Here's another thought, not to oversimplify or otherwise diminish the consequences of what is coming, but to offer a slightly different view.
What if these changes made in the environment were already too big to stop? What makes us think that we could coordinate control of planetary weather in the first place? What if rather than stopping the changes, we learned to *move* better? What if the buildings we needed were not "green", but mobile, for instance? And work, what if it was more mobile? But, of course, work already is getting more mobile! Chris suggests 'NOT being part of the problem.' This in itself is a huge piece of work, possibly impossible. The systems we have are the problem and we're inescapable part of most of those. Why not just write off the losses of this real estate and move on? Because we all hold currencies and other assets, and buy food and insurance and heat, in markets that would go nuts if we did this all at once. The good news, if there is such a thing, is that we don't have to do it all at once. I would say that I'm looking for ways to be part of new ways of living, and that new life seems to be all kinds of 'movement'. The story Chris quotes in my weblog is amazing to me. It shows me that Life can go on. Life keeps moving. This is what I try to practice... movement. Flexible, lively, smart but porous, loosely formed and constantly informed boundaries and bodies and plans. And I try to do this as visibly as I can, as invitation, teaching, and contribution. I think most of us are doing this on some level, and this is what I think we might look for all kinds of large and small ways to do more of. Make more moves, tell more stories, invite more friends, support more connections. Every movement, from deepest inner to broadest social, is practice that matters, or so it seems to me just now. Michael On 3/7/06, Chris Corrigan <[email protected]> wrote: > Harrison: > > Even in the vast Open Spaces within which we work, there is really a tiny > closed space upon which we work. The earth is a closed system, for the most > part, and no amount of useful material or help from outside is forthcoming > to save us from ourselves. > > And so, the answers as always, are to open more space within, because unless > we seek some radical transformation in our ways of doing things, scenarios > like this may well come to pass. And if they do... > > Some of us, including some of us here on the list like Ralph Copleman, Peggy > Holman and John Engle, have been talking about seeing Open Space and other > dialogue and deliberation processes as essential tools for dealing with > massive crises brought about by climate change or catastrophes. I have > personally spoken with David Korten, the author of a several pieces on " The > Perfect Economic Storm" (collapse of the US$, climate change and peak oil > happening at the same time) and he's a big supporter of much much deeper > engagement of people in local communities in first preventing these kinds of > scenarios, and later on, dealing with them well. I've written more about > this at my weblog. > > I think, as Katrina and the Asian tsunami has taught us, dealing with large > scale and sudden change demands wise action. In Sri Lanka, a group called > Sarvodaya, who make community empowerment their spiritual practice, were > first on the ground with support and logistics after the tsunami because > they make a practice of doing this kind of work. Michael Herman's recent > posting on his weblog points to a group of Nepalese leaders who are doing > the same in the face of a civil war. > > The world has much need of those who make engagement, collaboration, > empowerment and facilitation a regular practice. When the skills are really > needed, there will be no time to learn them. > > We could certainly raise the alarm, but my inclination is to work in two > areas on activity: try my best NOT to be a part of the problem, and keep > myself prepared for the problems that may find us nonetheless. > > Chris > > -- > > CHRIS CORRIGAN > Consultation - Facilitation > Open Space Technology > > Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot > Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com * * > ========================================================== > [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > [email protected]: > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To > learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist -- Michael Herman Michael Herman Associates 300 West North Ave #1105 Chicago IL 60610 USA Phone: 312-280-7838 [email protected] skype: globalchicago http://www.michaelherman.com http://www.openspaceworld.org Executive Facilitation ...getting the most important things done in the easiest possible ways. * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
