About Us
The platform promotes the creation of new Transition spaces and the multifunctional use of existing projects and initiatives in Luxembourg.
As an interactive directory, it aims to connect initiatives and actors on the ground, connect participants and opportunities, and celebrate successes of the Transition movement in Luxembourg.
A selection of categories and an interactive digital map allow easy access and navigation to the various environmental, social and economic initiatives across the country. Our mission is to stimulate and promote the spread of ecological and solidarity transition initiatives in Luxembourg. Civic participation starts with inspiring and sharing with others. We hope that with this platform we can invite you to learn and share similar experiences in your own communities and neighbourhoods. As you explore this site, you will discover a range of activities and initiatives from different sectors, from community gardens and renewable energy installations to repair cafés and tool swaps. Projects in the making are also presented.
All projects on BiBe contribute to ecological and social change that is community-driven and in harmony with planetary boundaries.
Our Values
- BiBe lists alternatives for an ecological and solidarity-based transition. They are initiated by individuals or groups from civil society who make their decisions independently of authorities, political parties or religious institutions.
- These alternatives represent concrete responses to a systemic crisis, be it on a local or global level. Whether it is, without claiming to be exhaustive, climate change, social crises, solidarity crises or the crisis of the capitalist economic model, these challenges are seen as interconnected.
- BiBe wants to establish one or more commons. These must demonstrate through their governance, their economic model, their organisation of work or their investment decisions that they seek the common good and not the realisation of an individual interest.
- BiBe refuses to support violent, discriminatory, anti-democratic, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic or racist practices.
- Finally, we value alternatives that promote openness, participation and the sharing of knowledge, skills, abilities or practices.
Who is behind BiBe?
BiBe is a project of CELL (Citizens for Ecological Learning and Living).
CELL - the transition hub carries the Transition movement in Luxembourg and brings together initiatives working for social, ecological and economic transformation.
The non-profit association called "CELL - Centre for Ecological Learning Luxembourg" was founded in 2010 by four people who had a vision of what the world of tomorrow could look like. The project was launched in 2011 and saw the commitment of 100 people, all motivated to participate in this innovative social experimen.
The first events organised ranged from reducing energy consumption and raising awareness of peak oil to discussion panels on sustainable agriculture and teaching alternative practices such as permaculture and "do it yourself".
Today, CELL, still provides an experimental space for the thinking, research, dissemination and practice of alternative lifestyles and regenerative culture. We raise awareness of resilience practices and develop systemic approaches for initiatives and projects interested in regional resilience.
This is done with the aim of activating and nourishing the connections between living beings and the places they inhabit.
Nature and evolution with their holistic and systemic approach serve as our main sources of inspiration and we are convinced that the forms and systems we can find there are the solution for creating resilient systems, ways of life and organisations.
What is Bibe?
BiBe - Citizen Participation for the Territorial Transition in Luxembourg
BiBe - Bierger-Bedéelegung means citizen participation in Luxembourgish.
BiBe - a project of CELL asbl. in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Development
Principles of the Transition Movement
Transition is an approach based on values and principles. These are described slightly differently in different parts of the movement, but in general terms:
We respect resource limits and build resilience - The urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, greatly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and use precious resources wisely is at the forefront of everything we do.
We promote inclusivity and social justice - The disadvantaged and powerless in our society are likely to be most affected by rising fuel and food prices, resource scarcity and extreme weather events. We want to increase the chances of all social groups to live a good, healthy and sustainable life.
We focus on subsidiarity (self-organisation and decision-making at the appropriate level) - The Transition model does not aim to centralise or control decision-making, but to work with everyone to make it happen at the most appropriate, practical and powerful level.
We look for balance - In addressing urgent, global challenges, individuals and groups can feel stressed, closed or driven, rather than open, connected and creative. We create space for reflection, celebration and rest to balance the times when we are busy getting things done. We explore different ways of working that engage our heads, hands and hearts and allow us to develop collaborative and trusting relationships.
We are part of an experimental, learning network - Transition is a real, real-time global social experiment. Being part of a network means that we can bring about change more quickly and effectively by drawing on each other's experiences and insights. We want to acknowledge both successes and failures and learn from them - if we want to be brave and find new ways of living and working, we won't always get it right first time. We will talk openly about our processes and actively seek and respond positively to feedback.
We share ideas and power freely - Transition is a grassroots movement where ideas can be taken up quickly, widely and effectively because each community takes ownership of the process. Transition looks different in every place, and we want to encourage this diversity, not restrict it unnecessarily.
We work together and look for synergies - The Transition approach is to work together as a community and unleash our collective genius to make a bigger impact together than we could as individuals. We will look for opportunities to build creative and strong partnerships within and outside the Transition movement and develop a culture of collaboration by finding connections between projects, creating open decision-making processes and designing events and activities that help people make connections.
We promote positive visioning and creativity - Our main focus is not on being against something, but on developing and promoting positive possibilities. We believe in creative ways to engage people and encourage them to imagine the future they want to live in. Inventing new stories is at the heart of this visioning work, as is having fun and celebrating successes.
For the transition to be successfully implemented, it is important to find a balance between head, heart and hands.
The head: We act on the best available information and knowledge and use our collective intelligence to find better ways of living.
The heart: We work with compassion, valuing and paying attention to the emotional, psychological, relational and social aspects of our work.
The hands: We put our visions and ideas into action, initiate practical projects and begin to build a new, healthy economy in the place where we live.
Further information: https://transitionnetwork.org/
BiBe - Bierger Bedéelegung
What is the Doughnut Economy?
Our values are based on the scientific doughnut model developed by Prof. Kate Raworth from Oxford University.
The doughnut model brings together environmental, social and economic sustainability and allows for a comparative breakdown.
Structure of the model:
The doughnut environment describes the planetary boundaries,
- Natural boundaries (ecological diversity, intact ecosystems...)
- Renewable boundaries (resources, energy...)
The inside of the doughnut describes the social needs of people, food, education, work, etc.
The values are
- Fair working conditions, human rights...
- Co-creation (cultural diversity, distribution of ownership in the organisation, inclusion of all).
The third part (on the doughnut) describes the social foundation, the economic norms and structures that people give themselves,
and the extent to which these ensure justice on the one hand and support respect for planetary boundaries on the other.
The values are
- Solidarity (cooperative, impact-oriented and not only profit-driven...)
- Transparency (supply chain transparency, funding transparency, etc.).
Further references: https://doughnuteconomics.org/principles-and-guidelines#dos-and-donts
