Small Group Conversation Harvests through 11/28 - Occupy Cafe2024-03-29T15:46:33Zhttp://www.occupycafe.org/forum/topics/10-24-open-space-conversation-harvest?commentId=6451976%3AComment%3A13104&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks for this comment, Davi…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-29:6451976:Comment:142262011-11-29T04:57:57.718ZAerin Dunfordhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/AerinDunford
<p>Thanks for this comment, David. I agree that it is entirely new "economies" that we need on a local/regional level. Then we need those economies to be connected (as I mentioned on the call today) <em>trans-locally</em> ... to the degree that that offers learning and solidarity.</p>
<p>I love the distinction that Penny Livingston-Stark makes here about being nature working. So, the question then for me is: "When else are we (being) nature working?"</p>
<p>Thanks for this comment, David. I agree that it is entirely new "economies" that we need on a local/regional level. Then we need those economies to be connected (as I mentioned on the call today) <em>trans-locally</em> ... to the degree that that offers learning and solidarity.</p>
<p>I love the distinction that Penny Livingston-Stark makes here about being nature working. So, the question then for me is: "When else are we (being) nature working?"</p> Small group 11/22/11 occupy 2…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-23:6451976:Comment:128522011-11-23T20:00:22.185ZSteven Gregory Barneshttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/StevenGregoryBarnes
<p>Small group 11/22/11 occupy 2.0 - Role of encampments.</p>
<p>Encampments should continue since they are a needed venue for long and continued face to face conversations.</p>
<p>Another said that he was not impressed by his local encampment or campers. He wants local outreach and plugging into existing social and economic justice workgroups.</p>
<p>It was mentioned a couple of times that encampments use most of their energy just maintaining the camps.</p>
<p>One participant said the movement…</p>
<p>Small group 11/22/11 occupy 2.0 - Role of encampments.</p>
<p>Encampments should continue since they are a needed venue for long and continued face to face conversations.</p>
<p>Another said that he was not impressed by his local encampment or campers. He wants local outreach and plugging into existing social and economic justice workgroups.</p>
<p>It was mentioned a couple of times that encampments use most of their energy just maintaining the camps.</p>
<p>One participant said the movement resembles rainbow gatherings, peace walks, and campus sit-ins; all temporary political honeymoons.</p>
<p>Three participants said that eviction encampments were gaining traction in their areas.</p> Entire local/regional economi…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-23:6451976:Comment:131042011-11-23T13:19:55.288ZDavid Eggletonhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/DavidEggleton
<p>Entire local/regional economies need to come into being, not just food systems, which <strong>are</strong> a great beginning because they involve production of fundamentals (including soil) by solar energy, precipitation and good attention.</p>
<p>It's when <em>we are nature working</em> (thanks <a target="_blank" href="http://www.regenerativedesign.org/">Penny Livingston-Stark</a>) that we frighten, and leave behind, the corporatocracy.</p>
<p>Entire local/regional economies need to come into being, not just food systems, which <strong>are</strong> a great beginning because they involve production of fundamentals (including soil) by solar energy, precipitation and good attention.</p>
<p>It's when <em>we are nature working</em> (thanks <a target="_blank" href="http://www.regenerativedesign.org/">Penny Livingston-Stark</a>) that we frighten, and leave behind, the corporatocracy.</p> Sharif,
I wonder- if people j…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-23:6451976:Comment:129142011-11-23T04:01:51.274ZRaffi A.http://www.occupycafe.org/profile/RaffiA
<p>Sharif,</p>
<p>I wonder- if people just in ways small and large begin just pulling out of the existing system and create the new one-- for example by growing their own food- wouldn't that be enough?</p>
<p>Isn't following the Law of Two Feet- as we say in Open Space Technology- enough?</p>
<p>As I sit here, the question comes to me- what are the weakest points in the corporatocracy we live in? Where is it most vulnerable?</p>
<p>Sharif,</p>
<p>I wonder- if people just in ways small and large begin just pulling out of the existing system and create the new one-- for example by growing their own food- wouldn't that be enough?</p>
<p>Isn't following the Law of Two Feet- as we say in Open Space Technology- enough?</p>
<p>As I sit here, the question comes to me- what are the weakest points in the corporatocracy we live in? Where is it most vulnerable?</p> And... all the processing pow…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-23:6451976:Comment:124842011-11-23T03:58:02.035ZDavid Eggletonhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/DavidEggleton
<p>And... all the <em>processing power</em> is in place. Choices and commitments make the way.</p>
<p>And... all the <em>processing power</em> is in place. Choices and commitments make the way.</p> Sharif,
I want to go deep wit…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-22:6451976:Comment:124782011-11-22T23:55:48.220ZDavid Eggletonhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/DavidEggleton
<div><p>Sharif,</p>
<p>I want to go deep with respect to the <em>five characteristics</em> and with you as their champion. Please advise, when the time is right.</p>
</div>
<div><p>Sharif,</p>
<p>I want to go deep with respect to the <em>five characteristics</em> and with you as their champion. Please advise, when the time is right.</p>
</div> In the Second Period breakout…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-21:6451976:Comment:126572011-11-21T21:46:01.415ZSteve Letsfixithttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/letsfixit3
<p>In the Second Period breakout session the subject was Organizing. Initial it was Chris Zumbrunn and myself. Later Diane joined from Harrisonburg, VA.</p>
<p>We discussed the differences in movements based on the types and style of governments. The Swiss government is highly centralized. Two primary parties on the right and left seem similar to Republicans and Democrats in the US. The right party raises loads of money and the left party doesn't, yet the money doesn't translate into votes…</p>
<p>In the Second Period breakout session the subject was Organizing. Initial it was Chris Zumbrunn and myself. Later Diane joined from Harrisonburg, VA.</p>
<p>We discussed the differences in movements based on the types and style of governments. The Swiss government is highly centralized. Two primary parties on the right and left seem similar to Republicans and Democrats in the US. The right party raises loads of money and the left party doesn't, yet the money doesn't translate into votes nearly and tightly as in the US.</p>
<p>Chris was curious as to how I felt about the concept of a local currency. We discussed the pluses and minuses and the challenges with interface in adjacent communities. It would definitely have a positive effect on the local economies. In OccupyReno, we tend to campaign for "buy local, bank local." The US would probably only follow a trend into local currencies if it was first proven in Europe because our economies are too interconnected.</p>
<p>Diane seemed skeptical about the direction of the Occupy Movement, but needed to leave before we got into it much.</p> Chris and I shared both sessi…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-21:6451976:Comment:123332011-11-21T21:34:10.502ZSteve Letsfixithttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/letsfixit3
<p>Chris and I shared both sessions. It was fun discussing the different perspectives on the differnt cultures and political environments between Switzerland and the US.</p>
<p>In the first session breakout session we had six people in our conversation to answer the question "What is the direction and purpose of the movement?" <br></br><br></br>Blake, Hainesport, NJ<br></br>Chris Zumbrunn, Mont-Soleil, Switzerland<br></br>Dave Kubiak, Maine<br></br>Jim Rough, Seattle, WA<br></br>Jim Barton, Ashville, NC<br></br>Steve…</p>
<p>Chris and I shared both sessions. It was fun discussing the different perspectives on the differnt cultures and political environments between Switzerland and the US.</p>
<p>In the first session breakout session we had six people in our conversation to answer the question "What is the direction and purpose of the movement?" <br/><br/>Blake, Hainesport, NJ<br/>Chris Zumbrunn, Mont-Soleil, Switzerland<br/>Dave Kubiak, Maine<br/>Jim Rough, Seattle, WA<br/>Jim Barton, Ashville, NC<br/>Steve Letsfixit, Reno, NV<br/><br/>Blake, Chris, and Steve pretty quickly agreed that the primary issue that would put the US and the world on the path to broader income distribution, greater personal freedom, fewer wars and a healthier environment is to pervent politicians from accepting funding from monied entities.<br/><br/>Jim Rough felt any issue would result in a political divide so the Movement should focus on a process he teaches. Indicated each time the Coffee Party picked an issue things got too political. He recommended a 9 minute video on his website, <a href="http://wisedemocracy.org/" target="_blank">http://wisedemocracy.org/</a> .<br/><br/>Jim Barton discussed three issues: police accountability, dissolution of middle class and a 1960s movement to new type of society. He mentioned at many recent movements, such as OWS, the Arab Spring and a European movement (name?) emphasize the need for change. He also spoke of a planetary evolution in response to corporations taking over every function of society. He explained a concept recommended by a Japaneve academic that corporations be limited in size to that of the GDP of the smallest nation in the UN. He used the size of Zaire as an example. There wasn't time to explore the concept, but I with countries as small as Andora, San Marino and Niui, the concept needs clearer parameters.</p> OK, so I made a thread that c…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-21:6451976:Comment:122432011-11-21T20:00:39.976ZBlake Mitchellhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/BlakeMitchell
<p>OK, so I made a thread that connects with the idea that my group had today about using games to support the movement.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.occupycafe.org/forum/topics/games-that-teach-collaboration-environment-issues-economics-etc?xg_source=activity" target="_blank">Games that teach collaboration, environment issues, economics, etc.</a></p>
<p>OK, so I made a thread that connects with the idea that my group had today about using games to support the movement.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.occupycafe.org/forum/topics/games-that-teach-collaboration-environment-issues-economics-etc?xg_source=activity" target="_blank">Games that teach collaboration, environment issues, economics, etc.</a></p> We discussed "What is the Occ…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2011-11-21:6451976:Comment:122392011-11-21T19:38:50.671ZChris Zumbrunnhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/zumbrunn
<p>We discussed "What is the Occupy message?" and initially attention was focused on the topic of a constitutional amendment for "getting money out of politics", emphasizing the importance of finding a single issue to focus on in order to be able to produce a concrete outcome of the movement. However, eventually, the range of topics blossomed to a much wider range of different points. </p>
<p>A side theme throughout the conversation was the question whether the main message of the Occupy…</p>
<p>We discussed "What is the Occupy message?" and initially attention was focused on the topic of a constitutional amendment for "getting money out of politics", emphasizing the importance of finding a single issue to focus on in order to be able to produce a concrete outcome of the movement. However, eventually, the range of topics blossomed to a much wider range of different points. </p>
<p>A side theme throughout the conversation was the question whether the main message of the Occupy movement shouldn't be the movement itself, in the sense that the main message should be that the people insist on being heard. The motivation for getting money out of politics, for example, also roots in the believe that this will keep special interests from overpowering the will of the people in the legislative process. Finding processes that keep the movement going indefinitely and empower it to output a "constant stream of messages" in the future, instead of (or in addition to) a single one now, would be ideal.</p>