[CeeCee]

Joe,
If you like, I could guide you through the steps of setting up a 'post peak' winter school, which focuses on the skills that people need for a post peak world, and draws upon the knowledge that already exists in your local community/city/suburb etc. The concept is money-free- i.e. all tutors give their time freely and students don't pay to attend, except where there needs to be some reimbursement for materials.

This could give you a sense of purpose and of doing something to prepare, not only for yourself but also for many other people. Even if you don't think that other people are ready to face peak oil, you could still run a winter school which focuses on "Back to Basics Living" or "Sustainable Living" or similar, because the content is pretty much the same.

You don't need money to set one up, but you do need a computer to organise and email your timetables, a telephone so that you can phone people and they can phone you, access to a community newsletter, noticeboard or newspaper for free advertising of the event, and it helps if you have access to a venue such as a community hall, although that isn't absolutely necessary either. The most important thing you need is passion to make it work- if you have that it will work.
For more info see
http://www.homepages.globe.net.nz/ceeceegl/winterschool/karameawinterschool.html
I would be at the other end of email to talk you through it, if you'd like to try it. I'll be running another summer school in the last 2 weeks of January (if that would be a good time for a northen hemisphere wnter school).

Best wishes
Liz.
(my email address is on the website)

[Joe0Bloggs]

I would like to find or raise some PO-aware people before I try something like that...

Haven't really convinced anybody yet... I've only raised the subject with my family and one or two friends. Actually once I tried to do a presentation to a whole class, don't think I had any converts. I won't know even if I did, I'm not in contact with them anymore! Haven't had much positive reaction so far... I'm also afraid that if I do manage to convince someone (s)he'll go into a depressed funk like me and I don't want to be responsible for that!

I think I may be close to having my first convert...

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'O')ur society and its individuals need to take big, radical steps now, Ludi, or a revolution or anything else we do will come too late. Baby steps won't cut it.

[Heineken]

P.S. to Joe, Ludi, and others:

Some people get depressed and anxious about PO (and the environment). I went through that stage, but now, as some of my earlier posts indicate, I've arrived at the stage of ANGER and OUTRAGE, where I (for better or worse) have little patience for half-measures and saccharine assurances. If I could push a magic button and make Hugo (or Cesar, now deceased) Chavez or Fidel Castro the U.S. president instead of the boy-emperor Bush, I'd do so without hesitating.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')
I'm not sure this warrants a new thread, Ludi, but here are some steps I have taken regarding PO and the environment:

1. Having no children (a biggie).
2. Buying and saving 25 acres, where I now live, from mindless development and trashing.
3. Heating my place entirely with wood from my own land.
4. Growing a lot of my own food, and in a semi-organic way.
5. Voting for the "greenest" candidate in every election (slim pickings, of course).
6. Telling everyone I know about PO and our environmental woes.
7. Reading extensively on both subjects in item 6 above.
8. Consuming as little as possible.
9. Teleworking. Most days, I don't even get into my 12-year-old vehicle.

[Heineken]

They are small steps only because enough people aren't taking them, Ludi. The revolution would consist of institutionalizing some of these measures. I admit that I haven't a clue as to how to do that---that's politics---also, that I don't want to get my head chopped off. But that doesn't make me any less angry. I suppose that if a Chavez-like movement started in this country, I would be willing to join it at personal risk to myself. Basically, though, I think the situation is hopeless. Which is why my signature reads,

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', ' ') The revolution would consist of institutionalizing some of these measures. ,

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I'm with Ludi in more ways than one. Balance is essential. if you spend a lot of time with depressing defeatist thoughtsyou need to find things to do that will give you some positives.

If that is hard (being depressed and all) then try finding activities that bring you a sense of peace (not to be confused with the numb flatness most depressives experience before committing suicide). Avoid meditation its not good for depressives if you do want to meditate try channeling the happiest emotions you can generate.

I would also suggest "the feel good mood therapy" its a book on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and goes deeply into what Ludi was talking about with changing your thought patterns. Good luck dude, if you need to talk...

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', ' ') The revolution would consist of institutionalizing some of these measures. ,

[Heineken]

deleted

[Heineken]

deleted---double post

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('uNkNowN ElEmEnt', 'I')'m with Ludi in more ways than one. Balance is essential. if you spend a lot of time with depressing defeatist thoughtsyou need to find things to do that will give you some positives.

If that is hard (being depressed and all) then try finding activities that bring you a sense of peace (not to be confused with the numb flatness most depressives experience before committing suicide). Avoid meditation its not good for depressives if you do want to meditate try channeling the happiest emotions you can generate.

I would also suggest "the feel good mood therapy" its a book on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and goes deeply into what Ludi was talking about with changing your thought patterns. Good luck dude, if you need to talk...

[wildsparrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Peepers', 'G')et back to helping this young man named Joe, OK?

My advice is to live life enjoyably, yet sustainably. Take up bicycle riding into the countryside. Take transit into the city and walk around, visiting the many cultural attractions. Spend time at musuems and other institutions to learn about human history ...

[Heineken]

Maybe I believe in tough love, wildsparrow. Maybe I think joe can learn something from how I have coped emotionally with this issue.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I think it would be helpful to point out that Joe has a medical condition. YOu can't just snap out of a depression and its hard for non-depressives to understand that.

Depressed people can't just make little compartments, that would be their entire brain. there is ususally an underlying condition that hasn't been diagnosed like hypoglycemia or fatigued adrenal glands that doctors won't look for.

Tough love doesn't work for seriously depressed people. Neither does meditation. When I said he should find an activity that can bring him peace I didn't mean that he should try to live in some nirvana like state. No one can do that all the time.

Depressed people have too much of the emotions that get you riled up. We don't need to keep them close or fresh: they never go away.

[Heineken]

Are you a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, a psychiatric R.N., or a licensed clinical social worker, unknown? If yes, I yield to your opinion. If not, I submit that my unprofessional opinion on this matter is just as valid as yours.

The best advice we can give joe is to continue to seek help through a medical professional---preferably, one who is not a drug-pusher (I agree with you on that) and sympathy-hander-outer. I have worked on the edges of the medical field for 27 years (as a medical editor) and know how dangerous well-meant advice from nonprofessionals can be. That is why I have not addressed joe directly in this forum, but modeled for him part of my own emotional journey with PO.

[wildsparrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I') have worked on the edges of the medical field for 27 years (as a medical editor) and know how dangerous well-meant advice from nonprofessionals can be. That is why I have not addressed joe directly in this forum, but modeled for him part of my own emotional journey with PO.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

What I do have to offer is training as a critical incident responder and counsellor. I started in 1994 in prisons and in 2000, moved to the Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services, the In-patient Assessment Unit, Maples Adolescent Treatment centre, Crossroads, under the umbrella of the Ministry For Children and Family Development. I also worked with the youth migrant program for the Chinese boat people here on the west coast.

I will not say that my advice is any better than anyone elses as long as they don't down play what a person is feeling. If they can get anything out of anything anyone says whether they are a professional or not I say more power to you. as one of my mottos goes "what ever gets you through the night, is alright!"

But it is important not to come off with the attitude that they should snap out of it. Depression is a very serious condition that should never be minimized or the person feel shamed.

[Heineken]

That's good enough for me, unknown.

Wildsparrow: Sorry if I offended you. I'm a very outspoken person and have unconventional viewpoints. Both characteristics often rub people the wrong way, as you yourself have experienced.