City Sustainability Series

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Conversation on the Sustainability. AMP City

We have now brought the Sustainability Conversation to a close. If this is a topic that holds your passion and you'd like to see it continued.....
Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

Read about Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Session 7

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Report on Session 7 Thursday July 4th

We started by addressing the question about our vision of a 'good' community - one that has a good quality of life. We tried to identify the issues that we were trying to improve.

As usual there were a variety of topics but also some very familiar themes. Let's list some of the perspectives.

Sustainability has personal implications and includes economic. How do people live their lives without anxiety?
It's about caring for the earth.
Minimise waste
Live with permaculture principles in mind.
Valuing diversity
Principles of community. There are tensions between the need to care the long term commited folks and the balance of new inputs.
Community as a self organising unit that interacts with the environment.
Thinking of community as a verb rather than as a noun.
Community of work is separated from community of home
Communities large and scattered vs communities tight knit and close.
Conversations such as these help to create sustainable communities in that they energise themselves out of the passion of the individuals. There is support and nurturing to be found that sustains us in our other pursuits. (One participant offered that she would have given up long ago had it not been for the input and support she got from attending the Conversations. (I was delighted to hear that one. Noel)
C21C affirms a hope that there is a future that is sustainable
It helps me listen better and gives me the courage to speak at a deeper level because of the respect given. Thus we can access deeper insights. To create a sustainable community, this deeper speaking and listening are essential.
The diversity of the group gives us the chance to dance with many rythyms. Working with unchallenged common purpose drowns that possibility.

Conversing more about the 'good life' somebody quoted a prominant businessman who had nurtured his son to take over his large retail chain. The son became the CEO but soon dropped everything in order to pursue alternatives that were more aligned to his own values, views and interests. Father was left bewildered or dissappointed at least and wondered what his own struggle had be all about. As Peggy Lee sang, "Is That All There Is?"

The economic imperative in some ways mitigates against sustainability. Consultants (and others) are driven by the necessity to create money wealth and so leaving much less energy to create new things. Creativity and imagination diminshes or even vanishes.

Again the distinction was made between balancing our lives and integrating the various aspect of our activities.

Basically it comes down to these things. Good relationships can cause pain wherein are lessons and insights. By attending to self - self understanding - self in context, awareness of self in amongst the spectrum of interests, there lies the possibility of creating a quality life that will be sustainable. We will sensibly address the needs of:

Clean food and water
Shelter
Clothing
Education
Health
A place of being valued.

So once again we returned to the old chestnut. It begins with ME. It begins with YOU.

A Report on Session 6 Thursday June 6th '02

This morning's event had a distinctively frosty flavour to it. No, we were not having a bad hair day. Susanne Rix announced that she was in the throes of hiring an Ice Breaker to take a party of conversationalists on a trip to, guess where, Antarctica, later in the year. She is creating an interdisciplinary conference on board and promises to be a VERY interesting event. There'll be more information available on this journey soon. Perhaps you are interested in taking part. You would certainly be in good company.

Of course everyone trotted out their own version of their relationship with Antarctica and we heard some interesting perspectives. (I at least had been there which gave me a couple of points lead.)

We then proceeded to address a question, "If you had an opportunity to speak with a group of colleagues at a meeting like this 100 years from now, what would you say to them?"

The responses went something like this:
* Take care of yourself and each other. That means beyond just people. Include the environment and other species.

* Response from a teenager was a accusative, "We've screwed up the world. We've done bad things to the environment and each other and have failed to take care.

* Build good memories for yourself and those you deal with. We went deeper into the implications of this one.

We took a side track from that point and the question was set aside. Some of the points covered included:
* As a species, we've actually been VERY successful at what we have set out to do. The devastation and destruction we have imposed on the environment has been the result of our success. It's just that we've been limited or narrow in our view of success. In other words our success parameters have been self centred and not taken wider implications and impacts into account.

* Questioned if our children would be thanking us for making Sydney so expensive.

* Suggested that "Proper" economics could easily take into account the non finacials.

* Noted that the power vested in large corporations and governments is an illusion. We can take the power as individuals by acting in concerted ways.

* Some discussion about whether it is inevitable that one loses one's soul in large organisations or is it possible to choose another way?

* We talked a little about ethical investments and the impact that might make on creating business on a more sustainable platform. We moved then to some brief exploration into LETS (Local Energy Trading Systems) and barter as a way of retaining wealth generating capacitiy within local areas.

* The final point on this stream was about understanding that it is in the building of relationships that the work will be done.

We finished with a conversation about the value of Conversations for the 21st Century to us as individuals and how they might be supported. Very definitely was the sense that these conversations brought the inspiration and support in our work outside of this environment. According to one participant, the conversations can be regarded as a seed bed for the gestation of inspiration.

Next Sustainability Conversation is to be held on Thursday July 4th at Level 1, 151 Clarence Street Starting 8.30am Sharp and finish at 10am.

Please join us. You and your friends will be most welcome. Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or
email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

A Report on Session 5 Thursday May 2nd '02

Even after all this time facilitating conversations, I am still intrigued about what it is that prompts people to keep coming back and back. Then sessions like this morning easily explain why they do.

We were lucky to have Jane Quayle present to run a couple of short but powerful focussing exercises for us. We were looking at how the world connects with us and how the world lives through us. A reintegration of 'head' knowing and 'body' knowing. This was very much in alignment with outputs from previous conversations. (See session 4 notes)

I certainly got some clarity about some issues I need to deal with. Much of what we did was about coming into a relationship with that deeper "Felt sensing" that so often gets hidden or swept aside or worse still, ignored altogether. So much of our deeper wisdom just never gets brought into focus.

So what were some of the points people took away with them?

knowing my place in 'time'
I was encouraged to be 'connected'
My being here makes a difference
A sense of dancing together
Got an image of a clock with some bits missing and expecting it to tell me the time.
Relevant communicating
Searching for harmony
I got to understand something even deeper than intuitive 'gut' feeling.

One way to tell if an event has been successful is to listen for the chatter after it has finished. Quite a number of the participants adjourned to a local coffee shop and were still 'in the groove' for another hour and a half afterwards. Surely a sign of a healthy conversation don't you think?

Next Sustainability Conversation is to be held on Thursday May 30th at Level 1, 151 Clarence Street Starting 8.30am Sharp and finish at 10am.

Please join us. You and your friends will be most welcome. Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or
email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

A Report on Session 4 Thursday March 21st '02

This morning’s conversation opened with a short quoted section of a paper by Peter Senge and Goran Carestedt titled "Innovating Our Way to the Next Industrial Revolution.

He asks, "What is so new about the New Economy?"

Perhaps it is not all that new after all. Each new technology leads to "creative destruction" in which old industries die and new ones are born. All that does is extend the industrial era rather than transform it..

The fundamental shifts necessary to signal the beginnings of a truly post industrial age will be in how the economic system affects the larger systems within which it resides-namely, society and nature. In many ways what we’ve been about is harvesting natural and social capital in order to create financial and productive capital. The new economy doesn’t seem to be changing that.

The industrial age assault of natural capital continues. The rate of losing species has not slowed, Most New Economy products end up where Old Economy products do; in increasingly scarce landfills. Globalisation is destroying the last remnants of stewardship for natural resources in industries such as forest products.

None of this is sustainable, so what to do with such a confronting message?

Points covered in our conversation went something like this:

Economics and the rational logic that drives it is a response to our level of consciousness. No change will occur out there until we learn to reintegrate the mind/body split. In our culture we differentiate mind/body and then dissociate from our bodies.

One facet of change will happen when we connect people to things that arouse their inner passion. The rational thinking process is the source of our discontent. Discontented people who find their passion is where the change work can be done and lead people to a sustainable way of living.

A mention of a number of ‘universals’ that help people reconnect with that inner life: Dancing and being in nature. Both of these are enlivening and restorative activities that restore, and help to reintegrate the body wisdom with the spirit.

Our society breeds and cultivates young warriors who are dissociated from their bodies. (Rugby was quoted as a method of training boys to ignore their body signals. Also there are few good role models for boys of integrated older men with high profiles.

Noted that people hooked on and immersed in the current business system don’t take the time to reflect at a deeper level.

Observed that what we do on a daily basis, what we do here and now is what really creates the world. By changing that we can change or infect the power of the industrial leaders and political power brokers.

So at home or work or socially – be aware that what we do and say is how we influence changes. Model the behaviour that would represent a change in direction to a more sustainable one.

You can start by actually listening to each other more deeply, patiently and respectfully.

Noted that at a recent ethical investment conference there was an offer to audit (free) the internal use of electricity consumption in the companys' represented. Not one of the institutions took up the offer. Who was it that said, "Everybody wants to save the world but nobody wants to do the dishes."?

So as citizens where can we start? Ask yourself each week (day/month, whatever) "What have I done in this period towards sustainability?"

Comments on what people remembered and took away with them:

Sustainability is defined by the timeframe in which people are thinking or viewing the world.

Change eventually will come down to the individual level.

It’s the reintegration of mind/body, male/female, and other metaphors that will give us a connection to a conscious awareness of the larger world.

We will be better served when people are connected to their passion

Reflected on the fact that every interaction is microcosm of the whole and of the awesom responsibility that goes with that. Basically it all means that "I am responsible. I am accountable."

Since this conversation, a flyer for a Stillness in Action Retreat has come across my desk. In it was a quotation by Jane Goodall, Ethologist. "Above all we need to realise that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use this gift of our life to make the world a better place or not to bother."

The next session will be the last of the bi-weekly events. After that date we will revert to monthy Conversations. Any comments please on timing or topics will be most welcome.

Please join us. You and your friends will be most welcome. Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or
email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

A Report on Session 3 Thursday February 21st 2002

A small but stalwart group met this morning and wandered into some small corners of Sustainability and what that means to us.

A question arose, "What are the skills required to bring sustainability issues to the fore?" Greg gave us the story of his daughter's foray into turning theory into action. She made herself busy in their shed recycling paper and producing a new paper. To do this she needed to be conscious of separating their rubbish to get the raw product she needed. What she succeeded in doing was educating the whole family in the matter of sorting and recycling their rubbish. So the skills and qualities demonstrated were: Project management, skills transfer, (teaching) passion, commitment, higher personal values that ranged beyond her self interest. (There is an argument that offers that these values are ultimately in our self interest anyway.)

We then talked about those qualities represented in any sustainable organisation.

A champion(s) to carry the project or vision forward.
Clear themes
Embedded rituals and habits
Rythym about the energy and expectations
Celebration.

What else? Perhaps you have some suggestions.

We ventured into the matter of making these conversations sustainable. After all most of those who wanted this issue to be covered every two weeks were actually not present.

We discussed the matter of funding these converstations in response to the question, "Is anything free, sustainable?" We'd love your insights or viewpoints on that matter too.

A small group but I came away feeling that we had discovered something a little deeper about our dialogue and each other.

Please join us. You and your friends will be most welcome. Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or
email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

A Report on Session 2 Thursday February 7th 2002

Session two on this subject graced us with new participants and we welcome them.

Some of the concerns expressed about Sustainability were:

People in corporations worked towards goals that did not embrace a sustainability agenda. Evidence suggested that they were just not interested.
Life is short and I need an opportunity to make a difference. To leave a positive stamp.
I'm looking for a voice. Some basis on which to form my opinions.
Perspectives sharpened since having children. Now concerned about what sort of world I leave for my grandchildren.
Issues such as environment just seem way too big. Think that this conversation is the proper, if not the only place to start.

Note that soulfull people are frequently working in a soul less environment. There is a strong need for us to identify with each other. Need to 'be present' for each other and make 'real' connections. This requires us to communicate with ALL of our senses.

Articulating in the world, as in say, Presenting, requires giving much of myself. After that I need to spend time quietly by myself..

Complete listening requires a level of trusting. Trusting that I will get to have a say and trusting that my opinion or thoughts will be valued too. It's OK to temporarily give up control.

Conversation about Talking vs Action and the balance thereof. ( A favourite chestnut in C21C)

Major responsibility for action is with each individual in the moment. "What are my gifts and what can I do with them today?"

Need to help each other to get connected. Thence synergy. We are not meant to walk alone.

For my life to support a sustainable focus I need to live with awareness of myself as a part of something bigger. However, living inside a tight timeframe leads to difficulty in reflection.

Challenge is presented when we look for answers but don't really reflect on our questions. In conversation the even bigger difficulty comes when we think we know the questions and have the definitive answers.

However, even those dominators who think they have the right answers need to be heard.

Comments about sustainability being a timeframe issue. Living in harmony for eternity is a different concept not likely to be considered by a CEO concerned about the next couple of years profit margins and share dividends or a politician thinking of the next election.

At a personal and spiritual level we probably all want similar things. It's the structure and the systems that let us down.

Is sustainability (for some people) about reaching our goalsor about moving the goalposts so that we can continue. Noted by one that the business of sustainability seems impregnable but "Conversations is a bit like grass sprouting up through the concrete." Very reassuring.

We can influence people by the way we live our lives and by the level of our conversations.

Note that a world driven by ego is not sustainable.

Final comment. By living in conscious awareness of who we are and what our impact is, we can probably best influence those around us. Live in the present each day and be conscious of the long journey.

Please join us. You and your friends will be most welcome. Call Noel on (02) 9819 7914 or
email nwinterburn@conversations.com.au

A Report on Session 1 Thursday January 24th 2002

This was the first of a series of Conversations about "Sustainability." I was a little self conscious about such a loose and general title and it was hardly surprising that each of us came with rather different views of what this actually meant.

One talked of the Sustainability of Systems and was speaking from the perspective

of Information Technology. Another talked about being sustained at a personal level by the networks in which he moved. He describe this as his "Soular System." Yet another talked of the unsustainability of business practices and goals that did not sustain the soul of the workers and other stakeholders. Note that we haven’t even started on the environment yet.

Specifics covered included:

The question of underlying values.
Measurements of success
Measurements and conflicts of interest
Planning as a linear activity
Need for constantly reassessing goals (Corporate and other)
The Fractal nature of systems to be noted
Conflict and drama as necessary part of growth. Only if we use conflict as a means to question our world views, values and assumptions. (Sounds like Conversation to me. NW.)
Change agent is one who knows him/herself well enough to choose a way of living their life that honours themselves.

When asked to remark on what came out of the Conversation, the group offered these comments.

Note the Cassandra phenomenon. When change people are working actively we will serve them to believe in them and let them know we do. Acknowledgement.

The Quality of our thinking seems to be deteriorating because we don’t take time to think or reflect.

Must sustain our thinking about sustainability and keeping things the same.

Ok to be happy knowing that we don’t know. Just sustain the passion.

Perhaps we need to be more tangible in what we are seeking to do (In Conversations) Need to aim to DO something rather than discuss the esoteric.

Need to balance between action and thinking. ‘Do’ by all means but check in with higher vision and values.
Note that the group requested more frequent meetings than just once per month.