Ulrika -- There is, of course no guarantee, ever or anywhere, that bad things won't happen after being in an Open Space. Of course, the same sorts of things can and do happen even when you have never heard of Open Space. But after 28 years in Open Space I have never seen such retribution. I've heard of a lot of people worry about it, but so far as I know, it is a worry that hasn't happened. Does that mean it won't? Obviously not, but as one participant said to me at the end of an Open Space in a particularly nasty environment, "I don't know what will happen to me, but this (the OS) was worth it."
The examples of OS in restricted waters (that would be dictatorships of all sorts, political, corporate, NGO's) are numerous, but I won't name any names to protect the innocent but... Always seems to work. And actually, I have found repressive conditions equal to most legitimate dictatorships right there in Corporate America (or Europe, Asia, Africa). Ordinarily they don't shoot people, but considering what is done, being shot might be a blessing. And regardless, the space is opened with the usual results. No worries. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) Camden, Maine 04843 Phone 301-365-2093 (summer) 207-763-3261 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ulrika Eklund Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 5:34 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [OSList] Open Space in dictatorship Dear listmembers and all your experience I would love to take part of your experience and knowledge about working with OS in countries operated by dictatorship. A closed space, where you are used/allowed to think as The party. "Its a lovely country as long as you follow the rules" For example I had a training course with a group working in the authorities and governmental bodies (national and regional level), and they listed some of the problems in one area. After they were encouraged to brainstorm ideas and solutions on the problems. After the task I asked - what was the new ideas and insight you got? New?! We repeated what the party already have decided"... so it was more a memory test :) An other exampel: in the university where I met the students study a Human rights course sponsered by another country. They said: "its a good course. Why I asked and the answer was: we are allowed to ask questions when we don't understand, you know sometimes you read a text in the book and you don't understand and it doesnot help to read it many times, here we can ask, and we are also allowed to discuss. So my question - how is Open Space working in this circumstances? How you know people that think freely are not punished after? WIsh you all a lovley week Ulrika -- Ulrika Eklund Bergsgatan 7A SE-112 23 Stockholm Sweden mobile +46-(0)70-699 86 12 -- _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
