Oil Independent Berkeley recently joined the Relocalization Network. I've never been to Berkeley, but from what I gather, it's a beautiful city with lots of progressive initiatives. Anyone have any good Berkeley stories to share? Here's a link to read up on some Berkeley history.

Here's a link to their website: http://oilindependentberkeley.relocalize.net
They're new to the site so they haven't posted anything yet, but they'll be kicking it up a notch soon!
I chatted with Erica Etelson, the founder/coordinator of the group, to get them all set up on relocalize.net - they're just starting out, have had a couple meetings and are working out what they want to focus on. But, one thing she did stress was that they want to be a group based around having less talk and more taking action! So we wish them the best of luck on their journey through the sometimes sticky but mostly rewarding process of forming a group. Their next meeting is this week so stay tuned.

Here is their statement of intent:

Oil Independent Berkeley is a group of activists committed to prompting local government to implement policies and programs that will ensure residents’ access to fresh food, water, health care and transportation when fossil fuels become scarce. Our immediate goal is to convince the City of Berkeley to appoint a peak oil task force similar to Portland’s. We would like to see this task force begin its work by assessing Berkeley’s vulnerability to food and water shortages if and when conventional growers can no longer supply the area with sufficient food. We will also urge the City to work with other municipal and county government agencies in the East Bay to improve the regional mass transit system and develop strategies for building the infrastructure for an independent, regional economy. Our group recognizes the advantages to organizing for peak oil preparedness in the Bay Area. We have a very active urban agriculture and permaculture movement and a generally high level of awareness about sustainable, healthy food. We have a temperate climate that allows for year-round growing. And we have climate change initiatives already underway that will also address (though not nearly fast enough) some of the problems peak oil presents. On the other hand, we are at risk of drought during our long dry season, and global warming is causing the Sierra snow pack (the source for nearly all of our water) to shrink rapidly. By focusing our efforts on food and water, we play to our strengths without overlooking our weakness.

For a Californian perspective on peak oil, see the recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, written by Oil Independent Berkeley’s founder, Erica Etelson, at www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/26/INF7RM3OC.DTL.

Download a document on What You Can Do to Raise Peak Oil Awareness here.