Are you concerned about wildfires and floods in BC, but don’t quite know what to do about it? Maybe you want to eat and shop more locally, but it seems way too hard to figure it out on your own? Or maybe you’d like to invest some of your time or money in our community, but aren’t sure it will make difference?
Then we’ve got the program for you!
Transition Kamloops is one of a handful of non-profits across the country selected for an exciting community resilience-building initiative. We’ll be working in partnership with the Kamloops Food Policy Council and the Kamloops Naturalist Club over the next year to help citizens learn about and take action on climate change in our own community.
With your help, we’ll develop an informed team of sustainability advocates, build a plan, and implement action projects for a healthier, stronger Kamloops.
Starting January 31, 2023, we’ll move through three steps together:
- Learn about the challenges around climate change and related issues
- Identify opportunities for building local resilience, based on our learnings
- Take action! Develop and implement our “made-in-Kamloops” plan
Step 1: Inspired by examples of community-led climate activism, we’ll explore effective systems change and the ways other communities, organizations, co-operatives, networks and movements have taken action—then apply this knowledge locally.
We will participate in a 12-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that is open to registrants from across the world. The two hours of coursework per week can be done whenever it suits you. We’ll build in some in-person meetings to discuss learnings and explore how these issues appear in Kamloops. The four topics we will be learning about are:
- Capitalism, Planetary Limits and the Making of New Commons (Jan 29 – Feb 18)
- Land and Resources for the Common Good (Feb 19 – Mar 11)
- Ecologically Resilient and Just Food Systems (Mar 12 – Apr 1)
- Democratizing Money and Finance (Apr 2 – 22)
Step 2: Throughout the program, we’ll be offering opportunities to get together and discuss which strategies might be applied locally. Towards the end of the learning process, we’ll begin brainstorming options and identifying one or more action projects to take on.
Step 3: From April 23 onwards, we’ll develop and implement our plan and work together to make tangible, positive change in Kamloops. The action projects will be selected by the participants, and funding is available. We can’t wait to see what our community chooses to work on!
Join us for this journey to a more resilient Kamloops! We’d like to include folks from every area and every sector of our community. Funding is available, so there will be no cost to participants.
Please share this opportunity in your own circle—the more the merrier! Contact us with any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to the program!
Transition Kamloops gratefully acknowledges the funding that is making this program possible. STARCAP (Synergia Transition and Resilience Climate Action Program) is a joint project of Synergia Cooperative Institute, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, and Athabasca University.
More details on course content:
Framing the Journey: Capitalism, Planetary Limits and the Making of New Commons
The ideology of endless growth, consumption, and ‘free’ markets are driving climate, environmental, social, and economic breakdown. Yet at the same time changemakers are forging new pathways for change and expanding the reach of solutions. Module 1 frames the learning journey ahead, and raises some key climate, energy and justice challenges for changemakers.
Stewarding Land and Resources for the Common Good
Land, water, and air – how are these commons being reclaimed for the common good? Alternative ways of owning and governing land are central to innovations – large and small – for achieving affordable shelter, clean water, transition to organic agriculture, the restoration of desecrated areas, and climate adaptation. As a result, both poverty and carbon emissions have been radically reduced.
Towards Ecologically Resilient and Just Food Systems
This module explores models, strategies, and popular movements that resist corporate, chemical, and commodity-based agriculture while cultivating regenerative and resilient food systems, and making food security strategic to climate adaptation.
Democratizing Money and Finance
It’s time to demystify the world of money creation – to recognize how debt-free money was created in the past to address enormous challenges, and why it is crucial to do so again. This module also introduces a series of practical financing alternatives and their positive social and economic impacts. It engages how we finance energy descent, degrowth, climate justice and the green new deal.
In addition to the four topics above that we’ll be doing together, participants will have access to four more that they can do on their own if they wish.
Fantabulous!!
Incredibly fantabulous!
I’d be interested in joining if there wasn’t the distinct stench of marxism underlying it. Its kind of funny to see modules on how capitalism is the problem, but also, funding is available.
Interesting take, Joe. I’m not sure that marxism will be presented as the solution (there are certainly other alternatives, including the sort of capitalism we had about 100 years ago before corporations gained the powers they have now), but I’m happy to take the course and have the discussion.
I think it’s pretty clear that current systems are simply not working: not only is the physical environment deteriorating to a dangerous level, but the wealth gap is growing astronomically and we have more polarized, hardened views on every social issue. Something needs to change.
What appeals to me about this program is the chance to network with others and choose projects that we’d like to do together at the community level. The action projects are going to be decided by course participants. Somehow, I can’t see “abolish capitalism” coming up as a winner for Kamloops. 😉
Looks like a great program. What time of day will the sessions be – daytime or evening?
The online learning sessions can be done whenever it suits the participants — everyone will be doing those bits on their own time. For the optional in-person study circles and then (afterwards) the action project meetings, we’ll probably do a poll to figure out times that work for most folks. Hope that helps!