Great Turning Times December
2004
Dear
Reader
Dec
2004
Welcome to December’s edition of The
Great Turning Times. If you’re new to
this publication, let me explain what
it is about. The starting point is an
imaginary future four hundred years
from now, in a time line where humans
managed to develop a life sustaining
society. Ecological catastrophe
averted, social justice no longer just
an ideal, humans managed to create a
society that was beautiful and
flourishing. How did this happen?
What we’re using here is the
psychological tool of imaginary
hindsight. You first identify the goal
you want to reach (in this case a
sustainable future). Then from that
imagined point of success, you look
back in time and notice how it was
done. Research has shown that this
technique can lead to more effective
planning and decision making. So
looking back from a sustainable future
of 400 years in the future, how did it
happen? The beginning of 21st century
was a crucial turning point. Global
warming had started to become obvious
and people began to wake up to the way
that they were destroying their world.
Individuals, groups and organisations
increasingly focused their attention
on taking the steps necessary to allow
the flourishing of life to continue.
This was The Great Turning, and if
you’re reading this, it is likely that
you were/are part of it.
There are three dimensions to this
shift. First is the saying No to the
old destructive ways. This is where
activism, protest and campaigns are
necessary. Second is
investment/involvement in positive
alternatives, both in individual
lifestyle and collective organisation.
Third is the deep level shift in
values, ways of looking at things,
psychology and spirituality. This
newsletter is about initiatives,
events and resources that promote this
Great Turning. Focused mainly on
what’s happening in the UK, it can be
thought of as a running commentary on
the changes (positive and negative) as
they occur and also advance notice of
events you might be interested in.
Best wishes
Chris Johnstone
The Great Turning Times.
Ps
If you like this email newsletter,
please do pass it on. If it has been
forwarded to you and you’d like it
regularly, email me with SUBSCRIBE in
the subject header. If you want to
stop receiving it, please email me
with “REMOVE” as a subject header.
It comes out four times a year, with
editions in September, December, March
and June. Copy date for entries is
last day of month before next edition.
Please let me know of events, news,
resources etc that you would like
included. Please also keep entries
short, ideally about 100-200 words.
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(1.) It was Joanna Macy who coined
the phrase ‘The Great Turning’ to
describe the story of change required
in our times. An article by her about
this is viewable at
http://www.rainbowbody.net/Ongwhehonwhe/MacyGreatTurn.htm
There is more material on
her website at
http://www.joannamacy.net
Here’s the latest news
about her visit to the UK in May 2005
Sat May 7th, 6pm – there will be a
public talk at the University of Bath
Please see details at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/carpp/shortcourse/JoannaMacy.htm
This
website also gives details of a 3 day
workshop May 4th – 6th at Hawkwood
College in Stroud.
This has been set up by and for the
Centre for Action Research, but they
will take some outside applicants.
Contact Patricia Gaya for details:
pnppcg@bath.ac.uk
.
Monday 9th May – public talk “climate
change and other great adventures” in
Oxford
Followed by a 2 day workshop for
activists on Tuesday 10th – Wednesday
11th May.
There is more information about this
at item (26) below.
Please also see this if you could
offer help in organising/supporting
the Oxford events.
For details contact Andy Ray Taylor
reconnect@andy-taylor.org
May 15th – 22nd – seven day intensive
workshop at Monkton Wyld Court in
Dorset.
Cost £450 (concs. £350) Full board, or
limited number of camping places at
£395 (concs £295).
Contact Alex Wildwood for booking
information. Email
alex@wildwood.org.uk
or phone 01453-836566
All of the workshops are likely to be
oversubscribed, so do make contact
soon if you’re interested.
We’ve already had many more enquiries
about the Monkton Wyld workshop than
we have places. We will be setting up
a waiting list for this, and if the
interest is strong, we will invite
Joanna back for another year.
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(2) If you’d like some good news, the
extract below is from the web site at
http://www.projectflamingo.com/
THE
FLAMINGO STORY
An
ecologist studying flamingos on Kenya
’s Lake Nakuru has noticed an
interesting phenomenon. Every year,
when the time comes for migration, a
few flamingos start the process by
taking off from the lake. Since none
of the others take any notice, they
soon turn round and come back.
The
next day they try again. This time a
few others straggle along with them
but, again, the vast majority just
carry on with business as usual, so
the pioneers return to the lake. This
trend continues for a few days. Each
time a few more birds join in but,
since the thousands of others still
take no notice, the migration plan is
aborted.
Finally, one day, the same few birds
take off again. This time however, the
tiny increment to their number - maybe
just one extra flamingo - is enough to
tip the balance. The whole flock takes
flight. The migration begins.
If we
apply this concept to our current
predicament, it gives rise to an
immediate sense of empowerment. Rather
than dismissing a small action - ‘what
difference will it make?’ - or the
role of the individual - ‘what can I
do about it?’ - we see that change is
actually always propelled by the
individual, or that a small action can
be an instrumental part of the
significant changes that arise through
complex processes.
Seen
from that perspective, we are the ones
with the power - the power to cast
ripples into the pond and become
active nodes within a global network;
the power to make positive change into
a contagious impulse; the power to
help build the sort of world we want
for our children.
The
Web of Hope launches Project Flamingo
During
this seven year campaign, we will be
offering an evolving series of
guidelines, or ‘toolkits’, which
outline seven steps you can take to
integrate these Hopes within your
family, business or community life.
As
Buckminster Fuller once said: ‘You
never change things by fighting the
existing reality. To change something,
build a new model which makes the
existing model obsolete.’
The Web
of Hope Resource is about making that
new model visible.
Project
Flamingo is about how we lift that new
model into the mainstream.
The Web
of Hope is a UK based environmental
charity which has just launched its
new website and a campaign for
individual action: Project Flamingo.
the website has recently doubled in
size making it the
online resource for positive change
solutions. believing the time is right
for a fresh positive environmentalism
The Web of Hope focuses on the amazing
solutions that already exist and
encourages engagement form as wide a
range of people as possible. , The Web
of Hope highlights initiatives,
projects, mechanisms and technologies
which can help us make the shift to
just and sustainable societies.
Through this website, a series of
publications and various educational
road-shows, The Web of Hope provides a
dynamic and ever-expanding platform
for positive action.
By adapting or replicating these
‘blueprints for another world’ within
our own lives - be it at a family,
community, business or governance
level - we can collectively become the
change we want to see. So please check
out the site, get involved, spread the
word and help the Web to grow!
Matt Mellen
Researcher
07811 205 510 The Web
of Hope
UK charity no.1101462
matt@thewebofhope.com
www.thewebofhope.com
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(3)
A
Celebratory Evening
with
Rt. Hon. Prof. Wangari Maathai in
London
Africa’s First Woman Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate
What
We are Doing to the Earth, We are
Doing to Ourselves
Thursday 16th
December,
St
Mary’s Church, Marylebone
(nearest
tubes Marylebone and Baker Street)
£10
suggested donation on the door
6:30pm Welcome drinks,
music & exhibitions
7:00pm Prof. Wangari
Maathai
8:00pm Questions &
discussion
8:30pm Book signing,
refreshments, music and dancing
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(4) Another source of inspiration is
available at www.big-picture.tv
Big Picture TV (www.big-picture.tv)
is an online TV channel that
broadcasts video on demand (VOD) over
the web. We stream short clips of
interviews with some of the world’s
renowned pioneers in Sustainable
Development and from the
environmental, social justice and
peace movements. The site aims to fill
the information gap where mainstream
media all too often fails consumers of
news. It also hopes to inspire people
with positive solution-oriented
content – again moving away from the
negative bias prevalent in so much of
today’s mainstream press. By offering
global leaders in these inter-related
fields a fully independent web-based
media platform where they can express
their concerns and ideas unhindered we
aim to help make the bigger picture a
clearer one for the world’s online
community.
Since it
began in March 2004, we have produced
over 65 short clips, each ranging from
4-8 minutes in length. The thrust of
the material illustrates that not only
is another world possible, it is
already on its way. An example might
be that many of the technologies
needed to reduce dependence on fossil
fuels are already in the market place.
The organic food sector has
experienced sustained growth for well
over a decade now, during which time
more and more people everywhere have
awoken to the looming problems posed
by agri-business practices such as
monoculture, seed patenting and GM.
The peace march on February 15th 2003
saw the largest gathering of people in
the name of peace ever, and that was
before the war in Iraq had even
started. These trends belie a
fundamental shift in consciousness –
one that Big Picture intends to help
catalyze further.
Big Picture TV streams short talking
heads of global leaders in sustainable
development and from the environment
and social justice movements. Examples
of the diverse issues addressed
include the benefits of organic food,
techniques for resolving conflict and
the future of oil. Robert Thurman, for
example, Professor of Indo-Tibetan
studies at Columbia University (and
father of actress Uma Thurman) talks
about ethics. Ela Gandhi
(granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi)
speaks about the need for diversity in
the world and Neale Donald Walsch
addresses the concept of religion and
ecology. Other speakers include Jane
Goodall (Primatologist), Michael
Meacher MP (former Environment
Minister, UK), Robert Muller (former
Under-Secretary General at the United
Nations) and Ervin Laszlo (Systems
Theorist and President of the Club of
Budapest). Watch these and other
visionary leaders discuss cutting-edge
ideas relating to sustainability. How
are we to live? What might a more
sustainable future look like? What
difference can one person make? These
questions, among many others, are
examined by academics, politicians,
philosophers, religious leaders,
businessmen, activists, scientists and
journalists. All clips are free. They
do not require downloading and you do
not need a broadband connection to
watch them (although picture quality
is enhanced should you have one).
Transcripts are also available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) From The New Economics Foundation
"nef (the new economics
foundation) has developed a unique
way for small groups to grapple
with public policy issues. Its a
conversation game called Democs.
No speakers, no experts are needed
- it's all on the cards and in the
kit. It works best for 6 people
over 2 hours, but it's flexible.
It can be done with or without a
facilitator, although it works
better with one. It can be used in
public meetings or around the
kitchen table. It gives people
facts and issues to play with, but
leaves them to make up their own
mind.
We have developed two versions on
climate change. One is currently
being used by the Herefordshire
Partnership as an aid to
developing a climate change
strategy for the county. The other
is a national version that pays
more attention to the systemic,
spiritual and evolutionary
dimensions of climate change. This
version is a prototype that we are
testing. We are encouraged that
people are often picking out the
evolutionary/spiritual cards as
important to them in discussing
climate change. But they could be
improved. We would be particularly
keen to get feedback from trials
with people involved with deep
ecology at this stage. Expressing
an idea from evolutionary dynamics
in 30 words is tough and you may
have valuable insight to
contribute. If there are 5 - 8 of
you we can supply a kit or a kit
plus facilitator. If there are
fewer we may be able to llink you
to others we know of. Contact
Perry Walker if you are
interested:
Perry.Walker@newconomics.org
or 01531 637223. "
See
www.neweconomics.org <http://www.neweconomics.org>
for further details.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Low impact living courses -
Course Title:
Low-impact living
Date: 21-23 January 2005
Location: Redfield Community,
Buckinghamshire
Cost: £180 high-waged, £150 waged, and
£120 unwages/student
Discounts for 'Friends of LILI'. All
meals and accommodation included
Course
outline:
This course is a general introduction
to low-impact living. Find out if you
are ready to provide your own housing
from natural materials, renewable
energy, carbon-neutral road fuel,
organic food, solar hot water, and to
deal with your own waste to provide
useful compost. Basic information from
all our courses will be introduced, as
well as discussions on how we can live
more cheaply, happily and in harmony
with nature.
Low-Impact Living Initiative (LILI) is
dedicated to helping protect the
global environment by promoting
sustainable alternatives to various
aspects of everyday life. Contact us
to find out more about our courses,
manuals, information sheets, products
and presentations.
LILI, Redfield Community, Buckingham
Road, Winslow, Bucks, MK18 3LZ
(01296) 714184 web:
www.lowimpact.org <http://www.lowimpact.org>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Reconnections workshops
Reconnections workshops extend the
family systems work of Bert Hellinger
to ecology. Participants are invited
to describe briefly their burning
issues, some of which will be
constellated. Members of the group are
chosen to represent aspects of the
system. Constellations enable us to
open the doors of our perceptions and
listen to the natural world, allowing
reconnection to take place and
releasing us from left brain debate.
January 9th Hawkwood College Stroud;
January 16th Central London; February
5th PCSR conference Midlands; February
19th Bristol. For further information
contact Zita Cox Email zita@dsl.pipex.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(8) Eco-psychology newsletters
I’ve recently discovered two email
newsletters on this topic that are
well worth subscribing to. Here’s the
first, which comes out monthly.
THE
ECOTHERAPY NEWSLETTER
“Healing our relationship with
nature” …“Ecopsychology in Action!” …
“Psychotherapy as if the Whole Earth
Mattered” …
© Oct 2004
Editor: Linda Buzzell-Saltzman, M.A.,
M.F.T.
Founder, The International Association
for Ecotherapy
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Santa Barbara and Los Angeles,
California
To subscribe, email linda at lbuzzell@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Here’s the second, which comes out
weekly -
MoonLetter: Exploring ecopsychology
Many people have come to the
conclusion that many of society’s ills
stem from our disconnection with
Nature. The very idea that we are
separate from Nature (e.g. ‘going
back to Nature’, ‘enjoying
Nature’) reflects our misunderstanding
about Nature. We are Nature,
too: not just the animals and the
trees and the oceans. We are Nature,
and yet we barely understand what that
means, the interconnection between
cycles of the Earth and the Moon, the
cycles within us.
Before artificial light, before
mechanical clocks, our time was
measured by the Sun and the Moon. And
the stars. Scientists were also
astrologists. Much of what we’ve
learned today about astronomy is
thanks to the careful observations of
astrologists in the past. Now that we
no longer ‘believe’ in astrology, is
this progress? Not entirely. Our
bodies are tricked into thinking days
are longer than they really are – that
they need less sleep than they really
do.
All of these feelings of dis-ease:
mental, physical, spiritual – what can
we do to listen to our bodies, explore
their rhythms and re-connect to the
cycles of Nature on a bigger scale?
MoonLetter is a free weekly letter to
you that explores the wider field of ‘ecopsychology’,
how by understanding these
interconnections and how we are part
of Nature, we can take the pain and
grief we feel for the state of the
world and turn it into energy for
change, activist energy. MoonLetters
include a brief discussion on an
ecopsychology topic, and tips for
re-connecting/uncovering-our-connection
to Nature. They are e-mailed on each
of the quarter phases of the Moon.
I invite you to explore my site at
http://www.mymoonster.com and
to see a recent MoonLetter at
http://www.mymoonster.com/moonletter/NEW.html
.
You can also see the last edition of
The Great Turning Times at
http://www.mymoonster.com/moonletter/great_turning.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Deep Ecology online course from
Naropa Institute – here’s details.
Deep Ecology in Context is an online
course running from 10 January through
4 May, 2005. The "context" of this
course is paradigm change. That is,
the transformation of the Western
worldview to an expanded and deepened
perspective that encompasses the
interdependence of human psychology,
economics and social change within
Nature and the environmental crises we
now face. Subjects covered include
indigenous views, ecological literacy,
living systems thinking, ecofeminism,
ecopsychology, ecospirituality, neo-luddism,
bioregionalism, voluntary simplicity,
and activism. The course description
and information on registering can be
found at <http://www.naropa.edu/distance/courses/ENV520e.htm>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Co-operative Intelligence on the
web!
The attachment on Sustainability sent
with this newsletter came from the
team at the co-operative intelligence
website. Check it out at
www.cooperativeintelligence.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Gaia Theory For Beginners – a one
day course with Chris Johnstone
Sat 26th February 2005 9.30am -
4.30pm Cost £22 (concs available)
at Bristol University Public
Programmes Office, 8-10 Berkeley Sq,
Bristol BS8
Gaia
Theory proposes that the Earth is more
than just a dead lump of rock that we
happen to live on. Rather it can be
viewed as a single living system, or
‘super-organism’, that we are part of.
This course introduces the science
behind Gaia Theory but also explores
what it might mean for us in the
fields of psychology, ecology and
spirituality.
To book,
please phone Public Programmes Office
on 928 7153 or 928 7165
or email Sandra Powell at
sandra.powell@bris.ac.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) If you’d like to find out more
about Gaia Theory, check out the
websites at
www.gaiaweb.uk.net
http://www.prototista.org/E-Zine/Gaiaoverviewtoc.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Ecopsychology conference – Making
the Sea Change (see attachment)
Keynote speaker – Mary-jayne Rust.
Saturday February 5th 2005
Leamington Spa Town Hall
Leamington Spa
Registration and Coffee 9.30
Conference 10-4.30
Contact Details Vanessa
Anderson Tel 01926 313058 Email
vanessa@andersons-uk.fsbusiness.co.uk
Address: Mill View, Golf Lane,
Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2PY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(15) For more on ecopsychology, check
out the website at www.ecopsychology.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(16) Other courses with Chris
Johnstone (for info email: dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Positive Psychology Sat 12th
February 10am - 4pm Cost £20
at Bristol University Public
Programmes Office, 8-10 Berkeley Sq,
Bristol BS8
Are
you interested in how to promote
increased happiness, good
relationships and positive qualities
in yourself and others? This is the
the focus of the emerging movement
within Psychology known as Positive
Psychology. This day school will
introduce key ideas and research
findings of this approach, while also
inviting participants to try out
strategies designed to cultivate
joyful living.
To book,
please phone Public Programmes Office
on 928 7153 or 928 7165
or email Sandra Powell at
sandra.powell@bris.ac.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Psychology of Personal Power
Friday 11th - Sunday 13th March
Residential weekend course at
Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset
TA19 9DT
Cost (inc. full board) £162 - £198
(depending on poshness of room!)
This
weekend course offers tools and
practices to develop inner strength,
clarity of focus, deepened
determination and the ability to
overcome obstacles. We will draw on a
range of psychological approaches to
clarifying vision and improving
effectiveness.
To book,
please phone Dillington House 01460
258613
Further information on their website
at www.dillington.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Psychology of Personal Power
Saturdays 4th and 18th June Cost £45
Non-residential course over two linked
dayschools. Details as above.
at Bristol University Public
Programmes Office, 8-10 Berkeley Sq,
Bristol BS8
To book, please phone Public
Programmes Office on 928 7153 or 928
7165
or email Sandra Powell at
sandra.powell@bris.ac.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Work that Reconnects September
9th – 11th 2005
With Kathleen Sullivan and Chris
Johnstone
Residential weekend workshop at
Monkton Wyld Court, Dorset
Offering deep ecology/despair and
empowerment processes
To deepen our power to respond to
global issues.
For details, email Chris on dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Work That Reconnects September
17th – 24th
“Finding our power to respond to
planetary crisis whilst living a life
of joy”
Week long residential workshop at
Cortijo Romero in Spain
With Kathleen Sullivan and Chris
Johnstone
Combining personal renewal with
empowerment for positive change.
For details, see website at
www.cortijo-romero.co.uk
Kathleen and Chris are both long time
students of Joanna Macy and have been
facilitating this work for over a
decade.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(17) Going Carbon Neutral
If you’re concerned about the carbon
emissions of travelling abroad, you
can work out how much CO2 is produced
by using the calculator on the website
at
http://www.futureforests.com
A whole new approach to economics is
emerging out of counting the carbon
cost as well as the money one when
making decisions about what we do.
FutureForests suggest tree planting as
a way of offsetting emissions, and
tell how you much this will cost for
each journey taken.
For another approach, see the website
at worldlandtrust.org They offer you
the opportunity to offset emissions by
buying rainforest as a way of
protecting it. £25 buys you an acre,
which can absorb 500kg of carbon
dioxide in a year – about as much as
emitted from a return flight between
Bristol to Malaga.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(18) for other measures on reducing
carbon emissions, see the FOE website
at
www.foe.co.uk/climate_challenge/
For campaign information, see the
Rising Tide site at
http://www.risingtide.org.uk
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(19)
Regenco &
the Earth Mystery Initiation School
programme 2005:
The Wilderness Quest for Vision &
Self-healing:
A powerful way of reconnecting to
Life, clarifying purpose and honouring
transitions. The form of Quest we
offer is a supported solo 3-4days in a
wild land setting often fasting, with
careful preparation and integration
time before and after.
In 2005 Quests will be offered in
May, July and September.
In May there will also begin the first
part of a month long experiential
training in this work, rites of
passage and associated practices for
those already with some experience of
this and/or associated work.
For further information and
comprehensive handbook for those
interested in participating, contact
Jeremy Thres (details at end).
--------------------------------
WalkAbout - in beautiful locations in
Devon.
Initiatory style journeys primarily
(though not exclusively) for young
adults.
Walks in beautiful locations varying
in length from two to ten days,
offering a practical introduction
and/or deepening into tools supporting
healthy enquiry into ourselves, change
and our relationship with the world
around us. Tools offered range from
Council (a form which supports healthy
group communication), low impact
camping skills and bushcraft,
navigation tools for inner and outer
worlds, to initiatory style exercises
and story, supporting us to learn from
the Land we are walking.
Dates for 2005 + likely locations:
April 2005 three days (Dartmoor), May
(Coast) 3 days, July, 6 days Dartmoor,
August, September 10 days (Moor to
Sea).
-----------------------------------
Willow & Working Wood Project at Epona
1st weekend of each month starting
December and running through the
coming year (January will be second
weekend). Opportunity to participate
in practical project creating a
willow/withy bed, poetry walk, plant
up a ride and share soup and hearty
work in a beautiful location (Epona
near Chagford Devon). Phone for
details prior to each weekend. 01647
432840/281217
---------------------------------
Re-Sourcing - Support for the well
being of Health Care Professionals.
Those in the frontline of working
with people or the environment whether
as educators, activists, youth,
social, hospice or hospital workers.
Working primarily with the
regenerative powers of Listening and
Nature, offering time honoured and
fresh tools and structures to support
people individually and collectively
in their healing and to feel more
Re-Sourced for their Life and work.
---------------------------------
Vipassana & Earth Medicine
April 4th -7th following on from the
success of last years retreat, these 3
experiential days will engage with the
Common Ground of these two teachings.
Gidleigh Village Hall (max numbers 10)
---------------------------------
Occasionally we offer placements for
self-reliant volunteers.
For all of the above contact Regenco &
the Earth Mystery Initiation School (EMIS)’s
Coordinator: Jeremy Thres 01647
432840 Langaford/Epona, North Bovey,
Devon TQ13 8RH
ojl1@onetel.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(20) Nick St Clair has let me know
about his web site at
www.ecotort.gn.apc.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(21) Handy tip from Go Mad 2 (Go Make
A Difference), the updated handy book
full of 500 daily ways to save the
planet
- if you buy a drink in a plastic
bottle, don’t just throw it away. In
the UK we use 15 million bottles a
day, of which only 3% are recycled.
Recycling just one plastic bottle can
save enough energy to light a 60 watt
light bulb for 6 hours. For info on
plastic recycling, phone 0800 435 576
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(22) Tired of junk mail and want to
save trees?
You can remove yourself from junk
mailing lists by contacting the
mailing preference service
At www.mpsonline.org.uk or phone 0845
7034599
If you want to stop junk phone calls (ie
uninvited commercial calls) you can
remove your number from the list they
use by contact the telephone
preference service at
www.tps.online.org.uk
Or phone 0845 0700707. It takes about
a month to work, and a few still get
through after this, but not nearly so
many.
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(24) Strategic campaigning course –
Jan 17th-18th 2005, Edinburgh
-see the ‘short flyer.doc’ sent as an
attachment.
For info
strategiccampaigning@creatingconnections.org
or
telephone: 0845 458 3211
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(25) If you want another good reason
to get involved in campaigning, here’s
one
US study
links more than 200 diseases to
pollution
Pollution has been linked to about 200
different diseases, ranging from
cerebral palsy to testicular atrophy,
as well as more than 37 kinds of
cancer, startling US research shows.
Source:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=582743
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(26) Information about Joanna Macy’s
Oxford talk and workshop
Here’s a note from Andy Taylor, who is
co-ordinating this.
“Essentially this is the plan:
1. A planning meeting at 43 St Giles,
Oxford on Weds Dec 22nd, 6pm.
Please email
ray@andy-taylor.org if
interested in coming to this, or
willing
to help with making a web site for the
event(s).
2. A talk by Joanna at a large venue
in central Oxford on Monday May 9th
(probably 6-8pm but we'd like to hear
if that is a good time for people
coming via London).
The talk is likely to highlight
climate change but should be of
interest to all.
(The provisional title is "Facing
Climate Change and Other Great
Adventures".)
3. A 2 day despair/empowerment
workshop May 10th-11th.
(probably 9.30am Tuesday - 5pm
Wednesday but I'd like to hear if
these are
good times for people coming from
outside Oxford)
I would be especially glad to have
people participating in this workshop
to whom
the following applies:
- are activists (Joanna hasn't defined
activist!)
- are working on climate change
- keen to support others to share the
Work That Reconnects,
or organise a despair/empowerment
group
This workshop may get booked up by
March, and booking should open in
February.
I want to find away to ensure that
those who can make the most of this
opportunity
can get to the training, and would be
particularly interested to hear
if people have ideas about this. At
the moment the only thing that is sure
is that
Joanna wants "activists". Also, she
would like to get straight into the
work and not
spend anytime on convincing people
about the value of groupwork or
The Work That Reconnects, so bookings
will be open only to people who are
clear
about what attending the workshop will
bring to them. Initially we will ask
people to read
the first 5 chapters of "Coming Back
to Life" before booking, and it can
take a while to
get a copy from local bookshops so it
may be worth trying the internet.
(You can register interest by emailing
reconnect@andy-taylor.org,
but keep
an eye out for full details in this
newsletter, as registering interest
does not
give priority.)
Cost will probably be on a
contribution basis, although I imagine
it should be possible for
most peope to raise at least £50-100
through Quaker meetings, gigs etc.
(Joanna is asking
for costs only and wants contributions
to support the work.)
Thanks!
Andy Ray Taylor
reconnect@andy-taylor.org
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(27) Deepening Inner Resources - The
Art of Living Part 1 Course
Earlier in the year I mentioned a
course I’d been on in yoga based
breathing techniques, that was also
linked to a philosophy of
compassionate action and positive
psychology. There will be another
introductory course in Bristol in
January 2005. Recommended!
Contact Justyna Tel: 01454 776 273 or
email justyna@linguist.vispa.com
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(28) The Gaia Coach Institute
“Starting from the belief that deep
change comes from deeply vibrant
people, we offer courses on personal
renewal and effectiveness on a farm in
the beautiful Black Mountains of
Wales. For info
contact Stephen at
Stephen@gaiacoach.co.uk or see web
site at www.gaiacoach.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(29) Request - Seeking
practitioners for research and network
building
WANTED for quick email survey;
people who work supporting people to
do any of the following: eco-therapy,
deep ecology, rites of passage,
ceremony, outdoor adventure &
discovery, wilderness skills, vision
quests, environmental education, or
any kind of personal development
activity relating with the
environment.
Mel McCree is currently conducting PhD
action research into outdoor ‘coming
of age’ music & ceremony projects with
young people becoming adults.
“ I am constructing a national
database of current work in the UK &
beyond, as important emerging
practices with positive societal &
ecological implications. For example,
reducing anti-social behaviour in
young people, increasing ecological
awareness & skills, increasing music
making, promoting earth based
spirituality, community building.
I hope that a network of practitioners
could grow from this. It could be
especially useful for skill-sharing
and promoting our work. I’m keen to
find out from others who may be doing
similar research too, so we can help
each other”.
Please contact her if you are
interested in doing the survey or want
to find out more.
melskidoo@bigfoot.com or
+44 7970 748042
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(30) That’s it for this time! I’m
delighted that there is so much here
to tell you about. However, what this
means is that I’m limited for space,
so please if you have something to
send me for next edition (copydate end
of Feb for early march release),
please keep entries short (ideally
100-200 words).
With you in this Great Turning
Adventure - Chrisxxx (email
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk)
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