Just came back from a two day workshop on Deep Democracy (http://deep-democracy.net/). I recommend for anyone who has been in difficult situations of deliberating to have a look at it. The basic concept build on the fact that if 50% + 1 vote for a certain thing, it goes through. It is still decided by the majority, but leaves 50% -1 unhappy with the outcome.
To give you a taste of what Deep Democracy does as a social technology, it acknowledges the position of those who did not win the vote and explores how to avoid them becoming disengaged (or even working against the majority) by posing a simple question:
What do you need to come along?
It explores what is it the majority will need to do to not lose the minority. Depending on the topic of deliberation, the answer will vary - from "I am fine with it" to "I need to vote again, I do not believe we did not come out on top".
There is an elaborate theory on how to use this tool. Nevertheless, there are some tricks that can be used even out of context and they are still extremely helpful in helping organizations keep their coherence.
What really matters - and when
The sustainable and responsible lifestyle of the Bhutanese and several African and South-American communities is an inspiring story. The connectedness to one's environment and the community of living at large is a powerful example.
Sometimes, when empathy and care seems so absent from our lives, pragmatism and survival seems to be the main message that comes across. I have however recently become aware of two cases that allowed me to think: when the time comes, even though it will be painful, we, as humanity or as smaller communities, will return to our roots, our values and re-evaluate our way of being.
The first story is about Iceland, in September 2009, during the unimaginable economic recession.The news came on Euronews: Jon Olafsson, a social sciences professor, said that the heroes of yesterday are considered the villains of today, and that people's values and lifestyles are changing together with a shift in mindset. This extraordinary example shows, that once circumstances change and we cannot go around living our life as before, we may be at the right spot to rethink, what we actually are doing right and what really matters. Material possessions matter, but maybe not as much as we often think they do.
The other example was Haiti - the news in the New York Times reported "Fighting Starvations, Haitians Share Portions", saying that new rules of hunger etiquette were emerging. Regardless of how hungry the person is who receives food, it always needs to be shared. Many women started up improvised soup kitchen selling food at discounted price. Even though it will be very difficult for the country to get out if its current situation, people are not sitting around idly, but are trying to rebuild their lives, thereby even becoming social entrepreneurs and caring for the community's needs.
Haitians are in this together and while the Western world is trying to help out, it will be up to the locals to rebuild their lives. It is beautiful to see that they are already doing so - based on the laws of sharing and caring. While no one knows how the road to recovery will look in Haiti, it is already visible that the Haitians will do their best to to it together, to be there for each other, to create an economy based on sharing, not on quick growth.
There are beyond doubt mane more similar cases, even in our respective neighborhoods. These examples are truly powerful and empowering. These prove that an alternative way of thinking and acting is possible and viable. It makes 2010 a really hopeful year and the years ahead even more so.
Sometimes, when empathy and care seems so absent from our lives, pragmatism and survival seems to be the main message that comes across. I have however recently become aware of two cases that allowed me to think: when the time comes, even though it will be painful, we, as humanity or as smaller communities, will return to our roots, our values and re-evaluate our way of being.
The first story is about Iceland, in September 2009, during the unimaginable economic recession.The news came on Euronews: Jon Olafsson, a social sciences professor, said that the heroes of yesterday are considered the villains of today, and that people's values and lifestyles are changing together with a shift in mindset. This extraordinary example shows, that once circumstances change and we cannot go around living our life as before, we may be at the right spot to rethink, what we actually are doing right and what really matters. Material possessions matter, but maybe not as much as we often think they do.
The other example was Haiti - the news in the New York Times reported "Fighting Starvations, Haitians Share Portions", saying that new rules of hunger etiquette were emerging. Regardless of how hungry the person is who receives food, it always needs to be shared. Many women started up improvised soup kitchen selling food at discounted price. Even though it will be very difficult for the country to get out if its current situation, people are not sitting around idly, but are trying to rebuild their lives, thereby even becoming social entrepreneurs and caring for the community's needs.
Haitians are in this together and while the Western world is trying to help out, it will be up to the locals to rebuild their lives. It is beautiful to see that they are already doing so - based on the laws of sharing and caring. While no one knows how the road to recovery will look in Haiti, it is already visible that the Haitians will do their best to to it together, to be there for each other, to create an economy based on sharing, not on quick growth.
There are beyond doubt mane more similar cases, even in our respective neighborhoods. These examples are truly powerful and empowering. These prove that an alternative way of thinking and acting is possible and viable. It makes 2010 a really hopeful year and the years ahead even more so.
Paris
I wanted to write a post about the WACAP conference organised by the UNDP in Rotterdam on 24-26 February, which aimed to empower cities and municipalities to fight poverty and social exclusion. And I hope to come back to that theme.
But more importantly (for me), we have just spent a weekend in Paris and that experience took over the space of WACAP in my brain. Paris, mon amour, pour toujours....
I used to study in Paris and had quite a hard time. And I have not gone back there for 6 years. Until last week. The city changed - the restaurant I used to work at is now an artist atelier. Yet the monuments of the city look exactly the same way they did six years ago. Saint Michel, Jardin de Luxembourg, Place de Vosges, Ile Saint Louis....sheer beauty!
There were also a lot of those who did not make use of the numerous Cartier and Lancel stores. Poverty was around before and was there now. Pickpockets have equipped themselves with new tricks. Everyone seemed to be a smoker. There was decadence, shopping and something that vaguely reminded me of good food and art.
An amazing weekend, though.
The experience was quite different from my previous visits to the town. It is strange to think about it, but it was mainly because I was somewhat less broke than on previous encounters with the city of romance, decadence, Serge Gainsbourg, fashion and elegance.
I have an itch to go back, soon again!
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