In this edition of the Our Voice: Politics Albury-Wodonga podcast we’re joined by Ian Longfield from Transition Towns Albury-Wodonga.  The twin towns of Albury and Wodonga straddle the Murray River and the state border between Victoria and New South Wales in southeastern Australia.

In discussion with Ben Habib from La Trobe University and Our Voice, Ian talks about the relevance of Transition Towns as a local response for Albury-Wodonga and surrounds to the global problems of peak oil and climate change.  Transition Towns Albury-Wodonga functions as an umbrella organisation for various environmental an sustainability groups in the border region.

Ian has campaigned on peak oil issues since 2007 after becoming aware of the problems of energy descent during a 2005 land planning seminar. It was through his professional involvement in property development and agency that he became increasingly concerned at our unsustainable pattern of urban development, incompatible with a future dominated by peak oil and climate change.

Using his electrical and engineering background, Ian has investigated the links between oil and climate change, the geopolitical significance of oil in world affairs, and possible alternatives to the fossil fuel-based economy, culminating in the conclusion that oil depletion will affect just about every aspect of life as we know it.  In late 2009 Ian was a founding member of Transition Towns Albury-Wodonga.

Download: Interview with Ian Longfield.mp3

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Weblinks:

Transition Towns Australia:     http://transitiontown.com.au/

Association of Peak Oil & Gas – Australia:    http://www.aspo-australia.org.au/

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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of Our Voice: Politics Albury-Wodonga.

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