Debra Birkinshaw

I have been attuned to nature since childhood, chiefly through my mother's influence. I have always had a garden, and learned about permaculture through Daily Acts, (  www.dailyacts.org ). I am a practicing Buddhist, immersed in deep ecology, and I am on the board of Green Sangha, ( www.greensangha.org ). I am also faithfully engaged in Judaism, and fully support the practice of Tikkun Olam, (repairing the world). I am presently involved in a Heart and Soul group initiated by a group of therapists in St. Petersburg-it will likely be a working group for the St. Petersburg Transition Initiative after our unleashing.

I have found that social and ecological action, infused with spiritual practice, is an effective strategy. I recently learned from Steven Chase, founder of the Keene Transition Movement, ( www.keenetransition.wordpress.com/ ) that a balanced approach of going through established channels, (ie: governmental reform), non-violent resistance, (ex. the Move Your Money and Buy Local campaigns), and constructive action, ( ie: planting community gardens) is most advantageous. This approach was developed and utilized by Ghandi. 

My initial experience with transition work was with Transition Sebastopol in California, in 2004. My awareness of the looming ecological and economical crisis was raised by Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon Institute, ( www.postcarbon.org/ ). I have been a believer and an ecological activist ever since.