News from Pioneers of Change - December, 2004
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NEWS FROM PIONEERS OF CHANGE
December, 2004
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If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.
- Margaret Mead
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Welcome to December 2004!
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We are very pleased to bring you the December Newsletter with a focus on the shocking events that took place recently in the Netherlands and an invitation to join or continue a conversation.
How can we use this news as a catalyst toward a weaving a new social fabric in all of our societies?
We are also pleased and excited to announce a completely new Pioneers of Change website which you can now visit at
We are still working on the members aspect of the site, which will provide you your own personal space with your profile, commitment and photograph which you can use to share articles, photos and personal updates. We aim to have the rest up and running by January 2005. In the meantime if anyone is itching to contribute content, let us know and we'll arrange a temporary login for you.
For more information visit http://www.pioneersofchange.net/library/news/sitedec2004 . For any queries please e-mail info@pioneersofchange.net.
Love and Best Wishes,
The Cultivation Unit (Danielle, Dumi and Sera) and Sean Legassick (who has been working tirelessly to help bring the new site to life)
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IN FOCUS: IMMIGRATION & INTEGRATION
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On November 2nd, Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who recently made a controversial film about violence against women in Muslim societies has been shot and stabbed to death on a street in Amsterdam. The 26 year old gunman turned out to have both Dutch and Moroccan nationality. During the next days a civil war like scenario occurred. A minister called the war on national terrorism. Several Muslims extremists were arrested, to be expelled from the country. Mosques and Muslim schools and then churches were set on fire. Two and a half years ago The Netherlands had already seen the cracks their tolerant society was starting to show when Pim Fortuyn, a politician who advocated stricter laws on immigration, became very popular in a matter of weeks. But is it stricter laws that will save these societies from crumbling, or is it time for other approaches?
The Pioneers of Change learning journey about Integration of Immigrants in The Netherlands seems to come at the right time. And the Dutch context makes a rich ground to explore the underlying issues and dynamics of how cultural diversity affects societies. From May 25 to May 29, a group of 25 to 35 year old people from The Netherlands, other European countries and non-European countries who are working on integration issues are invited to join forces to learn on a deep level about the theories and practices of integration. With a better understanding of what created the current situation we might get an idea of what structures need to change in order to turn cultural diversity into a benefit for a healthy society.
We have a mailing list where we share our and other people’s views on integration in general, and the problems in Europe and The Netherlands in particular. You can join our mailing list by sending a blank message to integration-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net. If you are interested in joining this learning journey you can contact Moraan Gilad on moraan@pioneersofchange.net.
See Event Queue and Ideas for more info.
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KNOWLEDGE SHARING
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EVENT QUEUE
PIONEERS OF CHANGE MEETING IN STOCKHOLM UtvecklingsBar (Development Bar), Stockholm, Sweden, 1 December 2004
UtvecklingsBar is a meeting place for people interested in creating a better world. To discuss, get new contacts and inspiration we meet at a bar once a month. There will be an event on the 1st of December 2004 at “Halv Trappa plus Gård” at 6.00pm. The theme for the evening is: “How can engagement and consciousness increase?” Contact Harry McNeil on harry@mcneil.se for more information. If you’d like to join the Stockholm list please email Stockholm-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net .
RHYMING FOR A REASON – a night of song, celebration and powerful poetry Cambridge, Massachussets, USA - Saturday 4th Dec 2004
Cambridge, MA will host the most funkiest, richest, most rhymalistic arts event of the year! Join us on Saturday December 4, 2004 at 6:30pm for a night of original poetry, live music, incredible conversations, cool connections and an electric atmosphere. At the fringes of the Systems Thinking Conference, a global conference that will bring together hundreds of sharp minds to better understand the systems that we live with, we can add flavor to the dialogue through spoken word, music and artistry! All profits go to Pioneers of Change and the Shire Learning Centre. Your hosts, Tim Merry and Dumisani Nyoni will host a diverse crew of musicians, poets and performers from around the world in Cambridge, Massachussets to celebrate the power of people sharing art! Cost is $5 at the door.
Please contact Dumi for more info, or to enquire about performing on dumisani@pioneersofchange.net.
PIONEERS NEW YEAR Denmark, around December 30, 2004 – January 3, 2005 (tentative)
Based on experiences from the last two years, a “Pioneer New Years” retreat is offered in Denmark. We will explore the year that passed by. Explore hopes for the new year and celebrate both. The so called U-model, will be used as a kind of structure for the retreat which will be a mix of serious celebration with good food and drinks, and a safe field to explore meditation techniques and other practices like Tai Chi, Flowgame, all dependent on the people who shows up.
If you are interested, then email why, and what you could possibly bring. Contact person: carsten@pioneersofchange.net
LEARNING JOURNEY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Brazil, 13 – 26 February, 2005
Pioneers of Change in Brazil is offering a Learning Journey on Sustainable Development to be held in early 2005. A learning journey is about creating an experience - through a physical journey that is also a real journey into other mindsets – that enables participants to develop and improve their practice as a change agent. The Pioneers of Change learning journeys support a process whereby participants are exposed to a different practice or perspective and are supported in their re-integration and development of critical consciousness in understanding that different practice or perspective. The aim of a learning journey is to provide a deep learning experience on a specific theme or practice, facilitate connections with others who share an interest in the theme and enable participants to put ideas into practice upon return to his/her country, community or place of work.
The learning journey on sustainable development is a 14-day experience, starting (optionally) in Rio to participate in one of the Samba School floats to convey messages of ecology and social responsibility through art, music and dance. The learning journey will begin in an ecological centre close to São Paulo to set the context for personal, organizational and societal sustainability. We will travel to Curitiba, a city famous for its integrated social, economic and environmental actions to deepen our understanding of sustainability in a municipality and in education. We will then spend a few days in São Paulo to participate in a cross-sector dialogue on sustainability and to visit companies and non-profits to deepen our understanding of their practices. We will end our journey in an eco-village close to São Paulo for an experience in deep ecology and to explore how we can personally live more sustainably. Throughout the journey there will be space for personal and group reflection, sharing experiences, action planning and cultural events. The deadline for applications is 10 December 2005. Please contact the Learning Journey team at ljsust@ellerni.org for further details.
Please see http://pioneersofchange.net/communities/sustainability/learningjourney/ for more information and the application form.
ARTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE LEARNING JOURNEY South Africa, 25 February to 6 March 2005 (note change of date)
Excitement mounts as the South African Pioneers Team gets ready for the Arts for Social Change Learning Journey due to take place in Johannesburg from the 25th February - 6th March 2005. We have received several applications from both artists and activists from around the world, who are aware of the value of using the arts for social development. The deadline for applications is the 5th December 2004, so please feel free to pass this information onto your network.
We are also in the process of fund-raising and would love to hear any suggestions or contributions you may have, in order to make the programme a success. To be kept updated on the Arts for Social Change progresses, please send an e-mail to arts-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net and you will automatically be added.
For any further information, please contact Nicole Antonie on nicole@pioneersofchange.net
Please see http://pioneersofchange.net/communities/arts/learningjourney2005info/ for more information, the invitation and application form.
LEARNING JOURNEY: INTEGRATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY The Netherlands, May 2005
Do you have a passion and sense of inquiry for the position and integration of immigrants? If you are willing to share and challenge your wisdom and knowledge and have an active commitment to the issues related to integration of immigrants, we invite you to this learning journey in The Netherlands. The focus of this Learning Journey will be to discover the practices and principles of a society that works for more than one culture.
Dutch society has been an immigration country for a long time already. Because of the variety of immigrant groups and experiences with different times and ways they merged into Dutch culture, The Netherlands can be regarded as a rich field to challenge and deepen current perceptions and understandings. By learning from and with each other, while using all the perspectives available we aim to uncover the root causes of the current situation and identify what positive contributions each of us could make to the future.
This Learning Journey aims to bring together participants aged 25 to 35 who are involved in the issues of immigration and integration within the business, government and civil society sectors. Over the course of five days, participants will engage in three learning spaces (Observation & Inquiry, Retreat & Reflection, and Practice) to explore integration and diversity.
Please contact Moraan Gilad on moraan@pioneersofchange.net for a more elaborate invitation, application form or other information.
For more information please see http://pioneersofchange.net/communities/integration
ART OF HOSTING & CONVENING CONVERSATIONS Whidbey Island, March 3-6, 2005
The Art of Hosting is designed for those who see themselves gathering others to shape and greet the future in our communities, organizations, and lives. It is also a conference for all of us who are practicing and continuing to discover the art of convening conversations in a variety of settings.
One comment from Susan Neden on last springs event:
"I asked for a night’s lodgings and was given the keys to the kingdom! I experienced one of those precious times in life when the pieces which have been worked on consciously and unconsciously over many years come together in the right environment, at the right time. An opening appears and in walking through one’s life is altered."
Tuition - $550 USD, Accommodations & Meals -$345-445 USD For Information or to Register contact: Teresa Posakony (teresa@berkana.org; 206 372 3405) Or Tenneson Woolf (tenneson@berkana.org; 801 376 2213)
If you wish to come as an individual (not sponsored by an organisation) and the price is too challenging, let us know and we'll reach an agreement together. It would be great to have you with us! If you know of others who are ready and would be inspired to join us please pass on the invitation.
COME TO KUFUNDA– www.kufunda.org Art of Hosting, 24th-26th January, 2005 African Treasures Learning Journey, August 2005 (exact dates TBA)
from Marianne Knuth marianne@kufunda.org
Art of Hosting, 24th-26th January, 2005 See Above for a description. This in an Art of Hosting for Pioneers and community builders in Southern Africa and beyond. Contact Marianne if you are interested in joining.
African Treasures Learning Journey, August 2005 It feels like the time has come for us to open our doors to friends of Kufunda from around the world. It is therefore our immense pleasure to invite you to join us for an African Treasures Learning Journey based out of Kufunda in August 2005 (exact dates to be announced). The event will be an opportunity to experience the richness of African community, culture and wisdom as well as the mundane, but somewhat special, every day life in the village. We will be spending time living and working at Kufunda, we will visit and engage with some of our partner communities, exploring with them the learning that they are going through as they are pursuing sustainability, working off traditional knowledge and wisdom, and we will take a few days visiting a game reserve to also connect with the beauty and magic of the African land and wildlife. The journey will seek to explore what Kufunda and more importantly Zimbabwe and Africa have to offer the world – what can we learn as we venture into Africa? We are just in the early stages of planning this journey, so more information will be forthcoming. Please do let us know already now if you might be interested in joining us for around 10-14 days in August of next year.
FAIRY TALE EVENT Odense, Denmark - 1-3 April 2005
With Hans Christian Andersen turning 200 (if he would still be among us) we will meet at his Birthplace (Odense in Denmark) on his Birthday (the Weekend of 1-3 of April 2005). The weekend will be a combination of different story telling exercises which carries you into your own mythical world of dreams, fears, questions and perspectives. We invite every participant to tell “his or her” fairy tale and we will go through a process of reflecting and perspecting. In this process we are planning to integrate a fairy tale flow game, supporting us in our journey.
For more information please contact Felix Doppner on felixitator@web.de
-------------------------- INVITATIONS -------------------------
CALLING ALL THE PIONEERS IN THE NETHERLANDS!
We recently spread the word about the network at the expatica fair and now would like to connect, celebrate and explore where we can go together. The date and place still to be confirmed but in the near future we will be holding a gathering to share with newly interested people what is Pioneers of Change, connect with each other around initiatives we are involved with, and to see what the community may need to continue to grow together. If you are interested - contact Brenda@pioneersofchange.net and join the netherlands list: http://lists.pioneersofchange.net/mailman/listinfo/netherlands"
INVITATION FROM SURINAME, SOUTH AMERICA (via the Netherlands)
Would you like to help transform a former slave plantation into a thriving sustainable community? La Prosperité is an ancient wood plantation in the Para district in Suriname (South America). Would you like to help transform this former plantation into a sustainable community? We envision a variety of projects such as: organic agriculture; production of a large variety of consumer products (e.g. herbs) of a high quality; education and training of children and youth; primary health care and therapies using holistic medicine; and ecological tourism.
We are looking for potential strategic partners and individuals who would like to play a role in this project according to what they can and would like to offer. In particular we are interested in those who would like to: offer their ideas, advice, skills; join us for the long term; research and explore the sustainable ecological and economic potential of the land; present their own fundable projects, implement these projects under shared coordination. We invite everyone who would like to contribute to this vision, to contact us via Odilia Gartner at: info@seachangeconsultancy.com
DIVERSITY CARAVAN email moraan@pioneersofchange.net
The Diversity Caravan is a virtual and physical project where people are invited to post sustainable change projects on a web site. Later a physical caravan will drive to the selected places (starting in South Africa) and document the projects by film, photo, texts or other material. With this documentation material the ideas can be shared with the rest of the world. Networks can be formed, leaders can get inspired, projects can be analyzed, and there are probably many more possibilities.
You can get involved by joining the preparation meetings in Johannesburg, joining the mailing list by e-mailing caravan-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net or joining the physical caravan, please let me know if you're interested in any or several of these options. At this stage we are looking for input on: - what and how to document - funding and partners for the project
More information please see http://pioneersofchange.net/ventures/caravan/
FORESIGHT AND SOCIAL CHANGE
This is a discussion and experience exchange about scenario planning and other foresight methods, as well as about emerging trends. To join this community of practice list please e-mail foresight-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net . For any queries or for more information please contact Bjorn Brunstad at bjorn.brunstad@econ.no .
GLOBALIZATION CONVERSATION
This is a community of practice for discussions around the topic of globalization, trying to reach insights that are less biased than those concluded by the anti-movement on the one side and the neo-libs on the other side, as well as ideas for progressive policy responses. To join please e-mail globalization-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net . For any queries or for more information please contact Bjorn Brunstad at bjorn.brunstad@econ.no .
>There are still a number of standing invitations emerging specifically out of Summer School 2004 for more details on anything below see http://pioneersofchange.net/library/newsletters/novnews
PIONEERS OF CHANGE MAP BOOK: Invitation to contribute
Contact mbojer@pioneersofchange.net
AFRICAN TREASURES
email Treasures-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net or contact dumisani@pioneersofchange.net
PIONEERS IN GOVERNMENT: An invitation to explore
contact Maikel@dpw.gov.za or join email list democracy-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net -Send an email to the list introducing yourself and why you want to engage.
PEACE EDUCATION COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
contact Mongy at mongislav@hotmail.com or sending a message to peacebuilders-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net
DREAM ZIMBABWE: The Self-reliance Opportunity
Join Marianne Knuth Marianne@kufunda.org in an action learning project into the lessons and innovation into self-reliance that are going on in Zimbabwe and how we can help further. Email dreamzim-join@pioneersofchange.net , write an email to the list introducing yourself and why you want to participate.
CONSERVATION CONVERSATION
Email sustain-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
He wants to know if you have Advice, questions and Ideas about pioneering and sustainable agriculture – Join a global network of people who are involved in Sustainable Agriculture (organic etc.). To join email orgfarm-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net introduce yourself and what you'd like to network to be.
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IDEAS >>ON THE WEB
Further reading about Immigration and Integration, the Dutch situation in particular:
An article about the rise and murder of Pim Fortuyn: http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1469584
An article about the events following the murder of Theo van Gogh: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1396064,00.html
An article about what brings that divide between people: www.shambhalainstitute.org/ Fieldnotes/Issue5/gerzon_I5.pdf
A book about some practical alternatives for immigration in Europe: http://www.demos.co.uk/catalogue/peopleflow_page247.aspx
An interesting article and reflection about the Dutch multiculturalist model in light of the recent situation: http://www.opendemocracy.com/debates/article-1-111-2239.jsp
Other sites:
www.sorryeverybody.com
www.skype.com
-------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS --------------------------------
THANK YOU– to Summer School 2004 Sponsors
We’d like to say a big thank you to our proud sponsors of Summer School 2004 – Jonathan Ball Publishers (www.jonathanball.co.za); the Drum Cafe (www.drumcafe.org) and South African Tourism (www.southafrica.net) for their kind donations for Summer School 2004; we’d also like to thank the many friends who made financial contributions toward scholarships and to the Kozi Bay community.
OPEN SPACE
If anyone has experience from using Open Space with groups of 100 people or more that they would like to share please e-mail Bjorn Brunstad at bjorn.brunstad@econ.no.
LOW COST SOLAR GENERATOR – Would you like to be a part of co-creating this?
Are you interested in being part of an experiment to co-create a low cost solar generator? We are currently looking for volunteers world-wide to develop the concept and design, or for local people to get involved in the construction. There is a recent initiative to build a prototype solar generator that will be starting at the GreenHouse Project in Joubert Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. The project aims to develop and showcase a solar generator that converts sunlight into electricity that can be stored and used to provide power to run all the electrical appliances. It is being designed to suit remote locations or under-privileged communities. The main objective is to create a low cost solution by using recycled car parts and materials that are readily available. A website will be online soon, please write to henry@amdt.com.au for more info and to get involved.
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
Do you have a great idea that can reduce poverty and will generate a profit? Then submit your three page idea to www.bidchallenge.org before 31st January 2005 and be in the running to win 20,000 Euro to make it happen!
The BiD challenge is an international business plan competition, supporting innovative business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in developing countries. If you are a developing country citizen or a Dutch citizen and have an innovative business idea that reduces poverty, then join the BiD challenge.
THE SHIRE - A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Call for Volunteers at the Shire, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Shire is an experiment and training ground in the best of human potential. We are currently looking for volunteers in the period of late May - Late October 2005. People are welcome to come for a few weeks or a few months. The key areas would be in supporting the Shire Learning Centre programmes, helping building and maintenance on the land and setting up organic/permaculture and bio-dynamic gardens. Looking forward to hearing from you - contact Tim - tim@engage.nu
Inter-sector dialogue and forms of cooperation Pioneers in Brazil are starting an inter-sectorial dialogue as well as a concrete form of cooperation among different cultures and sectors. The concept is to link programs on social corporate responsibility with the know-how and innovative methodology that the NGOs already have in the social field, create multipliers and communities of practice and evaluate the programs in an integrated manner. Gatherings bringing these different communities of practice are also part of the project. For further details, contact Patrícia Sogayar at patricia@ellerni.org
---------------------------- FINANCIAL MATTERS -----------------------------
Pioneers of Change is an independent network that believes it is critical to retain a free and unbiased position. We also believe that financial barriers should not be a constraint to learning and engaging. As such we work hard at ensuring that our learning is available to as wide and diverse an audience as possible.
We invite you to make a donation to support us in our work. We encourage you to think of this donation as an investment into learning that has the potential of enriching all of our lives. If you have any ideas of individuals or organizations that might like to support us, let us know. sera@pioneersofchange.net
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What is Pioneers of Change?
Pioneers of Change is an emerging, self-organising, global learning community of committed, young people, in their mid-20's to mid-30's, from diverse cultural, social, and professional backgrounds. Pioneers of Change numbers over 1000 individual pioneers in over 70 countries, who have made a personal commitment to continuous learning and contribution.
Pioneers organise in learning teams, project groups, and local networks as part of the flexible structure of the organisation. A series of learning programs form the core of our activities.
For more information on Pioneers of Change, see
http://www.pioneersofchange.net
To learn more about the background beliefs and philosophy of Pioneers please visit:
http://pioneersofchange.net/aboutus/philosophy
Si deseas recibir el boletín en español suscribete con Alfredo Narvaez a este correo e: alfredo@pioneersofchange.net ¡Gracias!
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10 Year Pioneers of Change Anniversary
