Welcome to May 2005!

Welcome to the May version of the Pioneers of Change newsletter!

It has been an active month for the core of Pioneers of Change. We organized two gatherings in Europe; one on “Changing the Game” in Holland, and another on Deep Democracy in Denmark. We’ve written here about the concept of Changing the Game before. The Holland gathering was a powerful experience for Pioneers in looking at their own roles in creating a better world. If you want to learn more about the concept, download Mille Bojer’s excellent article (with comments by several Pioneers around the Globe) Changing the Game

Pioneers around the world are beginning to explore the process of Deep Democracy, a simple and profound method for working with groups where the wisdom of the minority is fully included in decisions. And the archetypal dynamics of human relationships are illuminated and become a source of great learning and transformation on both the individual and collective level. Learn more about Deep Democracy (and founder Myrna Wajsman) We have another Deep Democracy workshop coming up in Cape Town at the end of the month (see events). We are still at an early stage in discovering how else we might share this method with the wider Network.

As we go through a re-visioning within the core of the network, it is becoming apparent that our core work is in supporting practitioners who are working to create shifts in systems. Pioneers of Change as a network has some deep experience in the field of bringing people together for meaningful conversation. The Art of Hosting is another path that many Pioneers are exploring as they realize the skill it takes to host learning and transformation for others. The network of hosts is growing as an Art of Hosting training is happening in the Netherlands as we write this; another is being held in Toronto, Canada at the end of the month and another in South Africa in September (see below).

We are excited about seeing how all of these initiatives being spearheaded by Pioneers will begin to bear results and make impacts on the systems and communities we live in. Best wishes in all your Pioneering,

The Cultivation Unit (Sera and Dumi)

IN FOCUS: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LEARNING JOURNEY

Several conversations planted the seeds for the Learning Journey on Sustainability in Brazil. While traveling around the world visiting and learning about eco-villages and learning centres, Patricia met extraordinary people. As Christel began her new life in Brazil she was exposed to many best practices in sustainability. One day, in mid 2004, they met for lunch, and as many new ideas begin, started drafting the Learning Journey program on a napkin. Initially the Learning Journey was to take place in February 2005, to coincide with Carnaval to enable participants to dance in the Carnaval parade with one of two Samba Schools that had chosen sustainability as their theme. Even when the Learning Journey was postponed, Patricia and Christel danced in the parade to the theme: ‘Man in Harmony with Nature’ in costumes representing metal recycling. This is just one example of how integrated sustainability is in the lives of these two. One of Christel’s colleagues commented after seeing her in the parade: “Even in cultural events, you are doing something related to sustainability!”

Although we come from different perspectives and backgrounds, we both feel that something special is happening in Brazil. There are so many good practices that we feel demonstrate actions that are shifting the system that we could show during the Learning Journey – in the private, non-profit, academic and government sectors – that it has been difficult to select a few to explore on a deeper level. This has led us to think about this Learning Journey as the first of many, perhaps focusing future journeys on specific themes around sustainability in different regions of the country. Our intention for this learning journey is to create a space for participants to bring their burning questions about the state of the world, the systems and organisations we operate in and our personal practices; learn from practices in Brazil; identify principles for a new economy and society from these examples and; use these to rethink and inform our personal, organisational and societal practices. We are both very excited and inspired to be organising this journey along with other Pioneers in Brazil and around the world passionate about sustainability. We hope to see you in Brazil in October!

Read more about the Sustainable Development Learning Journey

-Christel Scholten

Events

The Art of Hosting, Canada and South Africa
How can we create safe learning spaces where strategic and meaningful conversations take place in order to create comprehensive and innovative solutions for the problems that our world, organisations and communities are facing today? How can leaders encourage collective intelligence and creativity to emerge? We offer The Art of Hosting that can help you to explore and develop your own competencies. We invite leaders, trainers, teachers, entrepreneurs, politicians, consultants, pioneers - people with the courage to let go of control in order to achieve better cooperation and results.
Contact us for the full invitation...
Toronto, Canada, May 29-31, 2005
contact: tatiana or visit AoH Toronto
Johannesburg, South Africa, September 21-23, 2005
contact: sera or visit AoH Johannesburg

Seminar on Creative Process- and Dialogue Tools
May 24-25, 2005
The Hub - London
A picture tells a thousand words
Facilitators Ole-Qvist Sorensen and Charlotte Rosenberg, Bigger Picture, Denmark
Course organisers: Bigger Picture, Imagine Health, Learning House
Is for incredible people: executives, managers and other change facilitators who would like creative tools to conduct more engaging and inspiring processes, meetings and projects. Focuses on visual tools and graphic facilitation.
The Same course is also held in Denmark
Course One: April 29th + May 13th
Course Two: May 20th + June 3rd
Register online
or phone – 0044 (0)20 7841 8910

Conference on "The Social Contract and Liberal Politics"
Oslo, Norway
28 May
"The Liberal Laboratory (LibLab)" - a think-tank on socially responsible liberalism and innovative political solutions - is being launched in Oslo, Norway - with a conference the 28th of May on The Social Contract and Liberal Politics . The topic will be explored by highlighting 3 controversial political issues, and socially responsible liberal policy responses: terrorism, welfare, and de/centralisation of power. Program (in Norwegian)
The Liberal Laboratory is a "sister initiative" of the Social Liberal Forum, a network of appr. 200 young progressives (+/- 30 years old) who want to contribute to the renewal of Norwegian politics.

Deep Democracy Training
30 May to 1 June 2005
Cape Town, South Africa
The Deep Democracy process differs from traditional problem-resolution techniques and classic (majority wins) democracy in that it doesn’t strive for compromise. Instead, it aims to build a real consensus across a group – a consensus which recognizes and takes note of the wisdom inherent in the minority’s viewpoint(s), rather than simply ignoring it or overriding it. Different too, from the main emphasis of large group intervention methodologies, in that it focuses heavily on the emotional, rather than rational level and aims to heighten awareness at an individual and group level of the secondary, or unconscious, processes occurring, as these more often than not hold the key to real progress. Through a highly experiential approach you will gain awareness and experience of group dynamics, decision making in groups, identifying and resolving conflict, as both a participant in the group process, and as facilitator. Contact: sera

Global Village Square
Halifax, Canada
22-23 June 2005
The Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership will be hosting the Global Village Square, the latest in a series of explorations around the theme of intergenerational leadership and collaboration. Last year over 70 people aged 14 - 81 gathered from around the world and across sectors to explore the theme of intergenerational collaboration for the common good. This exploration continued at the Pegasus Systems Thinking conference in Boston in November. This summer, we will apply the insight that we have seen emerge in this intergenerational space to a series of stories brought into the Global Village Square by groups from around the world who are working in new ways. We will bring together social entrepreneurs from Mumbai and Johannesburg, students from Texas and Nova Scotia, health care practitioners from Ohio, and a group working with peace and conflict in Israel/Palestine, among others. We will work with their stories, and connect them to our own as we seek new ways of supporting and expanding projects at the edge. For more information, contact Claudia Chender or visit The Shambhala Institute Website

Between Integration and Isolation
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
7-11 September 2005 [Please Note the NEW DATES]
A Learning Journey about the Challenges and Opportunities of Immigration in 21st Century Europe The learning journey will enable stakeholders to deepen their understanding and develop their own practices further. We will also explore the possibility for new networks to emerge which can create and inspire new insights, better tools and alternative approaches. Participants are brought together in order to go through a learning process together with the aspiration of sharpening and reframing their understanding of what it means to live with cultural diversity. email moraan@pioneersofchange.net

Learning journey on Sustainable Development
Brazil
2-12 October 2005
Pioneers of Change in Brazil is offering a Learning Journey on Sustainable Development to be held from 2-12 October 2005. The learning journey is a 10-day experience, starting in an eco-village close to São Paulo to set the context for personal, organisational and societal sustainability. We will participate in a deep ecology experience to enable us to understand our connection to nature and identify how we can personally live more sustainably. We will spend a few days in São Paulo to participate in a cross-sector dialogue and fair and explore the various dimensions of sustainability in one economic sector. We will then travel to Curitiba, a city famous for its integrated social, economic and environmental actions to deepen our understanding of sustainability on a municipal level. We will end the Learning Journey with a day and a half to reflect on the experience, plan next steps and share how each can take personal responsibility for shifting the systems in which we operate to create a more sustainable world. Throughout the journey there will be space for personal and group reflection, meditation, sharing experiences, action planning and cultural events. Subscribe to ljsust@yahoogrupos.com.br

Knowledge Sharing

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Book Reviews:
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Natural Capitalism
by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L.Hunter Lovins
The bookstore shelves are crammed with dire warnings of environmental decline, and rosy forecasts of economic opportunity. Here, at last, is a book that reconciles these seemingly contradictory views—and offers a practical strategy for solving one in a way that achieves the other. Read more...

Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business
by John Elkington
The process of greening our minds and industries may have been under way for 40 years, but putting the world economy on a more sustainable footing has only just begun. Read more...

Ivan Illich in Conversation
David Cayley
In his reflection on the book titled Better Living Through Perception-Altering Tools? Zaid Hassan says "Illich is making a direct connection between our inner condition and our ability to cope with the ills of our age and cultivate social change. He’s pointing out a fundamental, destructive trait of those who wish to use tools in order to create social change. He’s saying that when we talk of creating change, of feeding the poor and in general of alleviating the problems of the world, all too often we’re simply talking about altering our perceptions of reality." Read more...
The article is accompanied by an Ivan Illich Primer which gives resources to help the beginner navigate the world of Illich.

We have recently moved the BOOK REVIEWS section to the new website. Find a weath of perspectives on books which have helped Pioneers everywhere to increase their competency as change-agents.
If you want to include a review of a book that has been transformative for you please send it to sera

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On the web: Sustainable Deveolpment
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If PEOPLE A great resource guide for Sustainable Development initiatives (especially in the Americas) can be found at the If PEOPLE website

Sustainability Institute (South Africa)" - The Sustainabilty Institute is an international living and learning centre for studies in ecology, community and spirit. The Sustainability Institute is embedded in the emerging Lynedoch EcoVillage that demonstrates sustainable living in practice.

Invitations

Diversity Caravan

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 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.

More information

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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>>SMALL PRINT
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What is Pioneers of Change?

Pioneers of Change is a global school and learning network supporting practitioners in their 20s and 30s who are working to be the change they want to see in the world. A Pioneer is anyone who sees that something isn’t working in the status quo and is questioning underlying assumptions and moving into new territory to create shifts in systems.

For more information on Pioneers of Change, see

http://www.pioneersofchange.net

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