20100507 - Minutes - OCFF

[LJ Jang]

Hi all,

This is the raw excel format of the meeting minutes we had this afternoon.

Marybeth will do a summary of what we went through and the finalized version will be sent out later.

Thanks for your patience.


Cheers,
LJ
- - -
jan...@gmail.com
+1 347 478 9545 (in use only from May 4 - 17)

[Lisinka Ulatowska]

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful amount of lively and inspiring discussion was generated today.  I am so sorry that it was so hard to hear one another.

I have tentatively got room C from 12-1 on MOnday for our Common Future Fulfilled.

I hope that we can then work on applying the global shift idea to our own NGO's work to build strong working relationships with Governments and fellow NGOs.

To help us in this process, Mary Beth with her friend Maritza are providing a unique opportunity to improve the art of deep listening skills. Deep listening is a key to creating strong, meaningful working relationships and will be invaluable in the work we are doing together,

The workshop will be free of charge and will be held in the beautiful sanctuary of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, tomorrow, Saturday May 8th from 3-6 p.m. at 306 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor between 31st and 32nd Streets.

We'd love to welcome you there!

Love,

Lisinka
improving oiurThis is a one time opportunity to experience this. Mary Beth is leaving for Pittsburgh Saturday night and will not be back at the CSD this year.

. At this stage we are close to talking to delegates and fellow NGOs
As an added tool in all we are doing there will be a very special workshop on deeplistening.

Ruchi and I and later Mary Beth and I sat down to write a description of Ruchi's project. We all came to the decision that we are not far enough along in the planning to descibe it without having more time to consult with you all. So we decided not to send in an article to Outreach.

Hop to see you on Monday!

Have a lovely weekend

--
Dr. Lisinka Ulatowska
UN Rep. Association of World Citizens;
Institute for Planetary Synthesis
www.ipsgeneva.com
www.globalcommonstrust.org
www.worldcitizensaction.com
www.allwinnetwork.org

[Mary Beth Steisslinger]

Brief overview of the 4th meeting of Our Common Future Fulfilled: Creating the global shift for lasting sustainability and justice

Thanks again to LJ for the detailed notes, attached in excel below

Ruchi's idea for presenting 3 simple questions (something like... what is the system shift each delegate is working on and what special skills do they bring to this work?...  what is the best future  the delegate would like to see develop?  what are the steps they think we must take to get there?) and then listening to each one of the delegates and displaying their system shifts and highest visions for the planet anonymously in some artistic way is a brilliant idea. 

Richard Jordan added to this that what is needed is some way to act out the future that the civil society would like to see in some sort of participative activity that would help to bring attention in a celebratory fashion.  He mentioned that a few such events have happened in the past that involved indigenous people, drumming, masks representing animals, plants and the planet, children's groups etc.  He said doing it over the lunch hour can be effective.  

Precedents to back up reflective, consultative and artistic work in creating a deep shift from UN employee Richard Jordan and UN delegate Lisinka Ulatowska:

Triglav Circle: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2010/statements/unagenciesngos/triglav.pdf

UNCRDD 1989, UN Conference on the Relationship btwn Disarmament and Development, www.bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/90-0510.htm

Phyllis Yampolsky, artist, global town hall wall project

(Richard says set this up ahead of time with the secretariat to get the risers/ display boards, and have it arraged in whatever artistic way is decided)

Akiwa and Kiara both had ideas for theatrical performances that could play a role in this consultation of the delegates, but felt doing something for this session would be too rushed.  Nana agreed, and said that Voices of African Mothers wants to help sponsor such a process, but she wants it to be really well-planned.  Some wanted to include in the listening project civil society and major group participants (color-coding the responses was mentioned as a way to delineate delegates from others).  Lisinka emphasized that the deep connection in listening to delegates was key to getting to the most meaningful information for the shift and the envisioned future. Jia Wen is driven to involve media in the shift... she feels they can play a pivotal role in making this happen.

The larger idea we have started to explore should be further formed -- how can we shift the overall system towards sustainability and justice --  and, can we work in decentralized yet collaborative and dynamic ways that build enough cohesion to make civil society and the grass-roots and global commons actions a combined force for global public opinion... ie what unites us enough in all the varied work we do to combine into one coordinated movement/ power/ voice for the planet and the people as a whole?

As far as the delegate listening project for next year... specifically, Global Commons Trust  and the UN Commons Advocacy Group can work with on-site UN Staff to set up the display space and work to get it on the schedule for a side-event next year.  Many agreed it would be good to start if we could in some small way this year.  Others asked how we could expand it's impact by tying it to other side-events to build collaboration.  

There was a  Deep Listening workshop on Saturday May 8 at the Brahma Kumari Meditation Center.  The workshop was taught by Maritza Mosquera, An Ecuadorean-American Artist and Educator. Global Commons Advocates and partners gathered to explore the means of connecting to people at the level of their shared humanity and realizing new ways forward where each can be heard and honored and where meaningful and systemic change can begin.

On Sat afternoon, 11 - 4 pm, there was also held an important side event, Generation Solution.... please someone report back on this platform 

Looking forward to connecting with you all as things unfold.

Much love for all,

mbs

p.s. Dear Friends... just a quick note to say i enjoyed meeting all of you so much.  I was only able to be at CSD for one week b'c of other obligations, but  I am hopeful that much progress can be made together as we share our deepest inspirations for doing this work, making the meaningful connections with each other and realizing creative opportunities for shifting the greater work forward quickly.  

Mary Beth Steisslinger, MS

Integral Systems Biologist

Global Commons Group

www.globalcommonstrust.org

www.wiserearth.org/group/commonsgroup

marybeth.s...@gmail.com

"The commons answers our intuitive call to serve each other and the Planet
in our everyday activities.  The people of this movement know that we must
reclaim our sovereignty, restore our natural resources, and work toward a
unified vision of cooperation, sharing and justice."

Jay Bender, Global Commons Trust

On May 7, 2010, at 9:51 PM, Lisinka Ulatowska wrote:

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful amount of lively and inspiring discussion was generated today.  I am so sorry that it was so hard to hear one another. 

I have tentatively got room C from 12-1 on MOnday for our Common Future Fulfilled. 

I hope that we can then work on applying the global shift idea to our own NGO's work to build strong working relationships with Governments and fellow NGOs.

To help us in this process, Mary Beth with her friend Maritza are providing a unique opportunity to improve the art of deep listening skills. Deep listening is a key to creating strong, meaningful working relationships and will be invaluable in the work we are doing together,

The workshop will be free of charge and will be held in the beautiful sanctuary of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, tomorrow, Saturday May 8th from 3-6 p.m. at 306 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor between 31st and 32nd Streets.

We'd love to welcome you there!

Love,

Lisinka

Note: Ruchi and I and later Mary Beth and I sat down to write a description of Ruchi's project. We all came to the decision that we are not far enough along in the planning to descibe it without having more time to consult with you all. So we decided not to send in an article to Outreach.