Turn the Systems Inside Out Workshop
“As we awaken to the interconnectedness of all our systems, we see that we cannot change, for example our energy technologies without changing the economic systems that supports them. We learn as well that all of our external institutions reflect our basic perceptions of the world, our invisible ideologies and belief systems.” – Charles Eisenstein
Last year Beth and Ray Mylius initiated a discussion group on System Change which resulted in a workshop at the Box Factory last month. It was encouraging to have the event fully booked a week in advance, with over 50 people from various environmental groups attending on the day.
In the first half of the event we had presentations from: Ben Mylius and Peter Burdon on Systems Thinking and how changing the legal system to give rights to nature can help address the ecological problems we face; and Paul Downton spoke on the role of art in raising awareness of environmental problems – an important first step in creating change.
Following a delicious shared afternoon tea, participants broke into small groups for discussion centered on three questions.
1. What systems are there and how do they interact and what is the outcome of this?
2. What enables the systems to work despite growing dissatisfaction with them?
3. What new work needs to be done to change the system and how to we approach this?
Big issues to cover in one afternoon and while we sadly didn’t solve all the worlds problems on the day there were a number of lively discussions and good connections made between people from different networks.
Looking over the notes from the discussions its several themes became apparent:
- The centrality of ecology in systems change and the future
- The importance of community
- Building a strong community through sharing
- A continuum of protest
- Utilising the machinery of government
- Education for the future
- Communication for the future
- Caring for yourself as the world changes
See full list of Workshop Actions and References.
If you are interested in joining in the discussion on Systems Change there is facebook group – see www.facebook.com/groups/237930786330599/
