2009 17th WOSonOS
OPEN SPACE REPORT FORM
Topic Name Open Space and Awakening the Dreamer
Topic Number
Convenor Alan Stewart
Participants (including Bumble Bees) Aguia, Eva, Spark, Joachen, Suzanne,
Sharon, Gail, Larry, Pasan Hsiao, Mark
Insights, Questions Raised, Possible Actions, Recommendations, etc:
Alan introduced the initiative of the Pachamama Alliance (PA) in San Francisco and how this group
connected with indigenous people living in the forests of the high Andes region of
Ecuador and Peru.
This connection led the PA to develop a multimedia presentation Symposium entitled
‘Awakening the Deamer (ATD), Changing the Dream’
The trailer of this can be seen here. http://awakeningthedreamer.org
Alan has done training to become a facilitator of the Symposium. He co-facilitated its first presentation
in the Philippines, in Manila in April 2009.
He believes that OST could be used very effectively and productively to enable people who have
participated in a Symposium and who now feel in a state of ‘blessed unrest’ to come together to
express their feelings and to begin to develop initiatives and strategies for action they see as vital and
achievable.
A tried and tested model for doing this is :
OST has been used to bring the residents of a particular place together to take collaborative actions
about things that matter to their community. You may find this report to be interesting, innovative
and inspiring.
May 30, 2009 (Saturday) Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner convened a Sustainability Summit with an Open Invitation for all to participate: see local media WHSV-TV video coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LDx7mCkmYk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harrisonburgsummits.com%2F2009%2F05%2Ftv-coverage-of-summit-whsv%2F&feature=player_embedded
This local Sustainably Summit was so successful that several follow events using the same format
have been or are under development.
The discussion in today’s session ranged around what is happening around the ATD internationally and
potential for implementing the fundamental messages locally.
Among ideas suggestd for local action :
. How can we create the daily OST in our personal lives and that of our communities ?
In Taiwan, under a tree or in front of building.
. For construcive conversations which may lead to effective actions to happen a facilitator needs to be present
to hold the space and provide associated guidelines.
. Where are such facilitators to be found ? They need to be trained in the basics, locally. How to do this ?
Does a facilitator passionate about particular local issues act as the initiator or do they invite neutral colleagues to be the facilitator.
. Once locally trained people are available they may assist their communities to become awakened : to identify the issues that concern
them and to recognise that have the knowledge and potential skills to take approporiate action.
. Having the right questions – with help from facilitators – is a key to successful actions.
Could this be a constructive way to link individuals and/or people in particular interest/activist groups with NGOs and other organisations who are looking for support?
A little piece of wisdom to end – sligthtly paraphrased from Ogden Nash :
To keep your relationship brimming
With love in the loving cup
Whenever you’re wrong admit it
Whenever you’re right shut up.
