Ibiza Transition Island: Our
Objective
We would
like to see Ibiza to become a shining example of environmental awareness - a
real transition island. We would like to promote a tourist destination
where the population and visitors are working in harmony with local
authorities, sharing a joint responsibility to create a sustainable
future. We'd like to unite people with their planet in the challenge of
life, respecting our earthly limits and conserving our natural heritage
from irreparable destruction.
Project Background
Following
the initiative of the Transition Town Movement which started some
years ago in the UK, and which is becoming ever
more popular, we believe that the island of Ibiza, with its
multinational population (around 100 resident nationalities, plus more
than 2 million tourist visitors each year), is an ideal location to make
a showcase of sustainable practices which can also be seen by virtually
everyone in the world.
To sum up the challenges
we face
there are two main issues:
the scarcity of fossil fuel and
the threat of climate change.
Strategy
So far,
the world famous reputation of Ibiza has been expressed through its
popular music and fashion, but most of all through its excess of night
life activities which includes being home to the biggest discotheque in
the world. However, more recently, many of the islanders and an
increasing number of local politicians are waking up to the idea of a
new possibility focused on the alternative tourism offer from this
little Mediterranean paradise.
During the summer months of 2010, our intention is to join all
interested residents & visitors, in the creation of a collective vision,
or transition movement which benefits us all. By inviting as many local
neighbourhood associations, ecological groups, business groups and
private individuals to participate, we have the idea to create a new concept in resource management,
finding a balance between what needs to be done internationally and what
can be done locally. We wish to inspire the whole population, including
the local administration, working in harmony on our collective "Transmision
Mission", to build an
environmentally regenerative and
sustainable future for the island of
IBIZA.
Vision with action can change the world!
Given the
likely disruptions ahead resulting from Peak Oil and Climate Change, a
resilient community - a community that is self-reliant for the greatest
possible number of its needs - will be infinitely better prepared than
existing communities with their total dependence on heavily globalised
systems for food, energy, transportation, health and housing.
If we plan and act early enough, and use our creativity and cooperation
within our local communities, then we can build a future that could be
far more fulfilling and enriching, more connected and more gentle on the
Earth than the lifestyles we have today.
We collectively demonstrated huge levels of ingenuity and spirit as we
climbed up the energy curve. There's no reason that we can't use those
same qualities to design our way down the other side. And in fact, if we
start early and work with sufficient creativity and inclusivity, we may
find that a lower energy life is a qualitative improvement over the
current disconnected existence that many of us lead.
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