MAKING OF SOCIAL LIVES

Making Of Social Lives

Making Of Social Lives

PART 01

The National Identity Card issue may have dropped out of the news somewhat since the scheme became law in 2006, and reports of the exact state of the project may have become confused and distorted. However, the government's plans to introduce the scheme are still alive. While Gordon Brown may have recently suggested he does not support compulsory ID cards for all, his government's own activity shows that Whitehall is still determinedly laying out the foundations of the system (http://webcat.hud.ac.uk/).

A leaked government document recently confirmed what ministers have also stated, which is that foreign nationals will be required to hold an ID card this very year, such a transparently repressive measure it's distressing to think a government thinks it will run. This will be followed next year by people in positions of trust - security guards, teachers and carers, for example - passport applicants by 2010, and young people by 2011.

Brighton and Hove

Transition Brighton and Hove began very recently: the initial meeting was last July, and researcher became officially part of the Transition Network in August. But researcher are proud to say researcher think researcher are definitely on the right track. Researcher have a coordinating hub that helps organize our activities, and researcher have arranged several events to raise awareness of the problems and the solutions around our energy future. (Munson 2009:201) Researcher launched a website you can visit at www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk. Researchers have a logo, fliers, and are screening relevant documentaries in several venues.

And of course, researchers are very aware that researcher is not alone in our efforts. Researcher knows Brighton and Hove is one of the greenest cities in the country, and there are many groups and organizations whose aims overlap ours. Researcher has been establishing contact with quite a few of them and there have been some fruitful collaboration, and researcher wants to continue in this vein. (McLeod & Yates 2006:201) Researcher need to work together to create in every resident the vision of a future Brighton that is sustainable, energy efficient and still “the place to be”.

Difference

Some people believe the solution to climate change and peak oil production lies in governments passing new laws. That may very well be true, but democratic governments won't pass new laws that don't have great support among the public, and so far they have found it easier to deal with the problems of oil depletion by fighting wars in oil-producing countries. Other people believe the solution is running for the hills and establishing a small family organic farm in the countryside. The truth is, it doesn't matter how self-sufficient you manage to be, if the rest of your neighborhood isn't anywhere close. (Beresford, Adshead & Croft 2007:187) The Transition movement emerged from the conviction that the best approach is to try to make a change that is neither too big nor too small. Within each town or city, each Transition group focuses on changing only their own ...