Comments on: Welcome to the Zenergy Blog

by: Sandor Schuman

Sun, 09 May 2010 18:06:49 +0000

Excellent comments on “what” we “see.” Some time ago I facilitated a citizen’s advisory committee that was to make recommendations for a new bridge. The new bridge would replace the existing 75-year-old bridge, which was in disrepair.

One of the issues was the height of the new structure. The old bridge had a clearance above the water of only about 20 feet. A number of people felt that the new bridge should have a clearance of at least 50 feet so that the larger recreational sail boats would be able to pass under the bridge. When asked why, one person responded adamantly, “for the future.”

Apparently, his view of the future included more and larger boats, but his “future” was not universally shared.

“Social change” can be for good or bad, depending on one’s values and preferences, and it’s very difficult to define or apply them abstractly. The issues and preferences are much more subjective than objective.

“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are.”

by: Bill Berrett

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:45:33 +0000

Dale Hunter says, “It is not so easy working out how I can really make a difference with this. I try to do something each day.” No, it is not easy and you do do something each day. You also use a very interesting phrase “What do you see?” You, Dale, have seen that working one to one can reveal the other’s insights, then working with a number of others, one can empower the group. You have seen that the insights you have made, the lessons you have learned, the skills you have evolved can be carried over boundaries of society and culture, to enable others to ’see’.
But as well as ’seeing’ and helping others to ’see’there is also a component of what to ’see’.
When we start to work with the environment, often with issues which take some time to take effect, then this core of belief of what to ’see’has to stand for the time being until it can become tested by what actually happens. So I think it important to have a view and foresight which is capable of scrutiny and challenge.

by: Stephen

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:35:49 +0000

You make an interesting call there Bill – to what do we mean by “Social Change”? It maybe an important thing to articulate clearly the direction we are intending to go.

I have found though that I’m a little wary of the odd person who has asked me lately. It feels to me as if this person has been living down in the caves of Plato’s republic - worshipers of the shadows so to speak. There so are many indicators now that we are individually and collectively facing a radically new world and have a choice. Anyone who still doubts that the world we live in is changing fundamentally must be blind, obstinate or perhaps daft.

What I mean is that I don’t go about asking them to articulate their “business as usual world view”. i.e. that the world should not bother changing to meet the many emergent indicators of sustainability challenges facing us.

As we are beginning to see – the climate is just one of the many changes underway – ecological, economic, social, political, scientific and cultural shifts are all happening too and they are interconnected like never before in our history.

There are those who believe that group facilitation should not be about social change. However, that in itself denies the critical nature of working with groups of people co-operatively. Allowing people to participate fully and to be involved in the decisions that affect them is inherently value laden.

Social change, for me, is about choosing life and that is something I want to be a part of. As illustrated by Carlos Kneebone we’re only beginning to understand that sustainability has only one checkbox as there aren’t any other choices.

Stephen

by: Dale Hunter

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:15:01 +0000

Hi greenmanrata

Identifying “Towards what” and honing personal integrity. Where I am heading and where I am standing or “coming from”.

I am towards an equitable, co-operative, sustainable, peace loving world.

It bothers me that 2/3 of the worlds population struggle to survive wars, famine, environmental catastrophes and more while I live in plenty.

It is not so easy working out how I can really make a difference with this. I try to do something each day.

I do consider it is a collective enterprise. Building networks, developing and disseminating skills in the area of working co-operatively, sharing concerns and ideas, supporting inititatives I resonate with, are the things I have already undertaken.

But what else? What do you see?

by: greenmanrata

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:47:24 +0000

If you are going to work in the realm of Social Change Facilitation, this involves a view as to change towards’what’. I don’t think you can be personally impartial. Working with the future involves a great deal of information giving to enable competant decisions. We each return again to our personal integrity. The examination and honing of that is the basic foundation of a Social Change Facilitator.
A personal and coherant view of ‘towards what’is essential in my opinion.

by: Dale Hunter

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:56:49 +0000

Welcome again to this blog site. We would love to hear from group facilitators around the world and also from social change facilitators. I have been a group facilitator since about 1990 and was one of the founders of Zenergy Ltd and the Zenergy Trust. Recently I have recognised the social change facilitator role and am interested in how that might be distinguished from a group facilitator. First thoughts are that it involves having an awareness of social change over time and space and an interest in how I can forward the values I support, such as whole personhood, peace and co-operation in an equitable and sustainable world. Does this mean I am not neutral or impartial? I can be professionally impartial in a group but I am personally not impartial or neutral. What does this mean for ethical facilitation?