What do you think is coming with planetary and economic changes\, and how does it make you feel? \;

Many people are feeling that things are in a challenging place\, and that it may get more challenging. Some people are feeling a hard pinch right now. Sometimes we just need to talk about it with each other and be heard. It can be healing to express how you are feeling. And....it can help to explore with others \;what you can do about it. \;

On \;Monday\, \;January 25 \;the Transition Sebastopol Heart &\; Soul group is holding a \;Fishbowl \;event where you can do just that. \;

This month we want to give voice to the \;GROUP WISDOM. Anyone who wants to share their beliefs\, concerns or thoughts about Transition challenges and how to \;translate these challenges into opportunities \;will be given space to do so. We'll be using a new format where we'll all get the benefit of one another's great ideas. We know you are wise souls with good hearts and we want you all to come and share your inspirations. We&rsquo\;ll provide some questions to get it started.

We will also have our chance to make announcements and to ask for help or offer resources -- the Needs &\; Shares section we've done all along.

Monday Jan. 25
7 pm to 9 pm
165 N Main St
Downtown Sebastopol
Donation suggested (just to pay the rent)

Join us for a movie and discussion about one of the biggest but seldom-discussed issues of our time!

Synopsis

Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet\, literally vanishing from their hives.

Known as Colony Collapse Disorder\, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples\, broccoli\, watermelon\, onions\, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. \;Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables\, so this issue is directly linked to our food security.

Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.

Filming across the US\, in Europe\, Australia and Asia\, this documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and mother earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause\, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for this tragic loss. Conflicting options abound and after years of research\, a definitive answer has not been found to this harrowing mystery.

Wednesday\, January 27
7\:00 - 9\:30pm
free event\, donations appreciated

Synopsis

FRESH celebrates the farmers\, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model\, and confronted the consequences\: food contamination\, environmental pollution\, depletion of natural resources\, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier\, sustainable alternatives\, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters\, FRESH features urban farmer and activist\, Will Allen\, the recipient of MacArthur&rsquo\;s 2008 Genius Award\; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur\, Joel Salatin\, made famous by Michael Pollan&rsquo\;s book\, The Omnivore&rsquo\;s Dilemma\; and supermarket owner\, David Ball\, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

Total running time\: 72 minutes
Production year\: 2009

\;You are invited to the second Transition Sebastopol "\;Spotlight"\; happy hour mixer&ndash\;&ndash\;

Thursday\, February 18\, 5\:30 &ndash\; 7\:30 PM
Pizzavino707\, (the old "\;Lucy's"\; and "\;West County"\; restaurant location just off the town square) \;
We will be gathering in the upstairs area near the entrance. \;

Please feel free to drop in\, have a glass of wine (or two) and chat with other people interested in Transition. \;

At each mixer we will feature a brief presentation from someone or some group in our community who is doing important work related to Transition. For this mixer our special guest is Paula Shatkin from \;Slow Food Russian River \;who will talk about some of the great things the Slow Food movement is doing in our area. We will also hear from Portia Sinnott from \;Lite Initiatives \;with some news related to Transition Sebastopol. The guest appearances will happen around 6\:15-6\:30 pm. \;

"\;This has given me the purpose and drive to change my life. Everyone working for or wanting a better world must see this."\;
-- JS\, Concord\, CA

The Awakening the Dreamer\, Changing the Dream Symposium is a profound inquiry into a bold vision\: To bring forth an environmentally sustainable\, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Earth.

You will gain fresh insight about our world\, meet like-minded people\, find hope and inspiration and leave with clarity how you can help create a new future. If you are ready to explore what this vision means for you\, we invite you to attend.

Through dynamic group interactions\, leading edge information\, and inspiring multimedia\, participants of this half-day event are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world\, and are empowered to make a difference.

Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific\, indigenous and activist minds in the world\, the Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective\, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future.

Where Are We? - an examination of the state of environmental\, social and personal well-being
How Did We Get Here? - tracing the root causes that lead to our current imbalance
What's Possible for the Future? - discovering new ways of relating with each other\, with the Earth and looking at the emerging Movement for change
Where Do We Go from Here? - considering the stand we want to be in the world and our personal and collective impact

If you are ready to be disturbed\, inspired and moved to action\, and to be introduced to a thriving community of committed cohorts\, then join us in exploring the most critical concerns of our times\, and discover new opportunities to make a real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally sustainable\, spiritually fulfilling\, and socially just human presence on this planet!

The New Dream
The Old Dream is dying. Its demise becomes inevitable as we discover the devastation we&rsquo\;ve caused to our own planet home\, as we count the rising cost of our inhumanity to each other and as we see how our current way of living fails to deliver lasting happiness. All of these are the inevitable conclusions of an old dream rooted in acquisition\, consumption and putting personal gain above communal good.

The New Dream is emerging! It's community\, collaboration\; it's life-enhancing and earth-honoring\; it's together and for our grand-children\, rather than Supersize me Now! So we&rsquo\;re seeing the largest social movement of all time\, millions of people and organizations working forenvironmental sustainability\, social justice and spiritual fulfillment\, three facets of a new dream for humanity and planet Earth.

Synopsis

Come join us at our next Transition Sebastopol Movie Night at the French Garden Restaurant!

Optional discussion to follow screening. \;