Great Turning Times February
2007
The Great Turning
Times – a free
quarterly email
newsletter about
finding our power to
respond to global
crisis. Bringing
together ecology,
psychology,
spirituality and world
issues, it lists
events, news and
resources to support
the shift towards a
life sustaining
society. See our
website at
www.GreatTurningTimes.org
for past editions,
relevant events and
additional resources.
This is the UK
edition. The
international edition
is the same but
without the UK events
listings. If you’d
prefer to receive
this, please email
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
with CHANGE TO
INTERNATIONAL in the
subject header.
Feb 2007.
HIGHLIGHTS
(3) Joanna Macy DVD
released
(17) UK networking
event
(18) UK Facilitator
training
Dear Reader,
Apologies for the
delay in this edition,
which should have come
out in December. I’ve
been working on a film
about finding ways
through psychological
blocks to change, and
doing this has pushed
me into overloaditis.
The film involves
three puppets who come
to one of my personal
power workshops. One
is depressed and wants
to become happier,
another wants to give
up smoking and a third
to tackle climate
change. Although each
character brings a
different area of
change, they share the
same feeling of
hopelessness and
perception that their
goal is impossible. In
order to move forward,
they need to face, and
move through, their
‘dreamblocker’ - the
blocking voice within
them that stops them
progressing. The three
dreamblockers
identified in the film
are fear, cynicism and
dlsbelief. I’d like to
look at how each of
these relates to the
Great Turning.
If everything were
fine with our world,
there might not be
much need for a
turning. If there were
only slight problems,
then perhaps we’d only
need a slight turning.
But if you, like me,
have great concerns
about the direction
we’re heading in, then
reasons for a great
turning become clear.
There’s a problem
though. Many people
fear looking at the
problems of our world
because they dread the
uncomfortable feelings
this may bring up.
This creates the first
block.
In my work as an
addictions specialist,
I often encounter this
fear of looking. In
its severe form it
generates such denial
that someone may say
they haven’t a problem
even when their
addiction is wrecking
their life. You don’t
have to look far to
see parallels
occurring on a
societal level. In the
addictions field,
treatment approaches
have been developed to
deal with this type of
resistance;
Motivational
Interviewing is an
example. A
characteristic of this
approach is that it
steers clear of
arguments and of
trying to persuade
someone to change.
Rather, it involves
sensitive listening
that attempts to
understand the
resistance and
cultivate the
motivations that might
stimulate change.
I recently asked Steve
Rollnick, one of the
developers of this
approach, how insights
from the addictions
world might be applied
to global issues. His
advice was: “Move
from information
giving to information
exchange. Don’t just
dump disturbing facts
on people, but have a
two-way flow of
communication where,
after delivering
facts, you find out
how they feel about
this and what the
information means to
them”. The key
here is to make room
for people to talk
about the issues that
concern them. In a
safe listening
environment, people
can move through their
fear of looking.
The Work That
Reconnects, the
empowerment approach
developed by Joanna
Macy and colleagues,
takes a similar
approach. “I don’t
assault people with
painful information”
says Joanna,
“instead, I invite
them, in simple
structured ways, to
listen to themselves
and hear their own
deep, inner responses
to what is happening
to our world”. It
is our feelings that
move and motivate us.
When people express
their concerns for our
world, they talk
themselves into
beginning to tackle
these. However,
there’s a risk they
may bump into the next
dreamblocker –
cynicism.
I think of cynicism as
the opposite of trust.
We need trust that our
actions are
worthwhile, otherwise
it is easy to say
“what’s the point?”
and give up. Trust is
different from knowing
things will be OK. It
is knowing that it is
worth making the
effort. Even if we
ultimately fail in
bringing about the
changes we desire, we
can still trust the
core principle that
good intentions are
worth acting on. I
also know that life
can sometimes surprise
us, and that positive
action in the face of
impossible odds can
occasionally win
through. Our challenge
is to find out what
helps this happen, so
that we can improve
our odds. That’s why
I’m so interested in
trainings to develop
our psychological and
spiritual resources,
so that we can find
our power to give our
best response.
Trust and courage help
us move through
cynicism and fear. But
a third dreamblocker
often remains:
disbelief. With the
scale of the problems
we face, and the
frustratingly slow
pace of response, it
is easy to believe our
actions won’t make any
difference. Yet what
is belief or disbelief
based on? They both
rest on our assessment
of how possible we
believe a change to
be. That assessment
will be influenced by
our assumptions and
the way we look, as
well as the precedents
of similar changes or
failed attempts that
spring to mind.
History is full of
examples of things
happening that
previously seemed
impossible. We can
learn from past
successes, as well as
train ourselves in
approaches that make
breakthroughs more
likely.
In my book Find
Your Power, I map
out psychological
strategies and new
ways of thinking that
can help us move
through dreamblockers
– whether in facing
personal or planetary
concerns. The central
idea is that journeys
of change can be
thought of as similar
to adventure stories.
They begin with a call
to adventure – a
concern or desire that
sparks an impulse to
respond. Concern for
the world and desire
for a sustainable,
flourishing future
activate our
motivation. But when
inspiration collides
with a dreamblocker,
it is easy for that
spark to go out.
That’s why a big part
of the work of the
Great Turning is
internal. Inner
turnings can lead to
empowered responses
that generate outer,
more visible
transformations. And
when we see positive
changes happening on
the outside, this can
boost morale and feed
enthusiasm for making
further changes. Inner
and outer shifts feed
each other in a
self-amplifying loop,
so that like snowballs
rolling down hills,
momentum for positive
change can grow.
Early on in adventure
stories, the quest
usually seems
impossible, and the
central characters
under-powered for the
job. But that doesn’t
put them off. They
rise to challenge
anyway. And the first
part of their journey
is often to seek out
special tools or
magical implements
that help them on
their way. I’d like to
tell you about three
resources that might
play a similar role in
the adventure story we
share.
The first is Al Gore’s
film An
Inconvenient Truth.
Have you seen it yet?
I have been deeply
impressed by the
changes I’ve seen
happen in people after
watching this film. A
local head-teacher was
so moved she cancelled
all classes and
arranged a viewing for
the whole school in a
local cinema. Last
week I arranged a
showing for medical
students at Bristol
University, where I
teach a course on
health and the
environment. The shift
in awareness and
motivation in my
students was palpable.
By providing such an
accessible and
engaging briefing on
climate change, this
film gives us a common
reference point to
move on from. Now that
the DVD is easy to get
hold of, increasing
numbers of people are
arranging showings in
their living rooms,
community centres,
schools, offices and
places of worship. But
the film is really
just a beginning, a
call to adventure. A
question many have
after watching it is
“what now?”. That’s
where the second
resource comes in.
The second resource is
an inspiring story
about the task facing
us at this period in
history. It might seem
strange to think of a
story as a resource –
but when we have a
story that furnishes
us with a positive
vision, it becomes
something we can
inhabit, live from and
be nourished by. This
story has many names –
I like The Great
Turning – that
time at the beginning
of the twenty first
century when we woke
up to what we were
doing, and began to
change course. David
Korten’s book The
Great Turning
tells this story and
invites our
participation in the
forging of a new
culture. He writes:
“A new human era is in
gestation. The choices
we humans make over
the next few decades
will determine whether
the birthing is
successful”
His is only one
telling of this story.
Another I’m inspired
by is the Energy
Descent Planning
approach. More and
more communities are
recognising we can’t
continue with our
oil-dependent and
carbon emitting
lifestyles. Inspired
by examples in Kinsale,
Ireland and Totnes,
Britain, the
Transition Town
movement is sprouting.
Each week I find
another expression of
this empowering
community response.
People tired of
waiting for
governments to act are
looking at steps they
can take in their own
backyards. Rob
Hopkins’s daily blog
at
www.transitionculture.org
is an essential guide
to what’s happening
here. Check out his
entries from last
month (Jan 10th to
24th) for ten tips on
how to make your
community a transition
town. The Great
Turning is happening,
and the process of
energy descent is part
of it. But something
else is needed too,
and that’s where the
third resource comes
in.
Al Gore’s film
provides a call to
adventure, visionary
stories like The Great
Turning and Energy
Descent map out the
task ahead of us, but
we may still face
dreamblockers that
doubt we can do it or
question whether it is
worth the effort. This
is where we need to
train ourselves, so as
to deepen our
determination, courage
and enthusiasm to act.
Many of you reading
this may have already
experienced such
trainings, especially
those either with, or
inspired by, Joanna
Macy. Over the last
year, some workshops
have been filmed and a
collection of
interviews brought
together into a DVD
that introduces
exercises and
principles of the Work
that Reconnects. This
is the third resource;
if you’d like to hear
Joanna describe tools
and insights that can
help transform our
world, I’d strongly
recommend this. It
provides an excellent
introduction for the
general viewer, and is
also an essential
resource for anyone
wanting to facilitate
this work. See item
(3) below for details.
You’ll need to wait a
while longer before my
puppet movie is ready
for release, but I’ll
bring you details in a
future Great Turning
Times. In the
meantime, here’s a
collection of news,
resources and events
for the Great Turning.
With you in this
adventure of earth
recovery
Chris Johnstone
Editor, The Great
Turning Times.
email: dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
http://www.chrisjohnstone.info
http://www.GreatTurningTimes.org
P.S.
If you appreciate this
newsletter, please
send it to others who
might like it too. If
it has been forwarded
to you and you’d like
it regularly, email me
(dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk)
with SUBSCRIBE in the
subject header. To
stop receiving it,
please email me with
“REMOVE” as a subject
header. It comes out
four times a year,
with editions planned
this year for May,
September and
December. Copy date
for entries is last
day of month before
next edition. Please
let me know of events,
news, resources etc
you would like
included. Please also
keep entries short,
ideally about 100-300
words.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) THE GREAT
TURNING TIMES WEBSITE
AND INTERNATIONAL
EVENTS LISTINGS
At
www.GreatTurningTimes.org
This introduces the
Great Turning, has
past newsletters,
offers an inspiring
web-links page, and
has an international
events page allowing
you to enter events so
that other people can
find out about them.
The events page has
five geographical
fields. Choose your
part of the world to
find out about
workshops on The Work
That Reconnects, Deep
Ecology,
Eco-psychology and
other events
supporting the shift
towards a life
sustaining society. If
there aren’t many
events currently
listed (it may take a
little while for this
to catch on), then
please do enter some!
Here’s how to do this.
If the event supports
or expresses The Great
Turning, go to Events
in the top bar, and
then select 'Add New
Event' from the pull
down menu. Choose the
part of the world the
event is in, (banded
to UK, North America,
Australia, Europe and
Other), and then fill
in the details,
according to the
fields given.
Please put the
duration of the event
in the details bit.
When it is
complete, click on
'Save Details' at the
bottom. All that
you've written should
then disappear without
a trace. Then if you
email me (dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk)
to let me know you've
entered something, I
can authorise it so
that it goes up on the
site. There may be a
bit of a time delay
before this happens.
If you have any
problems with this,
let me know.
One of the purposes of
this events listings
is to publicise
workshops in The Work
That Reconnects, so if
you’re doing these in
any part of the world,
please do enter your
event in these
listings.
The events listings
outside the UK have
been a bit slow to
take off, but as this
facility gets known
about, its use will
increase.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) WHAT IS THE
GREAT TURNING?
It was Joanna Macy who
coined the phrase ‘The
Great Turning’ to
describe the story of
change required in our
times.
A recent interview
with her is viewable
at the Permaculture
Magazine website at:
http://www.permaculture.co.uk/mag/Articles/The%20Great%20Turning.html
Other useful web
resources include:
An interview about the
Great Turning at
http://www.yesmagazine.org/pdf/Macy_Great_Turning.pdf
An article about The
Great Turning is
viewable at
http://www.rainbowbody.net/Ongwhehonwhe/MacyGreatTurn.htm
There is
more material on
Joanna Macy’s website
at
http://www.joannamacy.net
For details
of her workshops, see
the schedule listings
at
http://www.joannamacy.net/html/schedule.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Joanna Macy’s
DVD on the Work That
Reconnects
Here is a visual tool
for educators, clergy,
helping professionals,
and activists who wish
to understand this
work. It is also a
training guide for
those currently
facilitating the work
and for those who may
be inspired to do so.
You will see Joanna
teaching the
conceptual foundations
of the work, including
the Great Turning,
systems theory, deep
ecology, and despair
work, as well as many
of her favourite
exercises. To these
she adds for the
viewer guidelines on
critical aspects and
choice points of the
experiential work.
Contains over 4 hours
of material on 2
DVD’s.
We have obtained a
small number of
advance copies,
which we’re selling at
£28 each, inc UK
postage (£30 if
outside UK). If you’re
interested, please
contact Alex Wildwood
on alex@wildwood.org.uk
or phone 01453 836566.
For US and Canadian
orders, please contact
New Society
Publishers, web
details at
http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3961
This DVD is also
orderable from amazon,
and will be cheaper
this way, but you’ll
need to wait longer
before it becomes
available.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)
http://www.miniature-earth.com/
Over 2 million people
have seen this short
web based film. It
describes a world
where the human
population is
represented by just
100 people.
6 people own 59% of
the total material
wealth. 13 are hungry
and 43 have no
sanitation. If you
have a fridge, a
cupboard to put your
clothes in, a bed to
sleep on and and roof
over your head, then
you are richer than
75% of the global
population. Engaging
to watch and an
eye-opener.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Climate change
information resources
on the web
The IPCC’s fourth
assessment report is
due out at the start
of February. Over the
last 6 years, 2500
scientific expert
reviewers from 130
countries were
involved in producing
this report. It comes
out in stages over
this year: see
http://www.ipcc.ch/
for details.
The UK treasury’s
Stern review report
also gives a useful
review of climate
change science,
expected outcomes and
economic implications.
It can be downloaded
from
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm
For an audio interview
with George Monbiot
about Climate Change,
see:
http://coinet.org.uk/information/climate_radio/2d3/climate_radio_20061024_2d3_george_monbiot_160
For an excellent short
film about Contraction
and Convergence, a
global framework for
climate negotiations.
See
http://climatechangeaction.blogspot.com/2007/01/contraction-and-convergence-short-video.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Short cartoon
film about climate
change and earth
recovery
It’s available in a
variety of formats.
See
http://www.anitasancha.co.uk/home_sweet_home.php
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Climate Change
Despair & Empowerment
Roadshow – Australia,
then North America
with John Seed, Ruth
Rosenhek and others
Dates across Australia
Feb and March, then to
North America in
April.
In many places, a week
or two before the
Climate Change Despair
and Empowerment
Roadshow, there will
be a presentation of
'An
Inconvenient Truth -
Al Gore's Climate
Project'
- this is a
multi-media event by
presenters trained by
Al Gore.
Then the roadshow
follows this and aims
to:
-
catalyse, invigorate
and support
grassroots climate
study/action groups.
-
Address the hopeless
despair that many
people feel and
provide tools to
transform despair
into empowerment and
effective action.
This will be based
on the Despair &
Empowerment work of
Joanna Macy and the
"Climate Change,
Despair and
Empowerment" talk
which John Seed gave
in Massachusetts
earlier this year
with Pullitzer Prize
winning journalist
Ross Gelbspan.
For details see
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/climate/roadshow.htm
For information about
John Seed’s schedule,
see
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/climate/roadshow.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(8) Volunteers
needed
Would you be willing
to enter workshop
details on the Great
Turning Times website
events page? If you’d
be happy to take
details from the
schedules of Joanna
Macy, John Seed and
others and enter
these, that would be a
great help. Please
email Chris at
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
for details, and to
activate events once
you’ve entered them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) THE WORK THAT
RECONNECTS IN CANADA,
FRANCE AND OTHER
COUNTRIES
There is a growing
international network
of people offering
Work That Reconnects
workshops, and other
trainings to help us
rise to the challenge
of facing global
issues. A contact for
Canadian workshops is
Meredith on
deep_ecology@shaw.ca
and for France is Clou
Carré at clou.carre@free.fr
Please let me know if
you are, or are happy
to be, a point of
contact for workshops
in your part of the
world.
We can then develop an
international
directory of contacts
on the Great Turning
Times website.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Deep Ecology
Workshops in France
In the heart of
Brittany, in the
enchanted forest of
Broceliande:
30th March – 1st April
(week-end)
28th April – 1st May
(4 day event with
Beltane celebration)
Also on full moon
week-ends end May and
end June
For details: Claire
clou.carre@free.fr 00
33 1 43 75 45 72
Association Ecologie
Pratique, La Guette en
Beauvais, 35 380
Paimpont.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Molly’s
Musings
Molly Brown Young, who
co-authored Coming
Back to Life with
Joanna Macy, has
started a quarterly
email letter.
Molly has been working
on the frontiers of
personal and planetary
change for decades.
Her book Growing Whole
Draws on together her
background in
psychosynthesis with
her concerns for the
world. It is practical
and inspiring.
Catch past copies of
Molly’s Musings and
subscribe at
http://www.mollyyoungbrown.com/essays.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) FIND YOUR
POWER FOR FREE!
Chris Johnstone is
offering a free signed
copy of his book
Find Your Power to
anyone anywhere
in the world who can
write a review and get
this published.
Drawing on the new
motivational
psychology from the
addictions field,
as well as
storytelling, positive
psychology and
holistic science,
this self-help book
offers a toolkit of
strategies to
cultivate and live
from positive vision.
It offers new ways of
thinking about power,
and can be applied to
personal or planetary
concerns.
Chapter 11 introduces
the issue of Peak Oil,
and the Great Turning
as a response.
For more information,
see
www.chrisjohnstone.info
or contact Chris by
email at dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Inspiring
talks about Energy
Descent
The Soil Association’s
recent conference on
One Planet Agriculture
drew together a
collection of
inspiring speakers
about energy descent
and responses to
climate change and
peak oil. They include
Jonathon Porritt,
Vandana Shiva, Richard
Heinberg, Colin
Campbell, Rob Hopkins
and others. You can
download mp3 files of
the talks from:
http://www.soilassociation.org/conference
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) More
information on Energy
Descent Plans
There’s a great
article by Rob Hopkins
introducing the idea
of energy descent
pathways in
permaculture activist
magazine.
You can read this at:
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/articles/EnergyDescent.htm
Rob’s tips on setting
up a transition town
initiative can be seen
at:
http://transitionculture.org/2007/01/10/10-first-steps-for-a-transition-town-initiative-1-awareness-raising/
Groups are meeting in
Totnes, Lewes,
Falmouth, Penwith,
Bristol, Leeds and
many other
towns/cities to
develop energy descent
plans.
See ( ) for the
official launch of the
Transition Town Lewes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(15) More inspiring
websites
Why not give these a
try:
http://www.worldchanging.com/
http://www.global-mindshift.org/
http://www.big-picture.tv
http://bethechange.org.uk
http://www.planetaryvoices.org.uk
http://www.projectflamingo.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(16) Good news/good
views of the amazing
Eco-roundhouse
Back in the March 2005
edition of the Great
Turning Times, I
mentioned the amazing
eco-roundhouse of Tony
Wrench and Jane Faith
at Brithdir Mawr
permaculture community
in Wales. Because it
contravened local
planning regulations,
it was due to be
demolished. However,
thanks to a campaign
and huge show of
public support, it is
still standing. The
BBC recently ran a
photo-feature about it
on
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/06/in_pictures_life_in_an_eco_roundhouse/html/1.stm
You can read more
about the story behind
the pictures at
http://www.thatroundhouse.info/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(17) Choosing Life:
A Gathering, June 8 -
10th 2007,
Easterbrook, Devon, UK
facilitated by
Maitrisara, Sandy
Lacey and Chris
Johnstone
This is our second
annual networking
camp/gathering and is
open to anyone who has
previously
participated in at
least a day workshop
based on 'The Work
that Reconnects’ We
recognise how
important it is to
remain in contact with
others who want to
actively use these
methods in their lives
and work. We want to
encourage ways to make
this approach our own,
relevant to our
different settings and
to give each other the
support we need to
experiment.
We're grateful to the
Buddhafield community
for hosting this event
as part of their
retreat programme.
However this is not a
specifically 'buddhist'
event: we welcome
participants from a
range of faith and
non-faith based
backgrounds.
And it isn’t a
workshop to learn the
basics of the Work
that Reconnects
approach. What happens
in detail is up to the
participants. We will
all draw on a range of
skills and
perspectives brought
by the group. The
weekend is an
opportunity for
participants to offer
workshops and
activities for each
other which:
• build on the
connections between us
that emerged in
previous workshops
• create connection
between people who
have met this work at
different times in a
variety of settings
• share our
specialisms,
confusions,
experiments, skills
and interests linked
to The Great Turning
• dig deeper into our
emotional and
spiritual responses to
the world
• practice leading
some of the activities
we have participated
in before
Examples from last
year’s offerings
include – a sweatlodge,
a workshop on games to
use with groups,
teaching on walking
meditation, a ritual
about transformation
created by members of
the group, music
sessions round the
fire, a Truth Mandala.
Last year there were
activists,
campaigners, dancers,
Buddhists, therapists,
poets, musicians ……….
Please bring a tent
to sleep in and
plate/bowl/mug/cutlery.
The gathering will
be held on the same
land as the 'Positive
Seeds Project' which
grows some of the
food, trees and shrubs
needed by Buddhafield.
There will be an
opportunity to work
with the land. Its
hard to exaggerate how
beautiful Easterbrooke
is, surrounded by
woods, flanked by a
stream. Food will be
vegetarian and it is a
alcohol and drug free
space. The cost is
85/130/160 concession
(unemployed, student,
OAP) / low wage /
waged.
Please book through
Buddhafield -
http://www.buddhafield.com
Further information
Phone Maitrisara
01865 777297 or 07810
421883 (mobile)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(18) The Work that
Reconnects: Training
for Facilitators, 3 –
10 July 2007, Sussex,
UK
Facilitated by Alex
Wildwood, Chris
Johnstone, Akuppa and
Maitrīsārā
Cost £395/£275/£100
(waged/concs/assisted)
at Hourne Farm,
Crowborough, Sussex
How do you introduce
the Work that
Reconnects in a few
hours? in a day? in a
weekend? What do you
need to bear in mind
when you facilitate
the activities? How do
you create ritual
spaces? How do you
adapt Work that
Reconnect approach for
different audiences?
How do you combine it
with your existing
interests and skills?
How do you handle the
group dynamics that
can arise when doing
this challenging work?
This event will be an
opportunity to develop
confidence in leading
Work that Reconnects
workshops, to discuss
issues and questions
about facilitation
skills, to practice
leading and give each
other feedback in a
supportive environment
and to plan
opportunities where
facilitators can work
together at key
events.
To attend this
workshop, you need to
have participated in
at least a day
workshop based on the
Work that Reconnects.
Alex, Chris,
Maitrīsārā and Akuppa
have experience of
facilitating
residential events,
leading ritual in
public spaces and
offering workshops
using the Work that
Reconnects approach.
We aim to set up a
structure within which
participants can learn
from each other. We
would like to
encourage facilitators
to make the approach
their own bringing in
their own particular
strengths, talents and
interests. We aim to
develop the Work that
Reconnects approach in
new, creative
directions.
For further details,
contact Maitrīsārā at
maitrisara@tiscali.co.uk
(places will be
limited, so best apply
by 1 April 2007)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(19) THE GAIA-SHIFT
INTENSIVE - Mon 27th
Aug to Sun 2nd Sep
2007, Cae Mabon, Wales
Six days of
eco-spiritual
empowerment for the
recovery of our world
with Alex
Wildwood, Mary-Jayne
Rust, Chris Johnstone
and Jo Hamilton
This Intensive
aims to strengthen our
capacity and
confidence to address
global issues. We will
explore how the energy
of our emotional
responses can
re-awaken our passion
to act for life,
transforming concern
for the world into
creative engagement.
The Gaia-shift is
about letting go of
the narrow view that
we exist only as
separate individuals.
It involves developing
a wider, deeper sense
of self, where we
experience ourselves
as connected parts of
a larger whole, of
Gaia. By deepening our
feeling of connection
with life, we open up
spiritual and
psychological
resources that can
help us become more
determined, courageous
and inspired.
The Intensive will
include experiential
practices, time alone
in nature, and
collective ritual
forms. Finding allies
in the natural world,
feeling ourselves
embodied in the
elements, and building
community with our
fellow humans all
deepen our commitment
to act on behalf of
the larger community
of life.
This work is
inspired by Joanna
Macy (‘The Work That
Reconnects’), John
Seed (‘Deep Ecology
Practice’) and their
colleagues. The
facilitators of this
Intensive have worked
closely with Joanna
Macy and/or John Seed
in developing this
work over a number of
years.
Price: £375
inclusive
Date: Evening
of Monday 27th August
to lunchtime on Sunday
2nd September
For further info on
the Intensive contact
Alex on 01453 832684.
To book email
Eric at
eric@fachwen.org
and send £100 deposit
(made out to Cae
Mabon) to:
Eric Maddern, Cae
Mabon, Fachwen,
Llanberis, Gwynedd
LL55 3HB
For info see:
http://www.caemabon.co.uk/?page=385&uppage=246
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(20) News – Exxon
Mobil offers fat fees
to undermine IPCC
Scientists and
economists have been
offered $10,000 each
by a lobby group
funded by one of the
world's largest oil
companies to undermine
a major climate
change report. Ian
Sample, science
correspondent Friday
February 2, 2007 The
Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk/>
Letters sent by the
American Enterprise
Institute (AEI), an
ExxonMobil-funded
thinktank with close
links to the Bush
administration,
offered the payments
for articles that
emphasise the
shortcomings of a
report from the UN's
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC).
Travel expenses and
additional payments
were also offered.
The
UN report was written
by international
experts and is widely
regarded as the most
comprehensive review
yet of climate change
science. It will
underpin international
negotiations on new
emissions targets to
succeed the Kyoto
agreement, the first
phase of which expires
in 2012. World
governments were given
a draft last year and
invited to comment.
The
AEI has received more
than $1.6m from
ExxonMobil and more
than 20 of its staff
have worked as
consultants to the
Bush administration.
Lee Raymond, a former
head of ExxonMobil, is
the vice-chairman of
AEI's board of
trustees.
The
letters, sent to
scientists in Britain,
the US and elsewhere,
attack the UN's panel
as "resistant to
reasonable criticism
and dissent and prone
to summary conclusions
that are poorly
supported by the
analytical work" and
ask for essays that
"thoughtfully explore
the limitations of
climate model
outputs".
Climate scientists
described the move
yesterday as an
attempt to cast doubt
over the "overwhelming
scientific evidence"
on global warming.
"It's a desperate
attempt by an
organisation who wants
to distort science for
their own political
aims," said David
Viner of the Climatic
Research Unit at the
University of East
Anglia.
"The IPCC process is
probably the most
thorough and open
review undertaken in
any discipline. This
undermines the
confidence of the
public in the
scientific community
and the ability of
governments to take on
sound scientific
advice," he said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(21) Exxon Mobil
funded Press
Conference in London
Feb 5th
The Fraser Institute,
a Canadian
Exxon-funded think
tank readying to
launch an attack on
the IPCC report, is
having a press
conference to launch
its own report on
Monday, Feb. 5th at
10am at the Atrium
Restaurant (across
from the Houses of
Parliament, Four
Millbank, Westminster.
For more
information about
this, see
http://www.desmogblog.com/fraser-institute-ipcc-london-report
An information
briefing about the
authors of this
report, and their
links to the oil
industry, is available
at
http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/DeSmogBlog%20note%20on%20the%20fraser%20institute.pdf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I mention the above
two pieces of news as
examples of the
well-funded and
organised campaign to
block awareness about
climate change issues.
When I read about
things like this, it
makes me even more
determined to be part
of a constructive
response, and to act
for the Great Turning.
If you feel this way
too, please pass this
information on. Let a
great story happen
through us.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(22 - 45)
OTHER UK
NEWS/EVENTS (46) US
CONFERENCE (47)
ENDQUOTE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(22) Wangari
Maathai speaks in
London
Feb 5, RSA,
London, 6.30 pm
Wangari Maathai,
Kenyan
environmentalist,
founder of the Green
Belt Movement and 2004
Nobel Peace Prize
winner, will be
speaking at the RSA, 8
John Adam St, near
Charing Cross Station,
WC2N 6EZ. This has
only just been
announced, so book
immediately - this
will be full in no
time, as Wangari is a
remarkable speaker,
indeed a remarkable
woman. Tickets are
free – once you
register:
http://www.thersa.org/events/detail.asp?EventID=2177
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(23) Experience The
Work That Reconnects –
Feb 15th, Oxford
A workshop to find
creative ways to
engage with personal
and global issues We
will be sharing and
leading practices
which deepen our
connections with
ourselves, each other
and with life. This is
a creative and
profound approach to
help strengthen our
capacity to feel and
act.
Thursday 15 February
2007
7pm – 9pm
Wesley Memorial Hall
New Inn Hall Street,
Oxford OX1 2DH
The workshop is
offered by a group who
have worked with
Joanna Macy, one of
the main teachers of
this approach. We gift
our time to further
this work in the UK:
Rowan Tilly,
Maitrīsārā, Miche
Fabre Lewin, Jo
Hamilton
For more information
and to book a place,
contact Rowan Tilly
tel 01865 724951 or
email
rowantilly@gn.apc.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(24) Introduction
to The Work That
Reconnects – Feb 17th,
Devon
With Kim Clancy and
Chris Johnstone.
One day introductory
workshop to the
empowerment approach
developed by Joanna
Macy and colleagues.
On Sat Feb 17th
2007 at Sharpham
House, nr Totnes,
Devon TQ9 7UT.
10am to 4pm, cost £35
plus please bring
lunch to share.
For details and
booking, tel 01803 732
542, or see website at
www.sharpham-trust.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(25) Find Your
Power – workshop at
Monkton Wyld Court,
Dorset, 9th – 11th
March 2007
With Chris Johnstone
and Jenni Horsfall
Would you like to
improve your ability
to address heartfelt
concerns and move
towards your most
important goals? This
residential weekend
workshop offers tools
and practices to
develop inner
strengths, clarity of
focus, deepened
determination and the
ability to find ways
through obstacles. The
material from the
weekend can be applied
to personal or
planetary concerns,
the course giving you
an opportunity to
focus on and move
forward with any
issue.
Chris has studied many
empowerment
approaches, working
with Joanna Macy since
the late 1980’s and in
the addictions field
since the early
1990’s. He also weaves
in positive
psychology,
storytelling and
holistic science,
bringing to life
insights and
strategies from his
book Find Your
Power.
Jenni Horsfall is an
experienced group
facilitator, who has
trained with Joanna
Macy and worked with
Chris Johnstone in
6pm Friday 9th – 2pm
Sunday 11th March 2007
at Monkton Wyld Court,
nr Bridport, Dorset,
DT6 6DQ.
Cost £164 (concs.
available),For
booking, phone 01297
560342 or see
www.monktonwyldcourt.org
and click events
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(26) The Furthest
Shore - A weekend of
story and storytelling
for men 9–11 March
2007, Dorset
Storytelling offers a
gentle yet powerful
way to heal our lives
and build
relationships with
others. It is the
oldest and most
natural form of human
communication – we
are all born
storytellers even if
our skills have grown
rusty. Everyone has a
story that deserves
to be told.
The workshop will be
jointly led by Geoff
Mead PhD (a
storyteller who’s
trained with Joanna
Macy and is active in
Great Turning
activities) and Ashley
Ramsden
(international
storyteller and
founding director of
the School for
Storytelling).
Venue: Gaunt’s House,
Wimborne, Dorset,
United Kingdom.
Date: 9–11 March
2007, starting teatime
Friday and ending
after lunch Sunday.
Cost: £125 tuition,
plus £110 for shared
room and full board.
To book a place or
for more information
contact Geoff Mead:
Telephone 01453
834873 Email
hermesconsulting@aol.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(27) Personal Power
for the Planet – Free
Evening Talk Friday
23rd March – Norwich
With Chris Johnstone,
author of Find Your
Power
Taking a psycholgical
approach to power,
this evening talk
*introduces tools for
developing positive
vision
*describes ways of
moving through blocks
and resistance to
change
*offers methods that
can help us rise to
the challenge of
responding to the
disturbing realities
of our time
7.45pm at InnerSpace,
8 Maude Gray Court, St
Benedicts Street,
Norwich NR2 4PA
http://www.innerspacenorwich.co.uk/events.asp?offset=-1
For details, phone
01603 614460
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(28)
Personal Power for the
Planet, workshop Sat
24th – Sun 25th March,
Norwich
With Chris
Johnstone and Kim
Clancy
Are you concerned
about the condition or
our world?
Would you like to
strengthen your
ability to respond?
Drawing on empowerment
processes developed by
Joanna Macy and
colleagues,
this weekend offers
practices to help us
tap into sources of
strength to address
these issues.
Two day workshop,
10am – 5pm Cost £99
For booking and
details, phone
01603 614460
http://www.innerspacenorwich.co.uk/events.asp?offset=-1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(29) The Work That
Reconnects – workshop
13th-15th April, nr
Hereford
With
Chris Johnstone and
Toni Spencer
It is easy to feel
powerless when facing
the many problems of
our world.
Yet it is also
possible to learn ways
of deepening
determination,
enhancing enthusiasm
and cultivating our
courage. This
residential weekend
workshop introduces
‘The Work That
Reconnects’,
the empowerment
approach developed by
Joanna Macy and
colleagues.
The workshop offers:
*practices to
strengthen our feeling
of connection with
life.
*strategies for using
the energy of our
emotions and engaging
our passion to act for
life.
*insights that help us
find our power to rise
to the challenges we
face.
Cost £150 (concs
available) for
residential weekend
workshop (Fri eve to
Sun pm).
FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE
CONTACT : Edi Hamilton
or Manu Song: T:01981
550 557 M:07979 911
813
E:
edi.hamilton@btinternet.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(30) Official
Unleashing of
Transition Town Lewes!
Tuesday 24th April
2007,
8pm Lewes Town Hall
A Mayoral event with
Speakers Rob Hopkins
and Chris Johnstone
Transition Town Lewes
is a town-wide
response to the
multiple challenges
facing us, including
climate change and
Peak Oil (and gas). It
is a designed process
that will draw on the
multiple skills,
creativity and
knowledge of the Lewes
community, creating a
year-on-year pathway
leading to a
low-carbon, resilient,
vibrant future for our
town.
See Short film about
this at film at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKY2H2yOcP8
More information at
http://transitiontowns.org/Lewes/Lewes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(31) Coming Back to
Life – A Camp for The
Great Turning, North
Norfolk, 24th – 29th
April
With Graham Joyce and
Cal Cannon
A camp for up to
twenty people
exploring processes to
deepen connection with
life
and promote empowered
responses to our
global situation.
Cost £130/£110/£90
For more info, contact
Graham Joyce, 07969
109233, email:
ancientvoices13@yahoo.co.uk
Or Cal Cannon, 01263
734281, email:
calcannon78@hotmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(32)
2007 Change the
Dream Facilitator
Training
In April, we
will hold our second
facilitator training,
preparing some 50
people to present the
Change the Dream
Symposium around the
country – and in
Europe. The Symposium
is an event we first
presented last May,
the day after Be The
Change. It very
powerfully lays out
the challenges facing
us and inspires and
empowers people to
work towards an
environmentally
sustainable, socially
just and spiritually
fulfilling human
presence on the
planet.
Since May, 50 of us
have been trained as
facilitators, and
further symposiums
have been presented up
and down the country,
in Amsterdam and in
Australia. Now, with
many still asking to
be trained, we have
scheduled the next
training for April
20-22. Please email
training@bethechange.org.uk
for an application
form (also available
from our website at
http:www.bethechange.org.uk/training.cfm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(33) Future
Change the Dream
symposiums
Change the
Dream is currently
scheduled for:
Feb 4
Mawdsley, near
Ormskirk
Feb 10
Cuckfield, West Sussex
Feb 24 Brighton
Coming soon -
Frome, Edinburgh and
London - for
dates and times,
booking info etc, see
http://www.bethechange.org.uk/symposium.cfm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(34) The Work That
Reconnects, weekend
workshop, 25th – 27th
May, Devon
Friday evening till
Sunday afternoon, at
Sharpham College, Nr
Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7UT
Facilitated by Kim
Clancy And Chris
Johnstone
This residential
weekend workshop
introduces "The Work
That Reconnects", an
empowerment approach
developed by Joanna
Macy (see
www.joannamacy.net for
info). Deepening our
feeling of connection
with life, we will
open up spiritual and
psychological
resources needed to
face and respond to
global issues. Through
experiential practices
we will explore how to
use the energy of our
emotional responses,
reconnect with our
passion to act for
life and transform
concern for the world
into creative
engagement.
Cost £150 For
booking, contact the
Sharpham Centre, Tel:
01803 732 542
Email:
centre@sharpham-trust.org
web link:
http://www.sharpham-trust.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(35) The Work that
Reconnects workshop,
Sept, Dorset
With Alex
Wildwood, Chris
Johnstone and Jenni
Horsfall
September 14th-16th
2007 , at Monkton Wyld
Court, nr Bridport,
Dorset
Cost £164 (concs
available) for fully
residential weekend
workshop.
It is easy to feel
powerless when facing
the many problems of
our world. Yet it is
also possible to learn
ways of deepening
determination,
enhancing enthusiasm
and cultivating our
courage. This
residential weekend
workshop introduces
‘The Work That
Reconnects’, the
empowerment approach
developed by Joanna
Macy and colleagues
(see
http://www.joannamacy.net
for info).
It offers:
• practices to
strengthen our feeling
of connection with
life
• strategies for using
the energy of our
emotions and engaging
our passion to act for
life
• insights that help
us find our power to
rise to the challenges
we face.
For more information
and booking, see
http://www.monktonwyldcourt.org
and click events.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(36) A PhD in
Action Research for
Sustainability – Bath
University
At the Centre for
Action Research in
Professional Practice
(CARPP)
This postgraduate
research programme is
devoted to addressing
the human dimensions
of sustainability. As
Thomas Berry puts it,
the challenge for
humans at this time is
to identify the means
of creating mutually
enhancing human-Earth
relations (Berry
1999), and this means
changing not only
human attitudes and
cultures but our
understanding of and
relationship with our
technological and
economic contexts. We
believe this to be a
leading edge for
organizational change
practice.
The aims of this
programme are,
therefore, ambitious:
• To help
participants make a
practical difference
through their
individual actions in
their chosen fields.
It is dedicated to
people who are already
quite knowledgeable
about the current
planetary predicament
and who intend to make
a contribution to
creating a sustainable
human society.
• To
contribute to our
understanding, as a
society, of the human
task involved in
responding to the
sustainability
challenge. The
intended outputs of
the programme, in
addition to the more
effective and
considered action on
the part of
participants and their
own research theses at
Masters or Doctoral
level, will be
academic and popular
articles, multi-media
outputs, seminars,
conferences and
interventions designed
to have a broad impact
on social
understanding of the
critical human
dimensions of
sustainability.
• To build
collaborative networks
of groups and
organizations that are
engaged with their
communities locally
but are connected
globally.
Starts May 2007, open
day to find out more
on Feb 22nd. For
details see
http://www.bath.ac.uk/carpp/actionprog/index.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(37) Being Green
can make you Happy,
says new study
New research conducted
by a Masters student
from Imperial College
London shows a
significant link
between environmental
knowledge, attitudes
and behaviours and
personal well-being.
Matthew Mellen who has
just finished his MSc
in Environmental
Technology conducted
the research and found
that people who live a
more eco-friendly
lifestyle have
improved well being.
Matthew undertook a
comprehensive survey
of 700 anonymous
individuals using new
online research
software. He analysed
people’s levels of
‘greenness’ by
examining their
awareness of
environmental issues
and their behaviour
for example the amount
they cycled or walked
rather than drove. The
participants then
reported their
subjective well-being
by assigning scores to
statements about their
life satisfaction,
personal development
and social well-being.
The research revealed
that those people who
live more
‘eco-lifestyles’ tend
to score significantly
higher in subjective
well-being
assessments. Matthew
explains: "It is
really common sense,
human culture is found
within the natural
world. At a
fundamental level harm
to the environment is
harm to us. Conversely
healthy, secure human
societies require
healthy, stable
eco-systems. A growing
body of research links
planetary and personal
well-being. It is
fascinating to note
that the solution to
global warming is
likely to be equitable
sharing of ‘carbon
rights’ which should
contribute to making
the world a safer,
happier place."
The main elements of a
green lifestyle that
improve personal
well-being highlighted
in the research
include, a sense of
connection to nature
which improves health
and happiness,
involvement in local
communities, and
non-materialist
values.
Matthew added that
although traditional
economics suggests
that well-being is a
function of increasing
consumption and that
continuous economic
growth is required for
on-going increases in
well-being. This study
suggests the opposite:
"On going economic
growth seems to be
responsible for the
twin ills of
environmental
degradation and
declines in human
well-being," he said.
For more information
about this survey or
to receive a copy of
the report please
contact Matthew Mellen
on
matthew.mellen@bioregional.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(38) The Bristol
Happiness Lectures,
Sat May 19th, 2 - 5pm,
Bristol
Could rethinking our
approach to happiness
be a key strand in the
Great Turning? The
findings of positive
psychology suggest
that more
materialistic people
tend to be less
satisfied with their
lives, and that acting
for meaning purposes
is a reliable way of
becoming happier. This
half day of lectures
introduces the
positive psychology
approach, and explores
its practical
applications.
With Dr Ilona Boniwell
and Dr Chris Johnstone
At the Powell Lecture
Theatre, Bristol
University, Tyndalls
Avenue, Bristol.
Tickets £20 (concs
available).
For further
information and
booking, contact The
Centre For Public
Engagement,
Bristol University,
8-10, Berkeley Square,
Bristol BS8 1HH, Tel
0117 928 7172.
Email
cont-ed@bristol.ac.uk
Web info, see p.74
from downloaded
brochure at
www.bris.ac.uk/cms/cpe/LLL-Spr-2007.pdf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(39)The
Sheila McKechnie
Foundation Awards for
Grassroots Campaigners
Campaigners are a
vital part of a
healthy democracy.
There are hundreds of
active campaigners in
local communities,
public services,
business and the
not-for-profit sector
- people with courage
and vision, whose work
benefits all of us.
Yet help to develop
their campaigning
potential is often
inaccessible. The
Sheila McKechnie
Foundation has been
set up to support
campaigners across the
UK; individuals who
tackle the root causes
of injustice and
unfairness and work to
develop sustainable
and innovative
solutions for social
change.
The Foundation works
in three main areas:
·
Developing
national and
grassroots campaigners
by providing
expertise, advice and
support
·
Bringing
together
campaigners and
influencers for mutual
support and shared
learning
·
Championing
the right to campaign
by seeking to
influence policy
developments that
affect all campaigners
The Foundation’s
primary mission is to
strengthen the
voluntary sector by
promoting and
supporting
campaigning, giving
campaigners access to
in-depth campaigning
know-how and
opportunities that
would otherwise be
unavailable to them.
For more information,
see their website at
www.sheilamckechnie.org.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP PRESS -
ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(40) Environmental
Constellations 3rd and
4th March 2007 with
Zita Cox
at
Manordeilo, Llandeilo,
Wales
Two Day workshop Do
you care about the
environment? Are you
curious about your own
connection to the
natural world? Do you
think it is time to
include the more than
human world in our
thinking, our dreaming
and our solutions? We
are all interconnected
parts of family,
organisation,
community and eco
systems. The
difficulties we
struggle with are
often best resolved
when we work
systemically.
Constellations (based
upon the work of Bert
Hellinger) are an
innovative way of
gaining insight into
the systems we are a
part of.
Constellations provide
a living map of
systems and access a
deep intelligence
which can reveal new
creative and
imaginative
possibilities. New
pathways to action and
understanding can then
be perceived.
cost:£95
contact for booking:
Sue Weaver Tel 01550
777402
contact email address:
llwynbwch@freeola.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(41) 'Return to
the garden ' (Part
One: 'Creation') 31st
March 2007,
Glastonbury, with Ian
Rees
The first of three
workshops oganised by
'The Isthmus Project'.
In this time of
fragmentation &
disconnection there is
a need to move away
from old forms and
remember the deeper
reality of oneness and
interconnectedness.
This fragmentation is
both personal and
global. We live with
the cost on all levels
of our being and it
influences all aspects
of our lives and the
life of the planet.
Central to the healing
process is the idea of
'Anima Mundi, the soul
of the world, Gaia as
a living spiritual
being. Our work
involves exploring our
relationship with this
living intelligence.
In this we in good
company.... we draw
from the mystical
traditions, alchemy,
poetry, story and
mythology, dream-work,
the deep ecology
movement, living
systems theory and
psycho-spiritual
psychotherapy. The
Isthmus project aims
to gather people
together to practice
the knowing of the
heart, encouraging
each other in
individual and
collective
transformation.
cost: £120
contact for booking:
Ian Rees 01458 833382
contact email address:
greenway@globalnet.co.uk
event web link:
www.glastonburynaturalhealth.co.uk/IanReespage.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(42)
Council of All Beings
25th to 27th
May 2007, Somerset
with Dearbhaile
Bradley
- residential weekend
(mostly camping)
A council of All
Beings is where we
invite different
beings to give voice
to their experience of
the planetary crisis
and to offer us their
wisdom in how we can
address the issues
that most concern us.
On the Friday evening
we share what has lead
us to want to hear
what the other beings
who share this planet
with us have to say to
us.
On Saturday we invite
another being to come
to us and communing
with the being we will
be giving voice to at
the Council of All
Beings including
making a mask
representing the being
that has chosen us.
On Sunday we hold the
council which takes
place in three phases.
1 The Beings
introduce themselves
and talk about how the
crisis affects them.
2 The Beings
address us as humans,
sharing what they feel
about what humans are
doing.
3 The Beings
each offer us a gift
to help us find our
way through this
crisis to a place
where we can share the
planet in harmony with
them and all other
beings.
Then we have a circle
sharing how the
experience impacted us
and making sure that
all of us have
returned to human
consciousness and
leave ready to pick up
the threads of our
lives. It's a pretty
amazing process and I
am thrilled to say
that I now have a
perfect venue, a
professional
mask-maker on board to
work with making the
masks (you get to take
it home!) and will be
providing wonderful
vegetarian food! There
are 25 places in all,
so if you are
interested do let me
know.
For booking and
information contact
Dearbhaile Bradley by
email at:
dearbhaile@dearbhaile.wanadoo.co.uk
website:
http://www.goodwillpatterns.co.uk/workshops/political.php
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(43)
Green Works -
Creative Eco-writing
course With Helen
Moore
The Ecocabin, Obley,
Shropshire – 16th -
20th June 2007
Based in the tranquil
settings of the
Ecocabin and
surrounding Shropshire
Hills, this innovative
course will inspire
prose/poetry writing
directly from the
natural world.
Drawing on the work
of diverse nature
writers, and on the
principles of deep
ecology, participants
will experience four
differently themed
days, with guided
writing exercises,
Nature walks, and
constructive feedback.
Areas of focus will
include:
· the use of
notebooks and Nature
journaling
· honing our
observation skills
· finding
language and form that
reflects the essence
of our subjects
· connecting
with the non-human
world
· celebrating
diversity and beauty
Helen Moore is a
professional
eco-poet/environmental
artist-writer.
For details about her
work, visit:
http://www.natures-words.co.uk/
Places limited, so
EARLY booking is
advised!
Designed for writers
of all levels, the
course is open to
residential &
non-residential
guests, & includes a
vegetarian lunch each
day.
Course fees for 4 days
– Non-residential
guests: £125 per
person Residential
guests (5 nights):
£250/300 per person
(sharing/not sharing
room)
F.F.I. visit:
http://www.ecocabin.co.uk/
To book a place,
contact:
kate@ecocabin.co.uk
Phone: 01547 530183
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(44) Ecopsychology
group in Hertfordshire
Sandra White will be
starting off a new
eco-psychology group
in Hertfordshire soon.
It will be a
facilitated group, and
you can get
further details from
Sandra by emailing her
at
sandraw@greenspirit.org.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(45) Wildwood
Journeys - Devon,
range of dates, April
to October
Message received from
Robin Mulder:
Wildwoods Journeys
invites you on an
adventure to unlock
the secrets of nature
and to interpret the
subtle messages of the
woods so that you see
through the eyes of a
native. Nature
awareness skills, bird
language and
eco-literacy open up a
whole new world,
whilst bushcraft
skills such as making
wild fire by friction
and shelters to sleep
in give you a
grounding in the
practical aspects of
being in the woods .
Become able to
identify many
medicinal and edible
plants, and the many
uses of the trees help
deepen your
understanding. As the
camp unfolds and we
run the sweatlodge
,we begin to see
ways in which we are
not separate from
nature, that we just
experience it that
way.
Courses take place in
semi-ancient woodland
running through two
hidden valleys in an
area of deepest Devon
rich in bio-diversity
and teeming with life.
Course dates are April
21st -25th, May
12th-18th, June
23-29th, July
21st-27th, Aug
11th-15th, Sept
15th-21st, Oct
13th-17th
To book on courses or
for more information
see:
www.wildwoodjourneys.co.uk
<http://www.wildwoodjourneys.co.uk/>
or contact: Wildwood
Journeys
Landmatters
Permaculture Project
Allaleigh,
Blackawton,
Totnes,
Devon TQ9 6JP
E-mail:
courses@wildwoodjourneys.co.uk
Tel:
07816-687186
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(46)
Psychology–Ecology–Sustainability
June 8-10, 2007
Lewis and Clark
College, Portland,
Oregon, USA
Psychologists and
mental health
professionals have a
special role to play
in the great human
endeavor to create a
sustainable future.
Join us for three days
of presentations,
dialogue, and small
group discussions, as
we consider the
critical intersection
between psychology,
ecology, and
sustainability.
see
http://www.earthleadershipcenter.org/psf/pes
for details
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(47) Endquote:
“the uncertainty of
our times is no reason
to be certain about
hopelessness” Vandana
Shiva.
Next edition due out
in early May.
Copy date for entries
is last day of April.
Please let me know of
events, news,
resources etc you
would like included.
Please also keep
entries short, ideally
about 100-300 words.
Email Chris Johnstone
at
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
