Counterbalancing fear and control, with ease
Thinking out loud
Learning the lessons of Abbie Hoffman: New systems of influence
Story, decisions, systems of influence
Thinking out loud
Story, decisions, systems of influence
An epistle for Pepe (and the Conference on Honduras)
Governance grows like poetry goes
From A Poet’s Alphabet, The Weather of Words, Mark Strand
Q is for the questionable in matters relating to poetry, lines or images for which no precedent comes immediately to mind and whose virtues seem equally elusive. In time, our wayward lines and images may become our greatest successes, the true signs of our authorship. But when we are young we are slow to trust ourselves, preferring to sound like more established writers. For that is how we make sure that what we have written is indeed poetry. Eventually, we learn to mistrust what is patently derived, and we cultivate what we first perceived as weakness. It is the oddity of our poems, their idiosyncracy, their lapses into a necessary awkwardness, their ultimate frailty, that charms and satisfies.
Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze (2006) write, “When separate, local efforts connect with each other as networks, then strengthen as communities of practice, suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater level of scale. This system of influence possesses qualities and capacities that were unknown in the individuals. It isn’t that they were hidden; they simply don’t exist until the system emerges.”
The Conference on Honduras is local effort.
The Conference on Honduras connects networks.
The Conference on Honduras strengthens communities of practice.
The Conference on Honduras is a system of influence, qualities and capacities worth creating.
The Conference on Honduras, in Copan, Oct 6-8, 2011.
Michael Strong: The disruptive technology is YOU
TEDxUFM: Michael Strong – Socratic Practice as Disruptive Technology
Clean Water: Shall this be the legacy of President Lobo?
The good news is, “Plenty of reason for hope.”
After a recent expedition to the Swan Islands of Honduras, ocean explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle delivers a special message to President Lobos.
Swan Island, “Clean Water”: An organizing principle for Honduras development
The good news is, a place like [Honduras], if we protect it — given the basic ingredients — can recover.
There is plenty of reason for hope. I hope that you will use your power to extend protection to the essence that your country has, has in abundance. But they are also vulnerable to the many pressures that are now coming in from all sides.
To the extent that you can really expand those areas that are protected — and really protected, where even fish are safe — a tiny fraction of 1% of the ocean is safe for the fish. So important not just for humans to extract to eat but critical to the health of the ocean itself.
Water, water everywhere: The interaction between rules and technologies and social reality
Consider the insights offered by economist Paul Romer (the flows of ideas: e.g., charter cities, cuidades modelos), “An analysis of the interaction between rules and technologies may help explain important puzzles such as why private firms have successfully diffused some technologies (mobile telephony) but not others (safe municipal water.)”
A Rachel Carson moment
In 1962 Rachel Carson had her book Silent Spring published, bringing awareness to ecological degradation and environmental issues. So, then, I leave you, the reader, with this question: In the 21st century, How best can Honduras structure a conversation to raise global awareness and understanding of its fundamental need for clean water? Structure a combination of rules, technology, and people, perhaps.
President Lobo can make it happen.