Global Transformation: Strategy for Action
Dedication Epigraph Preface Acknowledgments One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Epilogue Comments
| Chapter Eight: Proposals for Action |
The Beginning
What We Believe
Self-improvement
Community Service
Political Action
Mutual Support
Outreach and Expansion
Global Organizing
This chapter describes more specifically how a global network of progressive, holistic, home-based communities might grow. Though I know no such community at this time, I throw this dream out to the universe, not knowing what will happen with it. Perhaps it will germinate in some totally unforeseen way, with various people taking bits and pieces and developing them in their own way.
Ideally, a multi-racial group that includes nationally prominent progressive spokespeople will get involved in the early development of this network, for the involvement of such leaders would boost interest in the project. So, as soon as it is published, I’ll send copies of this book to a number of well-respected community leaders who are persons of color and suggest that they help initiate this project by forming a local home-based community and initiating the national organizing committee.
On the other hand, the network could grow organically from the grassroots prior to getting nationally prominent people involved. Either way, the full, early involvement of people of color is important.
If this network develops, I suspect most home-based communities will consist of people who already belong to a particular organization. Rather than starting from scratch, people can build on current relationships. In this way, people who already work together can deepen their sense of community.
So the early involvement of well-established organizations would be helpful. A local church, labor union, NAACP chapter, Democratic Party club, or group of workers for a Presidential campaign, for example, could form a home-based community, encourage other branches to do the same, and recommend to their national body that they promote more home-based communities.
However, friends and relatives who aren’t active in any community organization can easily form a holistic, home-based community. Any number of local home-based communities can form at any time in any country (though some of the terminology in this book is geared to the United States). One of these first home-based communities, however, would probably need to serve as the initial national organizing committee in each country.
I invite you, dear reader, to take these ideas, modify them, and use them however you see fit. If you let me know about your efforts, I’ll share your reports with others who do the same. Anyone can contribute to global transformation.
| The Beginning |
The formation of a global network of progressive, home-based communities begins with two individuals who live in the same Congressional district deciding to explore whether some of their closest friends are interested in this project. To clarify their intention, they draft a proposed mission statement and suggested methods. It reads something like the following:
| Mission Statement and Key Methods |
Our purpose is to protect the environment, make the United States a more just and democratic nation, and promote the common good of the entire human family.
To achieve that goal, we aim to help transform the global social system that dominates the world today.
To achieve that goal, we encourage the simultaneous transformation of our institutions, our culture, and ourselves.
To help achieve those goals, we will gather monthly in one of our homes with 10-16 people who:
- Endorse our “What We Believe” worldview
- Agree to regularly engage in self-improvement, community service, and political action
- Focus on advancing progressive reforms already supported by a majority of the people in our nation
- Agree to meet monthly to support one another in those efforts
- Commit six hours a month to community service (two hours), political action (two hours), and a support group (two hours)
Since they are already involved in a progressive-minded organization – whether a religious institution, labor union, Democratic Party, Green Party, Presidential campaign, P.T.A., co-housing community, political organization, community-based organization, social-service agency, cultural center, community center, or some other organization – the initiators decide to invite some of their colleagues from that organization to join them.
The initiators take note of their own personal characteristics (such as race), reflect on acquaintances who might be interested, and identify someone who reflects different characteristics to invite to join them. Their goal is to have a group that reflects the characteristics of their Congressional district. If the initiators are white, the person contacted is a person of color.
They invite someone who lives in their Congressional district because they intend to focus on changing national policies, which is essential for systemic reform, and Congresspersons are more responsive to grassroots pressure than are Senators and the President. Even districts that already have progressive Congresspersons can benefit from strong relationships between those Congresspersons and their constituents. The community can help those Congresspersons establish priorities and the Congresspersons can help the community become better organized to deal with local, personal, and social issues.
Once a third person has been recruited, those three decide on whom to invite to join them. Once a fourth person has been recruited, those four decide on a fifth person, and so on. At each step, consideration is given to the mix of people involved and the next person invited is one who would add diversity to the group. Inviting people one at a time enables to group to assure that it remains inclusive.
Gradual expansion also assures that everyone feels comfortable about the person being invited. A certain degree of trust and comfort is essential because the members of each home-based community will share with one another confidential reports about personal matters. So any member can veto an invitation for any reason, while trusting that any explanation they give for their action, if they wish to give one, remains confidential unless they clearly state otherwise.
Even though future home-based community members will be asked to commit only six hours a month to the network, each member of this organizing committee dedicates six hours a week because the initial organizing requires extra effort.
Once five or so people are recruited, they begin formulating a one-page statement summarizing their worldview, purpose, and methods. The first draft might be a non-ideological description of what we want, such as a summary of the vision statement in Chapter One. Or it might be a ten-point program like the Fairness Agenda. But my suggestion is that it begin with the basics, a moral worldview, like the one articulated in Chapter Two, a summary of which would read something like:
| What We Believe |
We intend to protect the environment, help make the United States a more just and democratic nation, and promote the common good of the entire human family.
The Earth is an interdependent living organism. Our responsibility is to safeguard it and the natural course of evolution.
The source of life is mysterious, wonderful, and awesome. We cherish beauty and the experience of beauty. We encourage everyone to help make the world more beautiful.
We aim to avoid both selfishness and self-sacrifice by loving others as we love ourselves and life itself. We aim to enjoy life, spread joy, and assist people who are less fortunate.
Being fully human involves constantly learning how to become a better human being. By being true to our highest selves, we can better serve others. Being a good person requires doing what we can to prevent suffering and the loss of life.
We try to respect others as equals and criticize people for specific mistakes without totally condemning them, for all of us are imperfect.
By coming together freely, we can have better relationships. We should use force only to protect life or physical injury. When we use force, we should use the minimal amount necessary.
We appreciate what is true about all points of view. No one person or group monopolizes truth. By sharing facts and opinions, we can better understand reality.
No words fully express what is true. Ideas only point to truth. So we are willing to experiment with what works best.
As a nation, we are responsible to assure that all of our people have the means to live decently. As individuals, we are responsible to help shape our nation’s public policies. All people deserve to have a voice in affairs that affect them if they choose to exercise it.
Our elected officials should listen closely to their constituents, help them find common ground whenever possible, and support the growth of supportive communities that nurture personal development rooted in shared moral values – so we can better overcome selfishness, egoism, consumerism, greed, and the temptation to be deadened by passive entertainment.
As well as earning a profit, private businesses should serve the public interest, empower workers, and care for the environment.
Strong individuals need strong communities, and strong communities need strong individuals, healthy families, supportive friendships, democracy, justice, a sustainable environment, safe neighborhoods, and strong nations (partly because strong nations are needed to manage the economy effectively).
The nations and the people of the world must cooperate. By growing a loving, global community based on inclusive, democratic local communities, we can steadily improve the quality of life and eventually transform our social system – including our institutions, our culture, and ourselves – to better serve humanity and protect life on Earth.
| What We Do |
We regularly work on becoming better human beings, assist people who are less fortunate, and take political action together to improve our nation’s policies. At least once a month, we meet in a member’s home to share a meal, enjoy each other’s company, and support one another in these efforts.
| *** |
As a group, the organizing committee reworks this first draft until it is acceptable to everyone. It fits onto one letter-size page to facilitate easy distribution (and eventual formatting as a brochure). As they recruit new members, they modify the statement if needed.
Once they have enough members (at least ten but not more than fifteen), they stop recruiting new members for their own community. If a member stops participating, they recruit a replacement.
The organizing committee encourages the formation of more home-based communities by composing additional organizing materials including methods for achieving their goals, posting them on a website, and distributing printed copies person-to-person and at public meetings. Each home-based community will choose and adapt its own methods from the suggestions offered for group activities, and each member will choose his or her own methods for self-improvement. These suggestions include the following.
| Self-improvement |
The methods for self-improvement, which individuals can use on their own whenever they want, include:
| 4-7-8 Breathing |
I adapted this practice from instructions presented on a tape of breathing exercises by Andrew Weil, who adapted his instructions from Indian yogis.
Sit or lie comfortably, preferably with eyes closed.
Inhale for a count of four.
Hold the breath for a count of seven.
Exhale for a count of eight.
Repeat eight times.
Keep track of the number of complete cycles with your fingers (to minimize thinking).
Return to normal breathing, relax, and slowly open your eyes.
| Observing Irritation |
Jacob Needleman presented one of his classes with the following exercise:
| Tuning Out and In |
Needleman also made the following assignment:
| Guided Meditations: For Calmness, Awareness, and Love (CD) |
As stated on the Wildmind website:
Led by Bodhipaksa, this CD contains three guided meditations:
The mindfulness of breathing (27.12 minutes) The Metta Bhavana (development of loving kindness) (26.50 minutes) Walking meditation (19:48 minutes)
Ideal for beginners to meditation, this CD will guide you through the most fundamental Buddhist meditation practices. This is a practical and yet inspiring guide to working with your mind in order to become calmer and happier. The Mindfulness of Breathing practice will help you to develop more calmness and peace of mind; the Metta Bhavana will help you to develop a more positive attitude to yourself and others; and walking meditation is a powerful method of bringing awareness into your daily life.
Two-minute samples for listening are available on the website, where the CD can be purchased.
| Basic Practice |
I learned this practice from Richard Price, co-founder of Esalen Institute. This is the way I remember and use it. I recommend taking at least five seconds for each step.
Sit or lie comfortably with eyes closed.
Pay attention to any sounds that you hear.
Pay attention to any smells that you smell.
If any thoughts come into your mind, acknowledge them, let them go, and return to your awareness.
Pay attention to the pressure of the air on your skin.
Pay attention to the pressure of your clothes on your body and whatever is pressing against your body, such as your chair.
Pay attention to the air as it enters your nostrils and moves into your lungs.
Pay attention to how your body feels, from head to toe.
Pay attention to your emotions.
Pay attention to any thoughts running through your mind.
Pay attention to any images in your mind.
Breathe freely, relax, and slowly open your eyes.
| Walking Meditation |
I developed the following while backpacking in the High Sierra:
While walking, synchronize your steps with your breathing in a natural rhythm.\\
For example, at a normal pace on a level grade, inhale when you step down with your right foot and exhale on the next step with your right foot. Going uphill, you might inhale on your right foot and exhale on your left foot.
Pay attention to your breathing and how your body moves.
When thoughts come into your mind, acknowledge them, let them go, and return your awareness to your breathing and your walking.
Proceed in this manner for at least 10-15 minutes or as long as you wish.
| Breathing Meditation |
I’ve synthesized this from various sensory awareness exercises. Again, allow at least five seconds for each step.
While sitting or lying comfortably, close your eyes.
Without making any effort to change it, pay attention to how you are breathing. Slow or fast? Deep or shallow? In the chest or in the stomach? Through the nostrils or the mouth?
Focus on the air as it moves through your nostrils.
Focus on the air as it enters your throat.
Focus on the air as it enters your lungs.
Notice whether and how your stomach moves.
Now, as you begin to inhale, imagine energy entering your body with the air. Follow that energy into your lungs. As you exhale, imagine the energy leaving your body through your legs and feet.
When thoughts enter your mind be aware of them, and gently let them go as you return to awareness of your breathing. Try to avoid getting absorbed in a train of thoughts – that is, minimize "thinking," or forming words in your mind.
| Singing and Chanting |
In the shower, while driving, sitting in your living room, or wherever, sing or chant, whether alone or with others, perhaps while a CD is playing.
Or you can simply chant for several minutes or more. The two syllable O-M and the three-syllable AH-O-M are simple, effective chants.
Another is from a Native American tradition:
I circle around
I circle around
The boundaries of the Earth
The boundaries of the Earth
Wearing my long wing feathers as I fly
Wearing my long wing feathers as I fly
You can make up your own melody.
Also, you can get the melody for a great song from the civil rights movement on the Web by searching for “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Pete Seeger”. The lyrics are:
Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go the bail
Keep your eyes on the prize
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on, hold on.
The very moment I thought I was lost
The dungeon shook and the chains fell off
Chorus.
The only thing that we did wrong
Was staying in the wilderness too long
Chorus.
The only thing that we did right
Was the day that we begun to fight
Chorus.
Repeat a few times.
| Scream |
Whenever you find yourself getting stressed out and you're someplace that no one can hear you, like in your car or home alone (or with someone who will understand if warned), scream at the top of your lungs for as long as you can. Repeat as needed.
| Be Surprised |
A friend, Ursula Sturzenegger, suggests that whenever you find yourself dwelling on the future and getting wrapped up in expectations, whether positive or negative, remind yourself: “I prefer to be surprised.”
| Love the Universe |
Kathy Kelly has told people that an Iraqi friend of hers recommended that anytime, any place, remind yourself: “Don't forget to love the universe.”
| Lord’s Prayer |
Recite the Lord’s Prayer out loud:
Our Father, which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
| Daily Gratitudes |
I believe it was Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology website that recommended, “Before going to sleep, acknowledge five things for which you are grateful.” And Bob Dylan’s father told him, “Be grateful for the things you don’t have that you don’t want.”
| Journaling |
I’ve adapted the following from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity:
Write in a journal twenty minutes each day, preferably immediately after waking up. Show this journal to no one. Write spontaneously about anything whatsoever. Don’t censor yourself or worry about grammar or typos. Every two weeks or so, review what you’ve written and highlight anything you really want to remember.
| Personal Mantra |
I’ve adapted the following from a frequent feature of Dick Price’s Gestalt Practice workshops:
When you come to some insight about a specific way that you want to change, such as “stop feeling sorry for yourself,” write that insight down on a piece of paper and tape it some place where you will see it often, such as your bathroom mirror, or make it the screensaver on your computer. Remind yourself of the mantra frequently.
| Bottom Lines |
I’ve also adapted the following from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity:
Compose a list of 3-5 important tasks that you want to achieve regularly but have trouble doing. Look at that list frequently and take note of how well you’re achieving those tasks. Modify the list as needed when your priorities change.
| Community Service |
Each member of the organizing committee agrees to volunteer at least two hours a month for a social service agency that provides assistance to people in need, such as a soup line, a food bank, or Meals on Wheels. They work either alone or with one or two other members. The organizing committee posts on the network’s website occasional reports for others to consider prior to deciding where to volunteer.
| Political Action |
Members of the organizing committee and other home-based communities that form also agree to engage together once a month in some political activity focused on national policy that has a reasonable chance of being successful.
| Congressional Community Dialogues |
The organizing committee’s first project is to organize an ongoing series of Community Dialogues with their Congressperson (other home-based communities may or may not take on this project initially, though hopefully they will). The purpose of these Community Dialogues is to:
- Strengthen communication between the Congressperson and his or her constituents
- Enable the Congressperson to learn more about his or her constituents' concerns
- Enable constituents to learn more about their Congressperson’s activities and related issues
- Provide individuals and community-based organizations with a time and place to advocate their positions on issues to their Congressperson
- Help hold their Congressperson accountable to their promises and the desires of their constituents
Each Dialogue lasts two hours. It is held at the same time each month, such as the second Saturday at 1 PM (to make it easier for constituents to calendar the event in advance). The location may always be the same or it may rotate to diversify participation.
The Dialogues begin with a ten-minute report from the Congressperson (or a high-level representative from the Congressperson’s office). Then speakers from the audience have three minutes to address any concern. They can simply make a statement, or they can use some of their time to ask a question and receive an answer from the Congressperson (or representative), in which case the Congressperson (or representative) must answer within the speaker's three minutes.
Those who want to speak put a card with their name on it in a box. Only people who live in the Congressperson’s district are allowed to speak. Speakers are selected randomly by drawing cards from the box. If everyone who wants to speak has done so and time still remains, participants have the opportunity to speak again.
The Dialogue concludes with a ten-minute closing response from the Congressperson (or representative).
The Congressperson’s office is responsible for logistics, publicity (including press releases and mailings), staffing (including volunteers), and selecting the facilitator (who may be someone like a respected local reporter). Of particular importance is that the Congressperson prominently publicizes the Dialogues in the regular mailings that she or he sends to constituents with taxpayer money. Community organizations also publicize the events as they see fit. Community organizations are allowed to distribute literature at tables before and after the Dialogue.
Once the Dialogues are established, they are self-perpetuating. Activist organizations use them as an organizing tool to mobilize their members in support of a specific demand and let people know about their work. Having a completely open agenda allows late-emerging controversies to surface. Selecting speakers randomly assures fairness (those who are most aggressive, have inside information, or are connected with the Congressperson have no advantage in getting to the microphone). Having a firm structure prevents the elected official from monopolizing the interaction.
This approach therefore allows for an open, fair, semi-controlled process for constituents to have a voice in affairs that affect them. In these ways, the Community Dialogues illustrate the kind of structural reform that is needed to expand and deepen democracy.
Those organizations that are best able to mobilize the most people will have an advantage, but that is the essence of democracy. Knowledge of the event is widespread, so everyone with concerns has an equal opportunity to participate.
The organizing committee for the network of home-based communities builds support for the proposed Community Dialogues by asking key community-based organizations to endorse a resolution of support. They talk with representatives of those organizations on the phone, go to meetings to discuss the proposal, gather endorsements from those organizations and individual community leaders, meet with the Congressperson’s staff, and invite everyone, including the Congressperson’s staff, to planning committee meetings to plan how to get more support for the idea.
Unless the Congressperson quickly agrees to the proposal, this planning committee meets every other month to decide how to persuade the Congressperson to consent. Between these meetings, planning committee members concentrate on gathering more endorsements for the resolution of support.
In this way, the members of the network’s organizing committee set an example for future home-based holistic communities, illustrating how they too can engage in meaningful political activity.
Once the monthly Community Dialogue is up and running, each home-based community decides on what demand or proposal to present to the Congressperson at the next Dialogue. If the Monthly Mobilization is operating, they may well choose to support its demand. Many or all members go to the Dialogue to advance that position, but others may go to the Congressperson’s office to meet with staff. And at least one member mails a letter to the Congressperson with their recommendation. Members may also participate in a rally, picket line, or some other action organized by others to advance their monthly proposal to the Congressperson.
In these ways, members fulfill their commitment to at least two hours a month of political activity and report on these efforts at their monthly support group.
| Other Options |
If the Congressperson absolutely refuses to participate in a monthly Community Dialogue, or if a particular home-based community has no interest in this concept, members engage in some other form of political action.
One option is to meet in a member’s home to help each other write individual letters to the Congressperson on a timely, winnable issue. The initial organizing committee, as well as organizing a series of Community Dialogues, experiments with this letter-writing method and passes on what they learn to future home-based communities, in part by posting reports on their website.
At these group letter-writing sessions, each member drafts a letter explaining why he or she supports the agreed on proposal. As much as possible, each member uses his or her own words. After everyone is finished with their draft, they read or show it to the others, who offer feedback. Those who want to do so make changes. If a typewriter or a computer with a printer is available, they type or print their letters and sign them, and one person agrees to mail them. Otherwise, they make some other plan for mailing the letters. Next month, they review responses to their letter and repeat the process.
Another option for the monthly political action includes participating in a political demonstration, such as a picket line, rally, or civil disobedience, directed at the Congressperson. In addition to this action, some or all members of the home-based community go to the Congressperson’s office and meet with a staff person to advance their monthly proposal. And some members write letters to the Congressperson on the issue-of-the-month.
Even if monthly Community Dialogues take place in their district, some community members may participate in these other options (especially when scheduling conflicts make it difficult or impossible to participate in the Dialogue).
However, in general, members are encouraged to make every effort to participate in the Dialogue. Doing so provides everyone with a shared experience, which deepens community. Participating in the Dialogue provides community members with the opportunity to interact with a broad spectrum of other constituents, which enables them to learn from others and inform them about the network. And the more members participate in the Dialogues, the greater the chance that the community’s position on an issue will be heard by the Congressperson.
Each month, the community looks for a timely progressive proposal with majority support nationwide that the Congressperson has not yet supported but which he or she might well support. In this way, the community can frequently experience the satisfaction of having a positive impact. If and when they’re unable to find such a proposal, they thank the Congressperson for having previously supported their position on another issue.
| Mutual Support |
Network members also agree to provide one another with mutual support in their efforts. This commitment includes participation in a monthly support group that is open to the whole gamut of human experience. Once a month, members gather in a member’s home for a shared meal. The meal might be a potluck, or members might take turns preparing it. Eating together provides an opportunity for informal socializing and rejoicing in one another’s company. After eating, the group conducts a support group, based on a written description of its purpose and methods like the following (again, this is merely my suggestion, to be modified as needed).
| Holistic Support Group |
After a shared meal, members form a circle for a two-hour support group. Everyone agrees that what people say will be kept confidential. Only one person talks at a time. There are no interruptions. Each member reports on:
- How they are feeling at the moment
- Their recent efforts at self-improvement
- Their recent community service
- Their recent political action
- Any other recent significant good or bad news in their life
Included in these reports are members’ evaluations of their actions and reflections on what they’ve learned from these experiences, including how they might be more effective in the future. They “talk from the heart” about what is on their mind and in their gut. Unless someone asks for it, people don’t offer advice.
The time is divided equally, so each member has about ten minutes, including time for answers to questions. If there’s time after everyone has reported, there’s open discussion concerning whatever is prompted by these reports.
If there’s tension, resentments, or anger toward one another, these feelings may be acknowledged, but there’s no attempt to resolve them during this meeting. The support group is primarily for sharing, listening, and getting to know one another more fully, not problem-solving or decision-making. After being surfaced in the support group, issues can be resolved later if need be, whether informally or formally.
| *** |
In addition to designing and implementing this holistic support group, the organizing committee, as members have time, experiments with other easy-to-learn methods for deepening interactions between friends and colleagues, such as the following. Based on these experiments, they prepare written suggestions for future members to consider using during their free time
| Other Mutual Support Options |
Though there’s no pressure to do more with one another than the monthly support group, some members may participate in other options for providing mutual support, including the following.
The Question Game:
Sitting in a circle, everyone is given paper and pens to write a question on any subject. Participants fold up their questions and place them in a hat. Someone stirs them up. One person selects a question and reads it aloud. Everyone takes turns answering the question. Turns progress clockwise.
Mary Carney reported:
Soul Session:
Purpose:
To increase mutual understanding.
Structure:
A group of 8-15 people.
Talk from the heart on any topic.
All comments are confidential.
Recognize the next speaker by passing the “talking piece.”
Usually recognize people who’ve spoken less.
After receiving the talking piece, pause five seconds.
Respond to what the previous speaker said.
Speak for no more than three minutes at a time.
Anyone can "ring the bell" to ask the speaker to finish.
Start and adjourn at times agreed on in advance.
Dialogue Group:
From Seven Life Lessons About Chaos by John Briggs and David Peat (pp.74-75). More on the “Bohmian Dialog” referred to in this excerpt is on the wikipedia.
| *** |
Sharing Resentments Concretely
Whether one-on-one or in a group, it can be helpful to express sensitive feelings by simply reporting how you reacted to another’s action. For example, “I resented it when you interrupted me” (rather than, “You’re a rude person”). This approach is specific rather than general, so it avoids labels and judgments about the essential character of the other person. It merely reports on two events: “You interrupted me and I resented it. Perhaps on another occasion, I would not be resentful. Perhaps if I were a more enlightened person, I would not be resentful. But in this instance, I am resentful.”
Another example is to say, “I became angry when you…” rather than “You made me angry.” Using a form of the verb “make” blames the other person for one's own feelings.
This approach does not necessarily aim for conflict resolution. Rather, it merely aims to clarify what is happening in a relationship, based on the hope that such understanding will foster improved relationships in the future. The same approach can be used with other negative emotions, such as irritation and anger, as well as positive emotions, such as appreciation.
Listening Dyads
Purpose:
To share heartfelt communication with one other person.
Method:
Determine how much time you have, e.g., one hour.
Divide the time equally.
First one person talks about what is happening in his or her life and the other listens.
The listener speaks only in order to clarify something that he or she does not understand or if the speaker asks for feedback or advice.
Half way through the allotted time, reverse roles.
If desired, a confidentiality agreement can be negotiated.
The Believing Game
In Doing Democracy: Ten Practical Arts, a 40-page companion guide to Democracy’s Edge: Choosing to Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life, Frances Moore Lappe suggests the Believing Game:
Play it when a proposal or idea gets roundly rejected before anyone has taken the time to explore it fully.
1.Everyone tries as hard as possible to believe in the proposal, even briefly. 2.Participants offer only positive elaborations – ways to bolster the idea. No criticism! 3. Don’t try to evaluate an idea until people have been able to bolster it with the believing game. 4. Sometimes you have to play the believing game with yourself on your own ideas.
Sharing Circles
Linsea McCoy with the Prairie's Edge EcoVillage reports that her community uses the following format for sharing circles:
Listening Debate
Jacob Needleman offers the following description for an exercise that has been used over the years by many different traditions.
A third person may serve as facilitator, but it seems not to be essential. Needleman really doesn’t indicate when the exercise should end, but I suppose if two people do it alone, it will continue until one wants to stop. Regardless, when it’s over, an open-ended evaluation of the exchange seems in order.
| Decision-making |
When they need to make decisions, home-based communities meet briefly before or after their monthly support group, or they reduce the time for the support group by 30 minutes to allow time for these decisions. In general, other than perhaps deciding collectively on the monthly political action, the need for decision-making is minimal, limited to matters such as the location for the next monthly meal.
Each community tries to reach unanimous consensus on all decisions. If that proves too difficult, a three-fourth’s super-majority is required to make a decision. I have yet to experience a problem with this approach.
A three-fourths super-majority is sufficient to prevent the divisive splits that can occur when a small majority imposes it will. When only a small majority supports a particular position, the minority position usually holds considerable merit and needs to be incorporated into an alternative decision.
With small, tight-knit groups that have little or no turnover in membership, like a family, requiring unanimous consensus can work. But once the group is as large as ten or more and has a membership that changes over time, requiring unanimous consent is generally not worth the risk.
Contrary to the rhetoric that is commonly associated with consensus decision-making, requiring unanimous consensus is actually a very individualistic approach because it gives one individual too much power – the power to block a decision. Far too often, this approach empowers power-hungry individuals and wastes time.
Moreover, when groups always make decisions by unanimous consensus, members tend to avoid issues that they anticipate will prompt controversy because they know there’s no point since one individual will block a decision. This conflict avoidance is not healthy.
Communities need a balance between the power of the individual and the power of the community. Giving individuals excessive power creates an imbalance and undermines group wisdom.
Concerning the monthly political action, as guidance for future home-based communities, early on the organizing committee adopts a written description of options concerning methods for deciding on the monthly proposal to be presented to the Congressperson.
All members with ready access to email can keep informed by subscribing to email action alerts distributed by groups such as MoveOn and Act for Change. Those without email accounts make arrangements for getting the information in some other way. Perhaps they learn to use computers at their public library, or another member mails it to them, or they visit another member’s home and get the material there. Before the monthly decision is made, members who want to do so engage in email discussions about the monthly proposal to their Congressperson.
One option is for the whole community to always make the decision together. Another option is to select a task force of two or more people to research options and make a recommendation that is presented to a meeting of the whole community at which the decision is made. Another option is for the task force to simply report its recommendation with the understanding that members will support that recommendation unless it provokes serious reservations.
If this task force repeatedly makes recommendations that are objectionable, the community can change the membership of the task force or reverse this delegation of responsibility and instead make the decision as a community. But there is no necessity that everyone fully participates in discussing every decision. Delegating certain decision-making to people who’ve done extensive research can be a democratic option.
| Outreach and Expansion |
After a few months of experimenting with these methods, the organizing committee finalizes their organizing materials, posts them on the Web, and photocopies them. These materials include:
- “What We Believe”
- A list of self-improvement options
- A list of community-service options and resources for finding more
- A list of email political action alerts
- A description of the support group and its methods
- Suggestions for how to form a home-based holistic community
The organizing committee serves as the initial national coordinating committee for the network, posts reports on activities on the website, and makes publicity and organizing materials available to network members and others interested in joining. The committee concentrates on getting existing organizations to endorse the network and encourage their members to form home-based communities.
Once three or more people report that they are forming a home-based community, information about that community is posted, including whether it is open to meeting new people who want to join. Most communities, however, rely primarily on recruiting people they already know.
Individuals who want to join an existing community rather than organize a new one contact a community that is open to visitors. They participate in the community for three months, while only observing during the support group, and getting to know some of the members informally. After three months, these visitors decide if they want to apply for membership. If they do, the community then decides whether to invite the applicant to join.
Members who are willing to help spawn new home-based communities inform the organizing committee that they are willing to serve as consultants and that information is posted. As individuals or in groups of two, these consultants participate in newly forming communities for two or three months, sharing their experiences and offering advice when appropriate.
When feasible, the organizing committee posts on its website videos, live web cams, and reports on community events to give interested people a better idea of what is involved with the network.
Home-based communities that want to do so select two representatives to a regional coordinating committee. As the regional coordinating committee gains members, the characteristics of those members are posted. Communities bear those characteristics in mind when they select their representatives in order to maximize diversity.
At least every six months, the regional coordinating committee organizes an informal social event such as a picnic and volleyball game, to which all network members and people who are interested in the network are invited. If there aren’t enough communities that are open to visits by strangers, people who are interested in forming a community can connect with each other at these events and start one on their own.
Once five regional coordinating committees are functioning, each regional coordinating committee selects two representatives to a national coordinating committee. As the national coordinating committee gains members, the characteristics of those members are posted. The regional coordinating committees bear those characteristics in mind when they select their representatives in order to maximize diversity.
This national coordinating committee, which meets in person for two days at least once every six months, replaces the initial organizing committee. In between face-to-face meetings, decisions are made during conference calls following email discussions. Shortly after forming, when funds are available from the collection of donations and dues (members can opt out if they are strapped financially), the coordinating committee hires a national coordinator, or executive director.
When the coordinating committee becomes larger than sixteen people, it selects an inclusive governing board of sixteen people that assumes responsibility for the overall governance of the network. Once the governing board is formed, the coordinating committee becomes a nominating committee to propose people to fill vacancies on the governing board as they emerge. Terms on the governing board are for three years, so one-third of the membership will be open every three years. The board itself selects new members from nominees presented to it by the nominating committee, bearing in mind the need for diversity.
This initial structure provides some stability to the new organization and allows for organic growth, while giving members indirect input through the ability to help select representatives to the regional coordinating committees, which selects representatives to the national nominating committee (previously the national coordinating committee).
After the governing board has been active for three years, a national vote is taken on whether to switch to having all members elect the governing board directly. If this vote is affirmative, the nominating committee presents one or more diverse slate of candidates, based on input from regional coordinating committees and members. Additional slates can be submitted in a petition signed by five percent of all members. By electing a slate of candidates, the network assures that its governing board is diverse and that the people elected feel that they can work together productively. In addition, national votes may be taken occasionally on whether to amend or update the network’s “What We Believe” statement or other national policies. These votes may be straw polls or they may be final, depending on what the network decides.
Another principle that might be adopted would be to have representatives on the governing board from organizations that endorse and support the network. This option would give endorsing organizations a voice in overseeing the network. All of these endorsing organizations might form a council that would periodically nominate representatives to serve on the national governing board, bearing in mind the need for diversity. By offering these organizations representation on the governing board, the network would provide its members another avenue for input into overseeing the network’s direction, for members of these organizations could influence those organizations to influence the network.
While attention to these structural matters concerning the national network is important, the bulk of the work will be in the home-based communities, which will largely be autonomous and self-governing. Once the national office is functioning, for example, it will suggest a monthly political action that is timely, based on extensive research of the options that are likely to be successful. But each community and each individual will be free to accept or reject that suggestion.
Once the network is stabilized and incorporated, its initial governing board directs its executive director to explore the possibility of working with other organizations to launch, or join, a Million Member Monthly Mobilization, as discussed in Chapter Seven.
| Global Organizing |
From the outset, the network’s organizing committee encourages the formation of home-based communities in other countries. Organizing committees in each country utilize similar methods, including the early composition of a worldview appropriate to its country. After two or more countries have home-based communities operating, they communicate with each other via the Internet, share reports about their activities and other relevant information, and have occasional face-to-face gatherings.
Presumably, subsequent organizing committees will be in general agreement with the worldview adopted by the first country, so various members begin collaborating on drafting a global worldview statement that is free of any country-specific language. Once other countries have selected national coordinating committees or governing boards, those bodies select representatives to a global coordinating committee, or governing board.
| Annual Global Boycott |
Unless it’s already underway, one of the first projects this global coordinating committee undertakes is to organize a massive Annual Global Boycott designed to persuade a particular corporation to change how it operates. By presenting a specific, realistic demand and mobilizing consumers to stop buying products from that corporation, a broad global coalition wins major reforms. These victories, in turn, convince other corporations to negotiate in order to avoid a boycott.
The organizers of the Annual Global Boycott at first ask organizations and individuals to merely endorse the project and pledge to participate if and when a certain threshold of pledges has been achieved. By first circulating a pledge, people would not be asked to contribute time and energy prematurely and the project would limit expenditures until everyone knew that their efforts would be significant. This preliminary organizing might take two or three years or longer before the Annual Global Boycott would be ready to take action.
Regardless, to build a mass movement, one key is to develop methods that will enable busy people and activist organizations to temporarily set aside their primary concerns in order to briefly support one another regularly on a timely issue. With this kind of unity, we progressives can overcome our fragmentation and open up a whole new world of possibilities.
To establish democratic control, stability, and diversity, the initial organizing committee expands slowly by extending invitations to specific individuals who endorse the initial statement of goals (with the understanding that they will be modified as needed). These individuals are mostly leaders of democratic, activist organizations. By expanding gradually in this way, the organizing committee upholds the central purpose of the Annual Global Boycott while maintaining a diverse membership that represents the full range of progressive issues.
Once the Annual Global Boycott is on solid footing, a wide invitation is extended to organizations to apply for membership. A central body reviews and accepts organizations that meet certain criteria. Once accepted, these organizations select two representatives to a central governing board that, as its size increases, delegates responsibilities to a smaller, more manageable group.
The Annual Global Boycott establishes a Web-based forum for its members to propose and discuss boycotts for next year’s actions. Most likely, most of the options considered will be campaigns already underway in need of support from a large body such as the Annual Global Boycott.
Then, once a year, organizational members send delegates to a global convention at which options are discussed face-to-face. A written record of these discussions is posted on the Web to be reviewed by members unable to attend. Shortly thereafter, individual members worldwide are invited to rank the major options in a straw poll. This non-binding vote is merely advisory, partly because there’s no way to assure that the people voting are representative of the coalition’s diverse global membership (more developed countries have more people online).
Then, after back-and-forth discussions via email, the governing board, or a representative group of global community leaders selected by the board, makes the final decision concerning the target of each year’s boycott. (If individual members disapprove of these decisions, they persuade their organization to instruct their representatives on the governing board to push for new priorities in the future.)
The success of these boycotts persuades many corporations to agree to reasonable demands for changes in their policies before they are subjected to an embarrassing Annual Global Boycott themselves.
| *** |
With methods like these, a progressive, global network of holistic, home-based communities could participate in the transformation of our social system – including our institutions, our culture, and ourselves – into a truly compassionate community that protects the environment, advances justice and democracy, and serves the common good of the entire human family.