In order to bring change to a local community there has to exist a movement from the bottom up - many people who realise that there is need for change team up and develop new views and alternative techniques to solve problems. But there also has to exist a parallel movement from the top downward. Politicians need to realise that people want change, and must adjust their policy accordingly. But how, from the point of view of a transition group, do you involve politicians? They seem to speak a completely different language and seem to act on a different (slower) rhythm. I've been trying to get local councillors interested in our allotment gardens-project. In an attempt to present the project in a language that they can understand, I used the vocabulary of Sustainable Develoment, referring to the Earth Summit in Rio of 1992 and the local Agenda 21 resulting from that. In my text I compare the basic principles of sustainable development: the ecological, social and economic capital and the balance between them, and those of permaculture: care for earth, care for the people and care for a fair share. In this way I hope to convince them that by supporting our project, and of course our transition initiative in general, they also take a firm step in the implementation of the local Agenda 21, as they are (more or less) required to do, our national government having ratified the '92 Convention on Climate Change. I haven't had word since I sent my presentation, I don't have high hopes for any kind of cooperation, I can but try and hope...