and activism, we need small groups of allies—affinity groups—to support one another and build real security.

An encouraging undercurrent of the current political moment is the hundreds of local groups that have formed to proactively face economic and ecological change. These include community-wide planning efforts like Transition Towns and small group approaches, such as Common Security Clubs—which are sometimes called “resilience groups” or “economic security circles.” In the process of social change, these are necessary and complementary strategies.

Common security clubs are typically founded by people concerned about their economic security. These small groups of 10-25 adults are consciously breaking down the isolation and fear triggered by the 2008 economic meltdown. Clubs have strengthened communities and enabled participants to learn together, engage in mutual aid, and take social action. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/common-security-clubs/building-resilient-congregations-and-communities