cj#1170,rn> responses to recent material

2000-12-21

Richard Moore

Friends,

The Guidebook and 'Envisioning a successful movement' seem to be
striking some chords out there.  Thanks to all of you who have been
contributing and critiquing as this material has been developing,
and thanks to those who sent in these recent responses.
 
enjoy,
rkm


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Delivered-To: moderator for •••@••.•••
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 20:56:52 -0600
From: Orrin5800 Williams <•••@••.•••>
Organization: AIDS Research Alliance-Chicago
To: •••@••.•••
Subject: Re: cj#1167,rn,sm> ENVISIONING A SUCCESSFUL MOVEMENT

The conceptual and actual framework which is laid out here is as
articulate as I could have imagined. As a person of African descent in
the United States and as an activist working in many forums for over
thirty years I have been an advocate of a vision similar to the one
expresssed here. "Harmonization" must occur and a strategy very much
like laid out here must be designed, organized and proliferated with
the  underpinnings rooted in the wisdom of the multiverse and the desire
and intention of acting and living in a profoundly sustainable
interconnected and cooperative "way".

Thank you for your profound and creative contributions, you have joined
the ranks of those few truly creative thinkers that have crossed my path
(though only electronically). May our work and visison contribute to
the  emergence of new creative and positive MOVEMENT>

Orrin Williams
Center for Urban Transformation
Chicago, IL 

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From: "Ken Ka`imi Stokes" <•••@••.•••>
To: •••@••.•••
Subject: Re: * DRAFT FRAMEWORK FOR MOVEMENT SUCCESS*
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 06:44:07 -1000
Sender: •••@••.•••

Aloha from the taro roots of tiny Kaua`i!

When we hear folks way up there talking about building a
movement from way down here... we can only cheer!  Maika`i
(outstanding)!

This thread is particularly exciting because it mimics
similar discussions now cropping up in various global
fora... mebbe we could at least help guide these
strategizing efforts toward each other...

We share the view that networking is our principal task, and
our service is geared to empower community intiative across
the spectrum of cultural and ecological challenges in each
watershed/ahupua`a.

Any communication that helps us feel more connected globally
is a plus. Any centripetal force that helps us tune our
effectiveness is a bonus. Anything we're doing that others
find helpful is a blessing.

Ken Ka`imi Stokes
Ho`okipa Network of Kauaian CBOs
aka "virtual taro patch on Kaua`i"
<http://www.hawaiian.net/~cbokauai>
808/821-CBOS

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Delivered-To: •••@••.•••
From: "Brian Jenkins" <•••@••.•••>
To: <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Seeds of Change
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 01:00:41 +0800

Dear Richard,

Thanks for your 'guidebook' work (info received via David
Creighton).

I have circulated it to local contacts. My group StopMAI
(Western Australia) has long espoused a belief that only a
united front of civil society can overcome the power of
corporate globalism. (What happens next is a separate
problem, however perplexing.)

We have thus come under fire from Marxist 'class-struggle'
theorists who want to exclude centrist and so-called
right-wing citizens from relevant actions and
information-sharing. This approach seems valid only if we
ignore the fact that all shades of politics have made
themselves part of the problem by placing material values
ahead of moral, social and ecological considerations.

Your draft statements about inclusivism and 'the seeds of
change' are thus very encouraging to us.

Kind regards

Brian Jenkins

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Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 13:14:50 -0500
From: david creighton <•••@••.•••>
CC: "Richard K. Moore" <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Envisioning a successful movement

Seasons Greetings to fellow CAPers, CofCs, Greens, OPIRGS, red tories,
pro-democracy radical centrists, friends and family members,

Apologies if you have already received Richard K. Moore's unfolding
sketches for guidebook, chapter 3. If you have not, and like what you
read below, you can read more by clicking his website. I am grateful
that Richard can so eloquently pen the words that are forming in so many
minds all at once; obviously a well-nourished communicator. May this
food for thought fortify you for the coming festive celebrations.

Best wishes,
David Creighton

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From: morgan <•••@••.•••>
To: •••@••.•••
Cc: •••@••.•••
Subject: Re: cj#1168,rn> Now online: "Escapar de la Matriz"
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:41:02 +0000

Great news, Richard!

I'll pass it on to my list today.
Thanks indeed to Ricardo Avila!

Peace and good health to you all,

morgan
http://www.environment.org.uk/activist/

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From: "Samantha Sanderson" <•••@••.•••>
To: <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Connecting
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 10:35:12 -0800

Have just encountered your website.  Envisioning a
Successful Movement was forwarded to me by a friend.  It
sounds very consistent with my own thinking and I am
delighted to make the connection.

My human liberation work is primarily with Re-evaluation
Couseling, a worldwide project based on a theory and
practice for reclaiming our full intelligence through
emotional healing.

I will be cheering the CDR on and interested in seeing it
evolve.

Samantha Sanderson

Each blade of grass has its own angel which bends over
it and whispers "grow, grow".
                  - The Talmud

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Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 15:14:19 -0400
Subject: Re: cj#1167,rn,sm> ENVISIONING A SUCCESSFUL MOVEMENT
From: "Bill Ellis" <•••@••.•••>
To: •••@••.•••, 
    •••@••.•••
CC: "activ-l" <•••@••.•••>

Richard,

I've read this portion of "Envisioning A Sucessful Movement"
with contining interest.

I was particularly taken with your recognition that this is
a unique transformation in history, not just another minor
shift.  I developed somewhat the same thesis that is
outlined in my chapter in "Creating Learning Communities."

I differ on a minor point.  It seems to me that most
cultures evolved on a reciprocity basis of respect for the
earth and recognition of humanity's interdependence.

Only the EuroAmerican culture grew the "Dominator Paradigm."
I started with the Jewish Adam and Eve story that the Earth
was made for the use of Man. Amplified by the Greed's "Man
is the measure of sll things."  Made doctrin by The Mideaval
Church.  Spread by the Age of Discovery. Rooted in the
capitalistic theory the self-interest will be lead by an
unseen hand to provide the best for all.

So the roots of this particular evil is nearet 5000 years
than 12,000. And we have the model of many other cultures
that were and are more in keepting with the "Gaian Paradigm"
that is emerging from chaos, complexity and Gaian theories.
And is close to the future you envision.

I may a bit more disturbed by you "Strategy" and "Tectics"
sections that remain more on the themes of "language" and
"dialog" than real action.  IMHO the cells that will join to
form the new cultural system are already evident.  LETS,
ESOPs, CLTs,CSAs, Homesteading, EcoVillages, Homeschooling,
CoHousing, Holistic Health, Credit Unions, Farmers' Markets,
and a host of other grassroots social innovations are
emerging.

IMHO the strtategies and tactics should be more action
oriented.  How do we create more social cells?  How do we
link them together?  How do we unify the diverse actions? 
How do we help them self-organzie into a new sustainable
culture?  What do we DO?

Perhaps I'm premature. For the interim, I have personally
chosen to help create a radically different learning system
as the foundation for a radically different culture.  My 25+
years of working within the movement(s) have been a bit
frustrating.  Too many people complain and critique the
Domintor System and, as you point out, work on creating bits
and pieces of a new system. But I'm still to see a strtategy
of action that will help integrate all the good things that
are happening.

I look forward to your future work.

Bill Ellis

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From: •••@••.•••
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 20:02:30 -0500 (EST)
To: "Richard K. Moore" <•••@••.•••>
cc: World Systems Network <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Re: * DRAFT FRAMEWORK FOR MOVEMENT SUCCESS *
Sender: •••@••.•••

Dear Richard and List,

I applaud Richard's FRAMEWORK as a start in what could
become the right direction, although I disagree with many of
his specific points.  I especially applaud his correct
spelling of the venerable name of Gandhi, hitherto spelled
in all recent postings as "Ghandi."  It's only six letters,
folks.  Let's get it right!

My principal problem with his strategy is its over-reliance
on spontaneous local initiatives.  One would wish for such
initiatives, one would wish that they would coordinate their
efforts, one would wish they could all see the Big Picture. 
I don't think history gives us much encouragement for
thinking this can happen.  There need to be centripetal
forces at work here that can actively strive for
harmonization, coordination, and dissemination of the Big
Picture.  My idea of a World Party is my contribution to
this debate, but I would be happy to see the emergence of
more than one World Party, under various names, originating
in various sites.  When Richard speaks of "the movement" and
refers to it as "it," I think his use of the singular number
is an instinctive acknowledgment of the need for central, as
well as divergent local, initiatives.  There can be more
than one, but none is not enough.
---<snip>---

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