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280 JUDIT FARKAS
more conservative, traditional, formal Wekerle Club and the Green Sprout Club
of more flexible, middle-class radical (Hippie) members adopting post-materialist
values became increasingly obvious (Longhurst — Pataki 2015: 53). At present
both groups, Wekerle Club and Iransition Wekerle, play an active part in the civil
life of the estate.
The preparatory phase of Transition Wekerle began in 2007, the organization
became official (but not registered) in 2011, and they announced the project and
the essence of “Transition identity” at a local public forum in 2012.
Their self-presentation on the webpage of transitional communities says:
“The Organizing Circle of Transition Wekerle is a civil group registered by the local
council but not registered officially. Its main aim is to cherish the Transition Wekerle
idea and promote the transformation. Transition Wekerle (IW) is the first official
‘Transition’ community in Hungary, a member of the international Transition
(Towns) Network since 2011. TW is the local alliance of private persons, civil
organizations and institutions. The alliance tries to bring about possibilities for the
collective of residents that strengthen the community and enrich their lives but do
not damage the environment.”
The topics they address themselves to — quoted from the homepage - are collective
food production, community-supported agriculture, local farmers’ markets,
community gardens, energy-effectiveness, social enterprise, and communal
recycling. They worked out a local economic development strategy, the Strategy
of Energy-efficient Wekerle, they make compost, actively support and use the
farmers’ market, and joined a bio veggie box system. The team Kispest Civilians
for Canteen Meals tried to solve the problem of public catering (2011-2013) and
they are now planning a community garden.
Two formal organizations have grown out of the Transition Wekerle group.
One is the Kiserdö [Little Forest] Society which emerged for the protection of the
forest in 2021 from the local group and campaign, Another way — Union for the
Little Forest (2017). They are involved in a lawsuit with the state on this issue.
Their activity also goes beyond the Little Forest and they try to speak up for all
green spaces in Budapest. The other formal group is called Transition Wekerle
Communal Cooperative and comprises old TW members and newcomers alike. Its
main activities include running the local “green canteen”, KOZOS [joint], and a
café and kitchen at the Wekerle Kispiac [farmers market].!°
The goals of the TT movement include collaboration with local self-governments.
TW has also taken steps in this area and worked on two formal cooperative projects
with the local council: one was a year-long project called Municipalities and
Transition, to map and elaborate the possibilities and patterns of collaboration
between local governments and civil groups. The other project was the local food
strategy in which they surveyed the possibilities and worked out an action plan
under the mentorship and financial support of Védegylet."’
9 Atalakulé Wekerle | Átalakulás... (atalakulo.hu)
Owing to radically increased overhead costs, KÖZÖS had to be closed down — just as this chapter
was being written (3 February 2023).
http://xn--vdegylet-b1a.hu/kiskozossegek/