I went to a social networking thingy tonight. It was titled "Transforming the world: a network centric approach to transforming systems." and was run by a group that is about effecting change through social networking. I'm not sure what triggered me to join this group but tonight's meeting caught my eye so I went.
The meeting was a discussion with a retired RAAF deputy chief who basically talked about effecting change by strategic collaboration and I will blog about that on my KM blog.
The things of most interest tonight was John's insights into some of the more stressing social and environmental issues he has discovered through his history and research.
John was suggesting that greater social change cannot happen if we only tackle one part of the community, industry, government triangle.
John stated that we should understood all factors that affect our intended change. Eg did we understand what are the consequences of supply chain interruptions such as if we could not get fuel imported then Australia only has reserves for 3 weeks. Or we import all our yeast so if that supply was disrupted, major food manufacturing would be affected within a week! How many things do we eat that contain yeast?
How about we already consume as a planet, and have done so since mid 90s, more than can be sustained and in fact we currently use up 1.4 times our resources annually.
Or currently in Australia we are riding on the coattails of economic reforms from previous governments and national productivity is actually dropping so that we will cease being productive within 40-50 years if we don't change!
I don't know if this is all true, though John sounded pretty convincing and knowledgeable so I'm guessing he knows his stuff so it's kind of scary and calamitous.
Change is needed. I haven't quite worked out what yet or how I can help but I obviously need to think about it and do something.
More lefty musings to come!
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Monday, November 07, 2011
Reflecting on Community
I went to visit my Mum at her church market stall on Saturday.
I'm not religious at all, but my Mum as been part of that church community for a good 50 years I reckon, and , dare I say it, I attended the church until I was about 17 years old.
I sometimes "do the right thing" by helping lug chairs, or lend a hand here and there - and my "do the right thing" is not in anyway pre-meditated - I have been called "nice" before LOL
'Aunty Margaret' was chuffed to see me, she who was our next door neighbour until I was about 5 years old. And my Sunday School Teacher, who I might add is hovering around the 90 mark, was very pleased to see me and gave me a bag of broad beans freshly picked from her suburban vegie patch.
They are all aging and deaf, and therefore they yell a lot, and one old dear reflected that she had a few years to go to last as long as her mother who was 105 when she passed. I responded that my grandmother lasted until 96 and dear old Trix keenly advised me that was how old she was now!
I guess what I'm trying to say is communties are good, they make you feel good, yes this is based around the church premise, as that was the common denominator. But all these oldies, with their years of living, are interested and delighted to see you. Great for my ego. They watched me develop from child to teen, and now so many years later, they still care and are interested. I even ran into a guy who would probably be considered my first boyfriend, as young and silly and naive as it was!
I reflect on this from a KM perspective too, as its about sharing, stories, and knowledge and community. We need communities in our workplaces to learn and share and deliver. But we need them personally as well, for all those things previously mentioned and to grow and bond and reflect and to live.
I sometimes "do the right thing" by helping lug chairs, or lend a hand here and there - and my "do the right thing" is not in anyway pre-meditated - I have been called "nice" before LOL
'Aunty Margaret' was chuffed to see me, she who was our next door neighbour until I was about 5 years old. And my Sunday School Teacher, who I might add is hovering around the 90 mark, was very pleased to see me and gave me a bag of broad beans freshly picked from her suburban vegie patch.
They are all aging and deaf, and therefore they yell a lot, and one old dear reflected that she had a few years to go to last as long as her mother who was 105 when she passed. I responded that my grandmother lasted until 96 and dear old Trix keenly advised me that was how old she was now!
I guess what I'm trying to say is communties are good, they make you feel good, yes this is based around the church premise, as that was the common denominator. But all these oldies, with their years of living, are interested and delighted to see you. Great for my ego. They watched me develop from child to teen, and now so many years later, they still care and are interested. I even ran into a guy who would probably be considered my first boyfriend, as young and silly and naive as it was!
I reflect on this from a KM perspective too, as its about sharing, stories, and knowledge and community. We need communities in our workplaces to learn and share and deliver. But we need them personally as well, for all those things previously mentioned and to grow and bond and reflect and to live.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
On reflection 9/11
As the day draws to a close and I reflect on the events of 10 years ago, I note that all my ideas and concepts are based on what I have seen and heard and read through the media.
Like most who are of an age to understand, I recall where I was and what I was doing when I had heard about the attacks in the US.
My then partner and I had been helping a friend with a video camera and as she had left I had turned on the television to hear a news break that a plane had a hit one of the towers, and as the news footage zoomed in on the burning building, the 2nd plane came into view and I watched in disbelief as it hit the 2nd tower.
As the horror of these events unfolded, I found myself unable to comprehend the how and why of what had occurred. As the hours and days passed I read, and watched any information about that day trying to understand what had happened. My manager at that time, recently told me that it was the only time she struggled to help me regain focus on my work as I was so throughly absorbed in what had happened.
It did not include understanding the historical facts about what led to this drastic and horrific action, nor could I comprehend how religions, no matter whose god, would allow these actions to escalate. And in fact it probably even turned me further from religion rather than to it.
It took some time for me to let it go, though even a couple of years later a website dedicated to conspiracies gained my attention for a short time.
What I have done is moved on with my life, there was no direct connection for me to what had occurred, I suffered no loss of friend of or family. I was merely affected by my failure to understand, by my incomprehension.
So as each anniversary passes, and whilst the incomprehension still remains, it is no longer something that I try to understand. It was a horrific event, and my heart goes out to all who lost a loved one. But here, so far away in my own backyard, I just try to respect all around me, regardless of their peerage, religion, sexual identity. I am not always successful but I believe in the inherent goodness of all people and I hope that those beliefs will keep me in good stead for my future days.
Naive? Perhaps but willingness to be open to all is hopefully the better way to go. And I hope that I never have to face something so horrific at home here in Australia.
Lyn
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Like most who are of an age to understand, I recall where I was and what I was doing when I had heard about the attacks in the US.
My then partner and I had been helping a friend with a video camera and as she had left I had turned on the television to hear a news break that a plane had a hit one of the towers, and as the news footage zoomed in on the burning building, the 2nd plane came into view and I watched in disbelief as it hit the 2nd tower.
As the horror of these events unfolded, I found myself unable to comprehend the how and why of what had occurred. As the hours and days passed I read, and watched any information about that day trying to understand what had happened. My manager at that time, recently told me that it was the only time she struggled to help me regain focus on my work as I was so throughly absorbed in what had happened.
It did not include understanding the historical facts about what led to this drastic and horrific action, nor could I comprehend how religions, no matter whose god, would allow these actions to escalate. And in fact it probably even turned me further from religion rather than to it.
It took some time for me to let it go, though even a couple of years later a website dedicated to conspiracies gained my attention for a short time.
What I have done is moved on with my life, there was no direct connection for me to what had occurred, I suffered no loss of friend of or family. I was merely affected by my failure to understand, by my incomprehension.
So as each anniversary passes, and whilst the incomprehension still remains, it is no longer something that I try to understand. It was a horrific event, and my heart goes out to all who lost a loved one. But here, so far away in my own backyard, I just try to respect all around me, regardless of their peerage, religion, sexual identity. I am not always successful but I believe in the inherent goodness of all people and I hope that those beliefs will keep me in good stead for my future days.
Naive? Perhaps but willingness to be open to all is hopefully the better way to go. And I hope that I never have to face something so horrific at home here in Australia.
Lyn
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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