Hmm. There is an under-recognised ‘learned helplessness’ in much of the discussion about climate change. It is the habit of ‘talking about’ things – expressing ideas, feelings, opinions, ‘calls for’ and other general discourse with no action component.
We need to talk, of course. What is missing is a component of ‘designing for success’.
Let me explain.
In the 1970s Matt and Gail Taylor developed DesignShops. They foresaw that the time would come when the complexity of the world’s environmental problems could only be solved by a new order of collaboration between business, government, and civil society. They thought that the technology to facilitate such collaboration did not exist, so they invented it.
Matt had a background in architecture (he worked with Frank Lloyd Wright) and construction; Gail engaged her primary school class in an enquiry process that put them two years ahead of grade level. They understood how to make creativity effective.
DesignShops have never been used for their original purpose. But they have been used for decades by businesses with really challenging problems. The general process is worth noting here.
DesignShops typically run for three days. At the beginning, the facilitator actively prevents the group from going into problem-solving. Instead, they explore the situation from many different angles, and from many different points of view. At some point someone – it could be a shop floor foreman; it could be the CEO – comes up with a whole new line of approach that the group resonates with.
Having a new line of approach is crucial, of course, because the current business-as-usual isn’t working.
Now here’s the kicker. The final day is devoted to working out how to make the new approach work.
DesignShop folks summarise this whole process as SCAN > FOCUS > ACT.
In my view, a proper SCAN in the context of climate change would canvass all the major drivers that make climate change worse. Major factors include devotion to economic growth, fossil fuels, industrial design, population growth, and undue corporate influence on governments (thus obstructing constructive action on climate change).
It would also recognise that climate change is far from being our only existential threat. Think of freshwater depletion, species loss, toxins in the food chain…
And it would recognise that we live in a militarised economic-industrial system (a domination-control system, as Riane Eisler would put it), and that evolving to a society that operate on partnership respect values (i.e., caring for people and planet) is essential for our future well-being.
Ah, but what should our FOCUS be? It seems to me that much of the Deep Adaptation discussion is about accepting our doom (please tell me if I’m incorrect about this).
I think that we need our fighting spirit. Some cancer patients come to acceptance, and die at peace. This is to be honoured. Other cancer patients respond proactively, and do all they can to recover health. Some of them succeed.
Earlier in this thread Elzanne Roos highlighted the importance of meaning. I am committed to the well-being of coming generations, and therefore committed to doing everything I can to turn things around to the extent still possible.
With a ‘wicked problem’, it helps to have a goal. Adapting language from Joanna Macy I suggest that
The task of our time is to transition to a life-affirming culture, rather than continuing on our present course of ecological self-destruction.
I propose this as an appropriate overarching FOCUS for the entire environmental-progressive movement. Aiming to achieve this provides an order of meaning that goes beyond our own personal psychology.
ACT comes next – designing for success.
I think there are three problems to be solved:
· Getting out of our own thought bubbles. This applies to the whole environmental-progressive movement, not just RSA. How do we engage the unengaged?
· Helping people grasp the systemic nature of our challenges. Overall our whole society operates in ways that make climate change worse. There are no simple solutions.
· Inspiring mainstream commitment to doing everything required to reverse course to the extent still possible, and evolve a society that operates within planetary boundaries and take care of people.
Thanks for bearing with me so far. I have just a little bit more.
One way to get out of our own thought bubbles for the members of the millions of groups that care about environmental and social well-being to act as citizen-educators. By talking with our friends, neighbours and business colleagues we can reach the mainstream, because we are all part of the mainstream.
Of course, this will only be effective if we can take it to scale. Hence the idea of getting the members of groups to act as citizen educators. As an example, I am in discussion now with GetUp!, the largest activist group in Australia. I propose that they encourage their million-plus members to act as citizen-educators. Of course, the RSA, the Pachamama Alliance, Avaaz, and the Deep Adaptation network could do this as well – and there are (literally) millions of other groups.
I have set up the Great Transition Initiative as a support platform for citizen-educators and thought catalysts. We have colleagues in England, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, United States, Canada, and Australia.
We provide ready-to-use communication tools including sample emails, guerrilla marketing tactics and Kitchen Table Conversations. Kitchen Table Conversations use labels on beer coasters to enable people to keep track of conversations about the systemic changes necessary to reduce CO2 emissions. The idea came from a former stage magician turned corporate spruikster; he said that people like to have physical objects to hang ideas on. People like it.
I appeal to all on this thread to critically review what we are doing, and if it makes sense, lend your influence to it. The best place to start is to read Catalysing mass commitment to transformational change.
My bottom line is this:
Greta Thunberg will have reason to hope when she sees that mainstream society is committed to turning things around.
I’m happy to talk!
Andrew Gaines
andrewgaines (at) greattransition.net
Sydney
#gr8transition #nvaction
