Whatever Pedals Your Bike

Collective feedback: how to disclose what everyone is talking about

2007-05-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

With regards to the way in which the ABCD is used or not supposed to be used....or how the FSSD is not the SSD framework, or that there is not an SSD package? Or that SSD is more general and what we have learned is a framework? Questions, conversations arise- and there is some miscommunication and feelings of animosity towards the way information feels cryptic or slightly secretive- or not wholly sure of itself? How do we go out into the world and share what has been learned without being fearful of misrepresentation? And with uncertainties flowing throughout- how might one leave the program feeling confident, feeling like a contribution has come from the growing pains of the program? How many will recommend the program now? Is this somehow related to the confusion over these issues?

What is the best way to disclose information that everyone seems to be talking about? How can top management best receive this information to be able to consider its importance and faciliate participation from those who are feeling violated, uneasy, fearful, or angry? What if feedback came from one representative, and the thoughts of the collective were distilled in a clear way to be shared... Is this not practicing transparency? Or is this self-organization? Are the givers of the feedback then disconnected- at which point they turn responsibility over to one? Is it better that each individual share? Is this cumbersome- does each individual need support of his/her fellows to feel that their opinion is valid? What is the vision of success for the group? Why do they want to be heard? Is it that they want to be understood or are they looking to prevent the same from happening to others... or to themselves in the future? What is the delay involved? And how many assumptions are underlying each persons thoughts and opinions? How is it framed in a way that is not blame?

10 Dimensions to wrap your mind around

2007-05-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

Armadillo medicine and thoughts become things

2007-05-10T00:11:00.001-07:00

Drawing from the wisdom of elders from ancients tradions, like that of the Mayan, Yaqui, Aztec, and the native peoples of the Cherokee, Lakota, Seneca, Chotaw, and Cheyanne tribes, David Carsona and Jamie Sams, shamans and healers, have devised a deck of cards that seeks to share the lessons of the animal kingdom and reconect us with the natural world. They accompany a book entitled Medicine Cards
In better understanding what thousands of years of ancient peoples have learnt from all of their relations- the four-legged, the winged ones, the finned ones- we can open the doorway to a more connected awareness and oneness with all life. The medicine cards help guide us on the path- towards realizing our true selves. Like the Tarot tradition, the cards may be drawn and spread as a map of challenges and opportunities. Likewise, any way one wishes to make use of the teachings is equally valuable. Sometimes, I draw a card in the morning, to spark my connection with the universal oneness and guide the day's journey in a conscious and learningful way. Today, the shuffle unveiled the Armadillo card.
Armadillo gives us the power to set boundaries for ourselves, like the protective hard shell it wears on its back. This is not to be taken in a paranoid, distrustful way, rather with Armadillo medicine you can prevent others from invading your sacred space and allowing others to cloud your core purpose or values. This is helpful for letting misguided words- that appear as insults to roll right off you. Likewise, the boundaries allow you to be true to yourself inorder to best express your unique gifts. The medicine suggests drawing a circle - and inside the circle, writing what you wish you life to be, what you want, what you enjoy, what you connect with, what you are striving for. I might add- what you are grateful for. Another way might be to take a stick and draw a big one in the sand- and dance inside, all the while- focused on your unique vision. This is especially powerful in the the shifting paradigm of the quantum world and fostering the Power of Attraction where thoughts become things (Mike Dooley). Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science, also speaks of the Great attractor and the creative tension that exists when a vision of succcess in set forth and life is lived in tow of the vision.
Something to learn from in the social organization of the armadillo clan- especially as interdependence is better understood, especially from a subsitence level, and and natural resources must be shared for the benefit of all. Armadillos build dens uderground to sleep in. They will often share their dens with other armadillos as well as with other animals, such as skunks, rabbits, and oppossums. Here is an overview list of what each animal represents in the broad sense, although, like much of our language, there is much meaning behind each word and its ability to connect us to the world.
Eagle Spirit), Hawk (Messenger), Elk (Stamina), Deer (Gentleness),
Bear (Introspection), Snake (Transmutation), Skunk (Reputation),
Otter (Woman Medicine), Butterfly (Transformation),
Turtle (Mother Earth), Moose (Self-Esteem), Porcupine (Innocence),
Coyote (Trickster), Dog (Loyalty), Wolf (Teacher), Raven (Magic),
Mountain Lion (Leadership), Lynx (Secrets), Buffalo (Prayer & Abundance),Mouse (Scrutiny), Owl (Deception), Beaver (Builder), Opossum, (Diversion) Crow (Law), Fox (Camouflage), Squirrel (Gathering), Dragonfly, (Illusion) Armadillo (Boundaries), Badger (Aggressiveness), Rabbit (Fear), Turkey (Give-Away), Ant (Patience), Weasel (Stealth), Grouse (Sacred Spiral), Horse (Power), Lizard (Dreaming), Antelope (Action), Frog (Cleansing), Swan (Grace), Dolphin (Manna),Whale (Record Keeper), Bat (Rebirth), Spider (Weaving), Hummingbird (Joy),Blue Heron (Self-Reflection), Raccoon (Generous Protector),Prairie Dog (Retreat), Wild Boar (Confrontation),Salmon (Wisdom/Inner Knowing), Alligator (Integration),Jaguar (Integrity/Impeccability), Black Panther (Embracing the Unknown)

Osho Dynamic Meditation

2007-04-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

Week 2 of Osho. The journey continues. We did a five day session two weeks ago and return again this week. Some phrases that describe the last journey: spiritual-emotional-physical release, clenching, pounding, shaking, mental-phyiscal challenge, euphoria, anger, fear, pain is sensation, clarity, exhaustion, flow, imagination, butterfly being, laughter, energetic vibration spewing from forearms and hands, unearthing the shadow self, accepting and letting go, playing.

Osho Dynamic Meditation
Dynamic Meditation lasts one hour and is in five stages. It can be done alone, and will be even more powerful if it is done with others. It is an individual experience so you should remain oblivious of others around you and keep your eyes closed throughout, preferably using a blindfold. It is best to have an empty stomach and wear loose, comfortable clothing. The music in each section carries the section and serves as a guide for the experience.

“This is a meditation in which you have to be continuously alert, conscious, aware, whatsoever you do. Remain a witness. Don’t get lost. While you are breathing you can forget. You can become one with the breathing so much that you can forget the witness. But then you miss the point.

“Breathe as fast as possible, as deep as possible; bring your total energy to it but still remain a witness. Observe what is happening as if you are just a spectator, as if the whole thing is happening to somebody else, as if the whole thing is happening in the body and the consciousness is just centered and looking.

“This witnessing has to be carried in all the three steps. And when everything stops, and in the fourth step you have become completely inactive, frozen, then this alertness will come to its

First Stage: 10 minutes

Breathe chaotically through the nose, concentrating always on exhalation. The body will take care of the inhalation. The breath should move deeply into the lungs. Be as fast as you can in your breathing, making sure the breathing stays deep. Do this as fast and as hard as you possibly can – and then a little harder, until you literally become the breathing. Use your natural body movements to help you to build up your energy. Feel it building up, but don’t let go during the first stage.

Second Stage: 10 minutes

Explode! Express everything that needs to be thrown out. Go totally mad. Scream, shout, cry, jump, shake, dance, sing, laugh; throw yourself around. Hold nothing back; keep your whole body moving. A little acting often helps to get you started. Never allow your mind to interfere with what is happening. Be total, be whole hearted.

Third Stage: 10 minutes
With raised arms, jump up and down shouting the mantra, “Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!” as deeply as possible. Each time you land, on the flats of your feet, let the sound hammer deep into the sex center. Give all you have; exhaust yourself totally.

Fourth Stage

Stop! Freeze wherever you are, in whatever position you find yourself. Don’t arrange the body in any way. A cough, a movement – anything will dissipate the energy flow and the effort will be lost. Be a witness to everything that is happening to you.

Fifth Stage: 15 minutes

Celebrate through dance, expressing your gratitude towards the whole. Carry your happiness with you throughout the day.

Climate Change Movie

2007-04-08T02:46:00.000-07:00

Strategies for Motivating Transformation

2007-04-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

I've checked into Alan Atkisson some more. Haven't yet read his book, although Sean has...here's a review
"Believing Cassandra is really interesting, clarifying and inspiring. Read it and you'll not only know how to think sustainability and do sustainability—you'll know how to dance, sing and laugh it as well. At the same time, the ideas are dead serious—and I mean dead. If we don't get it right, this sustainability thing, much will die in our clumsy human hands. Alan AtKisson gives us tools to understand where we are, where we're headed and how to change. What could be better—an important book that's a great read."
—Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life

In Believing Cassandra, titled after Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, the last king of Troy, Apollo gifted her the ability to see the future. When she refused his special favors, he cursed her gift, so no one would believe her prophecies. The Greek myth mirrors what environmentalists have been sadly up against since at least 1972, with Donella Meadow's book Beyond Limits, and the 30-year updated version Limits to Growth in which the authors poignantly explain, with a special equation, that its not feasibly possible to survive at this pace of consumption and we cannot continue using resources at the current rates. The premise, here, is believe Cassandra!
Well, now that we believe Cassandra-come on with The Great Global Warming Swindle people- Bleak, maybe. Choice, maybe not- might as well be on the party boat if you catch my drift. Get out there, and be a feverish force of change and positivity.

3 Strategies for motivating transformation
Promote the new, critique the old, and facilitate the switch
1. Promote the new: Brainstorm the percieved value of the new way. Explicitly. Blog it, mindmap it, list it, write a song, draw it. whatever you're into. Perceived here means what is meaningful to you, not what you're supposed to feel or supposed to appreciate. It may look like a systems map where the effects ripple throughout other parts of your life. Another lens to run the new idea, or change you want to make through is Max-Neef's 9 Basic Needs. They are protection, subsistence, identity, affection, understanding, participation, idleness, creativity, and freedom per Max Neef. How well does is satisfy these? My friend Georges Dyer expliains it a bit more here- 9 Universal Needs.
2. critique the old: Then you do the same for the 'perceived' value of the old way.
3. perceived cost of the change: List, mindmap - dig down and pull out what makes us squirm, emotionally, financially...At what espense is it to you to change?
4. Substract the value of the old way from the value of the new way and hopefully its greater than the perceived cost of change. Its not so much about hard numbers, rather if you believe in the benefit.
5. facilitate the switch and make it easy to change the behavior, so you lower the perceived cost to zero and if you're crafty the costs removed- free up space for other satisfiers, clean out the closets so to speak. Open up to opportunity.

Five filters to run the idea or innovation through:
1. Relative advantage- How do the benefits weigh agaist the costs?
2. Complexity- How difficult is the concept to understand
3. Trialabiliy- Can it be tried, scrutinized, and then returned, or droppped?
4. Observability- Are the results observable? Is there appropriate feedback? or lots of delay?
5. Compatibility-is it compatible with your values and your vision of a successful future?

This method can apply to something small, like shifting to organics- something personal, like wanting to run more, or to a big innovation or decision, like changing a job...any level. I'll let you know how it goes.

Shashuka Dinner

2007-04-02T05:48:00.001-07:00

Sunday Dinner at Dan Hendry's Mihal and Yali shared a a traditional Israeli dish, eggs, peppers, onions, garlic, homemade pita, tahini & eggplant dip

In Lund for Yali's art opening 'Neglect'

2007-04-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

Yali presented his photogrpahic work entitled Neglect in Lund. The pictures were taken in Israel, Yali's homeland, and were representative of the spirit that endures in neglect.

Vegan Chocolate Cake will make you happy fast

2007-04-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

The digits: 5 minutes to prepare, 25 to bake. 375F. Now go. like the wind.
Buy organic, fairtrade and local if possible...and run over to the neighbors house for whatever you're missing. Good cake makes good neighbors. This is a Moosewood Restaurant recipe.
1-1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar (raw or sucanet preferred)
1/2 cup vegetable oil*
1 cup cold water or brewed coffee
2 tsps pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp vinegar (Yes, vinegar)
Be creative: subsitute honey for sugar, baking poweder for soda, butter for oil...whatever
1. Sift together the dry goods right in the pan (non-greased) you'll bake in. less dishes.
2. In a bowl, add the water (or coffee), and vanilla. Slowly now, pour the liquid ingredients into the baking pan and mix the batter
3. When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be pale swirls (and some bubbling) in the batter where the baking soda and vinegar are reacting. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter (the color becomes more consistent throughout). Get 'er in the oven now. Check in 20 minues. knife test. it. Add frosting. I sprinked cinnamon and sugar on some yogurt.

The NEWS

2007-04-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

World Changing: Another world is here
This is my goto site at the moment.
Grist
Grist feels more mainstream and throws in the satire

Alan Atkisson: change agent

2007-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Alan Atkisson's sustainability service, from what I can gather thus far, incorporates SSD, some of what The Natural Step promotes..and focuses on process and organizational learning. He seems to provide lots of good process tools, found in the Accelerator toolkit. My housemate, Sean met him last week at a conference in Spain on sustainability and just finished his book, Believing Cassandra: An Optimist Looks at a Pessimist's World. I'm interested to explore his methods more.

Facilitating Emergence

2007-04-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Chris Corrigan
This is a link to his website.

Back in the beginning of the year we practiced open space technology and I blogged it. Chris Corrigan is a dialogue/ co-creation facilatator. He practices the art of rock balancing and there's 40 ways to mediatate on his blog. He got Thoreau in there too and all these links about unschooling. good stuff. These are seeds for my present and future...

Chris says..
"I am a facilitator of conversation in the service of emergence. My business is supporting invitation: the invitation to collaborate, to organize, to find one another and make a difference in our communities, organizations and lives. In a changing and complex world, there are no answers, there is no certainty. Leadership and questions are everywhere. We are called to be in active engagement with the world around us, to make sense of things we are seeing and to act on our visions and ideas for the good and benefit of all."

How to Disappear and get your community off the radar

2007-04-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Pass this around. Its good ol' fashioned pen and ink.

by Pete Leki
HOW TO DISAPPEAR

Especially fun for Walmart neysayers
and you cats that have faith in a sustainable future

Being Sticky

2007-03-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

Three thoughts:
1.Meet people where they are at and make the knowledge you hold about climate change tangible, concrete and relevant

2. Seek to REGENERATE.

3. We are not at WAR with Climate Change. We have been invited to heal and to envision a harmonic future. This is an honor.
best stated... "The true joy of life is being used for a purpose you consider a mighty one-the being a force of nature rather than a feverish, selfish cold of ailments and greivances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." uknown

When we utter the big scary words, CLIMATE CHANGE...duhn dhuh dhone... it invokes this bigger than thou feeling. It's too big for little 'ol me to deal with. "I mean, I would really love to help, but where would I start?" There are some tricks to the trade as they say, heuristics, rules of thumb for dancing with this one. When the conversation bubbles to the big CC. You may be encountered with feelings of despair, or apathy, or plain and honest. "I can't wrap my head around this. I don't know what to do".

If you've spent years distilling the nuances of the environmental movement, from Rachel Carson to Biosphere II to Gore and the big unveiling of "oh man are we f-cked", we must be mindful of what and how we share our understanding. You will ultimately effect the motivation and well-being of the people involved. If we are to help them see the world with a new set of eyes, we cannot give them the full unabridged manual, the sombering truths, the hard facts, the species count and say. Here you go. Get to it. This will not work.

1. We need to begin with an understanding of where the other is at.

What are they passionate about?
What do they understand about CC, about sustainability?
How does it make them feel?

Because CC and sustainability effects everything, you can find a way to connect. This is a challenge.. and asks you to be creative and find ways to have meaningful conversations about a topic that otherwise may be most diligently avoided at all costs.

2. Conversations need to be simple. It is not about winning. It is about honoring the other.

You need to phrase things in a way that does not seek to put your conversation partner into the depths of scientific darkness. Do not try to dazzle them with the "I know everything attitude" and "You subsequently know nothing". In fact is is you that has everything to gain from understanding this other person's perspective. You undermine your ability to be effective if you believe and materialize an air about you that you know it all. This, then is a blunder for your own development. Remember you seek to regenerate yourself as much as the other. The superiority, inferiority game. Save it. This won't work for either you or them. period. Your value is not won, it is shown through your ability to understand the other persons level of knowledge and match them there. Your value is in honoring the diversity and value in the other, acknowledging it and empowering them to share their love, their talent with others in a meaningful way in a journey towards restoration.

-Use concrete examples that speak to local areas.
-Don't just speak with big global statistics, yes there is a time for this, when we are assessing a high level systems perspective, and leave it there.
-Speak to people in a manner that is tangible, relevant, and concrete.
-Share a story, and at that, share a success.

3. Envisioning where we want to be. Adapt your mindset.
Our new way of seeing the world does not dwell on past failures or drill so deeply into one idea that all other parts of the system are ignored. Instead, we dwell with passionate fervor on what we want to create, of what we want to heal or restore. We dwell on the vision of success of sorting out this... CLIMATE CHANGE thing with a new mindset. It is not a beast that we fear. And if we see it this way, we will continue the war-like behavior that perpetuates. The war of Drugs, The War on Terror, The War on Iraq.

Be not mistaken. THis is not A WAR on CLIMATE CHANGE. This is a partnership with earth to try harder at peace. Earth has spoken. We have heard her cries. Now that we hear, now that we know, we can take her hand and heal.

Costa Rica Aims to Become First "Carbon Neutral" Country

2007-03-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica Aims to Become First "Carbon Neutral" Country
WorldChanging Team
March 14, 2007 11:51 AM

The Costa Rican government is developing plans to begin offsetting all of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions, the news service La Nación reported on February 21. Environment and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles said Costa Rica aims to reach this goal using budgeting, laws, and incentives, including measures to promote biofuels, hybrid vehicles, and clean energy. Another key component of the national strategy will be a “C-Neutral” label to certify that tourism and certain industrial practices mitigate all of the carbon dioxide they emit.

Under the new certification system, tourists and businesses will be charged a voluntary “tax” to offset their carbon emissions, with one ton of carbon valued at $10, according to La Nación. The money will be used to fund conservation, reforestation, and research in protected areas. To augment the development of C-Neutral, the country is cultivating a carbon certificate market that aims to not only boost carbon capture and storage in the nation’s forests, but also help maintain their scenic beauty.

In 2002, Costa Rica’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels totaled 5.8 million metric tons, according to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, ranking it 108th in the world. Delegates at a recent United Nations meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, noted that they were watching Costa Rica’s initiative and hope to replicate it in other regions.

A Lil' Slice of Karlskrona Life

2006-10-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

Pizza's 68-70 from the million pizzas project
DOUGH YO.
1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F to 115°F)
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons active dry yeast (about 1 1/2 envelopes)
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal (for dusting)
Brush large bowl with oil. Mix warm water and sugar in processor. Sprinkle yeast over; stir to dissolve. Let stand until mixture bubbles, about 10 minutes. Add flour, 4 1/2 tablespoons oil, and salt. Process 1 minute. Transfer dough to floured surface; knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Transfer to prepared bowl, turning to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Sprinkle cornmeal over rimmed baking sheet. Divide dough into 6 equal portions; roll each into ball. Space dough balls evenly on baking sheet. Lightly spray large sheet of plastic wrap with nonstick spray; place over dough, sprayed side down. Refrigerate 1 hour before rolling and baking.

Makes 6 crusts

Copenhagen: bikers of the world unite

2006-10-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

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School has been keeping me busy...after this week, the final exam will be over and I'll update a bit more... until then...here is an afternoon picnic on Monique's dock, some pics of classmates in our common room. That's Vivana from Columbia in front....a couple of pics from Copenhagen, some friends on church stairs in Denmark...a typical weekend in Copenhagen channel side, all that is beautiful and bikable...There really are this many bikes..I have a special place in my heart for Denmark. Lastly, the dock at the farm I live at. HEj Do!

2006-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Karlskrona, Blekinge, Sweden, Biosphere, Earth

2006-09-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

I have a new found interest in rain drops...big ones, little ones, some plop, some spatter.... This one exploded in Kirk's hand. And there's all this exciting new gear that goes along with my hobby...like rain pants, a poncho, an umbrella....oh....if I only had a rain hat, I'd be the happiest girl in the world!

this kitchen is a blessing....fully stocked when we arrived

At Skarva..the road home

Mirelle from Quebec and Katie from California

still waters

Hej, I'm here, really.

2006-08-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

To those family and friends that would prefer to read about and see lots of fun pictures. i apologize for the lenghty and heady summaries of the articles I am reading. I was just trying to figure out how to best retain the information and figured blogging was abit more fun, than, typing word documents. I think I will have to archive or create two streams, perhaps even two blogs....i 'm not sure just now. It is late and there is so much more to document and yet I've left you all hanging on how I acually feel....um yes, I'm not just an information regurfitation machine, I'm actually living here and well.. on a level that is almost surreal....I continually think that I'm in Narnia and I know, as in Narnia a long cold winter will ensue, and until then I will enjoy the pleasantness of the enchanted forests and super clear night skies and pleasant bike rides. The house we share is Swiss Family Robinson style, except its not in a tree, but that would be cool too. We cook together, me Maria, and Lawrence, and share stories and keep track of the, I don't know, like 10 animals. Yes, it's a farm. And I pick fresh organic vegetables, and cruise over to the Eco-butik for natural foods.....and well...it's pretty blissful. I enjoy my 1940's bike, especially today as i discovered beauty in the slowness of its gait. And today, well, today as Dr. Karl Henrik Robert laid out the principles and his heart for us....I know that this is exactly what I'm meant to be doing right now and it feels really good. and .........12:46...good night.

Our SLTS Manifesto

2006-08-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Opening Thoughts of the SLTS Class of 2006-07
2006 August 29

I. Our Motivation

We are the Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability class of 2006-7. We choose to challenge ourselves at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden where dedicated pioneers of sustainability find inspiration and support amongst the tradition of this innovative and holistic Master’s program. We choose to form networks and exchange ideas and experience with a growing community of international students and professors. We welcome diversity of experience and cultural perspectives when exploring sustainability topics and leadership skills. We strive to learn sound sustainability principles based on systems thinking, and the successes and short comings of current sustainability initiatives. We wish to gain and strengthen our leadership skills, and tools for implementing sustainability practices personally, in our communities, businesses and government. We desire to introduce, improve and implement sustainability strategies in developing countries. We recognize social equity, economic prosperity and peaceful relations to be important components of sustainable processes. We hope to find personal fulfillment and sustainability success through right livelihood and a strengthened awareness and connection to the earth community.

II. The following questions lie at the heart of our work as sustainability leaders:

Tools

How can we creatively energize the sustainability movement?

How can you focus in a subject with endless direction?

How can a group of people with diverse backgrounds and personalities self-organize and work together to learn and create a practical and positive impact?

What are the practical tools and processes that we can gain from The Natural Step Principles that can be applied to bring about a paradigm shift and solve problems?

How do we measure progress towards sustainability?

Applications

We are inspired by the application of sustainable principles, technologies and frameworks. Specifically, we will explore these applications to further develop our abilities, skills and collective knowledge.

How do we integrate sustainability into the initial phases of planning and innovation?

How can we change our lifestyle to meet the requirements of a sustainable society?

How can we influence strategic planning in a non-sustainable society?

How do I begin implementing the process of change towards sustainability?

How can we implement new educational strategies for improving our environmental systems?

How do we incorporate the TNS framework within the media for better promotion of sustainability?

Community
Community is understood as the physical and virtual realm in which people lead their lives. Community is the level at which individuals can successfully effect change as they interact with one another, governments and other organizations.
- How can we bring people together to create a sustainable society?
- How can we create a community dialogue that fosters sustainability?
- How can cities be designed and managed sustainably taking land use, energy, waste, transportation and social needs into account?
- How can we promote simple and joyful living in the context of community for all humanity?

Business
Within a framework set by society and governments, businesses gather people, resources and capital to create wealth. Very often, businesses have pursued profits at the expense of all other goals and have thus led to unsustainable societies, even unintentionally.
- How does one implement cooperative business models to foster sustainable business initiatives?
- How can the triple bottom line approach become the economic standard for business?
- How can greenwashing be turned around to be true sustainable growth?

Government
Along with citizens, community groups, other members of “civil society” and private sector organizations, governments at all levels (national, regional and municipal), with their democratic mandate, are key actors in implementing sustainability, for example in establishing the right policy and fiscal frameworks for society’s stakeholders to act upon.
- How do we encourage governing bodies to support sustainability?
- What level of policy is needed or acceptable for shifting behavioural consciousness towards sustainability?
- How can government structures and functions be modified to implement sustainability?

Enhancing Leadership Capacity

How can I best lead people to sustainable practices (personal skills/tools)?

How to motivate others to join a movement for positive change?

How can I inspire others?

How to convince and engage people in sustainable pathways?

What are sustainability leaders?

How to be an effective and compassionate leader in my work place, family, and community?

How to convince decision makers?

How can a sustainability leader encourage proactivity?

How can we engage the masses to participate in the same dialogue we are having?

Personal Explorations

How can I participate on the route towards sustainable development?

How can I do my best, maintain personal integrity and work within a framework of sustainability in a way that includes and respects all parties involved?

How can I effect change?

What is my contribution?

How is sustainability affected by and/or affect self-awareness/self understanding?

How to keep a balance between personal hope and imposition of personal agenda within development and sustainability projects?

Provocative questions about Systems and Definitions

Is there a potential for changing the world globally?

In a western culture heavily rooted in consumerism, how can we avoid contradictions inherent in sustainability?

How to define sustainability or can there be a clear universal understanding of sustainability and how can this be achieved?

Can we live without oil?

How can we turn the sustainability term into reality (so it won’t be only a nice word on the board)?

III. Expectations

We expect from the faculty and ourselves to be challenged and supported in a respectful and rigorous learning community.

We expect to trust each other. We choose to embrace and support cultural and linguistic differences; we will not be afraid to confront each other. We will speak up when we are not heard. We expect to feel loved and accepted as a community, having mutual respect for individual backgrounds, aspirations and objectives; a community in which everyone is free to learn, to make mistakes and to evolve as individuals. We are committed to consensus decision making and group process. Through rigorous academics, we expect to receive a world-class and holistic intellectual challenge rich with creativity and innovation. We expect to take away tangible tools and knowledge of sustainability for effective use. We expect to learn how to practically implement the processes of sustainability; to be able to confidently share the tools necessary to encourage others and ourselves to implement The Natural Step Framework. We expect to be visionary and skilled leaders providing unlimited possibilities within the scope of sustainability. We expect to emerge prepared and invigorated with clear purpose within the sustainability field and able to apply all that we have learned in our home countries. Most of all, we expect to have a great group experience and to have fun!

If you can't see yourself in the picture, then by definition you have no lever to change the world.

2006-08-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Adam Kahane, founding partner for Generon Consulting

"My paradoxical conclusion is that to change the world you both have to be committed to changing it and be able to listen to how it wants to change." ...."The first thing to do is to commit yourself to changing the world. The key to tapping into your own best energy and creativity of those around you, is to commit yourself to serving a larger purpose.

Adam allows people to create scenarios of future visions. As they play out the visions, they come to see which is the vision that should move forward.

1. You must be able to see the world through the eyes of your competitiors, clients, community, and all the players.
2. You must be able to see yourself in the mirrot and your role and influence.
3. Then you must see where looking at the world and looking at yourself are the same.

Goethe said," Man knows himslef only to the extent that he knows thw world; he becomes aware of himself only within the world, and aware of the world only within himself. Every object, well comtemplated, opens up a new organ within us.

a story paraphrased: There was a rabbi who wanted to change the world. He wasn't making much progress so he tried to change his country, and in failing, he tried to change his town, and in failing, his family, and in failing again he tired to change himself. Then an interesting thing happend. When he changed himself, is family changed, and then his town, and then his country, and when his country changed, he changed the world...

"The Systems Thinker: Dialogic Leadership" ......for competitve advantage and organizational effectiveness

2006-08-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Often, as was the case with the merger between Monsanto and American Home Products, personal differences, or power struggles will cause a business deal to dissolve. These power struggles and discussions fail by bringing forth arguments, where people defend their points of view and try to convince the others that one idea is right. Conversely Dialogic conversations bring forth collective wisdom where people "think together." They explore the questions and uncertainties that not one person has answers to. In any conversation a balance of four-players allows an idea to succeed. This is why dialogic leadership is essential to problem solving and seeing ideas into fruition. The term 'dialogue' in its essence is "an inquiry that surfaces ideas, perceptions, and understanding that people do not already have."

Dialogic conversations have four balancing players made up of one or more people.
Some people (1) inspire and move an idea forward, others (2) follow and support the idea, (3) others oppose, and question the validity of the idea, and others (4) bystand and provide perspective. These are the Movers, the Followers, the Opposers, and the Bystanders. Some people will naturally feel more comfortable in one role, than another, and others will see where there is unbalance and fill in the necessary actions. It is also necessary for people to keep each other in check that one is not stuck in one position. If only the Movers and Opposers are actively participating, the Followers and the Bystanders will become disabled. The positions of Movers and Opposers are that of Advocacy, while that of Bystander and Follower in that of Inquiry.

A father came to Gandhi and said...you must get my child to stop eating sugar. Gandhi replied, come back in three days. In three days, the father came back with the boy. Gandhi said, "boy you must stop eating sugar" The father was confused and said, why did you make us come back? Gandhi replied, "First, I had to stop eating suger."

A good dialogic leader will be able to facilitate all roles happening and keep balance where balance is due. This person also leads in everyday life this example. By expressing one's true voice, being courageous and encourageing others to do the same. A dialogic leader will also encourage listening as well as voicing one's opinion, respecting as well as opposing, following, and suspending your certainties to make room for other's views.
A dialogic leader will:
1. evoke people's genuine voices
2. listen deeply
3. hold space for and respect other's views as legitimate
4. broaden awareness and perspective

As the leader exhibits these actions and encourages others to do the same, this balance found allows for creative ideas to flourish when we listen together.

Without Movers there is no direction...Without Followers there is no completion....Without Opposers there is no correction...Without Bystanders there is no perspective.

Summary of "Developing Cultural Empathy" by Engholm & Rowland

2006-08-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

International business and a move towards consumer culture has caused a trend called "retrenchment" where diverse cultural identity is cherished and valued more than ever. American influence in particular is not only frowned upon, but often prohibited. Any sign of American culture in other countries is more a pop culture phenomenon, than a real move towards American values. The Philippines insisted on America removing their military bases from the country despite financial penalties. Jack Weatherford, author of "Savages and Civilization" has found the the preservation of cultural identity is strengthened in respect to increasing technological advance.

For these reasons, if we are to work cooperatively with developing countries to form sustainable business partnerships, cultural sensitivity is of the most crucial importance. This also holds true for regions within developed countries like the deep south or New England. Ethnocentricism proves detrimental in the international business arena and the goal today "is to live in harmony without uniformity" says Weatherford. It is also necessary to remain peacefully diverse in areas such as religion and ethnicity. An example of a business failure due to a different precedant in business practices was the failure of a 130 million dollar business venture between American Corning cermics and Mexican Vitro glassware. The Americans saw the Mexicans as lazy, unmotivated and slow, when really they preferred to focus on relationships, personal loyalties, and tradition, like afternoon breaks. And the Mexicans saw the Americans as cutthroat and ruthless, laying blame and working through lunch, when the Americans were simply dedicated. Thus it is important to develop cultural sensitivity in ourselves and in our team members, not to see behaviors as stereotypes, and not to believe your business ways are intrinsically the "right way" or superior. View others behaviors in terms of cultural relativism, based on the cultural norms and values, not as absolute behaviors. Understand that what another shows is only half the story.

1. You must first get to know yourself, what cultural norms you practice and how they may be perceived in the context of another culture.

2. Foster humility, respect and learn to hold your tongue when your opinion is not asked for or may not be well received. Not all cultures respect you "speaking your mind."

3. Show respect for other's values and resist ethnocentricsim.

4. Go with the flow. Understand that contradiction may be relevant, as is silence and ambiguity.

5. Observe without judging. If a behavior seems odd, recognize that is may have cultural integrity, and is not rude or inappropriate.

6. Also take into account personal differences, like someone coming from a farm or city, class differences, and regional differences. Just because you are in Spain, does not mean everyone speaks Spanish. There are 4 official languages. Get to know the goals and values, as well as the educational system.

7. Get to know the topography, geography, history, national pastimes and cultural identifiers, like futbol. Understand that each culture has a story, hardships, successes, sensitive areas, etc. Religious differences, national holidays, bargaining styles, minority groups, and poltical theories.

Hire a cultural expert for a day's training for you and your team. It could make or break the deal and will ensure respectful relations

Hej!

2006-08-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

In Karlskrona...the beautiful little house, my bike, town, and the sea....

Climbing at Grouse Slab

2006-08-07T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hot Buttered Rum at the River Ranch

2006-08-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Good ol' bluegrass with reggae and funk vibes. These guys are amazing musicans. Awesome show.

One Last Time: Big Chief Climbing

2006-08-07T22:40:00.001-07:00

View along 89 south and Squaw Valley

From the top of Warpath

Tacking...at Boca Resevoir in a 1989 Hobie Cat

2006-08-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

Friday night Greg took us sailing. The sun was setting and we had the resevoir to ourselves. Pretty blissful.

Boca Resevoir is fed by the Little Truckee and supplies Reno with its water.
Boca used to house an ice manufacturing plant and is now home to a dam that is strangely closed due to terrorist scares.

Captain Greg wants to live on a sailboat. I think this is a fabulous idea.

The best way to predict the future is to create it

2006-08-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

Although I am often in the present and thouroughly enjoying the pleasntness of our seemingly peaceful lives, I often feel disguted that we may enjoy ourselves at the expense of a thousand other nations and millions of other people. My culture's destructive. And this disregard for responsible consumption and production is somehow a legitmized normalcy of consumer behavior. This is really sickening and to drive the stake in the ground, really normal. I am not blaming the masses for NOT knowing how food, clothing and goods are produced and transported, knowing the child labor used in the garment industry and massive water use, the erosion and desertified soil created by our agriculture, the fossil fuel "wars" that have begun our natural resource hoarding games.....only just scratching the service, with our meat industry, our outsourced labor force, our unsustainable single family home and car addictions.....but I believe the education is lacking. We are presented with big ideas and techonlogies everyday and the within this rapid stimuli environment, most are unable to sort out the facts from the biases and the truths from the lies. And I don't blame them, but it is time to slow down and understand how the pieces of this live fort together. Where are the connections and the disconnect? What is the consequence? There is always a consequence. We are not seperate from our actions. In my understanding of everyday life, a past precedes the present and a future is created by the past and present. Our destructive culture of consumption runs so deep and at times I feel suffocated by the overwhelming complacentcy of accepting this 'dominion over.' But I will not let it all weigh me down, the disease, the corporate greed. The knowledge of what is in the world today must not be dibilitating. It must be motivating. Because the best way to predict the future is to create it.

Greg Brown Show at Hawkins Amphitheater

2006-08-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

Me, Liz, and Linsey...Linsey's in South America, LIz is moving to Costa Rica. And I'm guilty as charged, but it is abit difficult here in Tahoe as the place is so transient. The beautiful people that come into your life often move away...I guess it just means there's a lot of living to do out there.

My beautiful housemates

2006-08-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

Monique and Jolene

In Loving Memory of Lovely Lua

2006-08-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

I will always remember your bliss and love for life, your fairy ways in the kitchen and your generous spirit. I love you honey and you will be so missed. I'll play DJ Loren Laughter Crescendo right now for you.

Tour de Fat ...raising money for the Land Trust

2006-08-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Taking over the roundabout...It's a little too fun stopping traffic My Enduro Pro may have suffered a bit of an identity crisis for this event. Covered in faux fur (having Burning Man withdrawal), she was sitting pretty for the parade. Of course, like most Tahoe events...the grog was flowing, but New Belgium Brewing Company is worth supporting. They are employee owned, spend the summer touring the country with a vaudeville show raising money for local orgs.... and they brew the beer entirely on wind power.This dude bumped tunes like "Stayin Alive" and "I Want to Ride my Bicycle" during the parade. Liz and Kyle in the backdrop. We stayed close by to this 70's show and got our groove on. So next time, you see a Fat Tire, Blue Paddle, 1554...Skinny Dip...support the renewable energy generating brew h'a ha. This event felt surreal...it was a fantasy come true.....Bikes taking over the streets... I got a little excited and was yelling "Bikes not Bombs" to the spectators on the sidelines....couldn't help myself. A more subdued comment may have been "Share the Road". Oh well, the event was too cool for holding thy tongue. CM diehards: Kathlee, Yardley and Me The BoysShannon and Morgan riding the super fun two seater banana boat with rudder style steeringThe Shoe Bike...great for not going anywhere fast

Earth Activist Training pics

2006-07-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

Me, Steph and Lauren on May Day.
Myself, Aaron and Matt moving some dirt to make room for a composting toilet. ...Seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil in an undisclosed location

Yard sale and Mojitos

2006-07-31T23:09:00.000-07:00

We had a moving sale today, not such a good turnout, except of course our friends were there and the mojitos were good. I have lived in at least nine houses since moving to Tahoe and at least 5 other in the last 6 years. Always in search of cheap rent, not yet plantin roots and especially because the housing market in Tahoe is shall I say extreme, lust like the riding and lifestyle. Could this cohousing project provide us with a home we could afford and a community we could invest in?
Da house
Jolene and Aaron
Me

Lake Run. My favorite Donner Lake playground

2006-07-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

View from the tunnel looking at Donner Summit. Fresh lines. epic day.
This is the icy tunnel we hike.

Inside the Ice tunnel.

Critical Mass has begun

2006-07-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

Michael (From the Arctic to Guatemala) and raw cacao pie Tyler....blessed be the bold....
This is from our first Critical Mass. I think there was 12 of us. We had Michael, the million miler with us and Tyler towing our bbq goods. May in tahoe... as it goes it started snowing a bit. It felt really great to be making a public statment about the importance of bike lanes and functional public transport. And of course, it was super fun, especially to ride around the roundabout...ummm a few times... and stuff up traffic abit.
For our third Critical Mass, we changed it up and spun around Donner Lake (picture above is of the beautiful lake) rather than the town loop and had a lovely picnic at West End Beach. This picture is from our second Critical Mass. 26 people....doubled from the first one. woo hoo!

Biking for a Better World

2006-07-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Last night, Biking for a Better World, aka John, Jake, Duncan, and Sam threw a benefit at the River Grill with some jazzy live music. They raffled off a great cruiser and hopefully rasied some serious cash. They are planning to leave next June from Alaska to bike to Argentina. They will bike from Alaska to Argentina to raise money with the purpose of building a school in Nicaragua. Good people doing good things. This event kicks off a weekend of bike extravaganza with Critical Mass on Friday night and the Fat Tire parade and beer fest on Saturday. Better rest up. Thinking about a big ride tomorrow. Dedicating the weekend to all that is biking.

Letter to Charles Durrett of CohousingCo.

2006-07-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Charles,

I was unable to attend the first cohousing meeting in Truckee, but I am overjoyed by this project. Who better than yourselves to buy this 3 acre piece in Truckee for the development of cohousing. I have left Tahoe/Truckee 6 times do to a low wage, tourist driven economy and the unaffordable housing dilemma, pursuing more viable living situtaions..... and yes come back 6 times, because my heart is here in these mountains, and pristine waters. And I am called to help Tahoe heal, with the potential for sustainable development, and real "green" collar jobs where the small, but growing community of conscious and sustainable folks, some of whom are bubbling biodiesel, composting, growing in greenhouses, sharing CSA baskets, and actively choosing to ditch their cars and pedal to work can experience a right livelihood where sustainable business ventures define Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

A bit about me: I am leaving for Sweden in two weeks, where I will study at Blekinge Institute of Technology and pursue a Masters in Strategic Leadership for Sustainability. This graduate program aims to equip its students with the leadership skills to consult for municipalities and businesses so that they may adopt sustainability priniciples, like The Natural Step. I have previously gone to San Francisco Institute of Architecture to study sustainable design and natural building, lived at a permaculture farm in a budding eco-village in Telluride, worked for an architect and Interior Designer, built cob and strawbale structures, and I have my permaculture design certification. Basically, what I am saying is that I breathe the advent of a community that functions in accordance with the laws of ecology as do your cohousing projects and I am honored that you have intiated such a project in Truckee.

The town officials are excited and ready for sustainable concepts, as they were introduced to Hunter Lovins and Natural Capitalism at last year's Sierra Business Council's Annual Conference, yet not sure where to start. I am deeply embedded in the inner workings of Truckee and concerned about a number of issues. I believe this project to be monumental in inspiring cohousing all over the Tahoe Basin as the time is ripe for such ideas.

Although, I will be in Sweden for the year, I want to be as involved as I may be and have wanted to play out a nonhierarchal system of decision making for some time. Consensus based solution finding is not somthing this town is familliar with. Mayumi at Moonshine Ink (mayumi@moonshineink.com) is the creator of the town's free press, which you may know and will be more than glad to print any thing cohousing related. Also, my architect friend Cole Butler of Laughing Gravy Studios would be an excellent creative addition to the cohousing architect team and is also a member of the Planning Commission and Greenbuilding Commitee.

I know there is much enthusiam for this cohousing project, especially amongst my group of 20-30 something environmental savvy cohorts whose hearts are here and yet roots are not planted because of the affordable housing crisis. I am assuming there was also quite a bit of interest in the elderly and hispanic community, three groups all on the outside of affluent Tahoe, who would make excellent cohousing candidates.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to the the round table discussions that will ensue as this monumental 'for Tahoe' project takes shape.

Cheers and cohousing, Cari Bivona

It's on. Cohousing in Truckee

2006-07-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

Am a wee bit tired from the all night South Lake adventure. Jurassic 5 played at Mont Bleu. It was fun, but I'd prefer a Wisdom Show or Sweatshop Union or DJ Loren. And I must add the three night binder began with 2 Out Ralley at the Pasttime and Fearless Chicken at Concert in the Park. After feeling our garage sale market had sufficiently died out, I went to Cascade Lakes Region with Paoli, Tim and Jesse. Long Lake had a tree diving board and a rope swing. This was very fun. I was scared to walk the small tree, 15 feet out, got over it. And I was scared to do the rope swing because it really looked like I would splat against the tree the rope was hung from. No worries. That was fun too. Really love the swimming. I plunge and its automatic reset. Today I was really anxious for the water. I 'm pretty sure I'm addicted. The views from Long Lake are amazing. In the South is Devil's Peak and to the North is Castle Peak. I have got to ride those mountains. Afterwards, Tim and i went to Tacos Jalisco, one of three places I can affford to occasionally eat out in town....more the reason for a bad ass organic, fairtrade, locally grown, on-site greenhouse, vegan, raw amazing afforadable eatery, called Lua's Kitchen with a solar energy producing carport. We continued a conversation we were having earlier about sustainability, Truckee's development and all the rest that needs healing in Truckee. The focus was the co-housing project, which feels like the most viable and successful idea to date on the Tahoe Sustainability Front. Charles Durrett, the father, I'll call him of co-housing, bought three acres in Truckee for a co-housing project. The members will design their living environment, community meals, shared laundry, green building, mixed-use zoned, ......This is huge. A huge victory. Thanks Charles for seeing your dreams in to fruition. I will keep abreast of this one. This may even be a great thesis project...How co-housing solves many issues like affordable housing, meanigful employment and rebuilding community.

Into the woods

2006-07-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'll be mountain biking soon, up Cold Stream Canyon, solo, 100oz. of water and we'll see where it leads me. Two days ago, I went to Tahoe City to ride the Nordic Center trails. After my normal, woop de doo loop with 15 or so fun rollers and nice single track banked turns, I saw a previously undiscovered singe track veering right. It was less traveled with richer, firmer dirt and new growth that scraps your calves as you pedal by. I then proceeded further right and back up the mountain on a trail that snaked alongside, and over a stream that completely altered the landscape. The tall, lush grasses, and plump wildflowers accenting the other wise green hued marshy field were a pleasant contrast to the dry alpine manzanita and pine forest. Two bleached, brittle, skeleton pines stood tall, bright white against the deep blue sky and alive landscape. Good ride. Held on during the gravel decent and had flashbacks of wiping out in 2000. Back when I worked at Cyclepaths and Jiffy's cruised with Mark most days, was living at Bill's house, petsitting tuco, and I was not yet graduated from College. Perhaps a little reckless, leaving Middlebury College in the spring of my senior year, but a good decision, nonetheless, growing and digressing in Tahoe. I still remember my first views of Desolation's white peaks upon ascending Mt. Rose Highway, and the lake, relaxing below, so big and clear, like a utopic paradise. And this is probably why everyone comes to Tahoe on the weekend, pulled by Big Blue, to experience her bliss, and yet somehow they stay seperate and evermindfully still at home, in the bay. I find it interesting that people become so comfortable with the same experience, especially when on holiday, "getting away" and they choose to maintain the same habits, as they would at home. And I think, this is largely because the Tahoe area is not trying to display anything differrent than what is anywhere else, except of course, what is mostly not of human doing; the lakes, rivers, forests, and rocks. What I am saying is that, Tahoe is special. It is different than anytown USA, and yet apart from the playful surroundings, the town supports the tourist in is tourist tendencies, and does not present itself as anything other than anytown, USA. We are not really deeply embedding our guests in the ecosystem and importance of this gem. Tahoe, than is just a place among places, offering nothing more than what you brought- an airconditioned view of the Sierras via your landcrusier, your boat, and your toys, and a nice meal and lots of booze. It sounds alot like a numbing, and perhaps that's why they say "escape to the mountains." And I know that this is not every Tahoe tourist, and I know that there are people who come for its amazing trails, and pristine waters, and those who truly support the healing and protection of the Basin, but this overwhelming feeling of disregard for this delicate place, is evident in the goods and services that become town priority. And these, for most locals, are the dense filter we must look through everyday to actually feel the spirit and wildness that is Tahoe. And when I see the true essence of Tahoe, I have striped it naked of its human sculpting. And this saddens me. How do we continue on, zombies in the wake of the human experience that is so destructive and yet wildly seductive that success is measured by how much green stuff hangs out of your wallet? I feel so betrayed by the lie that is lived everyday. I see a slow awakening towards a resource regenerative society, and yet in its patience for policy and greed, I see a slow dying of the earth that is us and sustains us. And a dying that may not rebirth that which we need to survive. Strip away all that is not survival, learn where your food is produced, how the water finds its way to your tap, the value of waste, the things you buy and in what capacity is their necessity? What would be your perfect day and how many things would you need? Are you really that desensitized by your abundance? When we seperate ourselves from the things we hook onto us, that somehow define us, when we pull the filters away and experience life as a spirutal quest of love, our true essence can be felt and seen, and ourbehaviors will be a reflection of that core understanding of the human experience. It is not things, it is relationships, giving, receiving. It is the abilbity to coexist in nature, not to have dominion over, not to destroy ourselves, the earth, but to be love, to laugh, and be noursished, to feel and be heard to listen and grow, to live fully, uncloaked by greed and material possesions that only serve to plug the channels that are otherwise open without effort. And up coldstream to ground and clear the cobwebs out, to honor Lua on her birthday, to celebrate her life tonight, and continue to carry her firefly spirit with us.

Thoughts on another sunny day

2006-07-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like today may be the last sunny day? In Tahoe, the temperature today is 82 degrees, the sky is cloudless and severely blue. The air is dry and still with castings of a mild breeze to keep the air from feeling stagnant. Yesterday, we found ourselves a bit tired from Linsey's going away soiree the night before, but happily climbing Light Deprivation. We knew Big Chief would be scorching hot being a south facing rock outcropping that runs directly east west, and crowded being a weekend and the Bay Area's closest decompression destination of sizable scale. But Light Deprivation was shrowded in shade where pines hug the boulders and the morning sun quickly abandons the easterly facing climbs. A lazy day at the wall, a few climbs, a few hours later, with a few good friends.

Sagan is out

2006-07-13T23:52:00.000-07:00

Alright Sagan. welcome to whatever you make it. Happy birthing. July 12, 2006 1pm. 9lb. big dude. Lori and Mike. love you. Congratulations. blessed be the baby that is. The Peaceful Warrior, Sagan....hmmm. tall order. beautiful legacy.

opening doors

2006-07-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

I am in the habit of opening doors, journeying into the unknown. "Leaving in a month," I say. And I am asked, "Will you come back to Tahoe after Sweden." I reply, "Who knows, I'm opening doors." And I motion the opening of double armoire doors. I like that image, like entering into Narnia. Love the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I swear I've been to Narnia. I also really believe I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. The first door I opened this morning, I actually more unzipped as I emerged from my back deck tent in a too fast developing, unaffordable, yet wilderness rich and playground plentiful Truckee, California. I let myself sleep longer and the sun was high. I opened the door into my home. Monique, my sustainable cohort from college and Liz, who we met at our "Be the freak that you are party" live inside. Jolene does too, but I think Charlie's bed is way more comfortable. She's seldom home. I ate some fresh watermelon and salad, a bit of homemade kombucha- a high ph way to start the day. Well done. Later I drank fairtrade, organic, and yes acidic coffee from Jen and Glenn's little slice of bliss at The Dam Cafe. It was mildly sweet and tasted good. I came to Tahoe City today via public transport. $1.50. I walked to the farthest bus stop because it was hot, I was early and there is no formal, "this is a nice place to sit in the shade, smell the flowers and wait for the bus" stop. Just a sign and some asphalt. I called the transportation office the day it rained. I was emotionally involved in our public transportaion system from that day forward. He explained to me that there is simply is not enough money to run the bus during rush hour. I argued that the chicken and egg dilemma will prove itself if you actually ran the bus when people were going to work. I stretched out my arm to catch a ride at the bus stop. I mean bus sign. Whatever comes first, ride or bus, I'll take it. I like hitching--sharing a story or two. The success and failure of getting or not getting a ride. The mild and meaningless rejection is like a vaccination shot. I'm working on being immune to rejection- some childhood thing. The bus came first. 10:38 , every two hours.

I gave a Slovakian girl $5 yesterday, because hitch hiking is really carpooling or ride sharing. The not so funny thing was that I dropped my wallet in the street as I insisted on paying. I think she wanted me to the keep my money. She was gifting me a ride and she felt good in that gesture of sharing time with a kindred spirit. Instead, I wanted the kudos unconsciously and tossed the money at her. Oh yes clever me. And then I got bit in the ass when I went to buy a coffee, and had no wallet. Good, mild lesson, because an honest lad named Tom dropped off my little black wallet where I work at the BridgeTender the next day.......and I could go to the Wisdom show and flash my ID that says I was 28, no, not under 21. I was given a free ticket to Wisdom at the Yellowman show a few weeks back, I think because I was having so much fun and I owe that to Yellowman. He has that contagious raw high energy that flows into the crowd. Last night, after riding my bike from Tahoe City along the Truckee River path in the dark, with only glimpses of a tree line, I cashed in my Wisdom ticket and plugged into a hip-hop reggae vibe with political and positive lyrics. Beyond the riverside outdoor venue hung the waning moon and a baby black bear was apparently frightend into in a pine tree at the entrance.

The bus ride is an hour for the 12 miles from Truckee to Tahoe City, but I bring a book, Starhawk's, Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, and Politics. Today I read about group facilitation and consensus, a nonhierachal method for determing the vision and choosing an action. Starhawk, political activist, vigilent protester, witch, author, and mycoremediator permaculture goddess has used consensus over 100 times and in situations where issues were emotionally charged and of immediate importance. The keys to a sucessful consensus process are a great facilitator, small groups, like affinity groups and a central hub, where information can flow from and to. Ideally, a well-informed population, with open minds and open hearts would allow the collective consciousness of the group to channel throughout the process. I want to give consenus decision making a go, although a debriefing would be necessry because our hierarchal systems have not allowed people to feel that their voices can be heard, nor are their needs are met. I generally feel powerless against the seemingly complex and untouchable decision makers. Rounds, where each person within the group may voice concerns and ask questions, would be more time consuming at first, but more efficient in the long run, because communication lines are open and needs are addressed before the final decision is agreed upon. Thus there is greater participation in the completion of the chosen decision as each member in the group is emotionally and directly responsible for the group decision. I assume this would move meetings from the visioning stages to the action stages more quickly. I have been to numerous commmunity visioning sessions, where there has been no follow-up meeting and no action. We need a Natural Step frameworkand its 4 Conditions, laying out the basis of what already is, so we can move into the imtimate relationship that is action.